These are the thumbs for the notepad. They are all variations on the same logo. One idea was to have the logo appear on the pad as a sketch. I liked this idea because the logo was still easily identifiable and it acknowledged the medium--a notepad. A notepad is used for someone to jot ideas or take brief notes. Having the logo appear only half completed makes sense in this context.
The other idea was have the "a" logo in its completed form; in some incarnations bold and others as a watermark or dull gray. For two of the ideas (middle, right) I used the header from the blog. The one on the far right also has a sketch-style "a" on it. Visually, I think this one looks the best. It has a nice flow from top to bottom; left to right. The "a" in this one is supposed to (vaguely) resemble a stain from the bottom of a coffee mug; another nod to the medium.
The one I ended up choosing was...
Some of the others may be more pleasing aesthetically, but they don't function well as notepad. The busier thumbs get in the way of someone trying to take notes or sketch. If they don't serve their function the user won't be able to use the product. This is a problem because the goal of having a branded notepad is to advertise. With this one, the branding is clear and it serves it function well. It's something a person could use everyday and be repeatedly exposed to the logo. With the incorporation of the QR code the user can easily find the website.
Simplicity wins.
This is final design that I landed on. The one I received a printed proof for:
It's a little different than what I intended. I overlooked the QR Code when I designed the rough. I figured it wouldn't be hard to incorporate it, but it turned out much harder the than I expected. with such a minimal design, putting another element in changes everything. I messed around with the placement a lot, but I found this to be the most effective. I added my name for more brand recognition and also to balance the composition.
To get these printed it would cost $113.80 to print 100 notepads (1.14 per unit), 50 pages each with chipboard backing. For one notepad it would cost $3.84.
