This design is based on the style of the OG ETARC logo, while bringing in the portal and glyph elements that we discovered as Citizen Scientists. ETARC was a shining light across the cosmos (read: internet) that drew us together, like the familiar glow of the galactic core. It seemed fitting to me that the icon for ETARC in this design should be the lightbulb from atop the Edison Tower. Its a classic icon associated with sudden understanding, and there’s certainly a lot of that around here. To keep even more elements, I brought the radio antenna spiral from the ETARC logo into the lightbulb to act as the coil. Waste-not, want-not.
This design could work as a template for the other iterations we need. Here’s how I see it working:
If ETARC is the light that brings us together, the light that reveals…
Then the Frontiers Division would be the ship in the void, a Traveler pushing forward the boundaries of what is known.
Verry nice, i like the idea of the glyphs. And it gives me an idea, what about using our decipher disk style ? the 1st or second, depending of the taste.
The name is a bit long, so I opted to make “AND” → “&” to save some room.
I incorporated some of the other feedback as well: @Sir_oops I added the glyphs to the ETARC logo, definitely makes it feel more CSD with them in. While it is not really a usable decoder, the glyph information is present (and in the right configuration).
@Mad-Hatter Agreed on the dark background for sure. Feels more space, where the white feels more terrestrial. While I do prefer the starburst coming up from the bottom, it kinda has to come from light bulb in this version.
Wasn’t the last video we received stating that the Project WT was transitioning from ETARC community to a Citizen Scientists Division community? And yet, logos are being created that are still following the ETARC art design?
@Dolnor You are not mistaken. This very forum will one day become the new CSD forum (in about 16 minutes…).
The thing is, we kind like the totally random and obscure nature of the current ETARC identity. The community here grew from that place, and this logo design effort is more-or-less our little effort to desperately cling to that initial glow. At least that’s my 2¢ on it.
When the new hot CSD design eventually rolls out, I am sure it will kick much ass, and only those of us who were around from the beginning, chatting with Emily, will hold onto the ETARC identity. It’s hard to say when we just don’t know what they have in mind, so in the meantime, we make due.
Lastly, an attempt at an ETARC Hub Division logo. I chose the triangle glyph for 3 reasons (remember what I said about 3s?): 1- it is a gathering of smaller elements making a larger one. 2- it is the symbol for portal addresses closest to the center of the galaxy. 3- it looks pretty sweet up there (way better then the tent, which was my first inclination).
I’m sold…
4 thumbs up from me.
(You’ll have to envision two big toes substituting thumbs)
I’ll likely embrace all 3 at some point in my NMS travels. Going to download them now.
Particularly like the Frontiers Devision one, but they are all great.
Awesome work. I hope they get the community vote.
Turns out the purpose of the topic got somewhat changed at some point, with others looking for a logo for a different use, which initially confused me as well. I am however glad to see that my effort to explore/capture the ETARC design style has helped @chelofellow come up with some cool images for ECSD, ETARC and CSFD.
In all honesty though, I would like to get back on topic and actually see what we can come up with for this forum, which now is (should be) CSD. I had merely been messing with the ETARC logo characteristics, with others showing interest in preserving the aesthetics of ETARC. My posted images were just part of a process of working with that design concept and certainly not final.
Designing a good logo is actually quite hard, with the ETARC logo not being the best example to work with in my opinion. So I will return my focus on a CSD logo and move away from the ETARC design. The end result for a logo, as I see it, should be simplistic/minimalistic, still show fine or at least be easily recognised at a small scale, and represent what CSD stands for. If I can find the time I will see what I can come up with.
I like how they match the style used with the ETARC logo. I personally think however, that too much detail is being added to be useful as a logo. Often less is better, especially when it comes to a logo, which at the same time is the tough part. As I said in my reply above, the ETARC logo is probably not the best example of a logo to work with in the first place. Scale it down to the size of a postage stamp and I think you will understand what I mean. The ETARC logo itself already has that issue where detail like the International Amateur Radio symbol completely gets lost.
With this amount of detail, the same will happen with the glyphs. With the portal being the main feature already, I personally think they are redundant. Those who play NMS or are at least somewhat familiar with the game, will already associate the portal with glyphs. The ring of glyphs results in less space for the actual main center icon, the portal. Without these glyphs the portal as well as the single glyph above, would become more prominent. I like how you use a glyph to indicate a specific section/group within, further pointing to the use of glyphs and even giving it meaning. The portal being black on top of a black background, makes it stand out less however, especially at a smaller scale. In your earlier version of the CSD ETARC logo with the white background it appears to work out better. I do however like the colors used, the blue and black go well together. Maybe try some variations using these colours, possibly invert some sections, just to see how it works out.
Anyways, just some feedback, not criticism. We should probably get back on the topic of designing a CSD logo though. /me @Dolnor
It’s my desktop background, now! Can’t wait to see what else, everyone comes up with.
