posted 07-04-2013 02:37 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by sts205cdr:
Okay, no tattoo, but how 'bout a t-shirt, or denim collared shirt or polo?

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posted 07-04-2013 11:06 PM            

quote:

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Originally posted by Robert Pearlman:
I'd want the ISS to be better rendered...

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posted 07-05-2013 01:56 AM               

The only problem then is that 'n' seems to be a moving target.

Maybe we could have a black velcro background to the patch then produce little embroidered versions of Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, the Shuttle, Constellation (!), the ISS, etc that people can stick on as they prefer, or move around going 'whoosh'. [Please note - this is a joke]

posted 07-05-2013 07:54 AM               

quote:

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Originally posted by GoesTo11:
You don't want to wear a polo shirt with a "stripped" logo that's just generic pointy things flying around, do you?

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posted 07-05-2013 11:10 AM               

*Just one voice in the solar wind...

posted 07-09-2013 01:36 AM               

It has been gratifying to see the positive response to my designs. I want to take this opportunity to share my thoughts and design rationale. I am also posting an update to design "N", and a new version with a clean ISS ("P"), as requested by Robert.

As has already been shared when "M" was posted, the concept of the design came to me as a result of reading some of the early suggestions about including the Earth, Moon, Mars and stars. It dawned on me that the emblems that Mike Okuda had created for the Constellation program could provide some inspiration. I also took inspiration from examples of space art I have seen that show the three planetary bodies receding behind each other as a way to represent mankind's aspirations to explore our solar system and the sequential steps leading into the future of human spaceflight.

I would like to note that design "M" was actually my first rough draft of the concept. In order to get something produced quickly for comments on the forum, I made all of the spacecraft generic triangles. I realize that generic icons might allow the diverse community of cS members to use their imaginations to "fill in the blank" with their favorite spacecraft. However, my original intent had been to use recognizable spacecraft from history. The decision as to exactly which ones would be left for later.

I do not see generic triangle icons as carrying the meaning behind the origins of collectSPACE. Spacecraft silhouettes would achieve this better, in my opinion. I agree with what one cS member said - "M" could just as easily be a fictitious corporate logo or space-tourism startup. (e.g. ArrowSpaceLines?)

As for the other variants, I do understand the desire by some to be more "international" since it is true that cS members are from all over the world. However, if you will allow, we may be seen as the inhabitants of the world - represented by the Earth, below - observing and supporting the efforts of spaceflight and exploration.

From my perspective, the chosen patch should represent the entity of collectSPACE, rather than attempt to show everything achieved in space history, or every interest held by the cS community. I believe "N" best represents collectSPACE, the entity.

Here now, are the two latest designs - an update to "N", and "P" with a clean ISS.

N.(updated)

I am very pleased with how the design came together. I particularly like how the geometry worked out with each orbital path "launching" from the point at which the previous orbit crosses its respective horizon. To me it symbolizes how each new advancement in our exploration of space jumps off the successes of earlier accomplishments as our reach continues to extend beyond each horizon.

I also like YankeeClipper's interpretation, referring to design "M"...

quote:

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Originally posted by YankeeClipper:
It has a strong theme of progression in space exploration from the shape of the patch and the planets suggestive of the past, present, and future. The spheres are also suggestive of the diverse cS community meeting/aligning while the orbital paths reflect artifacts and knowledge circulating.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Robert Pearlman:
collectSPACE was "born" on the 30th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing and it is a "child" of the space shuttle program.

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P.

I found this to be somewhat challenging in that I wanted to avoid overcrowding the design. I reduced the size of the shuttle to make room for the ISS. The result is that two small graphic elements replace the larger single shuttle. Although this may still be a pleasing design, from an objective artistic perspective, I think this tends to weaken the overall graphic impact.

Finding the right level of simplification for the ISS, while still making it recognizable in all the forms the design might be produced, was also a challenge. If I made the ISS too detailed, the threaded patch and the small pins might not work well. Make it too stylized and it might not be a good enough representation. I believe I have found the right balance.

However, while "P" is perfectly fine as patch designs go, in my view, the design is not quite as successful as "N". To me, it is tending toward being too cluttered. Also, to my eye, the ISS tends to cut off the visual flow. The shuttle begins to lead the eye upwards into the design along its orbit (as is the case with "N"), but then the flow is immediately blocked visually at the station. My eye has some difficulty continuing upwards. Finally, this design is starting to look too much like a mission patch, in my opinion - with too many specific mission elements represented. I believe it would look best if the collectSPACE patch did not compete visually too much with other authentic mission patches that might be worn on the same garment.

In conclusion...

I believe these two designs represent my best efforts. I would be proud to be the artist if one of these were to ultimately be chosen to represent collectSPACE.

To me, design "N", with its Apollo and Shuttle spacecraft, perfectly represents collectSPACE and its origins, and it would be an excellent choice to use as a patch.

posted 07-09-2013 06:37 AM               

But I also see that collectSPACE has grown since then and therefore today is representing much more than in the past.

Furtheron everyone knows that the brilliant collectSPACE site was founded by the space specialist Robert Pearlman in the US and therefore it is vaild to choose US spacecrafts instead of mouse pointers.

But what if someone from Europe has choosen the Ariane V rocket -which is f.e. launching the ATV to the ISS- or a person from Russia has choosen the Sojus rocket -which all who want to reach the ISS has to fly with in nower days- instead of the Shuttle(N)/Shuttle+ISS(P), would the community would accept this also?

And there are not only manned spacecrafts. There are a lot of unmanned spacecrafts that did a great job.

From my point of view the community has to choose what such a logo is for:

1. to honor the history of collectSPACE -which of course would be a great thing- (this could be N or P) or
   
2. to show all the aspects the community represents (this should be M)
   
3. to combine 1. and 2.

posted 07-09-2013 12:01 PM               

While I too agree that "P" may be a bit more contemporary, that works against the patch in that it doesn't represent where cS came from. And that, to me, is what the patch should represent. It's not about current space technology, rather, it represents where cS came from and it's history. The ISS is just an add-on to that history. As Robert said, cS was born on the 30th anniversary of A-11 and is a child of the shuttle. No where in there is the ISS mentioned. So to keep with that rich history, the ISS *SHOULD* be left out.

posted 07-09-2013 09:33 PM               

My vote is for N.

posted 07-10-2013 04:43 PM               

The orbiter silhouette can represent either the manned US STS spaceflights (with the Canadarm and international astronauts and experiments) or the unmanned USSR Buran spaceflight.

posted 07-12-2013 12:16 AM            

quote:

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Originally posted by Dave Ginsberg:
I particularly like how the geometry worked out with each orbital path "launching" from the point at which the previous orbit crosses its respective horizon. To me it symbolizes how each new advancement in our exploration of space jumps off the successes of earlier accomplishments as our reach continues to extend beyond each horizon.

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