Date: Mon, 14 Aug 2000 09:09:30 -0700
Reply-To: Bill Davidson <wdavidson@thegrid.net>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Bill Davidson <wdavidson@thegrid.net>
Subject: Re: List Stickers Opinion
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Basically (without all the color discussion), all I'm saying is that what we
have is a sticker that is artsy and subtle...
...but it doesn't really stand out visually from a distance (or even from up
close for that matter)... And, as I remember, recognition from a distance
was one of the main criteria for the sticker in the first place...
Bill
----- Original Message -----
From: "Karl Wolz" <wolzphoto@worldnet.att.net>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Sunday, August 13, 2000 9:34 PM
Subject: Re: List Stickers Opinion
> I'm certainly not taking this personally, but did feel the need to make a
> simple observation. That being that when the stickers were initially
> offered for sale, it was noted that the blue stickers are not very
visible,
> but a nice low-key sort of thing for those who don't want to shout, while
> for those who wanted to be NOTICED, the yellow stickers were considerably
> more visible. The whites fall somewhere between. My wife's van has the
> yellow stickers, and I can see them from a good quarter mile, and possible
> farther. If I were to take the larger of the stickers and put it in front
> of her rear view mirror, I wouldn't be surprised if I could make it out
from
> a half mile away.
>
> Thanks for the nice words about our work, by the way.
>
> Karl Wolz
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Bill Davidson" <wdavidson@thegrid.net>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Sunday, August 13, 2000 1:28 PM
> Subject: List Stickers Opinion
>
>
> > Volks,
> >
> > At the risk of being lynched, I have an observation/suggestion on how to
> > improve the stickers (gulp).
> >
> > But first I want to thank Karl Wolz for his great effort in producing
and
> > mailing the stickers out to us... as well as thank the entire list
> committee
> > and the artist (forgot his name)... a good group effort.
> >
> > I like the stickers. I put them on my Van today, and it's nice to be
> showing
> > that I am a member of the list community... And nice the think that soon
I
> > will spot the rest of you out on the road.
> >
> > But this spotting you all is what has me concerned. After installing my
> > stickers, I noticed that they aren't real noticeable.... seems like this
> was
> > one of the main selection criteria for voting on the stickers.... oh
well,
> > just cuz the most people vote for something doesn't mean things will
turn
> > out the way you expect.... (remember Nixon?).... :(
> >
> > Anyway, not to disparage the stickers because I do think they look
good...
> > nice clean design that does represent what we are all about... but they
> just
> > don't stand out.
> >
> > I think the reasons for this are two fold: first, the lines are not
bold,
> > and second, there is no background color; the background is clear....
this
> > see through effect allows what ever is behind the sticker to distract
the
> > eye.... for instance, I put my large blue sticker on the upper left
corner
> > of my rear window... but the busyness of the curtains on the inside of
the
> > window distract and from the sticker design.
> >
> > So my solution was to cut a piece of white paper the same shape about
1/2
> > inch bigger than the sticker and tape it onto the inside of the rear
> window
> > right behind the sticker. The white contrasts with the blue of the
sticker
> > lines and makes it pop... MUCH more noticeable.
> >
> > This is pretty much the same idea as why I choose to use the small white
> > sticker in the lower left corner of the front windshield... the white
> > contrast with the black of my dash....
> >
> > Still, even with the contrast that I was able to achieve with the above
> > solutions... it seems to me the sticker could be MUCH more visible at a
> > distance (like on coming traffic or across a parking lot).
> >
> > An example of what I'm thinking of is the scuba diving sticker... red
> > rectangle with a white slash... very visible for a long distance.
> >
> > So my suggestion:::: (gulp, this is where I get lynched)...
> >
> > Use the same sticker design with a bright and contrasting background.
For
> > instance, blue design and bright orange background... (of course other
> color
> > combinations are possible, but as highway crews and the Coast Guard have
> > found, colors like red and orange are the most eye catching)...
> >
> > With colors like this the larger format of the stickers would not be
> > necessary... the smaller one with a bright orange background would be
just
> > as noticeable as the scuba diving sticker.
> >
> > Of course, the stickers are done and on the vans... and who wants to go
> > through all that again???...
> >
> > Well, if you want to try it anyway, just get some orange paper, cut it
the
> > shape of the sticker, and tape it on the inside of the window behind the
> > sticker... who knows, you might start a trend... and who knows, the list
> > members may like it enough that they request it when the next bunch of
> > stickers are made up....
> >
> > my 2 1/2 cents... just had to get it off my chest :)
> >
> > And, please, those of you who worked on the stickers... please don't
take
> > this as personal criticism... I think you did a great job!
> >
> > Bill
> >
>
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