Neatorama T-Shirt Design (Help!)

Hello, Neatorama guy

While I applaud you commissioning a t-shirt for your site I find your creative review “process” disconcerting. As a designer and illustrator who has sent my work to be reviewed by many a client this "polling" is the equivalent of asking your wife if this design or ad campaign looks good.

In short make your own decisions based on your gut and don't decide by Internet committee.

Thank you.

I vote astronaut.

I think the Astronaut shirt design is the best out of them all. Why? Well, look at the "Neatorama" title and you'll see that it varies and changes unlike the other three where the titles are static and unchanging. Put my $5 bucks on that! :)

If the READERS of the site are the ones who will be purchasing and wearing said shirt, shouldn't they really be the ones who have some say in the pick of the design? Obviously Alex likes them all, and would be happy with anyone of them.

I vote astronaut.

But c'mon guys - the astronaut looks too smug!!

love love love the astronaut!

I love Ape Lad's work, but I'm not wild about any of these. They have the flavor of something that was "suggested". They feel art-directed and flat.

Astronaut has a laid back retro vibe that just suits the site.

Looks like the astronaut could be a winner Alex

weee! i voted astronaut, and he's winning! i like voting for a winner!

I voted astronaut, but I don't feel like any of these have the slightest connection to Neatorama for me. A shirt with "Neatorama" written on it doesn't necessarily mean it represents your website. And I don't think any of these do.

I like the retro feel of the astronaut, and he is the neatest.

Nah, I agree with an earlier commenter - the astronaut has a smug look. I wouldn't want him riding on my chest. Now the *bear* - he dressed for a party! C'mon, people! Show a little love for a party bear!

Bear! Bear! Bear! I love Ape Lad!

Actually, it was Ape Lad's suggestion that we put the design up for a vote!

@cabooglio: I love Ape Lad’s work, but I’m not wild about any of these. They have the flavor of something that was “suggested”. They feel art-directed and flat.

The only thing I requested from Ape Lad was that it has Neatorama somewhere in the design. I'm not sure that qualifies as "art-directed," but perhaps it was. I think the obvious inspiration was the Neatorama Monkey.

Aww, the dog is my favorite! One can never have enough ball-balancing, juggling circus dogs in clown gear!

Why don't you make all of them? They're all awesome.
And I think you will make your sales bigger if choose 4 models. I'll buy all of them :)

And I'm speaking from BRAZIL! So... lucky north-americans. :)

I like the robot

I think the Robot screams WIN!

After all, with the possibility of a Terminator-esque future, you can never start kissing up too soon.

Do you like Neatorama?.......I like the spaceman.

I really like the robot the best- for multiple reasons. Number one, Robots are intricate, diverse, and neat, neatorama is intricate, diverse, and neat. Many different authors and editors, many featured people, and artists. Number two, The robot is the only one who has his eyes open, which means the others must be using some kind "Black" demon magic! Number three, The robot has Fire (?) on top of it's head, sweet falcon style wings, and 4 arms! Anything better than that? And finally number four, The robot is the only one who looks happy, the other three look condescending and smug.

Henry Myers

@ Alex

"The only thing I requested from Ape Lad was that it has Neatorama somewhere in the design. I’m not sure that qualifies as “art-directed,” but perhaps it was. I think the obvious inspiration was the Neatorama Monkey."

Then perhaps what I'm feeling is the fact that it has been done before. Maybe that's where the "flat" is coming from. It doesn't feel spontaneous. I also agree with the previous commenter who said that it doesn't connect with the site especially well.

I love the astronaut shirt, too. Definitely best one.

Hey!

Is the voting closed? Or how teh heck do you vote? I just popped in from Hobotopia to vote, and absolutly, without question, LOVE teh neatorama dog, (o elegnt dog, we noes what UR name spells bakwards an' we loves UR polkadot ball) Can U vote 4 me? (But if U chooses me for teh shirt, iz mine, k?)

Mebbe astronaut haz so many votes cuz his iz teh only acive link?

Is MaryW's writing a joke? She didn't write "the" a single time. And...the astronaut and dog are the best I think.

O. Sorry. I found teh button. Wuz not so hard aftrall.

Dear Algid,

I learnd my spelling from Ape Lad. If U sees hiz Hobotopia.com site, U'll noes what I mean. (Warning: is addictive, and UR spelling may B ruint 4evr.)

The dog's good, but the astronaut is just a little better, IMO. His smug expression shows that he knows he's the best juggler in the universe. Plus the planet Saturn starring as one of the juggling balls seals the deal.

The space cadet is the best. Plus, he's the only one who doesn't look like he's about to drop a ball.

I like the robot, because he has lots of arms. I think that makes it look "neat!" Since this site is all about neat stuff. The astronaut was my 2nd choice.

As a juggler, it always annoys me when i see a picture of a man juggling by somehow throwing all the balls in an arc over his head.

i really appreciate the fact that you let us decide the t-shirt design

I like the squid.

Whattaya mean, there's no squid?

Hmmph. Want a squid.

Agree with Algid. Astronaut or dog, but lean toward the dog.

As an artist, it really annoys me when jugglers complain about drawings. Lighten up.

Honestly, I like the bear the best. It's sooo cute! Plus, I think it is the most natural looking of the lot.

I say the astronaut! Pretty neat!

The astronaut is the only one to even remotely consider, the others look too infantile.

In general, none of those really feel like they capture the "neat" of Neatorama.

I would be happy to wear any of these. The old shirt had the name horizontally, right across... well, let's say it drew a lot of eyes.

Miss C: Why are so many women's shirts like that? Then us men get yelled at for 'reading' their shirts.

//ok, maybe i am a slow reader.....

While I would agree that you should "Go with your gut", I am hoping your gut says "The Astronaut Design".

The Neatorama bear appeals to me, so I voted for him. The astronaut is perhaps a more appropriate mascot for the site, but his facial expression is a turn-off. So smug.

The bear currently only has 60 votes (vs. astronaut's 291)... trust me to pick the underdog. I mean, underbear! :p

I'm surprised everyone likes the astronaut so much; honestly I don't want one of my favourite websites represented the way nearly everything else is: by a white male. So I vote bear because bears are awesome.

While I did pick the bear, it does look like he's going to drop that N! (Although, "Eatorama"? Hmmm...)

way great designs. who drew 'em up?

just kidding. i see. mr. ape lad did so. silly me.

That's what the people in Florence said about Michelangelo's David - not another white male!

Astronaut is the best of the bunch, but the juggling objects should be neatorama-related. Hello Kitty could be juggling its own ear-plug nipples, for example.

I like the Neatorama Bear bear-y much, and the Robot and Dog are just awesome and very imaginative. But the smug Neatorama Astronaut is just OUT OF THIS WORLD! My vote goes to him.

I'm sorry but I must strongly disagree with many of you. The astronaut is the Worst choice. I do like the artwork, but juggling in outer space? C'mon!

(The dog seems to be hovering in front of that spotted ball, as well, as he levitates the smaller balls)

I voted for the robot, I like the idea of a multi-(more than two)-armed juggler, though the bear is also nice in his suit.

the one with the astronaut is by far the coolest!

These are great designs. Hard to choose. The astronaut won for me.

If you put 'O-rama' on the end of any word it sounds 60's. (go ahead, try it; peanutbutter-O-rama, comuter-O-rama, etc.) What was the 60's and the space program about? It was a time of hope, imagination, the Cleavers, and anything seemed possible. Maybe it's a little kitchy now, but it was always slightly nerdy to like astronauts. Neatorama is family friendly, has imaginative and interesting posts, and on the internet anything is possible!

Just because a majority of people like something doesn't mean it's 'flat' or else where would German chocolate cake, the internet, and practicing making babies, be?

Pudifoot, I doubt you're a *professional* juggler.

The simple cascade is by no means the only juggling pattern.

While a nine ball shower is a stretch of the imagination for anyone I've every heard of (and may well be impossible), an arc of balls is normal for juggling in the shower pattern. There's obviously room for artistic license as well, so I'd suggest just being happy that the art is being represented in culture at all.

For some reason, a crude representation of the shower is what's usually captured in illustrations rather than the more common cascade.

I voted astronaut, in part because he actually looks like he might be juggling the balls, but I don't really like any of these. In the right low gravity environment, a nine ball shower could be attainable rather casually, hence the smug look. ;)

The others, the positions of the hands and balls don't look related in any way.

The astronaut is super awesome. Neatorama is spelled out with all the planets and a dwarf planet! How can you not pick that one. I am a sucker for robots but the astronaut is sweet.

i don't get WHAT you see in Ape Lad's work, i find it very generic, and i don't like ANY of these.

Am I the only one that thinks that all of these are queer??? wtf. at least pay someone to come up with something creative.

Bear in ill-fitting hat. Duh! Not only does he balance on the ball well, but with man killing bear claws! The astronaut is pretty cool too.

All of them were great but I voted for the astronaut.

YEA to Astronaut! You should nickname him Neato and put a name badge on him!

Astronaut! this is it!

I vote astronaut. Even if he is juggling in space..why not? Art is meant to do what is not possible in real life...to stretch boundries. It's cute and whimsical...great job!

The astronaut is o.k. But I like the robot. It's funkier.

i'd be smug too if i was an astronaut. he wins.

i'd be smug too if i was an astronaut. he wins with me.

i lo0o00o0ove that dog!! but if i win ill take any design1! they are all great!! LOVE NEATO!!

someone above suggested offering all four designs? is there a downside to this? (Are you making them in bulk, maybe, and therefore must commit to one?)

lol - love that dog...

I like them all and really like the fact that they are all juggling. Just missed this for the 47th annual MadFest 2008: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zA5k9IS93YM

I voted for the dog simply because I love dogs, but the astronaut one is really awesome. :D

great designs. I'd go with the robot.

voted for astronaut bec neatorama is about everything out there in the universe that sounds neat or weird enough to be blogged here ... :-)

astronaut, cuz astronauts are cool

I applaud and respect Ape Lad's work, but don't think that it is NEAT enough for NEATORAMA. The work kind of reminds me of stuff you find in Highlight magazines. I really think you could find better work that represents the site better, don't settle on something just because its free.

But the robot is just so much cooler than all of them.

Team Robot!

The astronaut design is outta this world!

Oh man, whats wrong with the bear? It looks awesome in the tux.

Definitely Space Cadet - I think it's closest to the feel of neatorama...bit out there!lol!

The neatorama astronaut is by far the best!

The astronaut is the best design. This is coming from a woman who loves robots. Good luck.

I love the astronaut! I'm glad he is winning.

Robot ------ all the way
I so want a free T-shirt !
Pick me! pick me

The astronaut is the best design, by far, but I'm voting for the underdog, the zen acrobat dog.
What a cool dog.
Look at him, just chilling there, while balancing on a ball.
So much cooler than the loser robot. Four arms, open mechanical eyes and he still manages to drop a ball.

Astronaut Retro-coolness can't be beat!

I think the bear looks best. But the astronaut is cool because it looks like he's actually juggling those balls.

Or Jeremy, do the market research and find out what of the acceptable options is the more popular...

Seems like the Neatoama-naut is going to be the one!

ASTRONAUT!!! Bayb, he rawks. : )