₦airaland Forum

Barack Obama will have more flexibility in his second term, according to Vladmir, so maybe he'll be able to do more for blacks if re-elected.

mashnino: Seun dis one nko?

It's much better. Very striking. But it can still be improved.

@adewasco2k:
[img]https://www.nairaland.com/attachments/874458_Untitled-1_png19a6a9085bc66dde26a8720afef6f892[/img]
I love your imagery. It flatters Tonto Dike and it makes it obvious that your ad is about music. However, the rainbow colouring of your text makes it hard to get the gist of your message. Some of the colors are hard to distinguish from the background, too. I hope you can fix those issues because I love your imagery here.

@ayo84:
Sorry about the delay. I love the fact that your borders and text are nice, though your text could be clearer and sharper still with some tweaks.

www.nairaland.com/attachments/873539_army_pngaca91c1737af1364af2a417bae7e3561
I think cutting off the officer's face is a mistake, because people are attracted to faces. Also, the ad did nothing to convince me to apply.

www.nairaland.com/attachments/873540_football_png0a232ed4867b3be39b472d42f2f657ba
Not bad, but your ad does not tell me when the match will take place or the name of the competition. Also, "Football match" is redundant since the "vs" already tells us it's a match and the picture of the football tells us it's a football match. You should not include redundant details in the format since we're trying to take advantage of the tiny space.

www.nairaland.com/attachments/873541_gulder_png9e521e167a1dce31ceed2704ed1dded3
I love the style; it's quite original. But nothing about it encourages me to watch the show. Some information about when I can watch it would help, too.

www.nairaland.com/attachments/873542_TONTO2_png0fa57fdb2697d8dc32b530b377a99ae8
I love the Tonto Dike picture chosen, and your simple style, but I don't understand why you added skyscrapers instead of musical images!

You're one of the first contestants to fully comply with the rules of the contest. You deserve lots of kudos for that. Thanks!!

@3direct: What are you "mchew"-ing about?

@baggy4luv:
www.nairaland.com/attachments/873238_NL7_pngb42002e55e3439503c5da7a2f59324b8
You need a dark single pixel border.

@yorme:
www.nairaland.com/attachments/873285_progra_png9b28c7637d26584bd11e8270b95c02b6
Better, but the font size used for "nairaland.com/programming" is too small to read, and I think the border doesn't blend well with the ad.

www.nairaland.com/attachments/873205_tonto_dike_png2fe6cde21ea4bfdb94ead624416740fd
Better contrast but: I don't want to listen to Tonto DIke's songs because she's frowning at me. Why is she frowning at me? The LISTEN NOW font is faint.

www.nairaland.com/attachments/873206_nig_LIB2_png93ef936047b34c8f9ddbf2bc4ad51cf2
Better, but the important details are not bold enough. You should consider using Georgia instead of Times New Roman if your text is tiny.


@erad:
www.nairaland.com/attachments/873304_znairaland_banner2_pnge932162d1be437be37515dc8edd1916a
The concept is good, but this entry is unacceptable because your border is not a single pixel border and your text is not razor-sharp.

www.nairaland.com/attachments/873305_zmatch_banner2_png9dfd0d0c6a7266457701e1406eeb79f1
The concept is very good, but your border is not a single pixel border and the font sizes used are too small, making the text unreadable.

www.nairaland.com/attachments/873306_zNDA_banner2_png8d378a9b77f2545a8ddc0a4356e2174b
Good concept, but your border is not a single pixel border.

www.nairaland.com/attachments/873531_zGUS_banner2_png88b71d4bbe665dec6e3a58a25e2fc395
Ditto.

@kenis: have you tried changing the name? Numeric attachment names are not accepted, so please choose a name that is not numeric. Thanks so much!

If you can't upload your attachment, change the name. Numeric attachment names are currently not allowed.

@redcliff: You're good, however your threads have yellow or white borders. Your borders are too light, and that's unacceptable. However,

www.nairaland.com/attachments/873063_GULDER_fw_png86031a707b4ada9ff6808b761dc484ff
This is awesome and unique. I wish you found a way to give people a reason to watch it, though.

www.nairaland.com/attachments/873064_MILITARY_fw_pngd6b7c686f43b9d906071b80b3686f327
This is perfectly conceived and composed. However, you need to find a way to make your text bolder and sharper so people can read it.

www.nairaland.com/attachments/873067_PROGRAMMING_fw_png5be7368102c144865f8eafc53912c99d
A typical Nairaland member's response: (1) Why should I learn to code? (2) What is programming?

www.nairaland.com/attachments/873069_SOCCER_fw_png2ba7fa972e3313b633714bd6bfc4d52b
Technically ok, but you can do better.

www.nairaland.com/attachments/873071_tonto_fw_pngf97e9426bd1b45317e4e0758d35f9272
Nice background. Text is sharp but the first line is so tiny that one can't read it. But what happpens when I click and why should I click?

Please fix your borders so I can accept your entries. Make them dark and try to blend them properly. Thanks a million!

@spywareczar: Interesting. I'll review your work when I return. Try reading the other reviews and using the ideas to improve your ads.

@Johnthentic: We require single pixel borders and sharp text. Your entries are hereby rejected. You're encouraged to submit new entries.

@3direct: Your ads are unacceptable. We require single pixel borders and sharp text. The football ad is cute, though, but we can't accept it.

@baggy4luv: Your concepts are good but the aesthetics are poor. I think you're a design novice, just like me. You need to practice for a while.

@yorme:

* Your Gulder Ultimate Search is excellent. I resent your decision to copy the main element from the official site, but you've done a good job.
* Your NDA ad doesn't have a compelling image, and some of the text is tiny and fuzzy, which makes it unreadable. Also, why should I apply?
* Your Match Ad would benefit from some of the changes I suggested earlier to other designers whose match ads I reviewed.
* Your programming ad is quite nice, but it's meaningless to people who don't know the meaning of all those buzzwords. i.e. most people.
* Your Tonto Dike Ad is quite ok, though the contrast could be improved, but it lacks the distinct single pixel border. That's unacceptable!

@rubion: Based on your text, I think you clearly understand what advertising is all about. This is cool.

www.nairaland.com/attachments/872856_NAIRALAND_BANNER_copy_png4808f5a93350444c711eed677f2ab61a
your concept is perfect, the message and the layout, but I'm not a big fan of the colouring style. I think the monochrome style just makes it harder to recognize the Tonto Dike's face. If you can maintain the concept, and perfect the color scheme, this will be really great. Please do some research on how to make your text sharper and clearer, especially for the "MOST VIRAL" area. And make sure you add a distinct single-pixel border.

[img]https://www.nairaland.com/attachments/872857_Untitled-1_copy_png2598c69ed396e353fa03dcf0c1fb0efb[/img]
Excellent text. Basically you're saying "learn to code and become the next Mark Zuckerberg". And you actually have a distinct single pixel border, so this ad is acceptable. However, we have found that ads with relevant images or pictures are clicked far more frequently than ads with just text, because a picture is worth a thousand words, so you should probably think about blending a relevant picture into this excellent package.

@erad:
www.nairaland.com/attachments/872726_ztonto_banner_pngf1b4f815605c786069b66af4df56ca23
Excellent! It's almost perfectly composed, though I feel there's still a bit too much space at the lower right. Though it's often wise not to mess with a good thing, I still wish you would give Nairaland members a reason to download those songs besides the fact that they were released in Tonto Dike's name. However, I have to reject it because it does not have a distinct, dark, single pixel border. I have attached an image that shows what a "distinct single pixel border that's not too light" looks like.

www.nairaland.com/attachments/872727_zmatch_banner_pngea47fd3caf4c26829ed31df5bf684de3
Lots of space, no useful details. Like what sport is being played? When is the match? (6PM on Saturday). Or what competition is it? You cannot win with this.

www.nairaland.com/attachments/872728_zNDA_banner_png1b4e4db41adc51da0281a5823979fe35
The image is not compelling. And while your copy makes it clear that the NDA is recruiting, it will only interest job-seekers with a prior interest in working for them.

www.nairaland.com/attachments/872739_znairaland_banner_png6b1d08831f12a2a6d8d69068629e067a
"Learn to build your very own software" is the best copy so far for the programming ad, but the text is tiny and fuzzy and the image is not inspiring. You can still do much better! Plus, you forgot the distinct single-pixel border again, which is unacceptable.

www.nairaland.com/attachments/872738_zGUS_banner_pnge1523d16ea440ea9dc58d8df51f023b2
You won't get any points for lifting your entire design from their website, particularly when the design you lifted from their website is so ugly. I commend you for including a distinct single-pixel border, but it's too faint.

www.nairaland.com/attachments/873087_zNDA_banner1_png1fba43e8723fb10db249d071de71c7d5
I can't think of specific things to say, but I'm not feeling it. The image of a real soldier is a step in the right direction, though. Bad border too.

www.nairaland.com/attachments/873086_zmatch_banner1_png392c7263297b3bd34aed859e086e991d
Step in the right direction, but the ad looks as if you're advertising a Football Manager Game and not a real life game!

ogzille: @Seun, nice one. Can the 60k advert credit be used to market other products/services?

sisqology: You read my mind

Yes. You can use it to advertise anything that we would normally accept assuming you paid 60k.

mashnino: dis one nko?

[img]https://www.nairaland.com/attachments/872622_Untitled-1_png19a6a9085bc66dde26a8720afef6f892[/img]
* Any particular reason why this pic is black and white? Do you find it more appealing?
* Why is Tonto Dike frowning at me? She's so rude. You know what? I don't want to listen to her hot new singles. Because she's frowning at me.
* Tonto Dikeh's name is not clear in the ad. Your text must be razor-sharp and easy to read and comprehend.
* "Press play" seems wrong since the ad won't be played when you click the ad. how about something based on the word "listen"?
* Technically, though, your ad has all the right elements but you still need to perfect the composition.

sisqology: Oga seun, you haven't reviewed mine

Generally, your text is fuzzy. If you're using Coreldraw or Adobe Illustrator, don't. If you're using Photoshop, use "sharp" text rendering!

www.nairaland.com/attachments/872667_Tonto_pnga22a8cf7c7eb74ab8c0d52757b224796
* The image of Tonto is distorted - it's vertically compressed. That's not acceptable.
* Some of your text is distorted. You used a normal font and compressed it horizontally. You should use a condensed font instead.
* "Too Hot" is a step in the right direction, but you can probably make it more authentic. "Don't Miss Out" is probably not necessary.
* You have to work on the way the elements of your ad are arranged. Keep changing things until you truly believe the ad is perfect!

www.nairaland.com/attachments/872668_Tonto1_pnga98fc5eca06e05ad873e77ba6a11fa69
* I don't understand why the translucent ghost of a dead headphone is floating over Tonto Dike's face. :-)
* Keep working on your composition until it's perfect. Good luck!

Update: Single pixel border missing

@gatelight:
Your concepts are generally good, but the text in your 4 ads are fuzzy. This is not acceptable. Your text must be extremely sharp. Use Photoshop/GIMP/Corel-Photopaint for text, and make sure the text rendering method you selected is the sharpest one available. Your borders are also fuzzy. I will only accept distinct single pixel borders.

www.nairaland.com/attachments/872583_nda_pngf0f446d99b6ade2bf5f378c33135174c
THe NDA logo is not a compelling image, and while many graduates would apply for anything, your ad doesn't give them any specific reason to do so.

www.nairaland.com/attachments/872584_programm_pngcda6e822160a5c4ff333b337d6d4a3ff
* "Prepare your future with your fingers" is certainly better than what other contestants have come up with.
* "visit Nairaland online programming academy" is a waste of valuable space.
* Your background image has a distorted aspect ratio. It's stretched horizontally. That's not acceptable.

www.nairaland.com/attachments/872585_Tonto_pnga22a8cf7c7eb74ab8c0d52757b224796
* The special effect you added to your text just makes it harder to read.
* I don't understand why you included the picture of a white A/C or computer power supply unit in the ad. Can you explain?

www.nairaland.com/attachments/872586_nigelib_pngcecddf8e2d557dde9ce9ef6b220694d0
Fantastic concept. Consider changing "THE CLASH" to "AFCON 2012 Thriller" and "WATCH LIVE" to "4:00PM on Saturday". And make the text & border sharp!

www.nairaland.com/attachments/872587_gulder_png9e521e167a1dce31ceed2704ed1dded3
This is awfully composed, though "follow the exciting adventure" is a decent line. "WATCH!!!" is wronge since the videos are not available online.

@gameaddict:
www.nairaland.com/attachments/872580_nda1_png14183bda2891279eff655cf9d508229c
* There's nothing about the NDA logo that will compel people to want to apply, so including it is probably a waste of valuable space.
* "The NDA wants you" is a decent message, but most people don't care what the NDA wants. They care about what the NDA can do for them!

@baggy4luv:
www.nairaland.com/attachments/872582_NL3_png3a03ffd61e27d4bcd8cb4ef8cce20d90
Your image makes a lot of sense and your copy is quite compelling, though you still need to improve it.
However, your border is not a single pixel border. And your text is very fuzzy. That's unacceptable.

www.nairaland.com/attachments/872602_NDDD_png14bca6d0dda22287007cf74a6f319550
Fuzzy text, fuzzy logo, and the soldier in the image is obviously a US marine. The NDA does not train US marines, as far as I know!!

www.nairaland.com/attachments/872603_NL2_pngfa2d7d76183c942d8e3980e2bb98cdf3
I can't imagine why you would use a different woman's picture to promote Tonto Dike's songs. I also think the ad is not well composed.

@gameaddict:
www.nairaland.com/attachments/872571_soccer2_png911c244ec9d950e1a454a3f6a0b6040c
Your style is original so you'll get points for that. You conveyed the message that this is a football match without using any words. I think the ad should mention the date and time that the match will take place, too, in a concise manner, e.g. "4:00 on Saturday" and also the purpose of the match, if possible "AFCON 2012 Qualifier".

www.nairaland.com/attachments/872576_dike3_png3c224bb88e0341284e16fd5402806c9f
From this ad, it's not clear whether "Hi" and "It's Ova" are songs, movies, books, or Tonto Dike's nicknames. It's not clear that clicking the ad will lead you to a page where you can listen to the songs. And there's no reason given about why I should listen to the songs.

www.nairaland.com/attachments/872577_gulder1_png7b1b79f79bf730d36f547052501de136
Your unique style works here too, but I think there's enough space to try to give people a reason to watch it and tell them how to watch it.

Elgaxton: Im in.... Are to supposed all the details here including pictures and bank account etc?

You're not expected to post your bank account here. You should read the rules again, but more carefully this time.

timbros: Me too. I'm no expert but i do Corel draw more than photoshop. Seun why not corel draw na?

Rhemmymatician: Wanna give it a shot too, but Corel is my forte, so I'd want to know why you are excluding corel....will try it all the same

Text rendered by Coreldraw tends to be fuzzy. But if you use a Graphics program like Adobe Photoshop or GIMP or Corel Photopaint, you can have sharp text. You can use Coreldraw for the designs and backgrounds and then export to Photoshop or Corel Photopaint or GIMP to add the text. That might work better. Sharp text is the goal.

pc guru: ^ banner images not flash banners,but if you can export to gif or jpg which you can sure why not.

Partly correct, but you must not export to GIF or JPG. You must export to 24-bit PNG files that are 154 x 95 pixels and your text must be as extremely sharp.

i'm interested but don't have a web-site, can i enter the contest ... and sweep you off your feet?

Yes you can. The website is optional, but you must post your name and phone number and indicate how much you charge for banner ad design.

Gatelight: mr seun so ow do we submit the designs when completed? pls

Upload them on this thread. Post all the required details and then upload the ads as attachments.

Shollypopz: I should contest just for the heck of it but laziness dey tell me NO

Lazy people are not permitted to participate in this contest. You are hereby disqualified!

Excelboi: Space bookmarked! *reaady to download Adobe illustrator and fireworks*

Frosti: ##opens Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator##

Please don't use Adobe Illustrator for Text. Use Photoshop and use the sharpest text rendering method available. For tiny text, use Verdana/Tahoma/Georgia.

mashnino:
www.nairaland.com/attachments/872601_tontoh_nairaland_pngb4b9539a3370f3495cad9b2c50cd81e3
I like many things about this ad. The clear picture of tonto dike because it will attract eyeballs, and the phrase "new hit singles" because it gives people a reason to listen to the songs. I'm not a big fan of the horizontal white line overlay effect because, while it makes the ad look more sophisticated, I think it makes the ad less likely to be noticed. You're obscuring it. I think the layout of the elements of the ad could be improved, and I think the imagery of the ad should have more to do with music.

Review of 3direct's entries:

- Your image borders are not single pixel. This is a deal breaker. You should use Photoshop, Corel Photopaint, or GIMP. Don't use Coreldraw or Adobe Illustrator.
- Your Tonto Dikeh ad is the best so far, but (a) it's a shame that she's wearing shades in that picture because many people won't recognize her. (b) The play icon is a nice touch, but it may be at the wrong side. (c) There is nothing in your ads to persuade people who are not fans of Tonto Dike or who are not particularly interested in her music click the ads. Why should we listen to the music?
- Your Gulder Ultimate Search images are distorted. The heads of the men have been compressed horizontally. This is unacceptable. The logo could be sharper. And nothing in the ad give me a reason to to be interested in the show if I'm not already a fan.
- Your NDA ad is excellent. Good use of images. But it just tells me to apply, with no reason given.
- The Nigeria vs Liberia ad is quite good, too, but it's not clear at first glance that it's a football match (image vagueness) & some of the text is fuzzy.

Keep working!

UncleJJ: A 24 hour deadline will be announced when I am satisfied with the quality of the entries. So you have at least 24 hours; Maybe more!