Neatorama T-Shirt Design (Help!)



Hooray! Artist extraordinaire and Neatorama pal Adam "Ape Lad" Koford of Hobotopia came up with four great designs for our new Neatorama T-shirt. The problem is, they’re all excellent and I’m having trouble picking one.

So I need your help: which design should be made into the T-shirt? Please vote for your favorite design (Oh, and one lucky commenter will win a free T-shirt when it comes out!)

[poll=6]


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Posted on January 23, 2008 at 8:29 pm by Alex
Category: Neatorama Only



88 Comments to "Neatorama T-Shirt Design (Help!)"

  • Jeremy
    January 23rd, 2008 at 8:38 pm

    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.

  • sal
    January 23rd, 2008 at 8:40 pm

    I vote astronaut.

  • Ali S.
    January 23rd, 2008 at 8:41 pm

    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! :)

  • Ai
    January 23rd, 2008 at 8:43 pm

    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.

  • Ashe
    January 23rd, 2008 at 8:44 pm

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

  • Jen Nollmann
    January 23rd, 2008 at 8:44 pm

    love love love the astronaut!

  • cabooglio
    January 23rd, 2008 at 8:45 pm

    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.

  • Owen
    January 23rd, 2008 at 8:45 pm

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

  • Algonkin
    January 23rd, 2008 at 8:51 pm

    Looks like the astronaut could be a winner Alex

  • duus
    January 23rd, 2008 at 8:52 pm

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

  • Eni
    January 23rd, 2008 at 8:57 pm

    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.

  • Sandra
    January 23rd, 2008 at 9:01 pm

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

  • Wiley
    January 23rd, 2008 at 9:09 pm

    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!

  • Andy3000
    January 23rd, 2008 at 9:15 pm

    Bear! Bear! Bear! I love Ape Lad!

  • Bob
    January 23rd, 2008 at 9:15 pm

    All of these are winners, I think.

  • Alex
    January 23rd, 2008 at 9:16 pm

    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.

  • stacyj
    January 23rd, 2008 at 9:19 pm

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

  • Sergio Eidi
    January 23rd, 2008 at 9:22 pm

    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. :)

  • Iamjake
    January 23rd, 2008 at 9:24 pm

    I like the robot

  • VonSkippy
    January 23rd, 2008 at 9:26 pm

    I think the Robot screams WIN!

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

  • Jim White
    January 23rd, 2008 at 9:32 pm

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

  • Henry
    January 23rd, 2008 at 9:36 pm

    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

  • cabooglio
    January 23rd, 2008 at 9:50 pm

    @ 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.

  • Kei
    January 23rd, 2008 at 9:58 pm

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

  • MaryW
    January 23rd, 2008 at 10:15 pm

    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?

  • Algid
    January 23rd, 2008 at 10:17 pm

    Is MaryW’s writing a joke? She didn’t write “the” a single time. And…the astronaut and dog are the best I think.

  • MaryW
    January 23rd, 2008 at 10:18 pm

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

  • MaryW
    January 23rd, 2008 at 10:23 pm

    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.)

  • Bob C.
    January 23rd, 2008 at 10:24 pm

    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.

  • Kevin A
    January 23rd, 2008 at 10:33 pm

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

  • Michelle
    January 23rd, 2008 at 10:34 pm

    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.

  • Pudifoot
    January 23rd, 2008 at 10:36 pm

    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.

  • m.a.d
    January 23rd, 2008 at 10:36 pm

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

  • donna
    January 23rd, 2008 at 10:38 pm

    I like the squid.

    Whattaya mean, there’s no squid?

    Hmmph. Want a squid.

  • SPIIDERWEB™
    January 23rd, 2008 at 10:40 pm

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

  • ToddP
    January 23rd, 2008 at 10:42 pm

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

  • B.
    January 23rd, 2008 at 10:44 pm

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

  • Chris
    January 23rd, 2008 at 10:48 pm

    I say the astronaut! Pretty neat!

  • MrPumpernickel
    January 23rd, 2008 at 10:48 pm

    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.

  • Miss Cellania
    January 23rd, 2008 at 10:51 pm

    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.

  • Pudifoot
    January 23rd, 2008 at 10:56 pm

    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…..

  • mattytiz
    January 23rd, 2008 at 10:59 pm

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

  • Kathryn
    January 23rd, 2008 at 11:03 pm

    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

  • nat
    January 23rd, 2008 at 11:13 pm

    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.

  • MarkB
    January 23rd, 2008 at 11:56 pm

    While I did pick the bear, it does look like he’s going to drop that N! (Although, “Eatorama”? Hmmm…)

  • leapin leptards
    January 23rd, 2008 at 11:58 pm

    way great designs. who drew ‘em up?

  • leapin leptards
    January 23rd, 2008 at 11:59 pm

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

  • ted
    January 23rd, 2008 at 11:59 pm

    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.

  • MariV
    January 24th, 2008 at 12:12 am

    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.

  • Rammy M
    January 24th, 2008 at 12:42 am

    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.

  • hey!Zeus
    January 24th, 2008 at 1:06 am

    the one with the astronaut is by far the coolest!

  • Eileen
    January 24th, 2008 at 1:32 am

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

  • monique
    January 24th, 2008 at 1:59 am

    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?

  • michael
    January 24th, 2008 at 2:06 am

    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.

  • Mr.Lonka
    January 24th, 2008 at 2:46 am

    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.

  • edhead
    January 24th, 2008 at 3:23 am

    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.

  • L.C.
    January 24th, 2008 at 4:43 am

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

  • clairmonde
    January 24th, 2008 at 4:54 am

    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.

  • Makkelele
    January 24th, 2008 at 7:21 am

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

  • Steve B
    January 24th, 2008 at 7:35 am

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

  • Badjuk
    January 24th, 2008 at 7:42 am

    Astronaut! this is it!

  • ruby
    January 24th, 2008 at 8:55 am

    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!

  • LoyLoy Gupta
    January 24th, 2008 at 9:23 am

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

  • SW
    January 24th, 2008 at 9:50 am

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

  • SW
    January 24th, 2008 at 9:51 am

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

  • Double D
    January 24th, 2008 at 10:11 am

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

  • duus
    January 24th, 2008 at 10:13 am

    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?)

  • Brad
    January 24th, 2008 at 10:51 am

    lol - love that dog…

  • Mark the Lip
    January 24th, 2008 at 12:28 pm

    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

  • neenjha
    January 24th, 2008 at 12:28 pm

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

  • Avital
    January 24th, 2008 at 1:36 pm

    great designs. I’d go with the robot.

  • KiM
    January 24th, 2008 at 2:12 pm

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

  • Brian
    January 24th, 2008 at 2:34 pm

    astronaut, cuz astronauts are cool

  • rawbert
    January 24th, 2008 at 3:19 pm

    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.

  • mexichica85
    January 24th, 2008 at 5:09 pm

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

    Team Robot!

  • :::Cornfed:::
    January 24th, 2008 at 5:36 pm

    The astronaut design is outta this world!

  • asdfqwerty911
    January 24th, 2008 at 6:07 pm

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

  • bl0ss0m
    January 24th, 2008 at 7:26 pm

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

  • gtraylo
    January 24th, 2008 at 9:09 pm

    The neatorama astronaut is by far the best!

  • inkedgal
    January 24th, 2008 at 10:59 pm

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

  • Jon Anderson
    January 24th, 2008 at 11:33 pm

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

  • Erik
    January 25th, 2008 at 12:28 am

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

  • Anonymouse
    January 25th, 2008 at 6:49 pm

    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.

  • aberguy
    January 26th, 2008 at 4:02 pm

    Astronaut Retro-coolness can’t be beat!

  • Hannes
    January 28th, 2008 at 3:58 pm

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

  • Josh
    January 28th, 2008 at 6:51 pm

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

  • Alex
    January 29th, 2008 at 5:00 am

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

  • Richard
    May 11th, 2008 at 5:05 pm

    ASTRONAUT!!! Bayb, he rawks. : )

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