The Maqam Center

[peacock]

I'd be happy with Majicat.com. I think that's the best solution because we're all paying on behalf of Majicat. Or maybe "The Majicatters."

[flemmishfangent]

IF IT4S POSSIBLE JUST MY FIRST NAME IS FINE
OTHEREWISE MAYBE FRIENDS OF MAJICAT

[suncatcher]

Apr 3, 2011 11:44:23 GMT -5 @sabina said:

Apr 3, 2011 0:10:29 GMT -5 suncatcher said:

Oh, and I just noticed that it's Centre, not Center. Sorry for all the times I spelled it the wrong way!

:)Hi @sun...you are not spelling it the wrong way its just one of those 'you say tomato I say tomayto' spellings...like colour/color etc ......no need for apology....!!.

Oh, thank you, Sabina. I can always count on you to make me feel better!

[richina]

Apr 4, 2011 13:17:40 GMT -5 flemmishfangent said:

IF IT4S POSSIBLE JUST MY FIRST NAME IS FINE
OTHEREWISE MAYBE FRIENDS OF MAJICAT

I second that Regine!

[suncatcher]

Apr 4, 2011 7:44:32 GMT -5 JaneB said:

In the meantime if you could send me exactly what you hope to be printed on the tiles I can run this by my colleague.

Kind Regards,
Mohamad Habashi

Yusuf Islam Foundation
PO BOX 66318
London NW6 9PX


While not definite, it doesn't look like we will be able to have the names of the individual contributors engraved on the tile. Since we do not yet know the number of characters allowed, it might be a good idea to think of a few different options while we wait.

Jane,
It's so wonderful that the Maqam Centre responded in such a nice way. Thank you for keeping us informed.

Don't mean to be nagging about the "logo", but if we're adopting the "Prominently placed tile with name engraving and/or company logo", can't we have a logo? And isn't a logo just a little picture? So, why not something like this, with majicat.com so people can find us, and with our names added if it's allowed?



This is the best I could do on photobucket. I don't like all the borders around the face of Cat Stevens, and would remove them if I could. Anyway, this is just the idea, just something to maybe start with.

We could use a different logo if we get more ideas to choose from. Also, I wonder if the font is pre-selected by the engraver, or if we can choose our own.

When we all agree on what we want, we can make a final version to submit to the Maqam Centre, with our names added if possible.

Any thoughts?

[suncatcher]

On the other hand, if we went with just the names, people would have to tell Jane the exact name they'd prefer, and the anonymous donors would have to decide if they want to have their names engraved on the tile or not. Then Jane could forward the list of names to Mr. Habashi.

We could create an example of how to engrave the tile with all the names. Here are the majicat names I can find in this thread (my apologies if I missed anyone), in alphabetical order.

Is there anyone who knows how to make this look professional? I did it on photobucket, and it's not great - just a suggestion. I do wonder if we can choose the style and size of the font, especially since I think the names should be a bit smaller than "The Friends of Majicat.com".




Personally, I prefer it without the names - less busy, and then the tile simply represents all of majicat, which seems nicer to me. Just a thought - I''ll happily go with what the majority prefers, of course.

[JaneB]

Thanks, Sun - you've been busy! Do we think the engraver will be able to engrave a face?

The email I received stated "The tiles and engraving will follow a uniformed format for aesthetic purposes." That seems to indicate all will use the same font.

I agree with Sun - I prefer it without the names. It looks neater and cleaner.

[suncatcher]

Apr 4, 2011 16:16:48 GMT -5 JaneB said:

Thanks, Sun - you've been busy! Do we think the engraver will be able to engrave a face?

The email I received stated "The tiles and engraving will follow a uniformed format for aesthetic purposes." That seems to indicate all will use the same font.

I agree with Sun - I prefer it without the names. It looks neater and cleaner.

If the face is in black and white (I think it's called "inkpad" on photobucket) I don't see how it's any different than any other logo, but we'd have to ask them to know for sure. And though I hate to bring it up, we'd have to make sure we use an image that belongs to us, and has no one else's copyright. So, if majicatters like the idea of Cat's face, we need personal photo submissions, or photos from the public domain. Is that too complicated? Maybe Marky can help?

And I agree, it seems like one font style and size, period. I guess we should ask to be sure?

[richina]

I really do love the face....great idea Sun! Maybe Christine could help with logo ideas too.

What about

"FRIENDS OF MAJICAT".
established 1999

I think someone who's interested can always Google Majicat and find us that way.

[JaneB]

You let me know what you want me to send to Mr. Habashi and I will send it. I don't know if I have the time to drive us to a consensus on this. Some people feel strongly about having our names on it, others don't.

I like what Richina proposed above - with or without a logo.

[richina]

I wouldn't mind names if they were printed small beneath our main part.
I go more for first names as opposed to screen names.
I do wish we had some cool logo though!
I think we have time don't we Jane? They've still got to raise 3 million pounds to finish the building!
I really wish Yusuf (or some of his close peeps) would weigh in on this and give us some insight.
Hullo....anybody listening?

Just my itty-bitty "2 little cents"...
or is that "too little sense"? ;D

[aurarisma]

I think our first names and at the bottom of the names in center.. Majicatters I wonder if a website logo will be permitted .... I like our first names or our initials and then Of Majicat.com ( if possible)

Christina~Jane~ Martina~
G-One~Richina~Peacock
Regine~Andrea~Sun~
~Friends of Majicat~

like that but I dont know everyones birth name sorry!! xo

[JaneB]

Apr 4, 2011 18:30:46 GMT -5 richina said:

I wouldn't mind names if they were printed small beneath our main part.
I go more for first names as opposed to screen names.
I do wish we had some cool logo though!
I think we have time don't we Jane? They've still got to raise 3 million pounds to finish the building!
I really wish Yusuf (or some of his close peeps) would weigh in on this and give us some insight.
Hullo....anybody listening?

Just my itty-bitty "2 little cents"...
or is that "too little sense"? ;D

I just meant I personally won't have time to wrangle all the ideas and get us to a consensus. I got tasked with a huge project at work and while it will be fun, it will be taking all of my time, especially since I will be gone for 2 weeks next month.

I like aurarisma's idea, too. This is not going to be easy

[ilovemycat]

I would go with the consensus - but I think I would like my name (Andrea) instead of ilovemycat. I prefer no names though.

I wish we could use a font that mimics the font Christine uses for this site - and for a logo, I think it could allude to Cat/Yusuf's music without spelling it out. Maybe something symbollic from one of his albums? He seems to love his peace sign - is that too played out? I think it should have a 70's vibe. I wonder if he would mind if we used his artwork from an album or something?

[peacock]

If names are used, please use Pamela for me instead of peacock.

RE logo ideas . . . how about the VW Bus front? Or something musical - a guitar perhaps?

Have you guys ever seen an example of the tile they're talking about? I've seen engraved bricks - there really isn't much room on them.

Here's a site that makes a mock-up of a tile so you can play around with it. It doesn't seem to allow for logos, though. www.royalehouse.com/

[peacock]

An example I made up from the web site mentioned above.

Attachments:

[suncatcher]

Okay, here are the possibilities so far.

This one tries to incorporate everyone's ideas, except that I use the Arial font (which doesn't look that great), since I don't know what font the engraver will allow. Unfortunately, photobucket puts FRIENDS OF MAJICAT on two lines, though we want it on one. If people suggest different logos, we can try them instead of the face of Cat, so if anyone has a logo to suggest, please do so:



And this is Richina's suggestion, without names, cut off a little, but we can still get the idea:



And the same, but with majicat.com, so people will know it's a website:



And this is Richina's, without logo or names:



And this is Christina's (done before Andrea said she preferred Andrea to ilovemycat):



If we use names, we need to know all the names to be included.

And we would like to like to know the font that the engraver will use and if we can use different sizes of the font.

And we need to know if we can do a logo, such as the face of Cat.

Should we ask these things before sending the Maqam Centre what we think we want, or should we send them the ideas and our questions at the same time?

I'm not sure I like the "Established 1999" line. Any other opinions on this? Anymore suggestions?


And here, a nice and simple one based on Pamela's suggestion (and my favorite so far):

[suncatcher]

I love this, Pamela! Maybe it's best to skip the logo.



Sorry I used peacock before you said Pamela. It seems that the majority agree on not using names, and so many names are probably not allowed by the engraver, so maybe we can stop trying to incorporate them into the design?

I really like clear and simple. Still not sure about the Est. 1999 thing, but it's fine with me if everyone else likes it.

[suncatcher]

Oh, what a wonderful site, Pamela. And they do do logos!





So maybe we should take Andrea's and your suggestions and keep looking for logos.

[ilovemycat]

how come I cant upload anything?

Attachments:

[suncatcher]

This is adorable, Andrea. Made me smile. Thank you!



Gotta go to sleep now. See everyone tomorrow. Keep brainstorming. I think we're getting somewhere, so thank you to everyone for their input.

Peace,
~Sun~

[marky49]

I don't know what this means: "a uniformed format for aesthetic purposes"...
but I like "Friends of Majicat.com" and if possible the first names.

[JaneB]

I love the mock-ups that Sun has above! I am fine with whatever the majority wants - names or no names. We need to include Meg (rubylove25) and a new contributor, Dale ("elad.") How do we get everyone's opinion on these?

[ilovemycat]

Maybe you could ask what "uniform" implies so that we have an idea of how this is supposed to look? Can he show us a few tiles that have already been etched?

I like Sun's last one the best too - but I am not sure how Yusuf would feel about having his face on a tile at the Center - it might be too much attention on him? Just a thought - not that I don't love the way it looks - it's beautiful.

[JaneB]

I am going to send the first and last of Sun's mock-ups above - just to see what they say. Otherwise we have no idea as to how close or far we are from what is possible.

I'll let you know what I hear.

[aurarisma]

if we have a choice between logos and names I go with the names I think that would be logo enough.
our names and then at bottom
friends of Majicat.com
est.1999

I thought we gathered all the money days ago ? x

[suncatcher]

I think it's good that Jane is running two different versions by the folks at the Maqam Centre, one with names and one without. That way, we'll find out if all the names are allowed or not, and we can proceed from there. Also, for the logo, we can bring and consider different suggestions and decide together which one we want.

Please remember - nothing is written in stone - yet! ;D

Looking forward to hearing from the Maqam Centre,
~Sun~

[suncatcher]

Apr 5, 2011 8:10:12 GMT -5 JaneB said:

I love the mock-ups that Sun has above! I am fine with whatever the majority wants - names or no names. We need to include Meg (rubylove25) and a new contributor, Dale ("elad.") How do we get everyone's opinion on these?

My Suggestions:
We can prepare a list of names for the tile, and everyone can verify their "name for the tile" by quoting and correcting if necessary. Then, if the engraver allows all the names and the majority of us wants to have all the names engraved on the tile, we'll be ready.

We get everyones opinion via this thread, and assume that someone's silence (i.e., no opinion expressed in this thread) means "no objection" and that it's therefore okay to move ahead. I don't think we should use PM's for this because we're trying to openly share our thoughts and come to a group consensus.

This means that if and when the time comes, we'll use the list below and ask each person to vote yes or no for "all names on the tile."

Then, we'll pull together all the suggestions for logos (Cat's face, peace sign, something from an album, front of peace van, etc.), make mock-ups of each, try to narrow down the choices, and then have a vote for the final choice of logo.

Majicat name/name for the tile
aurarisma/Christina
elad/Dale
G-One/Gabi
ilovemycat/Andrea
JaneB/Jane
marky49/Martina
flemmishfangent/Regine
richina/Richina
rubylove25/Meg
peacock/Pamela
suncatcher/suncatcher

[suncatcher]

Apr 5, 2011 3:28:36 GMT -5 marky49 said:

I don't know what this means: "a uniformed format for aesthetic purposes"...
but I like "Friends of Majicat.com" and if possible the first names.

Apr 5, 2011 9:52:52 GMT -5 ilovemycat said:

Maybe you could ask what "uniform" implies so that we have an idea of how this is supposed to look? Can he show us a few tiles that have already been etched?

I like Sun's last one the best too - but I am not sure how Yusuf would feel about having his face on a tile at the Center - it might be too much attention on him? Just a thought - not that I don't love the way it looks - it's beautiful.

I think Jane already emailed the Maqam people, but this is a good suggestion, and maybe we can ask in the next email(?).

And I also wonder if Yusuf would mind his face engraved in stone. So, we need to try other ideas for logos as well. I'm busy today, but I'll start looking for guitars, peace signs, and so on, and any majicatter (on our list or not) is invited to please post suggestions for logos. They have to be non-copyrighted, public domain type images, or your own personal ones that you're willing to donate. Maybe Christine has some images owned by majicat? Maybe we can get something from Yoriyos (e.g., front of peace van). Didn't someone here once communicate with him via facebook and actually get a response?

Looking forward to some good suggestions.

Peace,
~Sun~

[rubylove25]

I like our "real" name suggestion - dont want to be picky here but not ALL majicatters have contributed