Where in the World Are You?
You spoke. I listened. I awarded the winning prize for the Funky Brown Chick logo contest at 99designs to a designer with the username marianaa. She created the logo (pictured below) for which most of you voted! I’ll upload it to the site header sometime this weekend or next week. In the meantime, I wanted to know more about marianaa, so I contacted her for a tiny Q&A. In case you were curious about the mysterious designer, too, here’s an excerpted inside scoop:
What’s the story behind your username (marianaa)? What’s your real name?
Mariana Alvarez. That’s why it’s mariana a.
99designs says their site has almost 29,000 designers who’ve submitted 1,398,691 designs for various contests, winning more than $4 million in prize money. Presumably, not everyone lives in the US. Where do you live?
I live in Montevideo, Uruguay. It is in South America, in the middle of Argentina and Brazil. Here in Uruguay, like in Argentina, we are all descendant from Europeans, since 1900s immigrants.
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Okay. Unfortunately, I don’t know much about Uruguayan people, food or culture. But, I’m a soccer fan. You guys were in the World Cup. Yay Uruguay! Tell me more about you. For example, why do you like design?
I’ve loved to draw since I was a child. So when I had to decide what to do, I took this way and I really like it! I also have a lot to learn, I learn every day from others designers.
Great! If someone sees the logo you made for me (above), loves it and wants to pay you to make a logo for them, how should they contact you?
They can contact me by mail anytime at [mariana.alagarde on gmail]. I work from home, full time :)
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So, there you have it! Q&A with Mariana Alvarez. Not only is she an interesting and talented designer, working with her was an absolute pleasure. Now, tell me about YOU, dear reader — since you guys are the lovely people who voted for her. Please use the comment section below to tell me where you’re sitting right now. For example, I’ll start: I’m in New York. I’m sitting in from in my computer in Midtown Manhattan, and I’m excited about meeting my friend Sexy Schultzy for lunch later to day. Where are you?


March 5th, 2009 at 12:16 pm
I’m working on a screenplay in Brooklyn (Clinton Hill/Bed-Stuy).
March 5th, 2009 at 12:39 pm
I’m sitting on the couch in my apartment in Maastricht.
March 5th, 2009 at 1:37 pm
I’m just busy with some small work on my laptop, sitting on the dinnertable in Alkmaar , the Netherland
Greetz Kees B ( brownie ) @ (te ) Alkmaar
March 5th, 2009 at 2:53 pm
I am taking a break while working for Ford Motor Company in Dearborn, MI. Shhh its a secret. But I LOVE the new logo!
March 5th, 2009 at 3:56 pm
About to curl up with some superb erotica;)
March 5th, 2009 at 4:43 pm
I’m sitting on the sofa at home in NC, revising a few of my articles.
Congrats to marianaa!
I luv the logo! Very chic!~LexiB.
March 5th, 2009 at 4:50 pm
I’m sitting at my desk eagerly awaiting the arrival of 5:15 so I can flee and have drinks with my favorite funky brown chick.
Yay, Mariana! I love the new logo. Makes me want a contest too and maybe a new banner. I’m way darker than you, well not skin tone, but you know what I mean…
March 5th, 2009 at 5:36 pm
catching a wave at Huntington Beach….. then dining at Pink’s or Puck’s….. then
roll myself on to Sunset to do my 10:00 pm studio gig…….
followed by chasing Daylight home…… to catch a wave…. all over again….
lamesabassman…… ” catch a wave and you’re sittin’ on top of the world…. “
March 5th, 2009 at 8:57 pm
I am in my apartment in Milan planning a girls dinner tomorrow night…
March 6th, 2009 at 10:06 am
Love the logo!
I’m in North-West London
March 6th, 2009 at 10:42 am
I’m the Big Green Bird in Nerdville, USA.
March 6th, 2009 at 12:50 pm
I’m in Detroit…looking at the sun shine out my window..what a lovely day it is…
March 7th, 2009 at 5:25 pm
Nice logo.
I am in my bedroom buming around in the web, Szczecin, North-West Poland.
March 9th, 2009 at 10:07 pm
I’m in Virginia .. just returned home from VOCAL, Virginia Organization of Composers And Lyricists open mic night… trying to find a musical partner for my poetry/lyrics… love the logo Funky Brown!