Theartoftrent, I gave you positive, constructive feedback. But your subsequent design was not an improvement (I thought the cursive font you wrote my name in was quite tacky). And three stars is hardly a winning entry. I was MORE than happy to pay out the prize for a deserving winning entry. Just because entries have been submitted, does not require a winner to be declared. And as MelonSoda commented, the quality level of most entries was incredibly low. Attacking me on here for honestly expressing that I felt none of the entries was up to scratch is hardly productive, nor professional. My prize offered was double what many people are offering on here and very fair. I used to work in advertising and know full well what it costs to hire graphic designers for branding. This site appears to cater more to entry level or student designers, and it's a great forum for work for them. I couldn't have been more clear in my brief and subsequent comments about what I wanted. In the end it comes down to a matter of taste.

Thanks for your comment Melonsoda. Yes it is the pin that I like, not the rest of the design. But so far, none of the entries have come close to something which I would consider awarding $400 to, which is why I have not guaranteed the contest.

I don't just want a nice note and well designed pin, I'm looking for a high quality, thoughtfully designed 'stamp' logo. Just as I've described in my brief. Unfortunately nothing submitted so far is even close to the quality I'm after.

Thanks for the link kewlibra. does this mean it can't be used? it doesn't say on the page if someone owns copyright over the pushpin design.

So far, the only designer who has captured the red map pin the way that I want it is Grafpixels. None of the other pins have enough dimension. I'm seeing a lot of notes and logos that look very computer generated, when I'm looking for something more organic and natural. Look to the graph/square ruled paper sample I uploaded to my brief. If you're using the square ruled paper, it should be very small, quite faint squares, like in the sample. Thanks.