I found out about the contest through DesignBay. Here’s the info they supplied:

Mana is a polynesian word with the following definition:

1. A supernatural force believed to dwell in a person or sacred object.

2. Power; authority.

I’m looking for a logo that represents the definition above and conveys power, strength and authority. However, I’m not looking for anything harsh or angry like a closed fist or a hammer. I also do not want anything focused on supernatural or sacred. Nothing with religious connotations.

Logo text: Mana Partners

Mana Partners is a small company that does business consulting for internet entrepreneurs. Our clients are primarily startups but include established and public companies as well. That said, I’m not concerned about our logo purveying the specifics of what we do.

Must Have:
Obviously our logo will be used on our website, letterhead, business cards, etc. Therefore it must work in large form and small.

Should Not Have:
I prefer to let designers do what they do best without too many restrictions. I would prefer the logo to not be too complicated or too colorful.

This was my submission. It was 1 of 29 total.

The word mana reminded me of a video game I played a lot as a kid: The Secret of Mana. There are mana seeds in the game that you have to find and seal. The seeds, if I remember correctly, were manifestations of mana, but wouldn’t look all that great in a logo. Final Fantasy VII’s concept of materia is similar to the concept of mana and the materia looks cooler. So I had materia in mind when I designed this logo.

Moral of the Story:

Let your kids play video games; it could bring them inspiration in the future and make them a lot of money.