This makes almost no sense, because I can't tell you what this is for, but I'm curious which of the following two designs you like better. Unfortunately, this is for a side project which I can't yet announce, so I can't share too many of the design goals here. These are competing for a position at the top of a website. Only one of them will actually be used, though it's not too late for me to start a new design based on feedback. So tell me what each one makes you think, or feel, or want to cut with knives.

The final would have a bit of text set on top of it.