[opensuse-artwork] openSuSE distribution branding rules
Like mentioned earlier on this list, designing is not only done internaly anymore. Community members have in some part taken over tasks for designing and delivering the artwork for the opensuse distribution. Now I notice a problem for suse as one of the major respected Linux disrtibutions in the world. Designing for branding is (parly) done for the artistic looks making the branding a lesser concern. Regarding this, I like to point at the current branding for 10.3. For some unknown reason a designer liked to drop the offical chameleon branding in favor of his/her own design. But not only was a new chameleon introduced, it is also mixed with the official chameleon branding in the installation and booting processes and the new chameleon is used in different forms. (openSUSE bug 263881) We can discuss the artwork, but since this is about branding I feel strongly for discussing and setting rules about branding logos like the chameleon can be replaced. Not to mention how to save the current proposed branding for 10.3 to be more focused on the already solid and transparent branding for users / consumers. Imho branding is about how users / customers recognize, visually feel and value a distribution. Branding is not primary about producing beautifull artwork but placing a very solid brand experience. It is used to form the distribution experience for users / customers as a whole, lesser just subdistributions. I propose to set groundrules for openSUSE distribution branding, for now in respect to the already strongly founded branding logo's and styles used in 10.2, 10.1. With these groundrules set we then should have paved the path for artistic freedom and play without hurting the branding. Probably by use of also some rules how to propose and accept new branding logo's and styles. I like to hear from all who are concerned how the openSUSE disitribution will further place it's branding in the world. Dunes ___________________________________________________________ Yahoo! Mail is the world's favourite email. Don't settle for less, sign up for your free account today http://uk.rd.yahoo.com/evt=44106/*http://uk.docs.yahoo.com/mail/winter07.htm... -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-artwork+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-artwork+help@opensuse.org
Ahh, ok, I saw the new chameleon. It looks damn good I must add. (boot process image) And yes, I think we need to define new rules, but for branding I believe we should not stop every artwork idea completely. We must use some voting scheme, which will be simple for normal artwork and more complex (require more community votes) for branding change. (and Novell agreement too) That is, the SuSE chameleon was changed several times from SUSE 7.0 to 10.0 releases, so I believe this could be changed with new artwork in new release, but I believe that we must use some voting mechanisms for that. I think that stopping branding modifications completely is wrong, and it will result in ugly artwork *and* branding. I believe the rules must define acceptable way for brand evolution, as it occured from SUSE 7.x to the 10.x series. -- -Alexey Eremenko "Technologov" -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-artwork+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-artwork+help@opensuse.org
Ack, so I lose the reply-to game again.
On 4/26/07, Alexey Eremenko
That is, the SuSE chameleon was changed several times from SUSE 7.0 to 10.0 releases, so I believe this could be changed with new artwork in new release, but I believe that we must use some voting mechanisms for that.
No way; artwork decisions should definitely _not_ be done democratically, neither should any distribution be run thusly. This should be left to the experts. Needless to say I've also completely lost hope in democratic procedures while making decisions in distributions after the slogan 'contest' ;-) -- Francis Giannaros Web: http://francis.giannaros.org IRC: apokryphos on irc.freenode.net -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-artwork+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-artwork+help@opensuse.org
On Thu, 2007-04-26 at 08:55 +0300, Alexey Eremenko wrote:
And yes, I think we need to define new rules, but for branding I believe we should not stop every artwork idea completely. We must use some voting scheme, which will be simple for normal artwork and more complex (require more community votes) for branding change. (and Novell agreement too)
Hi Alexey,
I don't think voting will get us anywhere. People's taste vary a lot and
if you average the tastes you end up in something worse than it sounds.
What we do need is the generic brand/logo guide to define what is
allowed and what isn't. While building boundaries may seem like it makes
our life harder, it does lead to creating a strong visual identity
that's needed even fora community-driven Linux distribution.
The key problem on the bootsplash theme[1] is not the designer's* take
on the distro's mascot, Geeko. It's how the new character interacts /
interferes with the official logotype.
I've started on the openSUSE brand guide[2] to better define the logo
treatment. Obviously it's nowhere complete at this point with lots of
lose ends. I'm still waiting for the svn repository on Novell Forge to
be created, so the links are dead for now. The major open issue on my
mind right now is shading and effects -- do we want to allow people to
add dropshadows, make the logo glass shiny, brushed metal and all the
bling things people tend to love? My take on it is that we shouldn't do
that with the official logo, but allow such interpretations for the
Geeko button.
I'm cc:ing David Groom, the director of brand communications of Novell
to help with relation of the openSUSE brand to the Novell brand. The
logo page up on novell.com seems to provide a few web buttons combining
the secondary Novell 'N' graphic with the chameleon's head. Do we want
to communicate the link between Novell and openSUSE in such a prominent
way?
In addition the current wiki seems to be using green shades currently
undefined on the novell.com or innerweb pages (355 C, 366 U). David?
I wouldn't demotivate people experiment with the mascot. Something like
the chameleon samurai may not end up in the default styling, but it does
have a potential building the link with the distro's main audience -
wide home user community.
[1] http://en.opensuse.org/Branding_Overview:os10.3:Bootsplash
[2] http://en.opensuse.org/Artwork:Brand
* I enjoy talking about myself in 3rd person :)
--
Jakub Steiner
On Thursday 26 April 2007 06:14, Jakub Steiner wrote: ...
[1] http://en.opensuse.org/Branding_Overview:os10.3:Bootsplash [2] http://en.opensuse.org/Artwork:Brand
Jakub, the colon signs in the article title should be avoided in Mediawiki. They are used to define namespace and only first has meaning. There is small number of predefined (22) namespaces. Empty article search will list them all: http://en.opensuse.org/Special:Search?search=&go.x=12&go.y=4&go=Go The idea to add more was discussed on opensuse-wiki mail group, but discussion is stalled. I guess because of plans for layout overhaul. The Artwork seems to be one of good candidates for own namespace. BTW, splash looks really good. -- Regards, Rajko. http://en.opensuse.org/Portal -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-artwork+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-artwork+help@opensuse.org
Rajko M. kirjoitti seuraavasti::
BTW, splash looks really good.
Indeed, it looks awesome. Good work! -- Jan-Olof 'Osku' Eriksson http://opensuse.fi -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-artwork+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-artwork+help@opensuse.org
On 4/26/07, Jakub Steiner
My take on it is that we shouldn't do that with the official logo, but allow such interpretations for the Geeko button.
I agree that the specific main logo should not be modified/deformed etc in such a way, but being able to only modify the Geeko button is perhaps too restrictive, I think.
I'm cc:ing David Groom, the director of brand communications of Novell to help with relation of the openSUSE brand to the Novell brand. The logo page up on novell.com seems to provide a few web buttons combining the secondary Novell 'N' graphic with the chameleon's head. Do we want to communicate the link between Novell and openSUSE in such a prominent way?
I would _definitely_ disagree with this; I think the red and green are far too contrasting/awkward and such a thing would steer a little too much attention towards Novell instead of openSUSE. openSUSE should get all the attention.
I wouldn't demotivate people experiment with the mascot. Something like the chameleon samurai may not end up in the default styling, but it does have a potential building the link with the distro's main audience - wide home user community.
I think this is indeed very important as well. Kind thoughts, -- Francis Giannaros Web: http://francis.giannaros.org IRC: apokryphos on irc.freenode.net -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-artwork+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-artwork+help@opensuse.org
On 4/25/07, q uestion
Like mentioned earlier on this list, designing is not only done internaly anymore. Community members have in some part taken over tasks for designing and delivering the artwork for the opensuse distribution.
Now I notice a problem for suse as one of the major respected Linux disrtibutions in the world. Designing for branding is (parly) done for the artistic looks making the branding a lesser concern.
Regarding this, I like to point at the current branding for 10.3. For some unknown reason a designer liked to drop the offical chameleon branding in favor of his/her own design. But not only was a new chameleon introduced, it is also mixed with the official chameleon branding in the installation and booting processes and the new chameleon is used in different forms. (openSUSE bug 263881)
We can discuss the artwork, but since this is about branding I feel strongly for discussing and setting rules about branding logos like the chameleon can be replaced. Not to mention how to save the current proposed branding for 10.3 to be more focused on the already solid and transparent branding for users / consumers.
Imho branding is about how users / customers recognize, visually feel and value a distribution. Branding is not primary about producing beautifull artwork but placing a very solid brand experience. It is used to form the distribution experience for users / customers as a whole, lesser just subdistributions.
I propose to set groundrules for openSUSE distribution branding, for now in respect to the already strongly founded branding logo's and styles used in 10.2, 10.1. With these groundrules set we then should have paved the path for artistic freedom and play without hurting the branding. Probably by use of also some rules how to propose and accept new branding logo's and styles.
I like to hear from all who are concerned how the openSUSE disitribution will further place it's branding in the world.
There are already some guidelines in place, you might want to take a look at them: http://en.opensuse.org/Artwork:Guidelines If you're taking about branding with regard to specific logos, then that's something undefined as of yet. I think you err when you presuppose that alternative logos are necessarily detrimental. To the excess this would indeed be harmful since the distribution would lose some identity, but a change like this (where it's still a chameleon, still a geeko) is probably a little over cautious. As Benji has mentioned to me, other companies (Microsoft, Ubuntu) do this as well and quite successfully. A modification in logo can give a refreshing, updated and contemporary look. I think the point you raise is understandable, but I'm not convinced that it has to be an absolute. Kind thoughts, -- Francis Giannaros Web: http://francis.giannaros.org IRC: apokryphos on irc.freenode.net -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-artwork+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-artwork+help@opensuse.org
participants (6)
-
Alexey Eremenko -
Francis Giannaros -
Jakub Steiner -
opensuse.fi -
q uestion -
Rajko M.