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