Re: [libreoffice-design] LibO banner

Hullo Design!


On 1/28/2011 4:38 PM, David Nelson wrote:
> Hi Ron, :-)
content "snipped"
> I'll definitely post all your work on the libreoffice.org site, as I
> mentioned before, but would just like to see a green light from
> Christoph and the guys, beforehand, in case any slight alterations are
> requested. If they don't respond after a few days then I'll take it as
> a go.
I'm sorry to be a pain, but can we put a quick freeze on the 
banner-approval?
I never like slowing down work but I think the banners need refining 
before they become publicly available.

There are few pieces of feedback I'd just quickly like to blitz through;

The banners on this page; 
http://wiki.documentfoundation.org/Marketing/Branding/Banner_Proposals
incorporate style elements we've previously discussed as being 
detrimental to the desired look and feel of the brand.
Namely, the use of a glossy sheen effect along the top and the 
over-powering saturated colours.
We should really try and stick to the simple/plain feel of paper, and 
drop the shiny web2.0 effects.
That was a trend, not an enduring mark of quality design. Definitely not 
something to base an identity off.

The proposals further down the page are slightly more conservative but 
they don't show a respectful use of negative space.
The logo basically occupies as much height as there is available in that 
space.
I've seen a couple of examples of this, the CD label is another; You 
don't have to stretch the logo so it covers all the available space.
In fact, it's infinitely better if we /don't/. Empty space should be 
preserved, not just because the logo guidelines say so...
but because it is a mark of maturity in a brand that uses empty space well.

The logo is a logo! not a Design motif! or a background element! it 
shouldn't be the largest design element on ANYTHING!
Only overzealous marketing fanatics ever want to see this. An OpenSource 
organisation, especially, should be a bit more humble.

This is what Microsoft office uses as their banner;
http://www1.partnerinfo.lenovo.com/us/en/images/microsoft_office_banner_940x180.jpg
You can mock them if you're game but THAT is quality design. And they 
understand the value of space.
We might make better software, but we are LIGHT YEARS behind the game in 
design.
You don't believe me right? well here's a lotus notes banner;
http://www-10.lotus.com/ldd/insidelotusblog.nsf/dx/IBMLotusNotDom8signature4a.gif/$file/IBMLotusNotDom8signature4a.gif
I'm pretty sure you're seeing a pattern. (But I'll admit, even this 
banner has an ugly fat logo overpowering the balance)

I HATE criticising without contributing, so I've uploaded a very 
haphazard banner here;
http://wiki.documentfoundation.org/File:LibO_Banner.jpg
It's FAR from perfect, but it conveys a point. It uses the icon Ivan 
linked to in a previous post;
http://itweek.deviantart.com/art/Knob-Buttons-Toolbar-icons-73463960
and not much else.

Can we have a bit of iteration before one of these goes live?
The MimeType icons deprived Bernhard, Christoph, Jaron and Paulo of 
sleep for WEEKS, before it was "official".
Every Design element we make inconsistently now will increase the amount 
of effort to get it overturned and improved later.
Does anyone remember a certain seagull-shaped logo that stubbornly held 
it's decrepit ground?

I hope this gets interpreted as helpful feedback and not b!tching/lecturing.
I'm just genuinely concerned about what we put out for the public to 
see. And a lot of people might see these.
Sorry if I came across rude; no sleep.
And sorry Ron, I'm not having a go at you, it's just a touchy matter?

-Nik





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