[Members] XMPP Logo (was: Re: Promotion: FOSDEM)

[Matt Tucker]

Jonathan,

Comparing a standards body/protocol to Open Source projects like Linux  
and Firefox isn't a very good analogy. :) There were many goals we had  
when going through the most recent logo project, so maybe it would be  
helpful to list them out:

* Project a more professional image. XMPP/Jabber already has good  
hacker/tinkerer mindshare. The next level of growth is going to depend  
on penetrating companies like Cisco, Facebook, IBM, etc. Plus toys and  
cute animals are fun, but don't help spread the message that XMPP is  
ready for serious investment.
* We wanted something more friendly and better looking than other  
standards bodies. For example, check out the IETF logo on their home  
page (http://www.ietf.org/).
* We wanted a mark that would feel current but that wasn't so trendy  
that it would have to be changed every year (i.e., latest rounded  
corner, drop shadow stuff).
* The logo needs to work when it's large and small so that it can work  
in a bunch of settings.

I personally feel that the latest XMPP logo is great. It's walks the  
right line between being professional and looking dynamic/appealing.

Regards,
Matt

On Nov 26, 2008, at 4:16 AM, Jonathan Schleifer wrote:

> Am 26.11.2008 um 11:21 schrieb jehan:
>
>> But the best of the best are plush toys! Whatever the project is,  
>> this is always what is prefered (look how the Firefox plush toys  
>> have been asked when it disappeared, but also for Tux and others  
>> which are such a success...). Unfortunately with XMPP, we have no  
>> representative animal and I don't know if a light plush toy would  
>> be as nice as a little penguin or Firefox.
>
> Which brings up the following topic: Should we have a new logo?
>
> IMO, yes. Neither the Jabber Blub, nor the XMPP logo (what should  
> that even be? It doesn't look like anything you can define) are  
> compatible with the masses. IMO, we need something that can be made  
> a plush toy of, that has something to do with XMPP (an animal which  
> travels long distances maybe, so maybe some bird? Maybe a carrier  
> pidgeon would suit, as it travels long distances to transport  
> messages, like XMPP). Additionally, a mascot is far better  
> memorizable and recognizable than some strange logo like we have for  
> XMPP.
>
> --
> Jonathan
>