Better branding

[nickisnoble]

• [x] A nice icon exists for the site that can be used for a favicon, or profile links from other services
  • [ ] Can be used in other site's footers eg "this software is organic"
• [ ] We have a chosen color palette, especially a distinctive highlight color

Ideally we continue to use the already licensed @djrrb fonts, contact @nickisnoble for information. (Also, font of the month club is dope)

[nickisnoble]

A "certified organic" badge for other sites to put in their footer would be dope

Reminds me of old site badges, eg "Best viewed in internet explorer"

[pketh]

Kind of reminds me of this Canada arts badge I’ve kept around for inspiration

[nickisnoble]

That's really lovely, in turn, THAT reminds me of the Steve Jobs Archive:

[nickisnoble]

https://www.are.na/nick-noble/osd-av-keuxd3ua

[pketh]

great resource, i'm mostly covid free now and i'll come up w some sketches tomorrrow

[pketh]

here are some super rough quick sketches using the apple clover icon ⌘ as a base and trying to integrate that into a tree or flower design. what do you think of this direction?

[nickisnoble]

@pketh I love where you're going with this, and it's given me some ideas too

Trees, flowers

"Organic" really brings to mind produce, doesn't it? My bookmarks around the product are literally marked 🥬 (🤣)

A tree, for longevity makes sense. But maybe we go for something specific, like trees with deep roots, or maybe even mushrooms (a network of organisms growing together, small)?

I'm not sold on plant material alone, but you've done a really interesting thing by personifying it / turning it into something else!

⌘

The command symbol comes from Swedish campsites, which are marked with Bowen Knots – I think the idea of camping:

• something to do with a small group of friends
• involves making things yourself
• can be cozy

Is the symbol itself too "cult of Mac" centric? (will people see it that way or even notice since it's incorporated?) I don't strongly care, but I imagine there's some organic windows / linux devs out there.

There is a cool 5 pointed version of the bowen knot, that also kinda looks like a little human (it's a Swedish crest):

⩛

The three pronged thing is so iconic, and I really dig that shape. But then I realize where I know it from. Arasaka Corporation, which I think was inspired by Westinghouse.

...both decidedly not organic companies 😅 (even if one is fictional!)

That being said, and this brings back plant stuff, it reminds me of a dandelion seed.

Dandelions are ➊ magical and ➋ represent (to me) diaspora? Like a bunch of people who are part of the same community, but spread out.

Characters

The cuteness factor of these (elves?) is off the chart.

Would people put them in their footer? I'm not sure, but maybe!!

This one is my favorite just generally:

I think they'd be crazy fun to animate (not that I know how, but maybe time to learn)

[nickisnoble]

Another concept: Button buttons

These sketches look like a little thread / knot, and that paired with the ⌘ got me thinking about sewing / mending / making.

So what about a Button button?

If the idea is that this is both a logo for us AND a footer badge for other sites, what if we just asked them to "sew a button" on somewhere?

Buttons are like the only "user serviceable" part of modern clothing, and mending is a very personal experience that turns something you bought into something that really feels yours.

I think it would also naturally make people really curious, and could be adjusted to fit any brand / theme easily.

To stay recognizable, needs:

• four holes (to maybe make a ⌘)
• outer and inner edge

They can express it however they want (almost like how some iOS apps have alternate icons): sketched, skueo, minimal, 3D, etc

And clicking on it would link to their listing on OSD

It would keep the individuality there, it's simple enough that anyone can make one, and brands can have fun with it

[nickisnoble]

Great example of badges from @rknightuk

[pketh]

I like badges and buttons can be cute (here's a fan made kinopio one too )

but I think badges and buttons both aren't as visually flexible with other site designs and have lower minimum sizes of readability.

So in cases where a site might want to have a ui button with the icon, it doesn't look as good to have a box shape for it's own ui button that contains our box shape for the actual button/badge, which doesn't leave much room for the logo inside to be legible.

[pketh]

good pt about arasaka lol

[pketh]

Is the symbol itself too "cult of Mac" centric? (will people see it that way or even notice since it's incorporated?) I don't strongly care, but I imagine there's some organic windows / linux devs out there.

I think if the logo is interesting enough (i.e. part of a flower/plant/etc) on it's own ppl won't notice/care. like you said, it's technically not a mac only thing

[pketh]

took another pass on the tree direction and tried to integrate the ⌘ in a more subtle way. I kinda leaned toward a more tree like shape because it's evocative of something strong/enduring. I'll add more symmetry and detail to the real thing so it'll have less of a cartoony look

[nickisnoble]

@pketh What do you think?

[pketh]

Looks good!