Have a mascot

[mcollina]

It was recently pointed out on twitter by @bnb and @marco-ippolito that Node.js does not hav mascot.

How about making the old unofficial one official? I mean the 🐢🚀!

I think we would need to get a “fresh” drawing done (maybe with a contest).

Previous art: https://github.com/node-forward/discussions/issues/33

cc @rginn

[popring]

it's AI works, really ugly, lol

[bnb]

I'd also like to request that people stop dropping AI art in here. If AI is something the project wants to go with, we're fully capable of writing prompts ourselves and having a ton of AI images in the thread is only decreasing the legibility of this issue.

[imcm7]

If a frog is chosen then a “it’s Wednesday my dudes” meme can be posted every week, which would be a huge plus

Color is not what is need to be, more green like node site and logo.

[imcm7]

A spider, because the modules, the code and the rest are as tangled as its web. And node is for web. And the programmers are like the flies that landed in his net.

[duluca]

I'm not a fan of the turtle idea. I generated some AI images using electric eels and beavers. Electric eel represents the energy and power of Nodejs. A beaver represents the industrious nature, building complex structures, and working efficiently.

My wife (a Canadian) notes that's an otter not a beaver: They're known for intelligence, playfulness, efficiency, and adaptability.

[FrancoLab]

I don't think i'll have more time to invest in this, but here are the assets of the retweet from @JacobMGEvans Maybe someone wants to keep iterating or put in a shared figma file, or other. (.fig file and svgs for the variations)

Do whatever you want with it in the name of OSS spirit 😅

node frog (svgs & fig file).zip

Where do we vote XD

[andrewschreiber]

It was recently pointed out on twitter by @bnb and @marco-ippolito that Node.js does not hav mascot.

Tweets for posterity:

https://twitter.com/bitandbang/status/1701328551201350138

https://twitter.com/matteocollina/status/1702639741768708340

[andrewschreiber]

Update, looks like OpenJSF folks are taking it from here

[apburnie]

The above discussion has focussed primarily on different vertebrates. I was wondering if a more appropriate logo would be the honey bee.

The nodejs logo uses a lot of hexagons and bees use hexagon shapes when they build their hives. Bees are also highly social creatures which would match nicely with the idea of nodejs relating to a "node in a network" (@ThisIsMissEm).

Both bun (https://bun.sh/) and deno (https://deno.com/) place their mascots in circles next to their logos. A nice twist on this might be to place a bee within a hexagon shape a bit like the attached, which was put together using GIMP and Inkscape.

[monico-moreno]

How about instead of a turtle or frog, we say it's a toad (w/a rocket?), which rhymes with Node. e.g. "Toby the Node Toad" 😉 " 'Tobe' the Toad, for Node" 🤣

...just saying, more specifically,

maybe something like this ⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️ ?

e.g. "Toby the Node Toad" 😉 " 'Tobe' the Toad, for Node" 🤣

[michaelfaith]

The nodejs logo uses a lot of hexagons and bees use hexagon shapes when they build their hives. Bees are also highly social creatures which would match nicely with the idea of nodejs relating to a "node in a network" (@ThisIsMissEm).

I love the bee idea, personally. Themes align well.

[apburnie]

Thank you for the positive feedback @michaelfaith. I've made a slight adjustment to the antenna and now we have something that works on both light and dark backgrounds (first image). I've also inserted the mascot within the nodejs logo to see how it would look (second image). You can see it also works well on a lighter background if this were required (third image).

[mhdawson]

We discussed in the TSC meeting last week so removing from the agenda going forward.

[kyliewd]

Hi everyone, excited to introduce the Node.js Mascot Design Contest! 🤩

• Submit by replying to our Twitter or LinkedIn posts or DM us by November 6
• Must abide by the Code of Conduct
• No AI generated art submissions
• Must be separate from the current logo
• All submissions will be reviewed by our TSC
• The winning submission will be used by our design team to create the newest Node.js mascot!

Can't wait to see what you all create 💚

• https://x.com/nodejs/status/1713984983566610540?s=20
• https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7119750694634491904

[ThatOneCalculator]

It's kinda sad how most of the Tweet's replies are "AI" generated nonsense when it was clearly stated no "AI" generated submissions :pensive:

[zimonitrome]

@kyliewd what exactly does

Must be separate from the current logo

imply?

I see a lot of Twitter submissions that are based on the original logo. Is this a strict no-go?

Also, the Twitter DMs are restricted to verified (premium) users.

[zimonitrome]

My proposal is Jess the Node Toad! (tentative name)

Concept	Quick sketch

I see that I wasn't the first one to come up with the toad concept but I think there is a consensus on either a frog/toad or a turtle (preferably with a rocket) although that might be the mascot for JS as a whole rather than Node. I have to admit that I am a lot biased towards frogs and "it's Wednesday my dudes" like @imcm7 mentioned 😉

I designed it to be a bit hexagonal and green like the Node logo with a simple :> face and I encourage people to elaborate on the idea.

Alternative versions:

Alternative concept	Alternative sketch	Face concept	Face concept 2

The last two faces could also double as a turtle.

It would also be nice to see a concept of an isometric cube turtle in the same vain as the hexagonal logo.

[kyliewd]

@kyliewd what exactly does

Must be separate from the current logo

imply?

I see a lot of Twitter submissions that are based on the original logo. Is this a strict no-go?

Also, the Twitter DMs are restricted to verified (premium) users.

hi @zimonitrome ! i hear you. the goal is not to replace the node logo, it's to have a supplemental icon to the logo. so we just don't want something created on top of the logo itself. hopefully that makes sense!

most of the submissions we are getting are through replies so all good. i'm monitoring and collecting them :)

[mhdawson]

Tagged for agenda as Foundation staff will provide a private update on how the submissions are goind so far.

[ThisIsMissEm]

I've just seen the tweet that went out on the official Node.js twitter feed, calling for submissions in a logo design contest, and quite frankly, I'm deeply upset: this is speculative work, and undervalues the work that designers do.

Primer on "Spec Work" (Speculative Work): https://www.nospec.com/ Longer thoughts: https://hachyderm.io/@thisismissem/111264978146405220

The notion of spec work being harmful dates back to at least 2007. Have we learned nothing? Just because Node.js is an open source project, that relies on 'volunteer' contributions (often from those employed by large companies specifically to work on node.js), does not mean that it should rely on speculative design work, which greatly undervalues the value that designers bring when they create branding for a project.

[zimonitrome]

hi @zimonitrome ! i hear you. the goal is not to replace the node logo, it's to have a supplemental icon to the logo. so we just don't want something created on top of the logo itself.

Thanks @kyliewd, I thought as much :slightly_smiling_face:

Hopefully it's still okay to take inspiration from the current Node logo when creating mascot submissions (i.e. green color, hexagon outline, cube shape).

[Whbbit1999]

What about Xuanwu? It is a mythical beast in ancient China, and its image is a combination of a snake and a turtle.wiki

[natemoo-re]

There are some great ideas in this thread! Here's an early concept from me, an (yet-to-be-named) aviator turtle. Felt like a nice reference to the unofficial mascot and also a nod to Node's hexagonal logo.

[robbiespeed]

Here's a rough sketch with a fresh take on the old unofficial mascot. Replaced rocket with, turbofan wings.

[bnb]

I've just seen the tweet that went out on the official Node.js twitter feed, calling for submissions in a logo design contest, and quite frankly, I'm deeply upset: this is speculative work, and undervalues the work that designers do.

fwiw I completely agree with @ThisIsMissEm on this. I was also deeply upset when I saw that was the approach we took, especially since we've done it multiple times in the past and... it's never been ethical or at least not in the instances I've seen and it ends up taking advantage of community members who put time, energy, and effort in only to toss away their work when we instead could be directly compensating someone we as a project (presumably the TSC) select for their work.

Initially I wasn't going to say anything, and I don't plan on saying anything further, but wanted to +1 what @ThisIsMissEm said since I both agree with it and appreciate her speaking about it.

[jt3k]

it's a rocket coming straight here

but actually I like the image from the first post better

[lsvs]

Text-based mascot idea:

<• _ •>

<' o '>

<# . #>

<` ~ `>

<- , +>

[lobotgn]

What about a "Spider" as a pet ?

[lobotgn]

"Spiders" are a professional Node Makers !!!

[TheInvoker]

[ThatOneCalculator]

It seems that people in this thread missed the whole "Must be separate from the current logo" part

[jarrensj]

turtle with rockets and goggles

can be dynamic, too, where it's just a hexagon until the turtle and rockets come and extend out

[USP123]

Love this

[sheleoni]

How about a Node Turtle on a surfboard? I think water / waves can represent speed as well. Also the water form is quite versatile so it can be quite flexibly styled.

Here are the standalone & integrated versions.

Standalone mascot with waves

Standalone mascot without waves

Integrated with text logo

Integrated with text logo (BW)

Here I tested the design with "V8" on the surfboard

Symbolism explained:

• 🌊 Waves → ocean → deep sea → stuff "invisible" to the naked eye (invisible to the frontend) → backend
• 💧 Water: flexible
• 🏄‍♀️ surfing: lightweight & fast
• ∞ on the surfboard: can be "infinite" (for infinite possibilities) and 8 as in "V8"
• 💪 dumbbell: heavy-duty, strength and prowess

A slightly animated version:

Let me know what you think!

[neon4on]

[hyunbinseo]

Meet Rocket Turtle 👋 https://twitter.com/nodejs/status/1759953849849167878/photo/1

I guess this issue can be closed?