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Recognizable icon for Empathy #128

Closed GoogleCodeExporter closed 9 years ago

GoogleCodeExporter commented 9 years ago 
Hello. It's strange that the Empathy icon has nothing to deal with its real
logo. It is easy to mix up with the icon of iChat. Maybe redraw the
original or simply use it as it is? :)

Thanks.

Original issue reported on code.google.com by jayr...@graffiti.net on 8 Nov 2009 at 4:33

GoogleCodeExporter commented 9 years ago 
Empathy is a chat application, and the icon being used is merely a chat bubble 
with
an exclamation. It is a generic metaphor that is easier to associate with a chat
application than the original (a poorly scaled down representation of two 
faces?).

The icon does not have its original logo, because a generic icon is easier to 
create
and can also be reused with other similar applications in the future.

In this case, the metaphor is clear, easy to recognize, and assuming there are 
no
working linux ports of iChat - I doubt anyone could mix them up :).

Original comment by perfectska04 on 8 Nov 2009 at 4:59

GoogleCodeExporter commented 9 years ago 
[deleted comment]
GoogleCodeExporter commented 9 years ago 
I see you have your own concept of usability, but can you draw the Empathy icon 
so it
scales well? Can you draw? Why an application that has its own branding (a good
branding) and a whole framework behind be wrongfully identified as Kopete 4 or 
iChat?
The connection you've explained is pretty poor and is unobvious, there is no
usability in spite of the effort.

Original comment by jayr...@graffiti.net on 9 Nov 2009 at 12:30

GoogleCodeExporter commented 9 years ago 
The purpose of using a generic icon is not to undermine the Telepathy 
framework, or
what it stands for. I understand where you're coming from.

However, a generic icon is used because this is an icon set, and there are other
considerations involved. Most of the icons included do not refer to a single
application, they are generic and this allows for future or current reusage with
other applications similar in concept.

That said, the generic Empathy icons are *only* included because Empathy does 
not
currently have icons designed at all relevant sizes, with Tango/GNOME 
specifications.
This makes their icon hard to recognize at smaller sizes, so an alternate icon 
was
added here so that the application would be a little easier to recognize when 
using
this particular icon set. Once upstream has had the chance to rebuild their 
icons
properly, there will be no need to include Empathy icons with this icon set.

I'm sorry if the decision makes you uncomfortable, but for icon sets - generic 
icons
are usually the best way to go, even if sometimes branding is replaced. Empathy 
is
not the only case, *many* applications are themed by gnome-colors with a 
simpler,
more generic icon.

Original comment by perfectska04 on 9 Nov 2009 at 5:43