PHP.net Identity: Logo

From: Date: Sun, 11 Oct 2009 22:35:37 +0000
Subject: PHP.net Identity: Logo
Groups: php.webmaster 
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This is a dangerously distracting issue. PHP.net's logo isn't going to make or break a redesign and it's hardly the greatest problem with the current site. I _do_ think it can be improved but it'll be easy to over-invest our time on this. So, as I see it out options are... OPTION 1 – Don't change anything. The current logo isn't that bad. The bevel is dated and corny but so what, don't rock the boat. - Daniel: I think the current logo is dated and unprofessional enough to warrant some improvement. OPTION 2 – Make subtle improvements to the current logo. The bevel is ugly and dated, the padding is too tight, and the stroke around the letters is unfortunate. Keep an oval shape and the current typography in a very similar format but subtly update the logo. Or, just add some flare and make the logo have some extra zing to it. - Daniel: This could be a fine solution, though I'm really not into doing anything with movement or that's too trendy. OPTION 3 – Make the current logo simpler. The type looks good, but the bevelled logo and the stroke around the type is unfortunate. Just remove the oval and let the letters speak for themselves. Less is more, right? - Daniel: This is where I'd vote. Simple, sleek, and professional. I really don't think the current type is boring – it's professional and unpretentious. OPTION 4 – Make larger improvements to the current logo. We could really do something here. Take the current type but add some type of imagery or design. This could go in many directions. - Daniel: I suppose we could do something like adding an 'icon' like a creature or shape to support the type, but it seems unnecessary. OPTION 5 – Create a new logo. Run a competition, hire a design firm, or throw our own efforts behind something new. It could be as simple as new type (Meta Bold or DIN looks good for instance) or it could be a bigger rebranding like those done for Firefox or Drupal. - Daniel: This seems like a dangerous path to go down. It might ruin the continuity of PHP's identity, it could become a major distraction, and it could become fractious. Despite having worked heavily on the identities for Firefox and Thunderbird and having done the Digg, Pownce, and Silverorange logos, I wouldn't consider myself to be a logo or identity designer... so take my opinions with a grain of salt. If we did decide to do something more ambitious with the logo (I'm certainly not advising this) I do know some very talented logo designers who may want to chip in. Daniel

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