[Mageia-discuss] Logo proposals discussion

Mon Nov 22 05:56:54 CET 2010

Wolfgang Bornath a écrit :
+> 2010/11/22 andre999<andr55 at laposte.net>:
+>    
+>> Well the cauldron logo is so simple that it is barely distinguishable from a
+>> circle.  What we need is a distinctive logo that is easily recognisable.
+>> Even if the cauldron is recognised as such, what is the image usually
+>> associated with a cauldron, at least in Europe and North America ?
+>> Witchcraft.  Thus magic.
+>> So of course, potential users will be attracted by an operating system which
+>> says,
+>> "with the right incantations, Mageia *should* work."
+>>      
+> No. The will be attracted by the operating system, not by the logo. If
+> the operating system is good they will remember the logo as positive
+> sign. This is more likely if the logo is easy to remember, no matter
+> what it says. To the user it only says, "it's the sign of a product I
+> like". To users who never tested the product it will mean nothing at
+> all no matter what it says.
+>    
+Wobo, you are missing the point.
+Once they have tried Mageia, and like it, the logo is irrelevant.
+But what will attract them ?
+It could be all sorts of things, but the least likely is a logo with 
+negative connotations (as "magic" for an operating system), or a logo so 
+indistinct as to not induce curiosity.
+
+I think the cauldron logo has the dubious advantage of both of these 
+factors.
+So although many other factors could attact potential users, such a logo 
+won't help.
+
+I would rather a logo that would.
+> Yes, we have all those principles what the logo should tell about
+> Mageia. Doing that will not hurt but at the end of the day there is
+> only one feature a logo must have: recognizability. It does not matter
+> if the logo talks about a cauldron or just points to a restaurant
+> selling duck soup, important is that users will remember it in
+> relation to the operating system they just tested and liked. What
+> meaning has the star on a Mercedes? Nobody knows but everybody can
+> draw the logo in seconds and everybody knows that it resembles a good
+> product (whether you like the cars or not).
+>    
+Ok, assuming that many potential users recognise this indistinct logo as 
+a cauldron.
+Do we also assume that the "magic" associated in popular folklore - at 
+least in Europe and the Americas - will attact such potential users ?
+Do you personally associate "magic" with reliability, ease of use ?
+The strength we hope to bring ?
+For myself, very much the contrary.
+
+We have to put ourselves in the shoes of potential users unfamiliar with 
+Mageia or Mandriva, and not in the shoes of developers or others already 
+committed to Mageia.
+
+So in choosing the logo, try pretending you have never heard of Mageia, 
+have never packaged an rpm, and never distributed a Linux ISO.
+
+another 2 cents :)
+
+- André
+
+