to clarify: kBeLogoBits is the graphic you see when you click on Deskbar to open the main Deskbar menu.
For R5, this is the blue and red “BeOS”.
What is presented here are possibilities for Haiku’s Deskbar’s kBeLogoBits’s graphic. These are not definite as I’m not in charge.
On last note, i designed these to display properly in all of Deskbar’s possible configurations: windows-task-bar, corner with running tasks expanded, and corner with running tasks condensed to the man-at-chalkboard icon.
Do what you do best; comment, add your own, etc…
now on to the goodies:
The image quality of the above Haiku logo may be better if a higher-quality image were reduced to 56 pixels wide. I would very much like to have such a high quality image to play with.
The image quality of the above Haiku logo may be better if a higher-quality image were reduced to 56 pixels wide. I would very much like to have such a high quality image to play with.
I really like this image, though I agree it could do with some refinement.
Petter’s are nice, but I dislike the grey areas around the logo; if this were the only choice, the black bordered one is my preference out of that set.
Currently, the default is really smart [that’s the blue leaf], though i’d like to see the three haiku colours used instead, maybe the green as normal, and supply red/yellow as options.
Kudos to stippi.
"]Currently, the default is really smart [that's the blue leaf], though i'd like to see the three haiku colours used instead, maybe the green as normal, and supply red/yellow as options.
Kudos to stippi.
My thoughts exactly - think the leaf itself is cool, would prefer a “Haiku” colour.
ps: Good to see someone spelling “colour” properly
There should also be a possibility to add new logos on user level. Some kind of module system for this as well. Maybe a resource file with the logo itself and the name to be displayed in the menu. And then create a “logo creator app” for easy creating.
We will probably then argue about which logo that would be default
The deskbar menu graphic is a resource that is included in Deskbar’s resources list (open Deskbar in QuickRes and you’ll see it). It is not hard to programmatically modify these resources, so a logo switcher would not be too difficult to do. The problem is its very hard to place a readable image in that small space, so it would probably be better to switch between a few pre-installed logos instead of letting a user choose their own. I can easily see users wanting to install graphics that won’t fit, so they hack Deskbar to make the button large enough to fit their graphic, other people think it looks neat and try it themselves, and eventually we end up with a Deskbar that has lost its sleek, minimalistic design and has features for a photo slideshow in the Deskbar button. Then again, that could be an overactive imagination… (but look at some of the bloat that has been added to KDE, Gnome, etc)
A big issue with some of the screenshots and ideas here has to do with useability. The logo that consists of the three color blocks, for example, would not necessarily (to a new user) be clear that it is a button that displays the main system menu (and with the Deskbar in “condensed mode”, the little man by the chalkboard would look more prominent and important than the Deskbar button, instead of vice versa). The leaf logo can present a similar problem. When a user sees “Haiku” written on a button-shaped space on the Deskbar, they are more likely to be able to descern its function at a glance (think about the taskbar buttons on windows, KDE, Be, etc).
Similar to this will be the issue of naming. Instructing a user to “press the leaf menu button” or “click on the button with the little squares on it on the Deskbar” will likely sound strange (and possibly rather silly) to a new user and may add to the confusion of using Haiku. Following the lessons learned from other systems, instructing a user to “click the Haiku menu button” would be much more of a clear and unambiguous reference to the button in question.
I think that it is also important that we use the word “Haiku” in the Deskbar logo because it is important that we get the Haiku name out and visible as much as possible (within reason of course). With “Haiku” clearly written on the Deskbar, our name will often find itself visible in screenshots, not to mention visible while the user is using the system (you’d hate to have a Haiku user forget what system they’re using ). This idea is why the taskbar in other systems (and therefore its logo) is set to remain visible, always below and not behind other apps.
From the posted screenshots, the “Haiku” in block lettering with the color blocks beside it is the most readable and logical of the mockups (I personally like “Haiku” over “HAIKU”, the second seems a bit too in-your-face) I think that we will have a good number of suggestions for logos get posted in the next week or two. I vote that we (on the forum) vote for our top 3-5 choices and let the devs vote on the final design (or the default design)
Good point about the button naming allenb… I’m gonna change my vote to be a nicely implemented haiku logo shrinking, like the first one mmadia proposed but with a higher quality resizing.
I completely agree on the bloat front allenb - that’s my major worry about Haiku post-R1.
completely agree on the bloat front allenb - that's my major worry about Haiku post-R1.
as far as the official haiku tree, i’m sure the dev’s will keep each other from add ridiculous amounts of bloat.
Perhaps for post-R1, Deskbar Settings should be migrated to a dedicated Preference app. It would slightly reduce Deskbar’s footprint and allow for the expansion of it’s settings including but not limited to a well-implemented logo switcher.
A logo-switcher could even be implemented as an indepented BeBit’s released app regardless of Haiku’s status.
[off topic rant]
Also, I’ve never been comfortable with the way Deskbar’s Time and Date options differ from the actual Time & Date preference app. For instance, if i wanted to change the way the date isdisplayed in deskbar, i need to access Deskbar Settings. Meanwhile the Time & Date app can toggle between local time and GMT
[/off topic rant]
The 3 colored squares could be thought of as abstractions of Haiku’s leaves and similar to the default BeApplication icon ( which is something IMVHO should be re-coloured to Haiku’s green, orange, and yellow)
i’ll try making another icon of
[Haiku-colored BeApp icon] Haiku
Would someone add a post of stippi’s blue-leaf deskbar icon?
I think that it is also important that we use the word "Haiku" in the Deskbar logo because it is important that we get the Haiku name out and visible as much as possible (within reason of course). With "Haiku" clearly written on the Deskbar, our name will often find itself visible in screenshots, not to mention visible while the user is using the system (you'd hate to have a Haiku user forget what system they're using ;) ).
This is a very good point - and in fact, it doesn’t necessarily “help the cause” if there are various logos to choose from as this “fragments” the branding…
A name and logo are not designed to be altered, but rather the opposite, they are designed to give a consistent image to an organization and its products.
I would seriously discourage the Haiku devs from supporting the ability for a user to switch the logo at-will… leave this up to a 3rd party.
I think the simple haiku name w/leaves (in mmadia’s first image) as shown here on the top of the website would be the best solution.
(..) it doesn't necessarily "help the cause" if there are various logos to choose from as this "fragments" the branding...
If this is the case, which I also think, I feel that we should stick with the original Haiku logo, like the first transparent version of mmadias logos, or mine (white bg/black border)
It’s probably smart to use the original Haiku logo (as it is), to help branding. For me, it’s the most logical choice!
mmadia: I think that one looks rather nice. It’s not text-only (which is rather boring) but the graphics are minimal enough that it looks nice scaled. The color for the bottom-right cube appears orange to me, was this by design? (I say that because the leaf-colors are typically red, green, and yellow, at least on the few logos I’ve seen). I also think that this logo would be easy to internationalize, swapping “Haiku” for however it is written in your local writing system (Kanji, etc.) without significantly altering the logo itself. If anybody can write Kanji (or some writing system other than regular latin-based alphabets), see if you can swap the text out and have the logo still be clear and readable. This isn’t a major necessity of the logo, but it would definitely be a plus, given that at some point (probably R2), internationalization will be a big priority.
This brings up another point that was mentioned on the Haiku mailing list a little bit back. The Haiku team needs to publish official logo standards. This would include exact definitions of the “official” Haiku colors, examples of “official” Haiku logos (graphic, text, and mixed), and other such branding-related items (such as the “official” Deskbar logo ). So far we’ve been using the colors and images off of the website for examples, but before we get too far on something like this, we should push for logo and branding standards to be published. That way, we can make sure that everything stays uniform looking, and would help prevent designs from going off in slightly different directions (which can lead to huge differences down the road and could destroy the uniform look and feel we’ve been striving for).
I also think that this logo would be easy to internationalize, swapping "Haiku" for however it is written in your local writing system (Kanji, etc.)
Sorry, but I don’t understand why we would need to translate “Haiku”? That would be like if “Windows XP” was translated to “Vinduer XP” in Norwegian. I think that would be confusing!
The original Haiku logo is simple, clean and not boring - it has grapchis, and the text is clear: it’s Haiku you’re using!
I also think that this logo would be easy to internationalize, swapping "Haiku" for however it is written in your local writing system (Kanji, etc.)
Sorry, but I don’t understand why we would need to translate “Haiku”? That would be like if “Windows XP” was translated to “Vinduer XP” in Norwegian. I think that would be confusing!
The original Haiku logo is simple, clean and not boring - it has grapchis, and the text is clear: it’s Haiku you’re using!
I have to agree here - it would not be a good idea to “translate” the name of the organization/product for each locale - that again fragments the “branding” effort…
Is there even such a thing as a translation for “Haiku”? – it’s somewhat specific to Japanese poetry…
). This idea is why the taskbar in other systems (and therefore its logo) is set to remain visible, always below and not behind other apps.