[ubuntu-art] Mark's Comments on Branding

[jmak]

On 6/29/06, Matthew Nuzum <newz at bearfruit.org> wrote:
> On 6/29/06, Mark Shuttleworth <mark at canonical.com> wrote:
> >
> >  Étienne Bersac wrote:
> >
> >
> >  For me, the branding on the Breezy background was great - it belnded
> > in very well with the backdrop - an generally looked 'cool'.
> >
> >  Agree, but it was too dark. Especially if we have window shadow.
> >
> >  I've no problem if there are SOME desktop wallpapers included that have
> > strong branding, just not the default. The default should be distinctive
> > enough that people recognise it from screenshots without any logo-style
> > branding. And of course, it's great to have ubuntu-branded wallpapers in
> > gnome-look and other websites!
> >
> >  Mark
>
> [I've been wanting to say this for a while but have been waiting for
> the perfect time to mention it... I don't think this is it, but if I
> wait any longer I might miss my chance...]
>
> I greatly prefer desktop wallpaper that has some photographic or
> graphical elements to it. Whenever I see a wallpaper that has just
> some swish or a few lines I think, "what, coudn't they come up with
> something better?" I've just in the last few days set up a new laptop
> and was glad to see the tree/gears background and am using it.
>
> For inspiration, I strongly suggest looking at what other OSs are
> doing. Most computers come from the manufucaturer with the maker's
> branding on the wall paper. Stop into your favorite computer store and
> look at the wall papers on Toshibas, HPs, Sonys and the like and see
> what they're doing. There are some great designs out there. Even if we
> don't put the [U|ED|K]buntu logo on the graphic, I think we can come
> up with something truly exciting to look at... something where people
> won't want to put icons on the desktop because they don't want to
> cover up the picture.
> --
>

As far as I know, the major operating systems use some kind of
abstract image as wallpaper. And this is not an accident. The problem
of using figurative art in this position is that the various cultures
can easily misinterpret it. A figurative shape or form can be innocent
in the European context but offensive in other cultures. For this
reason, ubuntu better to stick with abstract images.

J. Mak
-- 
http://jozmak.googlepages.com/