[ubuntu-art] Bluman

[Michiel Sikma]

Who wrote:
> My first theme....
> http://www.gnome-look.org/content/show.php?content=39792&vote=good&tan=54036159 
> 
> 
> Screenshot:
> http://www.gnome-look.org/content/preview.php?preview=1&id=39792&file1=39792-1.png&file2=39792-2.jpg&file3=&name=Bluman 
> 
> 
> I know there are a huge number of blue themes, but I think there is a
> reason for that - I find this theme is really unobtrusive but still
> very pretty! It is not supposed to be a hugely gripping theme, just
> slick and clinical
> 
> uses Ubuntulooks/ Clearlooks-Cairo
> 
> If you can help me do any of the following I'd be really greatful
> * Change tab colours (I have tried what I think I ought to do (set the
> colour in a style, apply that style to GtkNotebook) but
> Ubuntulooks.clearlooks still paint the deafult colour as far as I can
> establish...
> * Make a metacity that isn't just Human
> * Work out how to draw menu items, list headers etc as shiny
> Ubuntulooks buttons rather than blank/dull clearlooks ones
> * Draw square (not rounded) buttons
> 
> Tell me what you think :)
> 
> Who
> 

I've promised myself not to start criticizing plans just yet, because I 
feel it's more important to get launch and the art team meeting 
underway, but I now think I should say something: I personally firmly 
believe that making a rather huge change, such as this change to blue or 
"ice" would sever any or all ties with the entire marketing strategy 
that Ubuntu has had from the beginning.

To say that Ubuntu's looks should implement five elements is a nice 
idea, but you must consider what kind of implications it might have on 
Ubuntu as a whole. I would rather start to brainstorm on how to continue 
what has been proven to be a successful positioning in a new design that 
doesn't throw away pretty much everything that has been built up during 
the years that this distro has existed.

This shouldn't imply that I think that these themes are bad or that you 
shouldn't post such mock-ups, but rather it should imply that I think we 
need to reconsider what's important if we're going to continue making 
Ubuntu big while retaining the original face that it has had for so long.

It is, afterall, not impossible to come up with new ideas that do stick 
with the current style.

That's what I think, anyway. And I also still believe that although 
these are great mock-ups, it might be a good idea to wait out launch 
date and then discuss what's next in a meeting.

Michiel