Ubuntu Logo Suggestion: Medicine Mask

[archibald]

Hey everyone!! I have this idea...tell me what you think!!

I think the current ubuntu logo doesnt have enough character and is therefore not memorable enough...its nothing compared to a big X, or a colourful flag, which is why I'd like to suggest a new logo that has something todo with the name, the african name. The first time I heard "Ubuntu" I immediately thought how great it was that there was a supermodern technology (ie. linux distro) called something really primitive&old (ie. old african word), an interesting contradiction. How about if the logo reflected the actual name with an african medicine man's mask?? Something everyone associates with tribal africa, but in contrary to past suggestions is not discriminating in any way. It would make this distro much more memorable and interesting through this contradiction!


https://www.ubuntulinux.org/wiki/Ubuntulogo


heres a thumnail...scales well, dunnit??? the original is of course svg, done in inkscape...
https://www.ubuntulinux.org/wiki/thumbnail/

[andbert]

I it very nice actually!
Pretty colors, I think I'll use it as my Menu-button

But I think maybe the original Ubuntu after all is a rather well known brand by now.

[kassetra]

While that is a very lovely icon, and would make a great app icon, I think as a professional brand, however, it's too busy.

What makes logos like Ubuntu, Apple, Nike, McDonalds, etc. work is that the graphic logo is simple - abstract, even. A simplified logo that has striking visual impact (with bold strokes and very organic lines), such as the Ubuntu circle makes an almost subconscious statement, and people can remember it easily and remember it well.

The more complex a logo is, the harder it is to remember, and recognize (in terms of nanoseconds) - which is not what you want for brand identification.

[somuchfortheafter]

i like it

[archibald]

I it very nice actually!
Pretty colors, I think I'll use it as my Menu-button

But I think maybe the original Ubuntu after all is a rather well known brand by now.

thankyou!!!
I'm flattered!! haha
thats what the thumbnail was meant for, using as a menu-icon... if anyone would like an svg version, just say the words...

I know that the ubuntu logo has been around for 6 months now, but I dont really think anyone who doesnt use the distro could recognize it, for the afore-mentioned reasons....
as to the people who know it through using the distro: I was hoping for a reply by a leading ubuntu-artwork team member like this: "hey! thats really nice!! I'll put up a vote to see who wants to change it, then we'll do so in the few days left till hoary is released!!"

hihi.... here's to hoping!! [-o<



While that is a very lovely icon, and would make a great app icon, I think as a professional brand, however, it's too busy.

What makes logos like Ubuntu, Apple, Nike, McDonalds, etc. work is that the graphic logo is simple - abstract, even. A simplified logo that has striking visual impact (with bold strokes and very organic lines), such as the Ubuntu circle makes an almost subconscious statement, and people can remember it easily and remember it well.

The more complex a logo is, the harder it is to remember, and recognize (in terms of nanoseconds) - which is not what you want for brand identification.

thats a VERY good point....shoot....
I thought I had it pretty simple (you should have seen the original...), but now you mention it, nike, mcD, windows are MUCH more abstract!!! do you think I have NO chance of success with it like this??? should I go straight back to the drawingboard???
darn!!!


cheers!
Nikolai

[Jad]

I like it, its good, actually its great but not for official logo.

[kassetra]

thats a VERY good point....shoot....
I thought I had it pretty simple (you should have seen the original...), but now you mention it, nike, mcD, windows are MUCH more abstract!!! do you think I have NO chance of success with it like this??? should I go straight back to the drawingboard???
darn!!!

I wouldn't say "NO" chance. But compared to most successful graphic logos, you still have some work to do. (Nike's swoosh, for instance, is an abstract image of the feather of the olympian god Nike's "winged shoes" )

I would really like to have that mask as a background, actually. It's really cool. Against maybe a nice dark brown background... and have Ubuntu on there somewhere... hey can you send me the svg? Now I want to make a background!

I think the current Ubuntu logo is the best in the Linux world right now, actually. It has a lot more in common with logo & graphic design goals and ideas than say, Red Hat or SuSE (which, have both started adjusting their logos and branding to more "simplified" and "organic" lines lately).

As far as character or remembering qualities: simplified shapes are best. Most people can remember circles, squares, and triangles - without even a second thought.

What I and other people in the graphic design world like about the Ubuntu logo is that it's at least two abstract things: "Three different people holding each other in a circle... like a community," and "A circle, with three smaller circles... that may even have three smaller circles on each one of those, etc. which makes it similar to a spiral or a fractal." Both of those ideas, however, go straight into your brain without you knowing it... and most people tend to then think of the brand AS those emotionally charged ideas...

Nike again, for the example: The "swoosh" (even the name of it) makes people think of fast, flying, moving, forward, zoom, etc. All of those things that Nike wants to convey to customers - happens within that one image without people thinking about it, because of the way the swoosh looks like it's in motion and the way it's angled, and the fact that it's abstract...

Hope that quick little intro to logo design helps you. :)

[carlc]

I think the graphic looks great. If not as an "official logo", maybe it could be used somewhere, e.g. website, official wallpaper, packaging, etc. I agree that simple logo's are better in terms of remembering them. However, initially I had trouble remembering Ubuntu's logo (which is probably more a statement about me than the logo). I guess the logo represents a top view of three people in a circle holding hands and if I think of that then I can remember the logo. However, since it does not use common colors, I would not remember what colors are in the logo....just that it has an earthy feel to it. I think the coolest Linux logo is Redhat's logo. The redhat is a classic.

[somuchfortheafter]

yes i agree that would make an awesome background, minus the white render layer over it and the white background, would look a lot better in black but its just me lol.

[archibald]

thankyou very much for all the replies people!!!!

tried to make it simpler... any less lines and I either couldnt use the ubuntu colours, or it wouldnt be a medicine mask, just some dumb face....

you think I should ditch the ubuntu logo colours for this mask?? I mean use the official ubuntu palette, just not exactly the 3 current-logo colours??? I think its kind of ugly like this (though I'm happy with the shapes): I think it may look like he's angry/looks like the german flag!!!

tell me what you think... this ISN'T a final version, in contrary to the last one!!!

[Vrok]

Why to change the logo, even if archibald's one is really nice, since current is good as well?
And you say that current logo has nothing to do with the sense of "ubuntu" word - well, I can't agree with that. Just look at Ubuntu's GDM theme, which is surely based on the logo - it really has much to do with the humanity :)
Also I don't think that your logo is easier to remember. Too busy and complicated.
But it's pretty cool for Ubuntu t-shirts! :)

[ola]

I really like the original ubuntu logo. The circle with the 3 dots (3 people holding hands?) gives me a really warm feeling. Just the feeling I think ubuntu stands for.. It's the best Linux logotype out there I think.

Not any bad about your image at all, just my opinion on logotype change.

[archibald]

how bout this one, then?

[Alessio]

[QUOTE=Vrok
But it's pretty cool for Ubuntu t-shirts! :)[/QUOTE]
Great, the ubuntu t-shirts are very ugly. Why insert this logo in the back? With any phrase?? I can buy a t-shirt like this..

[Tymon]

I like the 2nd one. I think the current Ubuntu logo is not very recognizable. A mask is.

[archibald]

thankyou everyone!!!
I just did the last one in the mac osx style....for fun....

[archibald]

and finally, my last contribution....
a background, because so many people asked for one....

[onedream]

Hi, love the mask icon and this new background!

Just wondering what font you used for the "linux for human beings" bit?

Cheers

[basse1989]

I really don't think that they'll change the ubuntu logo.
And IMO none of those fints as a logo.
But I LOVE the background. :)

[somuchfortheafter]

thanks for the wallpaper

[macewan]

i liked the osx version

=D>

[archibald]

thankyou for all your kind words&oppinions, everyone

the font is jenkins v2.0...not sure if i got it in photoshop or in word....not opensource in any case....sry!!

I thought I'd reattatch my fav. mask, as I think many ppl miss this one on the first page, anyhow,
cheers,
N.

https://www.ubuntulinux.org/wiki/medicinemodern/

[Tymon]

It is cool... but I must say I also like the current logo very much now I finally see what it is! ](*,) 3 people in a circle holding hands. Anyways, maybe a nice mascotte or something? :)

[panickedthumb]

First off, let me say that this is the best user-contributed artwork I've seen on the forum so far.

I'd like the incorporation of the mask into ubuntu-artwork, but I don't see it replacing the current logo. I LOVE the current logo-- the simplicity and colors of it are fantastic. I'd like to see wallpapers based on these masks however. All of the masks you've posted are fantastic, and they'd all work incredibly as wallpapers, and they do follow in the African tradition very well.

If Ubuntu were to change their logo, it'd have to be something more abstract than any of these. Mask, sure, but less busy. It has to be easy to remember, yet simple enough to not distract from the product. That's one case I think KDE SERIOUSLY screwed up. Their artwork is so busy by default, and freakin Konqui!

No, I can't get over my hatred of Konqui. If there's a 12 step program, I'll join immediately.

Anyway, you do fantastic work, and I'd like to see this included, but I doubt it will replace anything.

[artnay]

The current logo is really fantastic, it shouldn't be changed. To tell the truth, that actually made me try Ubuntu at the first place. 8-[ The pictures you presented are too complex and, as many have said, too busy.

I was very pleased with the greyscale mask, it's actually my background as I type this reply. You really must do something to text "UBUNTU" in Medicine-Mask-Background.jpg, the current state of it is "terrible". Btw, Medicine Mask 2.png is nice as well. Thank you! :mrgreen:

[`Mrk]

I love your work! Fantastic. The OS X -version was my favourite.

But, I think that they'd be better on wallpapers, not as actual logos.

Oh, and .svg-versions would be useful...

[archibald]

thankyou, everyone! Really glad you all like it!
I'll fix that ubuntu immediately, artnay, I must have had a little mishap importing it....
okay, I've updated the original attachment....


Now I'd like to raise the question: what do y'all think I should DO with this stuff now??? Do you think I should send it to someone in the core ubuntu team, so that it would maybe get a more "official" character/might get included in something, or should I just leave it here in the forums unofficially for anyone to take who likes it....what do I do??? Push it? Drop it?

cheers, N.

PS: this last one's dedicated to kassetra, who told me the original was too complicated and started the whole redesign process, and panickedthumb, who flattered me ;)

[archibald]

So, what do y'all think I should DO with this stuff now??? Do you think I should send it to someone in the core ubuntu team, so that it would maybe get a more "official" character/might get included in something, or should I just leave it here in the forums unofficially for anyone to take who likes it....what do I do??? Push it? Drop it?

cheers, N.

[kassetra]

Now I'd like to raise the question: what do y'all think I should DO with this stuff now??? Do you think I should send it to someone in the core ubuntu team, so that it would maybe get a more "official" character/might get included in something, or should I just leave it here in the forums unofficially for anyone to take who likes it....what do I do??? Push it? Drop it?

cheers, N.

PS: this last one's dedicated to kassetra, who told me the original was too complicated and started the whole redesign process, and panickedthumb, who flattered me ;)

Don't get me wrong! I *LOVE* the mask designs! They just don't fit well within an idea of a logo... but they are quite beautiful, and this latest one is now my desktop background!

I think you should put these backgrounds on gnome-look and maybe even email them to the Ubuntu team. I think they are great. :) I think many people would appreciate having your artwork as their background - whether they use ubuntu or not.

These images, while not-logo-like, are ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS, and could form the basis of more awesome african-inspired backgrounds and artwork. I personally would like to see red/brown themes to match these, and maybe even icons and such. They are beautiful! :)

[bvc]

I love request :mrgreen:
It was a toughy. Hard to get friendly colors. I had to add a few styles to the gtkrc to get the diff widgets to have the diff colors and the Status bar isn't showing right. Either I haven't figured out the right way to get it to work or it's a clearlooks bug. I did get it to work with a ugly hack but I didn't want to crash anyones desktop, so the StatusBar is hard to read in some apps at this time. Comments welcome for improvement.

screenie
http://home.houston.rr.com/bvc/Clearlooks-Mask.jpg
:razz:
download
http://home.houston.rr.com/bvc/gtk/Clearlooks-Mask.tar.gz

Also goes well with ubuntu-warm at gnome-look (down right now) and a few others... and even the default wallpaper, since it is dark.

[kassetra]

I love request :mrgreen:
It was a toughy. Hard to get friendly colors. I had to add a few styles to the gtkrc to get the diff widgets to have the diff colors and the Status bar isn't showing right. Either I haven't figured out the right way to get it to work or it's a clearlooks bug. I did get it to work with a ugly hack but I didn't want to crash anyones desktop, so the StatusBar is hard to read in some apps at this time. Comments welcome for improvement.

OH MY FLIPPIN' GOSH THAT is GORGEOUS!

Now That's what I'm talking about! That mask and that theme together are beautiful!!!

I will definitely be trying it out!! :)

[bvc]

I thought you'd like it 8)
let me know how it drives.

[kassetra]

I thought you'd like it 8)
let me know how it drives.

Will do sir!

man oh man. Ya just keep tempting me away from industrial with all these pretty shiny things. heh. :)

[bvc]

hehehe....industrial is dead 8) Clearlooks Lives!!! 8)

[kassetra]

So, what do y'all think I should DO with this stuff now??? Do you think I should send it to someone in the core ubuntu team, so that it would maybe get a more "official" character/might get included in something, or should I just leave it here in the forums unofficially for anyone to take who likes it....what do I do??? Push it? Drop it?

cheers, N.


archibald - now that bvc has made a clearlooks theme to match your beautiful masks, I think you should start making some icons to go with it... You have the start of a color-rich, stylized, beautiful "african sunset" theme, and I really *really* encourage you to add more to it.

:)

[bvc]

While I was making the theme, I thought about the logo simplicity, which is a good thing. For a wall or icon....how about a little glare/gloss NOT too much. NOT aqua. Just a little depth, if you know what I mean? Gnome Settings icon....you know..the 2 crossed hammers?
http://www.archivberlin.de/home/imagesLOW/AR854-96b.jpg
http://www.onthehouse.com/newsletter/old_hammer.jpg

ooo a rhythmbox icon idea
http://www.tabla.com/store/hammerdrums/pix/01_large.jpg

get busy :shock: :lol: icons are extremely time consuming 8-[

[kassetra]

ooo a rhythmbox icon idea
http://www.tabla.com/store/hammerdrums/pix/01_large.jpg

get busy :shock: :lol:

Yeah yeah yeah! That drum is the bomb! ha! I want an elephant for my web browser!

archibald - I hope you were wanting to do a lot more images! ;)

[archibald]

BEAUTIFUL THEME, bvc!!!!!
I dont know why you needed such a long time with the colours, bvc, theyre all downloadable under the artwork wiki: its the standard gnome palette!!! #-o hahaha came out great tho!!

do you mean I should make a background with the original logo suggestion, which, im sure you will have noticed, "rendered"?? that CANT already be too "aqua"....?

I suggest we just change a few simple things, as people are (ubuntu being such a popular distro) pretty happy with how things are... I suggest we just change a few central icons!! (see attachment)
I suggest we aim for as large an audience as we can, and not just for ourselves...tastes always slightly differ, and a few stylish changes will be much more than just a complete rework of everything!! These frankenstein themes often are just looked upon as cheap... I think so myself especially: the default gnome is nice, but I think ubuntu could justify a few changes from the usability point of things (a main aim of ubuntu...): why, to access applications, do you have to click on a FOOT, that has nothing to do with the ubuntu logo, the general theme of things, or ANY of the applications??? It would be much better to have a) some recognized symbol, or b) something that makes you want to click on it to find out... and then, "OH!!! so many programs!!". a foot, though it may be fitting in gnome as the default, doesnt really do this in ubuntu, which is why most distros change it. no matter how similar to default gnome ubuntu wants to keep things, I think this may be worth changing.

THIS is what I'm talking about!!! see upper lefthand corner! I havent had time to get your theme working yet, bvc!!!

[wfx]

Normaly a user know what distribution it use so please dont make
ubuntu everywhere (is branding the right name) [-o<

The Mask looks realy nice but i dont think it is a good gnomefoot replacment.
It is to tiny and to colorfully to see what it is.

[bvc]

lol
give it a whirl with gtk/clearlooks gradients and the standard ubuntu palette and see just how ugly it turns out ;) . Colors had to be tweaked and I went from one extreme to the other (dark/light) to where it's at now trying to get deep colors to look good. In general, the darker the theme the harder to make look good, especially with gtk.

[archibald]

ah, right...

I thought as much, but I thought I'd save myself the trouble of typing out an apology before I actually knew I was wrong!! :grin:
I thought you may be able to type in the "coordinates" of the colour you want, as you can in inkscape, but I was mistake....sorry!!! I shall never doubt you again! ;)

cheers, n.

[archibald]

and about the foot: i was just typing out a letter to the gnome-devel list (as someone told me to send my suggestion to the ubuntu core team) (is this the right mailing list??)...now I'm not so sure about it.... should I just suggest the backgrounds/logo or should I suggest it as a foot replacement?? maybe the foot replacement is a whole other matter, and I shouldnt stick my nose into that???

tell me what you think! I'll put my letter on hold...

[archibald]

okay, I've sent off my email, and will leave the foot for another time, as it is a whole separate matter, and replacing icons for usability is questionable....

I'll keep things simple for now, just seeing if they want/think any of my artwork is useful officially....

[archibald]

another thing: despite the current ubuntu logo being three people holding hands etc, its basicly just the canonical logo with three balls in it... :-$
kindof cheap....

[kurisutofaa]

Cool wallpaper and theme. I'll definetly use these ^^
Thanks guys! :-D

[kassetra]

another thing: despite the current ubuntu logo being three people holding hands etc, its basicly just the canonical logo with three balls in it... :-$
kindof cheap....

Actually, Canonical and Ubuntu are two aspects of the logo - they did it that way in order to keep the two "related" ... It's not cheap, it's clever.

[bvc]

why, to access applications, do you have to click on a FOOT, that has nothing to do with the ubuntu logo, the general theme of things, or ANY of the applications??? It would be much better to have a) some recognized symbol, or b) something that makes you want to click on it to find out... and then, "OH!!! so many programs!!". a foot, though it may be fitting in gnome as the default, doesnt really do this in ubuntu, which is why most distros change it. no matter how similar to default gnome ubuntu wants to keep things, I think this may be worth changing.Why a foot? Because it's gnomes logo, and it's better than a button that says start.Do I think ubuntu should change it to their logo? Yes. Your logo? no. At a default 24 panel your logo's detail is lost. It must be simple and easy to distinguish. The current logo does that, IMO.

I thought as much, but I thought I'd save myself the trouble of typing out an apology before I actually knew I was wrong!!
I thought you may be able to type in the "coordinates" of the colour you want, as you can in inkscape, but I was mistake....sorry!!! I shall never doubt you again! No biggy, you were just trying to help. I have the wiki art pages on my hd and have for a long time ;-) Doubt can be a wounderful thing. Forces you to find out for yourself.

and about the foot: i was just typing out a letter to the gnome-devel list (as someone told me to send my suggestion to the ubuntu core team) (is this the right mailing list??)....now I'm not so sure about it.... should I just suggest the backgrounds/logo or should I suggest it as a foot replacement?? maybe the foot replacement is a whole other matter, and I shouldnt stick my nose into that???no it is not.
http://www.ubuntulinux.org/community/lists

I've often read "art team" .....where? I see the wiki, or what is left of it. Why is there not an ubuntu-art mailing list? or ubuntu-art irc? K...so I can see why there might not be these because of the endless non-art contributions. But what happen to the link for art? Even better...what happen to the art? Some of it was good but it is gone now. So who do you contact? Ubuntu-devel? To me, that's hardly is the place to ask, discuss, contrib art. Do ya just sit back and see if you are contacted by this "art-team"?

I wouldn't bother with gnome-devel, they sure won't bother with you, at least it's not very likely. I don't know about ubuntu-devel.

[panickedthumb]

If I were a decision maker at Canonical, archibald and bvc would be full time employees on the Ubuntu art team. Seriously guys, the last few things you've both done have been fan-freakin'-tastic.

archibald, that last wall you posted is amazing. And it was dedicated to me and kass, how can I NOT use it ;) Seriously, even if you'd said "panickedthumb is a poopy-head" in that post, I'd still be using that wallpaper. Sorry if I'm gushing here, but your artwork amazes me.

And bvc, you make so much incredible stuff-- I've known this for about 6 months now, but you definitely don't get the recognition you deserve. Though I do wonder how many pcs your themes and artwork have been on. That'd be an interesting statistic. You have now proven that you can take someone elses artwork and complement it as perfectly as possible.

Simply put, you guys freakin rock.

[bvc]

Thx so much for the compliments!
Truth be told...I have been asked. BUT (a very big BUT) it was long ago. I had never made an icon or a wallpaper or anything for that matter except the d3a gtk theme. It was very humbling and shocking to be honest. A little time had past and I thought one day..."I'll try to make an icon" ...and the edge-icons were born. Now I've done the other svg/gtk themes, a wallpaper (not quite done) and I'm going to try my hand at web-design and the like and would be very interested in giving ubuntu art a chance as I have more time and confidence for the challenge. I don't even remember the name of the person that emailed me ](*,) Yeah, one of those *kick yourself in the head ....why did you delete the email you idiot!* deals :???:

/shameless plug
So if anyone reads this and knows who to contact.....please either contact them or pm me! Thx!

[bvc]

ooops...BTW:
I fixed the statusbar in Clearlooks-Mask
http://gnome-look.org/content/show.php?content=22259
also added;
Clearlooks-Pastel
Clearlooks-Serenity

[Yukonjack]

ooops...BTW:
I fixed the statusbar in Clearlooks-Mask
http://gnome-look.org/content/show.php?content=22259
also added;
Clearlooks-Pastel
Clearlooks-Serenity

Thank you bvc :)
The serenity theme is way cool ;)

[bvc]

why not a button?
http://www.kernow-webhosting.com/~bvc/theme/icons/stock/gnome-main-menu.png
For usability, a button is good as opposed to an icon. Currently, ugly arrows indicate that something is different about that foot. I hate the arrows! ...and would prefer a button and no arrow was there by default. As long as it doesn't say 'Menu' or 'Start'.... [-X
btw: that goes with the default Human (clearlooks)
http://www.kernow-webhosting.com/~bvc/theme/gtk/clearlooks/0.5/Clearlooks-4Humans1.jpg
...k, well the button is a little dark. More in the screenie than on my desktop, but I just threw it together with someone elses logo

oh..and ur welcome YJ :D

[bvc]

oh...hehehe
nevermind :roll:
the menubar is used by default ](*,)
are they changing that now that the same is accessible from the 'main' menu?

[wfx]

or something like this:http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/16666215/
it is a mix from a kde icon (it is a good disc why not :-)) and the original ubuntu logo

[bvc]

oooo....nice!
download?

[wfx]

You are can get it from:
brown (http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/16953270/) and blue (http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/16952912)

[archibald]

haha, thx for the flattery, ma man, I'll see if I can get my badger up to scratch next, maybe I can sneak some of my stuff into breezy!!

the "developers", the two that replied, liked the suggestion, but u'r right, this WAS the wrong place, as I thought... hihi

so forget it....this stuff, I suppose is gonna have to be community-artwork for the time-being!!

[wfx]

im sorry archibald,
i hope you are not angry about me (for posting this icon)?

[J. S. Jackson]

I'm not a huge fan of the official Ubuntu logo. To be honest some of the latest masks archibald did have a much higher cool factor.

I'm not a marketing expert, nor do I want to be. Every marketing guy I know (and I know lots) has just the right handshake, the right haircut, the right smile, the right clothes... makes me wanna puke, really. :)

[sanitario]

I really like the original ubuntu logo. The circle with the 3 dots (3 people holding hands?) gives me a really warm feeling. Just the feeling I think ubuntu stands for.. It's the best Linux logotype out there I think.

Not any bad about your image at all, just my opinion on logotype change.

I totally agree, the current official logo represents quite perfectly the whole idea of ubuntu with a simple figure. It's clean and fresh. I don't every want it to change.

[macewan]

thankyou, everyone! Really glad you all like it!
I'll fix that ubuntu immediately, artnay, I must have had a little mishap importing it....
okay, I've updated the original attachment....


Now I'd like to raise the question: what do y'all think I should DO with this stuff now??? Do you think I should send it to someone in the core ubuntu team, so that it would maybe get a more "official" character/might get included in something, or should I just leave it here in the forums unofficially for anyone to take who likes it....what do I do??? Push it? Drop it?

cheers, N.

PS: this last one's dedicated to kassetra, who told me the original was too complicated and started the whole redesign process, and panickedthumb, who flattered me ;)

nice work - currently my background =D>

[kurisutofaa]

the themes link is broken. Please somebody upload it here or somewhere! I want this http://gnome-look.org/content/show.php?content=22259&forummode=2&forumpage=0&forumexplevel=all&PHPSESSID=ca9275ec0425c9054b02151a5db42239

[archibald]

Hey

I was bored, so I thought I'd try to get back into 3D...I thought my mask would be a nice easy start...

Here's a gif, as I can't upload any movies, here...

Suggestions welcome, as usual! Would anyone like a smaller version for their avatar??

cheers! n.

PS: does anyone know when the breezy results are coming out?

[archibald]

here's some more stuff, including the one I'm using as an avatar... tell me what you think

more coming soon!

[panickedthumb]

I love what you did with the "Ubuntu" text there.

[archibald]

thanks, panickedthumb...I just took the font that was most similar to kassetra's original ubuntu font... alba, i think its called?!

heres some more stuff....this is done not with an "ink" texture in 3ds max, making it look more like the original svg image, just moving :)

these are all 90*90, and in the ubuntu colours....they were meant as an avatar for me, but now I've too many.... :(

[Zenith_]

Some beautiful artwork in this thread. The wallpapers are great - added to my collection, thanks! :)

[archibald]

hey everyone!

this one's for you, musther. Flattery will get you EVERYWHERE ;)

I took a step back from the jungle theme, and did some carribean bananaleaf stuff...this is one of my fav. backgrounds anyway! cheers!

[egon spengler]

well to be the lone voice of dissent i think your attitude towards africa is very patronising archibald. "three people representing unity? that's not primitive enough to be african. let me use some unga bunga image instead. now that's africa"

[archibald]

hey!

you KNOW i didnt mean it that way, but thanks for telling me, now i know what everyone is scared of putting this as a mascot, the ones that think it would be a good idea, at least... ;)

I think it is quite a silly view of things, myself... most things in this world can be interpreted the wrong way if you try hard enough...

if you are yourself are black and feel hurt by this i am very sorry, but if you are just making a statement for the "general good", please, just look the other way...

nevertheless, thanks for telling me... I, however, do not agree...

[panickedthumb]

There's nothing "unga bunga" about the medicine mask. It is a part of African history. It may be a stereotypical part, but it IS a part of it. I seriously doubt Archibald meant it that way at all.

[egon spengler]

if you are yourself are black and feel hurt by this i am very sorry, but if you are just making a statement for the "general good", please, just look the other way...

nevertheless, thanks for telling me... I, however, do not agree...

I am black as it happens, I wouldn't say that i felt "hurt" though. More I just rolled my eyes at the whole idea.

There's nothing "unga bunga" about the medicine mask. It is a part of African history. It may be a stereotypical part, but it IS a part of it..

That's sort of the point. That a non African would think "Hey that unity logo doesn't fit my narrow definition of African. Let's get something more stereotyped in there". It's not a big issue to me, like I said it provoked rolled eyes not hurt feelings, just voicing my opinion is all. I'm sure Archibald wasn't ill intentioned

[archibald]

haha...its true that it may misinterpret ubuntu somewhat, which is probably the reason it hasnt been taken on already...I just think its cooler than the original, and would therefore attract more (especially YOUNG!) users...

it IS true that it taps on an already established image of africa (much like the eiffel tower is something that springs to peoples minds when the hear french) but in this case the medicine mask isnt showing that africa is "backwards"/primitive, but, as this medicine mask is the logo for a linux distro, quite the opposite: africa is beginning to play a more important role in the software world!! I see it like that, though some people may not...

see my wiki under https://wiki.ubuntu.com//UbuntuLogoMascotSuggestionMedicineMask

cheers, n.

[tregetour]

I am currently using the bkg from 03-27-2005, it rocks.

There really is no need to change the logo and the mask wouldn't make a great replacement. But: mascots are cool. I mean just think of the way we treat Tux. The ubuntu community could recieve a moral boost from having a semi-offiial mascot. I see nothing wrong with having a mascot & logo. We may want to think of naming the mask. Someone who knows a bit about actual african names should chime in here. With regards to that whole debate, I think what we're saying with the african theme is that these supposedly primitive motifs have a place in our ultra-techie linux driven world. I would think that is a positive message.

[archibald]

yes, tregetour, that is EXACTLY what i wanted to convey with these mascot suggestions: the clash of native & technological motifs! that is for me what ubuntu is all about, and I shall start off right here&now with a suggestion for the medicine masks name:

"ubuntu", the medicine mask...

original, no? ;)

[fuscia]

the word is african, but that doesn't mean everything about ubuntu has to be 'tourist in africa' style. as ubuntu is really taking off, it's unlikely the logo would change. someone mentioned doing something more abstract, so i came up with something in that direction...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v342/unknownentity/ubuntulogo.jpg

the only problem is that it makes me think of the world wildlife federation panda.

[ogregore]

I have to say from my perspective of not being a "young" user, until I looked at the body of the original post I wasn't sure what it was (the mask I mean).

I did immediately see the present logo as being three people in a "circle of life", I also like the Kubuntu logo incorporating the kde gears and the Edubuntu logo with the "child" raising their hand.

Of course I am also a big fan of Tux and having used SuSE for a few years I am partial to Geeko.

I think the effort you have put into developing this art work is exceptional and I think there is always going to be an outlet available in the community of ubuntu and linux in general for those who have an artistic or development talent, I appreciate that you are giving enough to share your talents with all of us.

Thanks

[TeeAhr1]

...just found this thread through the Wiki through art.ubuntu...

I understand the counterarguments, and I can see it being rather "busy" as a logo, but just from a stylistic perspective, I really like it, and I'd love to see something done with it.

And "join the tribe" is brilliant!

[bobonthenet]

I'm a brand spanking new ubuntu user so this is just my humble oppinion here but I love both the existing ubuntu log and the mask. I believe the existing logo should remain, its meaning is clear and as a logo it serves its purpose better than the mask. Now I do believe that the mask has its place as a mascott. Long before I even knew what Linux was I had been aware of Tux the linux penguin. I identify that penguin with linux and I believe that ubuntu could benifit from having a mascott of its own. I would love to see the medicine mask as the mascott for ubuntu.
I just had another thought I wonder how that mask would look on Tux?