[advocacy-discuss] Re: [osol-discuss] Logo/Mascot for OpenSolaris

[Jim Grisanzio]

Stephen Lau wrote:
> Darren.Reed at sun.com wrote:
> 
>> In addition to coming up with a catch phrase or a very short
>> definition about what OpenSolaris is about, 


If we re-consider the text on the front page describing what OpenSolaris 
is about, we ought to also make sure we are consistent with (or update) 
the Principles and the "What is the OpenSolaris Project" text on the 
About page as well: http://www.opensolaris.org/os/about/

The Principles need to be part of this conversation because that 
document basically outlines our values as a community. The other 
document that outlines the technical values can be found in the dev 
process draft in the Design Principles section:
http://opensolaris.org/os/community/on/os_dev_process/

It seems to me that we need to consider some key elements if we want to 
best describe OpenSolaris:

* Our culture as a community of people
* The technical expertise we are known for and apply to our trade
* What we are building (code, community, products, whatever)
* Why we build this stuff (passion, money, solve problems, whatever)
* And for who are we building it (developers, customers, etc ...)

Just trying to stir some debate on these ...

Based on any changes we make to the description of OpenSolaris, we'll 
also have to make sure the positioning is reflected in the FAQs: 
http://www.opensolaris.org/os/about/faq/

I like the idea of finding a tag line of some sort because that can help 
focus us and will make it easier to update other parts of other documents.

Regarding tag lines, I've always liked:

   "OpenSolaris is a 4 Letter Word: C-O-D-E"

I realize that's probably not appropriate, but thinking of the issue 
that way is. In other words, what's the /one/ thing that represents 
OpenSolaris at the core from which /everything/ else grows. Others may 
say "Community" or "Conversation" or "Opportunity" or "Quality" or 
whatever.

Another way of thinking about it is to list the most important elements 
on the project in the hopes that several elements will emerge that can 
be crafted into a tag line serving multiple purposes. To me, the top 
issues on the project are the following:

* The quality and superiority of the OpenSolaris code.
* The emergence and benefit of open development engineering at scale.
* The growth and diversity of the global community of people.
* The new market that the community is building.
* Opportunities for participation by customers, developers, admins ....

They are not tag lines, per say, but they are basically talking points 
that could lead to the creation of a tag line, which could lead to a 
more focused description of OpenSolaris.

Other tag line-ish stuff that I think about from time to time:

   OpenSolaris: Code, Community, Collaboration
   Discover /your/ opportunity

   OpenSolaris
   Code, Community, Collaboration

   OpenSolaris: Code, Community, Collaboration
   It's /your/ choice

   OpenSolaris
   It's all about the code

   OpenSolaris
   It's all about the community

   OpenSolaris
   It's all about the code and the community

   OpenSolaris
   It's all about code and community

   OpenSolaris: You decide.
   Code, Community, Collaboration, Conversation


Thoughts?


Jim
-- 
Jim Grisanzio http://blogs.sun.com/jimgris




we also need a
>> mascot/logo - the current splattering of source code with the
>> "open(2)" is cute from a geek perspective but it is hardly the
>> kind of thing you could expect people to carry on boxes or cds
>> as a way of saying "we're OpenSolaris".
>>
>> It looks like this has been discussed in the past but nothing
>> has gone anywhere.
>>
>> What I'd like to see the OGB consider doing is:
>> - decide if we'll have a mascot or logo (or both)
>> - come up with a prize (monetary or otherwise)
>> - decide on some dates for when to run the competition
>> - announce opening of a competition
>> - collect submissions and have a vote to decide the best
>> - require winner to hand over copyright to OpenSolaris
>> - undertake the above with a clear understanding that
>>  it is possible that no entries may "win"
>>
>> Lastly, I don't think that this course of action should be
>> in any way dependent on any other activity.
> 
> 
> I don't really see that this is related to governance, so I don't 
> believe the OGB should be involved.
> 
> This discussion should probably happen in the advocacy community group. 
>   I'm moving the discussion there.
> 
> cheers,
> steve
>