[indiana-discuss] [advocacy-discuss] General Branding Experience for Indiana

[Jim Grisanzio]

Patrick Finch wrote:
> Jim Grisanzio wrote:
>> Glynn Foster wrote:
>>> Brandorr wrote:
>>>> On 9/12/07, Glynn Foster <Glynn.Foster at sun.com> wrote:
>>>>> Hey,
>>>>>
>>>>> One issue that probably requires some thought is the general 
>>>>> branding experience
>>>>> of Indiana from a user point of view - that is, the user experience 
>>>>> from when
>>>>> that first LiveCD enters the CD-ROM tray and comes up on the 
>>>>> system, to them
>>>>> installing it on the disk.
>>>> Did I miss something? Did we even figure out what the Indiana Brand is
>>>> yet? (e.g. Does it have a name, logo, etc?)
>>> No, we don't need to wait for that discussion to finish before we 
>>> figure out
>>> some of the other details.
>>
>>
>> I know others have suggested replacing the various Sun branding 
>> elements with OpenSolaris elements, which I support, but I'm wondering 
>> if the coffee cup will stay in the launch menu? :) Someone mentioned 
>> that to me the other day, so I thought I'd ask (sorry if I missed it 
>> in the thread).
>>
>> It reminded me, though, that whatever the branding experience for the 
>> distro turns out to be, it should be as simple as possible. We are 
>> creating something new here, so let's not clutter it up from the 
>> beginning. Also, Indiana will be used to introduce OpenSolaris 
>> technology to potentially very large numbers of people in emerging 
>> markets, so the branding experience should consider international 
>> realities as well.
>>
>> Jim
> 
> 
> I think it was me that mentioned the coffee cup.


Oh, that's *right* ... I couldn't remember! :) Such a jerk.

> I disagree slightly about the branding.  I not about to argue for 
> "clutter", but that doesn't equate to as simple as possible.
> 
> Ubuntu has excellent branding, but you'd hardly say it was simple; 
> unintrusive perhaps.  I think you're right about the international 
> component (again, Ubuntu!), and while I am sure we will want something 
> that feels clean, I hope it reflects personality too.

Yah, perhaps "simple" is the wrong word. When I used Ubuntu I had the 
/feeling/ of simplicity and elegance (though wireless never worked for 
me). Someone sat down and thought the brand through at least to a 
certain extent, and I appreciated that. I love the Java coffee cup (but 
the old one better), but I'm confused by it living on Solaris. Then we 
have to consider the /OpenSolaris/ brand. Now I'm confused. :) That's 
what I mean by simple.

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