Creating an Identity for the Mozilla Developer Network
We’re in the process of building the Mozilla Developer Network to be a useful resource for developers working on the various Mozilla-based software projects and the open web in general. It’s a big, far-reaching project so, as Jay Patel noted last week, it’s important that we establish a strong brand identity for the MDN.
The first step is to create a logo that will represent the MDN to developers around the world (and also look great on a t-shirt, of course). To do this, we’ve once again turned to the talented folks at Studio Number One, who last worked with us on the logo for the Mozilla Creative Collective. And, as usual, we want this process to be as open and participatory as possible…in other words, we need your help!
The intended audience for this logo and the MDN in general is most definitely developers. As Jay’s creative brief notes, “the MDN brand will serve to unify our diverse developer communities and represent the innovation we bring to the world through the people, products, and technologies that define Mozilla.” Beyond that, the direction was pretty wide open – the key thing being that the MDN logo would feel both connected to Mozilla’s identity and history, but also be distinctly separate as its own unique entity.
Posted below are some early stage design options from Studio Number One (including different variations on similar themes). At this point in the process we need to start focusing on one for further refinement. Which one should that be? What stands out to you and why? Try to envision these on a website, t-shirt, poster, sticker, etc and let us know what you think by Friday, February 19. Any and all feedback is encouraged.
Thanks!
February 17th, 2010 at 8:03 pm
El Nº7 me parece abierto a infinitas posibilidades y no es tan rígido.
February 17th, 2010 at 8:08 pm
My pick is #9 coz it looks the least menacing of all. It doesn’t have a lot of red n bare teeth n that makes it look like the most friendly trex around.
But I haven’t be associated with Mozilla for long enough to know if you guyz have a fetish for red!
February 17th, 2010 at 8:43 pm
I Like #4 & #8. I think a little adjustment on the contrast will do!
Cool Logo designs! Great!
February 17th, 2010 at 8:59 pm
#4 looks good. The black dino works, but I wouldn’t mind seeing a different color on the text. As far as providing some sort of feel of openness, an open door might be a bit cliched, but having the dino walking towards it with the wordmark on the door, or on a sign on the door (a crooked, or perhaps taped on one) might be something to kick around.
1,3,6,7, and 10 are pretty vicious looking and not too inviting, or welcoming at all. Perhaps they’d be more appropriate for a Death Metal band?
The industrial looking dino isn’t too bad. Perhaps thin out the black on the lower half of the dino a bit and put black hexagon shaped lines around the current representations of bolts to add a bit more definition.
The gradient on the dino certainly doesn’t work, and the gloss would only look good on a gradient background.
Thanks for sharing and opening this (part) up a bit. The participatory things are one of the reasons why I really love Mozilla.
February 17th, 2010 at 10:18 pm
No8, but with no3’s dinosaur
February 17th, 2010 at 10:30 pm
#7 and #8 Looks Good
February 17th, 2010 at 11:14 pm
Number 4 is excellent
February 17th, 2010 at 11:35 pm
I like #7. It survives at different sizes best. One thing I’d change: the letters “MDN” need to be as big and bold as number 1.
February 17th, 2010 at 11:37 pm
No8 Definitely
February 17th, 2010 at 11:38 pm
I prefer the ones with the dino to the left of MDN rather than on top, although I do like the dino in #7
If I had to vote from these, I think I’d choose number 3, the square container looks a lot better than the round and fits the logo better
February 17th, 2010 at 11:42 pm
#7 or #9. the others seem old school Mozilla-ish.
February 17th, 2010 at 11:48 pm
Don’t Love any of them, don’t like any with the stencil font. Like 3, 6, 8 (without stencil)the most.
February 18th, 2010 at 12:17 am
I think 7) is the best – the reference to the old industrial theme gave me a chuckle. (I loved the old Hack design, so that might be part of the reason.) It seems like too much straight lines, though; could use one or two more angles.
The majority of the choices seem to be two particular designs based on mechanical dinosaurs; that just isn’t doing it for me, so all of those fell rather flat
Of the designs presented, 3) would probably translate best into a favicon.
February 18th, 2010 at 12:17 am
1 and 6 are the best.
February 18th, 2010 at 12:19 am
Well done. I prefer n°4 and 8. I would like to see n°8 with the lizard on the left and I prefer n°8’s font.
The lizard should be as similar as possible as the official Mozilla one, so people would easily associate it with that one.
February 18th, 2010 at 12:19 am
My son (dinosaur and robot expert) and I prefer logos #8 and #9, though I guess #8 scales better and is more suitable for a favicon. Oh, and don’t forget to make tattoos!
February 18th, 2010 at 12:21 am
No. 10 is my pick
February 18th, 2010 at 12:24 am
No.8 is my choice – Rajesh , Zoho Corp
February 18th, 2010 at 12:51 am
Nummer 7
February 18th, 2010 at 12:56 am
I would say #9, however, either fade a red to nothing/white backdrop or do black to white to red on the T-Rex (following the same vertical direction between transitions). I have another idea, but will submit it separately.
February 18th, 2010 at 1:07 am
I like very much the Tangram logo (#4); it expresses very well the concept of modularity!
February 18th, 2010 at 1:15 am
I would prefer only letters from #10 but no dinosaur – nice, simple, professional, no-menacing, easy to remember. Those big-teeth dinosaurs scare the primal monkey in me
. They definitely give a menacing and therefore uncomfortable feeling.
February 18th, 2010 at 1:20 am
Number 8 and 9 look good, not scary or menacing and seem to fit better in the overall Mozilla branding
February 18th, 2010 at 1:28 am
I don’t like any one…
February 18th, 2010 at 1:31 am
I’m actually partial to the tangrams version of the dino (#4). I think that while it may not look as edgy as some of the others, the componentised graphic is very symbolic and you could also mix the pieces around to symbolise different branches or schools of thought of the MDN.
February 18th, 2010 at 1:32 am
Each one of the typos are ok, but the dino’s shape not enought simple. The 3th and the 7th are looging good.
February 18th, 2010 at 1:35 am
I like the simplicity of the logo number 3, but I also like the typography of #10
February 18th, 2010 at 1:36 am
I like #4. It is not to similar to the common mozilla logos. And the puzzle pieces remind me of software developing
February 18th, 2010 at 1:38 am
#8 or #2 – good design!)
As for #7: dino is too schematic or not too schematic!
February 18th, 2010 at 1:48 am
I like #1 but maybe with black dino just like in #10 which is not bad either!
February 18th, 2010 at 1:51 am
Writing No. 8, perhaps with the Dino No. 3
February 18th, 2010 at 1:55 am
#8 or #9,
looking great
February 18th, 2010 at 2:03 am
I like no. 3
February 18th, 2010 at 2:54 am
Number 8 is great
February 18th, 2010 at 3:14 am
#1, #10 or #3, in that order.
I like it!
February 18th, 2010 at 3:39 am
Numbers 3, 4 and 8 would be my personal preference. They all look good though.
February 18th, 2010 at 3:45 am
2,4 and 5. The ones with the arm look lame!
February 18th, 2010 at 3:47 am
I love the 4th one… Best suited for Mozilla
February 18th, 2010 at 5:00 am
No# 8
February 18th, 2010 at 5:03 am
I linke #2 and #10
February 18th, 2010 at 5:08 am
I like #8 very much, #1 is my second choice.
February 18th, 2010 at 5:12 am
I really like #2, #8 and #9. The “mechanical thing” expresses the constructing aspect of the network. Oh and I don’t like when it’s glowing
February 18th, 2010 at 5:28 am
number 2 and 5, they are the same but can be used differently in different occasions, because it’s either high or wide…
February 18th, 2010 at 5:32 am
I like the dinosaur above the lettering. I don’t care for #4 at all – that dinosaur looks ridiculous. I do like #6 – and #7 gives the viewer a feeling of ferocity. Which expresses the whole FF network, don’t you think? It seems to chew up and spit out all the competition! #7 is also individual – it would signal it’s own community.
For some reason, I don’t like the rounded head dinosaur at all (in #s 2, 5, 8 and 9). It seems too cutesy or froo-froo for MDN…kind of like the “weaker” animal. The MDN is not weak.
Good luck!
February 18th, 2010 at 5:45 am
The logo number 4 is better according to me…..It looks more digital…
February 18th, 2010 at 6:46 am
If I had to pick one, it would definitely be #4. As a logo it stands out the most. I think a different typeface would be better. Something along the lines of Qlassik Bold or a member of the Knockout family.
February 18th, 2010 at 6:52 am
Number one or number six are very well, but all are very rigid, if you’re lookin’ for a very friendly image: none transmit this image. You would try with green colour and not red. Thanks!
February 18th, 2010 at 7:08 am
+1 for #3 clean and sleek.
-1 for #1,5,8,10
February 18th, 2010 at 7:13 am
No. 3 and No. 8 get my vote.
February 18th, 2010 at 7:35 am
04 and 08 looks the best for me