New Logo for OpenHAB Apps

[Markus Reiter]

Hi,

I recently submitted a pull request for the iOS app with a redesigned logo/icon to suit the "flat design" of iOS 7/8. For my proposed logo I tried to keep the logo as close to the original as possible, but I removed the “glossy” effect because the “flat design” of iOS 7/8 and a glossy logo just don't belong good together. In fact, a glossy logo doesn't belong in 2015.

Here's the link to the pull request: https://github.com/openhab/openhab.ios/pull/36

Here you can see the old and my proposed logo side-by-side:

As suggested by @belovictor we should discuss the new design outside of a pull request. So I'm asking you for any input or suggestion.

[Kai Kreuzer]

Independent of whether I like the suggested design or not, I am strongly against updating the logo.

It has been only introduced 2-3 years ago and changing it means a LOT of effort: Updating software, updating websites and documents. Even worse for any physical objects that already exist like T-shirts, stickers, RaspPi cases, etc, which would be "outdated" immediately. I think we have many "other fish to fry", so spending significant effort on this is imho not worth it.

Just my 2 cents,

Kai

[Markus Reiter]

Ok, I get that it means a lot of effort, but I also think it will mean a lot of effort in 5 years time, because there will always be “other fish to fry”. Also, as @belovictor pointed out in the pull request, the logo is too thin. This is on one hand due to me not having the original logo as a vector graphic, on the other hand the white space in an iOS icon.

Maybe you can send me a link to the current logo as vector graphic, so I can have a fresh try.

[Christoph Wempe]

As a fan of googles material design, I strongly support a "flat" icon.
"Flat design" is the next big thing. ;)
See iOS7+, Android 4+, Windows 8+, ...

But I know you will always have to deliberate weather to develope/use you own design or to adapt the design of a specific platform.
If so, do you want to look like iOS or like material or like metro.

I think this is the hardest part about the design of a new app.

[Thomas E.-E.]

+1

in particular for the 

> I think we have many "other fish to fry"

Best, Thomas E.-E.

[Markus Reiter]

I agree, but I'm more of a designer than a developer, so I could fry this fish while you fry the others.

Also: I counted the logos used on the website, two. Maybe five if you count the logos in the screenshots. I wouldn't classify this as a lot of effort to change. And correct me if I'm wrong, but you wouldn't need to change a single line of code in the software (if it isn't a radical redesign), you could simply replace the file.

[Steven Lazidis]

Would it be an issue to have a flat version of the logo for apps, but leave it the same everywhere else? Keep the logo identical but remove the gloss/3D bit. Looking on my phone at other apps that have had their icons changed, that's all they've done. The icon isn't just their logo, it's an icon of their logo.

[Robert van Bregt]

I would propose to only use the flat icons in the iOS app for now and leave it unchanged anywhere else.

Just my 2 cents...

Op woensdag 15 april 2015 13:59:55 UTC+2 schreef Markus Reiter:

[Robert Bausdorf]

In my opinion the stinkiest "fish to fry" from the design point of view is to enhance the amount of icons available for the GUI items. The number of bindings has grown largely over the past few month's but the number of icons did not.

Just one example: The (really great) weather binding.

It provides a lot of values but where - for example - are icons for

• dew point
• humidity
• wind direction
• heat index
• UV index
• felt temp

just to name a few. And this is only one binding.

So please - all you designers out there - support the developers by working on design elements for functional features. The glossy-or-not-Logo does not help to enhance the user experience.

[RGL]

I agree a new/enhanced set of icons would be much more usefull for all. I think a lot of topics can be designed as an icon i.e. diffenent levels/floors of a house ground floor, 1st floor, roof floor and outside, icons more rooms like living room, office, guest room, guest restroom
or a symbol for a circulation pump, multi media symbols, LED lightning (incl. different colors) a general weather icon, icon for contacts, charts, computer monitor, desk light ...
I can name more if needed.
Basically there should be a icon for everything you can think of which can be powered or switched/moved ... all beeing in the same design.

[Greg EVA]

I would 2nd Kai's point of view that changing a logo is an incredible amount of work; and do so for such a slight change is a lot of effort for not much result.

I would also 2nd Roberts suggestion that design effort to help support OpenHAB and make things more attractive be much more needed on the interface level (icons, UIs, widgets, etc.) rather than the branding.

That said... the flat version does look nice!  But really, just because some of the worlds giant software companies are changing design principles doesn't mean that everyone else needs to follow them while they are learning from their mistakes and pissing off users with constantly changing interfaces, icons, fonts, interaction, software updates, etc.

[Kai Kreuzer]

Regarding the available icon set, please also see this discussion: https://groups.google.com/d/msg/openhab/hAUVZpRzcuI/YpvlFYFlbDIJ

And also https://twitter.com/ubergeekseven/status/582504249139077120

Best regards,
Kai

[Markus Reiter]

Well, I already have a few custom icons, some of which are kinda specific for my house, but I could upload some of the more generic ones to show you the direction I'm going in and let you decide if we should adopt them.

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[Markus Reiter]

Here are some icons:

light on, light off:

 

office, home cinema, living room, pantry

     

radiator, toilet, bathroom, washing room, 

      

sunrise, sunset

  

attic, first floor, ground floor, cellar

      

corridor, garage door

  

[Victor Belov]

Hi,

I like most of these, building icons could be a bit more squared though :-)

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