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My 0.02$ on Opera Community development

published by Ivan Minic

My 0.02$ on Opera's logo / identity

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I had to write this... This topic was the thing that made me start posting (my first post) on My.Opera forums and the thing that was lately talked about a lot (main topic)...

I'll try to sublime other's impressions and write my own...
[img]http://my.opera.com/SerbianFighter/homes/myopera/comparison.png

I took these 5 logos in comparison simply because they represent the most popular 5 browsers... Depending on country and type of website they change their orded, but all in all they pretty much always, everywhere hit top 5 spots.

First... non-troppo's critique
[img]http://nontroppo.org/test/Op7/Opera-logo-critique.png


Second... dantist's quick fix
[img]http://webuser.fh-furtwangen.de/~sucke/_stuff/o.jpg


Third... EivindFS retouch
[img]http://my.opera.com/SerbianFighter/homes/myopera/retouch.png



Ok... now my point of view....
Sometime ago I play around with "the big O" so I made simple crystal retouch...
People liked it pretty much....

Wallpaper:
[img]http://my.opera.com/SerbianFighter/homes/albums/9482/1opera9.jpg


So.. then some of people asked if I could make clean white O from that... and so I did:
[img]http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/2860/oooo7sm.png


Anyhow...
This "logo" Isn't anything special, it is just a retouch of current style and I personally believe that new logo and identity should be changed....
How and why... take a look at this (just examples):
[img]http://my.opera.com/SerbianFighter/homes/myopera/ologo.png


We all know that the most important market in the IT world is US...
And when you have (at least) 2 such giants as "the big O" there, how do you expect someone fight with them?
Also.. 95% internet users are noobs...
Does anyone actually think that big red roman style O is a real way of suggesting users "this is internet browser, click it!".
I made a small test the other day on one computer (usually only used for internet by complete begginers)... I deleted all icons on desktop and installed Netscape 8, Firefox 1.5 and Opera 8...
I counted how many people clicked on each of them to start using their internet..
15 people...
- 10 clicked Firefox.
- 4 clicked Netscape.
- 1 clicked Opera.

Why did that one click on Opera... I asked him... He has Symbian phone with Opera preinstalled...
And.. we are talking about "survey" in a country where lets say 5-7% people use Opera as their browser, and... that my friends.. is quite a lot.
I asked some who clicked on FF and NN and these are some of their anwsers...
FF : The Icon is so cool and shiny and all that..
FF : The Globe suggested to me that I should try that one...
FF : I've heard / read about it...
NN : The icon looked like N is wathing on earth... seemed logical...
NN : My friend has email @netscape.net

Ok... now let me show you logos that were submited lately as users suggestion:

User suggested logos:
Prodea: Opera.png
rethompson808: opera_07.blue2.png
PKO: Opera_03.png
marcoledingue: opera-mask.png
chris2000: logo-concepts.gif
CaFFeinE: opera_speedy.png : opera_flames.png
Willnight: Opera_id1-1.jpg
idbeu: 3.gif
momo2: opera_logo_redesigned.png
trollop: OperaHumming-1.png : OperaHumming-2.png

Jairo Boudewyn
Opera 8 Icons 2.0 - [Here]
Opera 8 Icons - [Here]
Opera Morph Icons - [Here]
Opera Browser 7.5 Icon 2.0 - [Here]
Opera 7 - Generic Opera - [Here]

Conclusion?
Opera needs a new logo...
A nice sleek, modern and easy to remember logo that will be related to internet, network and browsing.
One logo suggested is IMHO very nice.. Opera Morph Icons - [Here]
I think this kind of look is something Opera should coinsider... Maybe not exactly that logo, that color scheme (although red white and blue are so well together and are used in may flags around the world and so...)...

What it should be.. we will see :smile:

Update:
+ Opera logo as I see it. [Mockup] + Step 2

5 new User barsOpera logo as I see it.. mockup

Comments

scipio 3. January 2006, 10:19

:sst: Is that the latest version of the IE logo you posted above?

SerbianFighter 3. January 2006, 10:31

It is commonly used one.. there are couple variations, but basically it is all the same...

Flat one:
[img]http://www.chicercatrova2000.it/news/img/ms_ie_logo.jpg

The one that is going to be used when 7.0 is final:
[img]http://www.downloadsquad.com/images/2005/08/ie7_logo.jpg
And
[img]http://img.clubic.com/photo/0096000000138665.jpg

But all in all, the difference is small :smile:

non-troppo 9. January 2006, 14:58

Nice summary post! Glad to see you keeping the process alive.

SerbianFighter 9. January 2006, 15:00

A word from a legend like you are means a lot :wink:
Thank you :smile:

sixofone 24. January 2006, 15:36

Personally, I don't think Opera can diverge too far from the big red 'O'. Having the logo remain primarly red doesn't feel like enough, especially for 10 years worth of work. I say this because I feel that your proposed logos (the ones it appears you yourself have worked on) seem to be going in that direction. And while they are nicely done, I think they are also a little too 'busy', too many seperate elements and doesn't tie in other than the 'list' of features.

For this reason, I like the ideas that chris2000 put together, a fresher look but still easily identifiable with the current incarnation of the logo. I also like Willnight's for similar reasons.

I think that a name change for the browser is the only real justification for a major departure from the current logo.

dacap 26. January 2006, 02:50

I made a logo for Opera, check this out http://www.deviantart.com/view/28181866/

freeplay 30. March 2006, 02:54

You should try changing the opera o your self and try it again. I know there is a way but i dont know it off the top of my head. i will tell you when i think of it.
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