Note to TWiki site administrators TWiki has now a new logo, a big "T" in a speech bubble convenying "working together", with a "collaborate with TWiki" tag line. A consistent branding is important for the TWiki project. People will recognize a TWiki site immediately if the new logo is used consistently. Therefore, older TWiki brand logos such as teamwork tools logos and logos based on Twiki robot should no longer be used. Of corse, TWiki is open source, so site owners can use the logos at their descretion. This is a friendly request to increase the exposure and name recognition of TWiki: If you run a TWiki site and are using older TWiki logos (not your own) we would be very pleased if you change the logo to the new "T" logo. DiscontinueUseOfOldTWikiLogos describes the how-to.

Legacy content:

Plusher versions of SteffenPoulsen's logo.

Note:

• All original images attached to this page by CrawfordCurrie are Copyright © 2004 Crawford Currie.
• The handclasp logo is Copyright © 2004 Steffen Poulsen.
• The TWiki man logo is Copyright © 2004 Franz Josef Silli.
• The rainbow hands logo is copyright © 2004 Lynnwood Brown
• All original images are licensed under the terms of the GNU Public License. All corporate logos presented for comparison are Copyright © their respective owners._

Unusable logos removed

-- CrawfordCurrie - 12 Aug 2004

Would it be possible to make the image anti-aliased (is that the right term?) into the background so that it appeared less blocky? Is there a larger source for this image?

-- SamHasler - 12 Aug 2004

I can say that I don't find the logo ugly. I just don't know if it communicates well. It depends on what TWiki wants to be, and what it wants to communicate. The presented logo is kind of neutral.

Its good that you are developing an alternative to highres. Still, I would like (all of us) to think a moment on TWikiBrand.

-- ArthurClemens - 12 Aug 2004

http://www.goodlogo.com/backgrounds/good.logos/

As you point out, a logo doesn't communicate; other communication associates ideas with the logo. All a logo has to do is be distinctive and memorable. So whatever brand ideas you come up with in TWikiBrand, they can be associated with whatever logo is selected. Repeat, all a logo has to do is be distinctive and memorable.

-- CrawfordCurrie - 12 Aug 2004

Its not what I am reading in the article. It says "Successful logos throughout the world have certain characteristics that make them popular and memorable":

• Differentiation
• Timelessness
• Able to evoke emotions
• Malleability
• Simplicity
• Exposure

For the TWiki logo I wanted to make the point that we don't have enough information to decide if the logo communicates well. What reasons can we bring up to decide what colors to use (shouldn't it be orange), if it should be asymetrical, if the TWiki name shouldn't be part of the logo/logotype instead of standing next to an image.

At the same time the article illustrates the sometimes trivial background of famous logos. Probably either way can work out well: the well-thought-out way or the found-by-chance way.

BTW nice overview page of logo trends: http://www.gdusa.com/feature/4_03/trends.php

One of Dutch all time classics: http://www.goodlogo.com/cases/ns/. Created in 1968 and never changed.

Quite a hidden site: http://users.ncrvnet.nl/mstol/58.htm. I think the Dutch are doing quite well, generally.

-- ArthurClemens - 12 Aug 2004

This is all a good and interesting discussion - AND could we possibly agree that either FriendshipLogos or HighResolutionLogos would be better to go out with Cairo than the robot? We can continue to work on developing the ultimate logo but in the mean time let's achieve a modest but real improvement.

I really like FriendshipLogo, particular the orange variation. How about coming up with an acceptable font for now and do something simple in time to include in Cairo release. Inaction is a decision and, in this case, I think it will be a significant mistake.

Let's hear from others and see if we can get build some support for a new, interim logo.

-- LynnwoodBrown - 12 Aug 2004

Thanks Lynnwood. I sometimes feel I'm beating my head off a brick wall on this one. Arthur, sitting on out hands and doing nothing isn't going to increase the amount of information we have. IMHO visual appeal is the most important factor here; memes can be attached later.

Since there hasn't been any response from Peter on this, I have to assume he doesn't like the proposal above. At the risk of confusing the issue, I had another idea that may appeal:

The double-heart can of course be taken on it's own, and even scales down to very small sizes reasonably well.

• Differentiation
  • I can't find any other use of a double-heart this way. Perhaps someone else has?
    • It also has the meaning: "do I know this image?" Just 2 plain hearts may be too familiar, so not differentiating enough. This has a lot to do with the way it is drawn. Other abstractions away from the 2 hearts can make the change to make it differ enough. -- ArthurClemens - 13 Aug 2004
• Timelessness
  • Simple enough to move with the times
    • Again, this has to do with the rendering/visual style. -- ArthurClemens - 13 Aug 2004
• Able to evoke emotions
  • Hearts tend to evoke emotions all right, especially warm hearts
• Malleability
  • Loads of scope
• Simplicity
  • Took me 2 minutes to draw up a master (using Office Draw)
• Exposure
  • Well, that's up to us, isn't it?

Sam, there are now vector masters for all the images on this page.

-- CrawfordCurrie - 13 Aug 2004

This is a difficult situation, as long as Peter doesn't assume the client role. You need to know at least where to start, what is an absolutely no-go, etc. I've understood he'd write a reaction on hi-res logos, so I need to wait for that.

• About the double heart, have a look at the abstraction of the double M of Macromedia: http://www.goodlogo.com/cases/macromedia/ (present logo). So that you don't get just the "aha, it's 2 hearts" response.
• TWikiHeart is coming from the red blob in the tin twiki bot: a heart inside tech.

-- ArthurClemens - 13 Aug 2004

It's curious that not once, not even after reading Peter's introduction in TWikiHeart, did I click and associate the red blob on Twiki the robot with a heart! I see now what I have been missing. Why didn't I associate it with a heart? Because it isn't one, that's why. The red thing in the pictures is Dr Theosophilus, a completely separate (and rather supercilious) robot/computer that Twiki wore around its neck like a medallion. Not even a symbiote; a parasite.

• Thanks for sharing this information. I've never watched the series. -- ArthurClemens - 13 Aug 2004

-- CrawfordCurrie - 13 Aug 2004

A related image:

-- ArthurClemens - 13 Aug 2004

Yesterday I had the idea to play around with the two first letters T and W in TWiki and combine them with an abstracted robot (respectively the symbol for humans, cause TWiki is about human beings) represented by a stickman to the following proposal for a new TWiki logo:
         

Of course it could be combined with the TWiki writing to
   
but may as well stand alone.

Remark: The W consists of two mirrored checkmarks.

Maybe this idea can be implemented in a more professional and appealing way by an experienced logo designer. Have fun!

BTW: I like Crawfords logo proposals, except for the versions with the TWiki writings. Somehow the font doesn't work properly, but I'm sure this could be fixed. The two hearts forming the W in TWiki are a nice idea either, but somehow they look a bit too frisky to me (sorry Crawford).

-- FranzJosefSilli - 14 Aug 2004

I'm really not qualified to judge, because I like all the suggestions (easy to please, I guess!) and I have no way to influence the outcome either way anyway. It's Peter's liability, so it's Peter's decision. It needs him to express an opinion one way or the other. Peter, to make it easier for you I'll try and make it multiple choice:

1. The robot stays, end of discussion.
2. The robot has to go, but none of the logos proposed is right so the robot will ship in Cairo.
3. The robot has to go before Cairo release, but none of the logos proposed is right so we need another logo posthaste.
4. One of the proposals (hi res, handshake, hearts, checkmarks) would work but requires refinement before release.
5. One of the proposals (hi res, handshake, hearts, checkmarks) will work as is, and will be shipped in Cairo.

-- CrawfordCurrie - 16 Aug 2004

The warp and weft logo is really growing on me. There is lots of room for branding too; a tapestry is made of many threads, of many different materials and colours, all heading in different, usually orthagonal, directions. What else is a more accurate mental image for TWiki?

-- MattWilkie - 17 Aug 2004

I support Steffen's draft on a handclasp logo, and Crawford's adaptation is even better, but only in black-and-white. The grayscale image seems unclear, out of focus, and the image loses it's iconographic effect. The colored versions are even worse. They're all pretty and well done, but they just don't convey the message.

True icons are silouettes only. Men's/Ladies' Room. Handicapped Parking. Emergency Exit. The reason is that they convey the meaning as clearly, quickly, and easily as possible. Anything besides that clutter the image and demands more "processing attention" from the human mind, which deduct from the iconographic effect.

Let's hang on to the hands/support/interlinked/social concept of the handclasp logo. It's good. It might even need some embellishment to make the "hands" more recognizable.

And yes, we do need a new logo. The twikibot is cute but odd and anachronistic.

-- TorbenGB - 04 Sep 2004

Just a quick comment on the images based on T and W . My first thought is that I like the concept. It means something related to TWiki. (not that a logo needs to mean anything) The greyscale versions are also nice, but the letters would make a nice alternate logo. (..and at times I get sick of looking at meaningless icons or ones that are trying to convey too much. A TW isn't going to say anything to joe end user at first, but he's going to see the TW at a later point and know what to expect.)

Semi-related: anyone notice the TW logo that Tiger Woods has on his hats? (no clue on the golf interest here - although I've been playing all my life so I notice these things) http://tigerwoods.com (see the image gallery) There are surely copyright issues, but combining the letters in some kind of geometric pattern might be an idea.

-- RobertEdeker - 04 Sep 2004

Sorry, but this logo is already used by Oppenheimer Funds. The abstract versions at the top of the page might not attract any unwanted legal attention, but any "embellishment to make the 'hands' more recognizable" as TorbenGB suggested above would make it look exactly like their logo.

- DrewKime - 12 Sep 2004

Thanks Drew; I suspected it was too good to be true, It's obviously too close. So Franz's logo (and the Teamwork logos) are the only candidates.

-- CrawfordCurrie - 12 Sep 2004

Bummer, looks like it's goodbye to the handclasp idea - good digging, Drew :-). My next-best idea was related to mustard seed. A google search for "mustard seed" will return a lot of images, the current #2 and #3 picture (hosted at gsdunn.com) illustrating the idea the best.

• Mustard seeds are very small, but can become a very large tree
• The seed arranges itself in patterns, perhaps even "paths", of all kinds (a reference to the ward logo)
• There is a "flow" in both of the images - scattered, seperate seed at one side, tighter arrangement at the opposite side.

These aspects remind me of both the strengths of TWiki and the challenges of incorporation it into your organisation.

• What you do at first, is more or less to plant "little seeds", trying to open up the eyes of the peoples surrounding you to the strength up the concept. If you're lucky, you will start up something that might end in a major "tree" in your organisation. Your ideas will help other people spawn their own ideas - i.e. the pattern getting "tighter".
• Some little bits of information planted in a TWiki will "expand" over time, shouldered by other little bits - again, making up a tighter patttern. The bits can be rearranged, and, just like the seeds, form new patterns when you shuffle them a bit.

This is just kind of initial brainstorm on the idea, I've made no thoughts regarding an actual design.

-- SteffenPoulsen - 12 Sep 2004

Nice idea. Can lead to interesting image.

-- ArthurClemens - 12 Sep 2004

-- WillNorris

Before we rush off in new directions, I would like to register opinion that Steffen's logo idea (and Crawford's reworks) are not so close to Oppenheimer Funds logo as to warrent copywrite infringement. Personally, I had completely forgotten that the origin of his idea was clasped hands and, as presented, I don't think any one could even claim that it solely represents hands. I had always seen it more as a woven motif. In fact I thought it might look too much like some cotton company logo I had a vague memory of but I searched and couldn't find it. So I say let's not be too quick to throw it out. I think it's very simple and good.

-- LynnwoodBrown - 12 Sep 2004

The whole point was to express a handclasp. The fact that you had forgotten probably suggests that the logo is not getting the message across. On similarities, you are probably thinking of the woolmark:

One way to differentiate would be to rotate, which reinforces the "weaving" aspects of the logo as well:

This is all academic, proabably a complete waste of time anyway, as long as Peter refuses comment.

-- CrawfordCurrie - 12 Sep 2004

From the IRC logs:

incase you have not noticed, wikis ( yes TWiki too) got mentioned on Slashdot.org's front page today)
hte only observation i would like to add to this fact is:
the only mention of TWiki i saw in the threads (beyond the article summary was "You mean the robot from Buck Rogers?"
afaik the thread didnt recover from the joke and TWiki itself never got discussed
unfortunate imho that the logo distracts from discussion about the project on such a fourm
ooh well theres my 0.02$ worth for the day :)

-- CrawfordCurrie - 29 Oct 2004

-- WillNorris - 22 Mar 2005

See also TWikiLogoDevelopment.

-- ArthurClemens - 16 Apr 2005

Was reading through Logo Trends 2005 - LogoLounge.com�s Third Annual Visual Trends Report and the weave logos reminded me of the weave logo for TWiki. Thought looking at that might inspire someone to develop the weave logo further.

Alternatively I think hot dogs (bottom of page, read the text), line dots or an amalgam logo might work for TWiki (Although I don't know what it would be an amalgam of).

Anyway, read through the whole article and then head over to http://logolounge.com/ for more inspiration.

-- SamHasler - 11 Jun 2005

Franz, I really think you are on to something with that Da Vinci logo - keep working at it, the idea definitely has potential....

-- CrawfordCurrie - 14 Jun 2005

Unfortunately my vitruvian man doesn't work for icons, so I tried another idea (one of many). Have a look:

Size	16x16	32x32	48x48	7Xx4X	7Xx4X
Logo
bt_twiki

Maybe the red dot could be replaced by a tea pot
or the T by a hammer (symbol for T(ool)).

-- FranzJosefSilli - 20 Jun 2005

Maybe the hammer might be better? As long as it is not too threatening

-- ThomasWeigert - 20 Jun 2005

TWiki Rainbow Hands is nicer

I make this bottom:

-- AurelioAHeckert - 18 Jul 2005

The rainbow hands logo lives! Aurelio - your sharing the great little animated badge prompts me to post a slightly revised version of this logo I did recently with toned-down colors.

-- LynnwoodBrown - 19 Jul 2005

Aurelio, can you post the logo in the different sizes and without the writing? It really is - colorful.

-- FranzJosefSilli - 19 Jul 2005

thats quite pretty - though i like the bright colours more ....mmmm.... shiney

-- SvenDowideit - 19 Jul 2005

I've attached a large and a medium sized rendering of the "rainbow hands" logo (bright version with to text). If anyone would like to take this logo idea further, contact me and I can provide you a vector version.

-- LynnwoodBrown - 20 Jul 2005

Does anybody else see a circle of question marks rather than clasped hands?

-- ThomasWeigert - 20 Jul 2005

Thomas, you're right, I see them too.

-- FranzJosefSilli - 20 Jul 2005

yep, thats one of the things i like about it.

-- SvenDowideit - 20 Jul 2005

Hi!

I did a re-draw of the Rainbow Hand logo in svg (using Inkscape).

• TWiki_Rainbow_Hand_Sun.svg: Rainbow Hand logo - only the hands - Vector SVG
• Preview:
  

-- AurelioAHeckert - 29 Jul 2005

nice work Aurelio!

I also like Franz's earlier aug 14 2004 work. The resemblence to handwriting or kanji is appealing

-- MattWilkie - 02 Aug 2005

• I thought I'd add TWiki to it - I might make a TShirt if i have time:
  

• TWiki_Rainbow_Hand_Sun_Sven_Small.gif:
  

Inspired by Sven's comment about a t-shirt, I created this t-shirt layout with the "rainbow-hands" motif with some text: (It's sized to print on 8.5x11 sheet. Click on imge to see full size.)

-- LynnwoodBrown - 03 Aug 2005

I don't like the fonts used for the writing. Doesn't feel professional. Sorry, I haven't a better one, yet.

-- FranzJosefSilli - 03 Aug 2005

Hmmm - sorry about that. I thought that font did strike a good balance of formality and style. Anyone suggest some alternatives?

-- LynnwoodBrown - 03 Aug 2005

If the text was shrunk down to fit within the circle of the hand-pads (to the inner ends of the fingers) it might look better. I'd also like to see a version with Franz' T in there (I might even steal some time from work to try it myself tonight if I can).

-- MattWilkie - 03 Aug 2005

Picked up the hands-idea.

-- MichaelDaum - 04 Aug 2005

I am currently wearing a t-shirt with my crazily large image on it, but Michael, I like what you have done. Could people where possible please use Svg? as we need to be able to scale up to make it look good

unfortunatly, we need to make sure this is not a logo that is too identical to some-one else's, but I've only had one person here at WikiMania suggest that it looks familiar (wish I didn't trust his instinct quite so much)

-- SvenDowideit - 04 Aug 2005

For whatever it is worth, I hate this tie-die Tshirt look...

-- ThomasWeigert - 04 Aug 2005

I like what you've done there Michael! I'd also like a scaleable version. Thomas: you mentioned earlier that you like the hammer. We've definitely got some different aesthetics going here. I wonder how much this is a function of the target audiance we have in mind? Thomas, is your response to the "tie-die Tshirt look" a personal one, or a reading of what you think will work for our corporate audiance (or both)?

As an aside, it's hard for me to take any of our efforts here too seriously without participation from some professional graphics folks and at least some show of interest from Peter. But is this going to keep me from printing up a t-shirt with Michael's version for my 3-yr-old? Heck no! (And in a few years when TWiki is a household word, it will be a valuable collectors item. ).

-- LynnwoodBrown - 04 Aug 2005

-- FranzJosefSilli - 04 Aug 2005

Thomas, can you be more specific? I've received a ridiculous amount of positive reactions here at wikimania from the simple rainbow-hands logo, and just the word TWiki in black beside it

-- SvenDowideit - 05 Aug 2005

I really like that rainbow hands logo. Logos. All of them.

I try to put custom top-left-hand-corner logos on each web and chose that for the "Main" web. I got a positive response from my users. I plan to use the larger logo, and when Micha makes his scalable, use that on the Main.WebHome.

Tie die be damed! We've got too much red-on-black and other hard on the eyes stuff on the 'Net. This is like a ray of sunshine. Nice, simple, clear. Unsophistocated and refreshing.

-- AntonAylward - 05 Aug 2005

Sven, what I meant was that this logo does not speak to me:

• I don't get the connection between TWiki and the circle of hand prints.
• I don't get the message that the rainbow like colors send.
• The logo is very space inefficient.
• It looks unprofessional.

Compare this to the hi-res logo (the one with the bolt and screw)... they are miles apart.

-- ThomasWeigert - 05 Aug 2005

I agree, they are miles appart, I like the hands one, and I like its recognisability, and that it makes everyone i meet smile, while the bolt and screw means alot less to me, as its quite impersonal. (which might be my reaction to what you see as unprofessional )

as to space innefficient? the round logo uses less space then the rectangular version of the bolt that we have in develop, but really, thats just a matter of how you use it.

There is no connection, other than to point out that this wiki allows many hands make light of much work - ie, collaboration and action

in short, I agree, the hands logo and then bolt logo are miles apart - the hands one is so much better, its really not funny (ok, that last bit is truly not NPOV)

-- SvenDowideit - 05 Aug 2005

Here's the hi-res version.

-- MichaelDaum - 05 Aug 2005

Future executive* modeling the latest in TWiki fashions:

* Note: Just keeping the TWiki mission in mind here. Notice the true wiki-spirit: who needs fancy electronic toys when you've got a few scraps of painted cardboard?

-- LynnwoodBrown - 07 Aug 2005

Splendid. Btw, it would look fine on a black t-shirt as well.

The bolt and screw logo doesn't work on a dark background ... neither on any t-shirt.

I've put it online here to test it on different skins and styles.

-- MichaelDaum - 07 Aug 2005

Michael - should we/you be adding your skin to the release? as i really do like it alot!

-- SvenDowideit - 08 Aug 2005

Yes, let's do it. But it realy needs more testing by others to shake out remaining buglets (see NatSkinDev).

-- MichaelDaum - 08 Aug 2005

Michaels enhanced logo of Aurelios proposal really looks great on dark background too (see http://jojowiki.dyndns.org/dakar/view/Main/WebHome with Stormy style). I vote for replacing the ugly hi-res logo on develop. Should I file a bug?

-- FranzJosefSilli - 08 Aug 2005

Michael, once you've commited it, there will definatly be a number of us who will test it, and file bugs

Franz - do we have a community decision on what consitutes a quorum? I'm really wanting to hear from 'enough' people (and I don't just want to steamroller over Thomas, who has valid concerns too)

Also, and possibly most important, we need to make a concerted effort to make sure that it is not too close to someone else's trademark

-- SvenDowideit - 08 Aug 2005

Sven, I am less concerned about the logo (as I would use my own anyway on our site) than I am about development issues, such as ConvertTWikiPluginsCvsToSvn. Not everybody has to love the logo...

-- ThomasWeigert - 09 Aug 2005

Thomas is right, let's get back to more serious annoyances -- like making the thingy work properly.

-- FranzJosefSilli - 09 Aug 2005

A fancy makeup is crutial for world domination, among other things.

-- MichaelDaum - 09 Aug 2005

A TWikiFriendship t-shirt in the wild

-- SvenDowideit - 09 Aug 2005

FWIW I like MichaelDaum's font with the rainbow hands as it is shown here. very nice

-- TravisBarker - 12 Aug 2005

• Bad joke:
  

-- CrawfordCurrie - 23 Aug 2005

• Without words:
  

-- FranzJosefSilli - 08 Nov 2005

oh, i LIKE it. now there's something i'll be doing when I get back to Sydney

-- SvenDowideit - 08 Nov 2005

Visit me in Graz and nap some "Glühwein" out of my "Häferl".

-- FranzJosefSilli - 09 Nov 2005