Podcasting 2.0 logo proposals

[benjaminbellamy]

In response to a request from @theDanielJLewis and @dwev, here is a proposal for a Podcasting 2.0 logo.
All comments are welcome.

🦣 Mastodon thread: https://podcastindex.social/@benjaminbellamy/111931380449675251

Logo removed

[Dwev]

NOTE: Final logo is available for download at the brand guide site.

I really like your proposal @benjaminbellamy! So clever with the use of white space and all the elements.

I also did a proposal, but it's closer to the "circles" cliche concept, which maybe isn't the right direction, but I thought I'd put it here to add to the discussion. A bonus is that the elements make a "2" a "point" (the center dot) and an (incomplete) "0".

[Image removed to avoid confusion]

Colour version, greyscale, and B&W.
The greyscale also has a "Podcasting 2.0" text, and finally, at the bottom, a horizontal, smaller size logo with text.

[Dwev]

I took a look at your Dribbble - some nice work there!

I think you're right. I'm looking at the white space and the arc that creates, balancing against the shape of the black baseline. If I focus on the white, the second version looks better to me, but if I focus on the black, your fix looks better.

Since the black parts are what non-Dwev people will mostly be seeing - let's go with your original fix. :)

Thanks again! 🖖🏻

[theDanielJLewis]

I like the alignment of the base.

[picard102]

I don't know if the brand guide platform you're using allows. But I would suggest outlining a safezone for the logo that is equal to at least one unit and define the unit as the width and height of the center circle.

[Dwev]

@picard102 Yep, good call - it's on my list. :)

[Dwev]

Clear space guide is done and on the brand guide. Hopefully it is good enough. :)

[samsethi]

@Dwev would you have an SVG version or do what Benjamin Bellamy did and have a code version?

[yassinedoghri]

@Dwev Here's an icon with the 24 by 24 viewbox, based on the new logo that @picard102 has worked on:

<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 24 24">
  <path d="M5.661 16.878c-4.01-5.123-.333-12.851 6.25-12.876 7.48-.05 10.901 9.256 5.3 14.062a.066.066 0 0 0 .025.114c.623.195 1.18.54 1.628.995a.066.066 0 0 0 .094.002A9.97 9.97 0 0 0 22 12.09C22.049 6.586 17.582 2.042 12.076 2 3.42 1.907-1.21 12.34 4.555 18.67a.067.067 0 0 0 .11-.019c.26-.608.594-1.178.995-1.695a.065.065 0 0 0 0-.08l.001.001Zm3.375 2.282c.708-.75 1.763-1.171 2.985-1.171 3.397.061 6.343-3.127 5.965-6.528C17.042 3.928 6.335 4.406 6 11.934c0 .037.03.067.067.067h1.867c.037 0 .065-.03.066-.066.301-5.247 7.842-5.191 8.008.106-.021 2.163-1.873 3.934-4.036 3.948-3.426-.027-5.98 2.555-5.975 5.944 0 .037.03.067.067.067h11.868c.037 0 .067-.03.067-.066a1.933 1.933 0 0 0-1.934-1.933H8.56a.067.067 0 0 1-.059-.098c.147-.273.326-.523.533-.743h.001ZM14 12a2 2 0 1 1-4 0 2 2 0 0 1 4 0Z"/>
</svg>

That being said, this can be optimized even more. Because of its small size, edges must be sharp when using it as an icon knowing round edges won't be seen anyways.

[jamescridland]

Yours was 484 bytes. This one's 386 bytes. But I think that's quite enough optimisations! ;)

<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 24 24"><path d="M5.66 16.88c-4-5.12-.33-12.85 6.25-12.88 7.48-.05 10.9 9.26 5.3 14.06a.07.07 0 0 0 .03.12c.62.2 1.18.54 1.62 1a.07.07 0 0 0 .1 0A9.97 9.97 0 0 0 22 12.09 10.03 10.03 0 0 0 12.08 2C3.42 1.9-1.21 12.34 4.55 18.67a.07.07 0 0 0 .11-.02c.26-.6.6-1.18 1-1.7a.07.07 0 0 0 0-.07Zm3.38 2.28a4.03 4.03 0 0 1 2.98-1.17A6.05 6.05 0 0 0 18 11.46C17.04 3.93 6.34 4.41 6 11.93c0 .04.03.07.07.07h1.86c.04 0 .07-.03.07-.07.3-5.24 7.84-5.19 8 .11A4.07 4.07 0 0 1 11.98 16 5.8 5.8 0 0 0 6 21.93c0 .04.03.07.06.07h11.87c.04 0 .07-.03.07-.07A1.93 1.93 0 0 0 16.07 20H8.56a.07.07 0 0 1-.06-.1c.15-.27.33-.52.53-.74ZM14 12a2 2 0 1 1-4 0 2 2 0 0 1 4 0Z"/></svg>

[yassinedoghri]

@jamescridland Curious to know what you did if you don't mind! :)

[jamescridland]

It's not very pretty yet, but this page shows the PC20 icon in situ, as well as a separate transcripts icon from Google's Material Icon set. I think I need to tweak this layout somehow: probably another grid, I'm guessing, to put these icons on the right hand side.

@yassinedoghri - for any inline SVG that I use as a small logo, I visit https://svgomg.net/ and paste the markup into that. The "precision" slider makes a big difference, but you need to look carefully to see if you make any visible changes as you pull it lower. I'd avoid removing curved edges, etc, since (as you can see) even if it's nominally designed for 24px, some people will blow it up and use it as a main logo.

[yassinedoghri]

I'd avoid removing curved edges, etc, since (as you can see) even if it's nominally designed for 24px, some people will blow it up and use it as a main logo.

@jamescridland I understand, though I'd argue that having a small sized / pixel perfect version would be best for the icon's legibility. To prevent some people from blowing it up, this can be added to the brand guide, just as is specified the uses for the logo and colors, etc.

[jamescridland]

Hello, @picard102 @Dwev and @benjaminbellamy etc...

Could we have the final, final version here? I love this, and would like to ensure I have the final, final version (as a large SVG and a large PNG please).

Could we also - and I know this is a bad thing normally - remove all other versions of the logo from this thread? I'd like to avoid the temptation to grab the first logo that looks kind-a right, rather than the proper balanced one.

This is GREAT work. Looking forward to running with this as soon as we can.

[Dwev]

FYI @jamescridland and @picard102, the brand guide is updated with the "final" logo. You can download SVG and PNG versions of the logo and badges from there.

[Dwev]

As any designer will testify, only having one "final" in the name of a design really means "most recent draft update". It's not final until the filename says something like "logo_final_v6_actual_thisistheone_2024.png".

[benjaminbellamy]

I updated the Podcast Font:
https://podcastfont.com/#Podcasting%202.0

[picard102]

Looks like that's using the draft logo.

[benjaminbellamy]

Fixed it!

[daveajones]

Blessing given! Looks really cool. Design and marketing is totally out of my lane, but thanks for the consideration. Very kind. 🙏

[theDanielJLewis]

I know I'm coming in late to this. But I have a few tiny suggestions for refinements, @Dwev.

1. I think the ends of the circle need to all be straight, not curved in any way. The slight curves they have now are not sitting well, especially since they're different from each other.
2. The ends terminate at misaligned places, also causing some visual jarring. I think they should be aligned perfectly to each other, as if mirrored.
3. Let's work together on color and font, to align with Podcasting2.org. I think we should avoid all-caps and monospaced fonts.
4. Three shades is too many. I think this should have only two, and they should contrast more. Right now, the shades are so close that they look like mistakes.

I like the hidden ear!

[Dwev]

As an option. It's easy to go to a monochrome from that if desired, and maybe everyone will do so.

Is it something that will really stick in your craw, Daniel? :)

[theDanielJLewis]

Yes, my craw hurts every time I see it. I think it's the center dot's shade the bothers me most.

[Dwev]

Ok. Shall we make it monochrome for all elements, regardless of color or whether it's in a badge or not?

I would still like to have something to make it more dynamic, but maybe that can come in a style or variation. Or perhaps an animated version!

@picard102 this okay with you?

[picard102]

I like the gradation personally, certainly nothing stopping someone from using the monochrome version if they like either way.

[Dwev]

Thanks @picard102

Since it can be used by anyone and they can choose to use a single color monochrome, I believe we don't need to change the primary logo. I like the shading too, and it adds to the symbology of "transmission" (with the single fading further from the source).

I think I'd regret not backing myself on this small thing, so let's keep the shaded version as the primary, and then people can choose whatever they want with their own use.

[samsethi]

I don't want to be a kill joy and I am not a designer but its a logo does it really need all this scrutiny? We have already added a version to TrueFans and will add a link back to the Podcast Index shortly. It is so small I doubt many people will see the design issues. Yes it could be seen on a larger screen or made larger. But does this need a vote or is this now agreed on? Once you have decided on the font(s) it would be great to see it on the Podcasting2.org site and I will work to get other hosts and apps to display it.

[picard102]

While the by committee nature of this so far is drawing it out, it's better if we get this right the first time. Type and Colour are hopefully the final hurdle.

[theDanielJLewis]

"… but its a logo does it really need all this scrutiny?"

Yes. It's exactly because it's a logo that it needs this scrutiny. The more refined the logo is, as the single icon representation of the whole project, the more professional and serious the project will appear.

Just imagine if we, instead, created the logo with Word '97's WordArt.

[jamescridland]

I agree with @theDanielJLewis (though I'm also keen to avoid too much deliberation!)

I loathe OpenSans as a font, but, as is clear earlier, what do I know? ;)

[theDanielJLewis]

This part of the "2" is really bugging me.

It's because the lines break their smoothness.

Both of those points are flattened, which is causing the curve problem:

I think those two points need some refinement. I just don't have the time to do it myself right now. I'm working on getting this logo and some other improvements onto Podcasting2.org.

[Dwev]

Voltaire comes to mind where he said "The perfect is the enemy of the good."

I don't have any objections to iterative refinements and improvements, and I would also like to get an acceptance in spirit that we are live with what we have.

I personally don't see the same thing you see here, Daniel, and I believe we are at the point of diminishing returns. That said, I don't want to invalidate that your eye is more finely tuned than mine.

If you or someone else would like to make the changes, then I'm happy to update the brand guide. I won't be executing this particular change myself though.

I propose that we accept the current status (and continue to iterate in future) and we close this thread as resolved.

[picard102]

Seconded.

[theDanielJLewis]

Another aside: I think the SVGs from the branding page need to be updated to support fill color and not have separate strokes.

[theDanielJLewis]

The new logo and Poppins font is now on Podcasting2.org!