Dear Bernelle, quick replies inline. I think it's cool how you are pushing this. However, what you are suggesting would be an absolute first in DebConf history (employing professionals), and I can tell you with almost certainty that it won't fly. DebConf has always been a grassroots effort. also sprach Bernelle Verster <bernellev@gmail.com> [2015-03-04 14:26 +0100]: > 1. Not just be the logo, but also input on the look and feel of the > website, the colour scheme, and the final report layout, possible including > other things like overall campaign concept, posters, stationery, website, > the works. I think deciding on a logo and somewhat of a design for the website and report should take priority. Everything else sounds a bit over the top to me, but this should become clear further down — since I think you have a different concept of the target audience. > *B. Things to note/discuss:* > > 1. Debian is not mainstream, and not commercial. We definitely don't have this level of awareness in the public, no. > 2. The purpose of DebConf is (Discussion needed) to showcase the uses > and application of Debian related software It is to bring together developers, enable real-life interaction to solve hard problems, foster the exchange of ideas, boost diversity and tighten social bonds. You are talking about what has been tried under the concept of DebianDay. > 3. The target audience is (Discussion needed), tech companies looking to > drive their tech to new levels, explore leading edge and out there > solutions. Also the 'hidden' sector - people who play in their spare time, > and people who've been doing similar things without even knowing what it's > called, or doing stuff out of necessity, in a shack somewhere perhaps... I > do want a general public interface. I'd say the target audience of DebConf is sponsors and interested users or developers who are ready to get their feet wet. On DebianDay (or the DC15 open weekend), we'd want the tech companies etc. to join. As you said in a later e-mail, the two can/should coexist and share. This is what we are trying this year for DC15 — integrate an outreach day into the main conference. > *C. Recruitment* > So we need someone with a designer background with some interest in IT > related things, or Debian, rather than the other way around (Debianite with > some design skills). At this stage I'm going with that we have no budget, > but am going to ask for quotes to get an idea of the financial value anyway. We've never had a budget for logo and design. While I agree with the statements about how contests suck, that's the best we could do in the past. If I were you, I would jot down a few ideas and then ask Valessio Brito (who has done the logos in past years) to turn it into something we can use. > 3. *“From what I can see, Debian needs to take their brand more > seriously from the top. I don't think you can just "change" their logo, for > the sake of a conference. If you have sway in the powers that be, then by > all means suggest a complete brand overhaul done by a professional. If they > value their brand, they will put their money where their mouth is. It is > pretty clear that Debian does not currently place value on their brand, as > the logo here [http://debian.org <http://debian.org>] is completely > different to the one on the test site: * DebConfs have always had their own logos, usually involving a play on the swirl. And sure, while the idea of have a rejuvenation of the Debian "corporate identity", this is really not in the scope of DebConf organisation. (that said, I have taken down the idea and will see whether this is something we could potentially do) Now, if you wanted to push for change into this direction, I also wouldn't dream of trying to stop you. I hope it won't deter you from DC16 and as Allison said, you'll be in a better position to push anything when people know you. In any case, before anyone revamps the www.debconf.org design, we should really fix up the web space and by that I mean the *technical* side of things and integrate all our resources. That will have tangible benefits for the team and hence will probably land you a few bonus points, which you can then use to push for a new design later. -- .''`. martin f. krafft <madduck@d.o> @martinkrafft : :' : proud Debian developer `. `'` http://people.debian.org/~madduck `- Debian - when you have better things to do than fixing systems humpty was pushed.
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