And might be....Xbox just picked him up. I love everything about his designs.
- I think the slate is stupid and meaningless.
How so? You could say the same thing about the Nike swoosh, but why? To me it has the essense of a window, but isn't so literal, and is more energetic and versatile.
- If this were an actual redesign, it would soundly mocked by the tech and design communities.
It got him hired by XBox.
I think any "essence" of a window is too subtle if it must be explained. If you have to explain a logo, it's a failure.
I never said that Microsoft knew what they were doing. They're clearly disorganized. Hiring this designer just comes across as desperate.
- If you have to explain a logo, it's a failure.
I disagree. The Coca-cola logo doesn't need explaining, neither does Adidas, or Apple, Twitter, or Nike. These logos don't explain anything about their product. Yet they exist as effective icons. MS's current window is lacking. The slate might not be the ultimate MS icon, but it's IMO it's more visually effective than what they've had.
I do agree about MS. I think they are desperate, and if they were serious about improving their situation, they would fire Balmer ASAP.
>If you have to explain a logo, it's a failure.
That couldn't be further from the truth. I can think of more logos that don't explain what the company does, than logos that do. In fact, I'm having trouble thinking of a single logo that "explains" what the company does.
- A few weeks ago, I was experimenting with crumpling paper to form random topography. The process led me to create the piece you see on the left; a plume of black smoke emerging from a bottle. It felt like it was missing something so I created the same piece in white, as you see on the right. Then everything became clear - I proceeded by filling the bottle with an alcohol-based ink and allowed the paper to soak it in.
Damn, I wish I thought like this.
The vision and scope of this design work is impressive- this is someone who wants to fundamentally take one of the largest brands in the world and say, "Everything you've done before now doesn't count." If Microsoft were to adopt this brand, they need to start looking like this, and they need to start acting like it.
I wonder if with the next Xbox Microsoft will be implementing metro and more connectivity with smart phones and computers.
Smart glass could have a lot more potential if they allow game devs to use tablets and smartphones as parts of the game or allow apps to work with Xbox in tangent
Microsoft and Windows 8's problems aren't the bullshit wrapper you put on it. Well there is a problem with the way they are using marketing to push an ecosystem, but it has nothing to do with a bit of graphic artistry.
There are so many reasons not to take the jump into Windows 8, how the hell is clean design supposed to make any real difference. There is a tiny subset of customers that are absolutely clueless about what they are buying when they get a computer, tablet or phone, this kind of design might have a chance of roping them in. All profits at the margin so maybe good design could make a few sheckles but it could never, will never be enough to get the current windows on track.
The only reason to enter the Windows 8 ecosystem (I'm lumping RT in here) is if you are buying a new computer. There is no add campaign or logo that can change what the product is and does so that it becomes desirable to well informed consumers.
I agree that there are fundamental problems with Windows in general, however a great marketing campaign and new look and feel can go a long way into making people who have shunned Windows take a second look. Windows is losing customers to Apple products because they are clean and easy and "cool." I'm not talking about Apple fanboys and techy artists types. Moms, Dads, Grandmas, etc. Everyone that buys a new computer these days takes a solid look at Apple products, especially if they already have an iPhone or iPad. Windows needs to figure out how to keep their current customers, not only get new ones. And a hip, cool, simple repackaging is a step in that direction.
Ignore how shoddy my comparison is - I made it quickly in Keynote - but, I'm noticing some similarities here. Presenting the product on the box with a simple image and a mix of bold/standard text in the name. Short sentences, designed to feel weighty and meaningful ("Mankind's most advanced phone." <=> "Performance and Design. Taken right to the edge".) I like the slate, though - I think it's one of the things that separates this scheme from Apple.
Ha. I just finished a graphic design side gig where each image had to be super reductive and also in grayscale. I found a slight drop shadow came in handy to add a touch of depth even though the phrase 'drop shadow' was considered a dirty word when I went to school. I cringed at first use, but you know what? If it works, it works. And that's all that matters.
I never realized how difficult it was to design good web buttons until I tried. They aren't perfect, but I was pretty happy with our latest iteration of hubski buttons. It took some research.
I just posted this wherein Dave Wiskus suggests we are growing out of its utility.
I'm not sure if I agree with him. I got my first chance to play with a windows phone the other day, and it feels a little flat.
IMO just adding a bit of dropshadow makes it more like something you want to touch.
Mine is on the right.
Don't get me wrong. I'm not suggesting that my version is a success. I think the problems run deeper than drop shadows.
b_b and I were just laughing about how funny it would be if you designed a keyboard this way. The 'e' might be so big you could slap it with your palm, and 'q' so small that you'd have to grab a stylus to tap it. :)
What confuses me the most is how little sense any of the tile sizes make. On a brand new Lumia 920 (supposedly the flagship WP8 phone) random things are huge, and other things are tiny. Every default Windows app seemed to have a Nokia duplicate thrown in as well.