From: Conrad Schneiker <schneik@...>
Date: 2001-04-24T12:26:19+09:00
Subject: [ruby-talk:14130] Re: Ruby mascot proposal

Guy N. Hurst wrote:

# If there is overwhelming opposition to having the ruby-crowned
# kinglet as the official logo/mascot, speak up now or forever hold
# your peace :-). If you speak up, be prepared to supply artwork and
# an explanation.  So far only one person has provided an alternative,
# but I am not sure if he is willing to make it publicly available...
# (tapo, comment?) 

It's a nice idea, but I think Ruby deserves and needs a *striking*
idea that really *grabs* peoples attention.  (Plus, I'm not sure that
using an animal that is going to be (?) used on one book
[ruby-talk:01469] out of many Ruby books is such a good idea in terms
of trademark grey areas and seeming favoritism.) So, I'm not too
thrilled with the hummingbird logo, even though they are fun to watch
in the wild. I'm not sure I can do any better, but maybe the following
thought might stir up better ideas.

I think the best icon for Ruby is a big, brilliant, dazzling ruby.
Most ruby images are small and so-so looking, so I think people have
tended to underestimate one of the most natural icons. But I've seen
one or too really cool ruby images somewhere in the last few weeks,
which unfortunately I cannot readily find at the moment. They really
looked great. (For one side of a tee shirt, the thing could be 1 foot
wide by 2 feet tall, with text "engraved" on the surface.) 

As for the best mascot for Ruby, let's think outside the box, let's
break the mold, let's leapfrog the competition. I think we need a pair
of *human* mascots: a wizard and a sorceress (perhaps standing on
either side of a big, brilliant, glowing Ruby that illuminates them).
The theme: Ruby -- the *human* oriented dynamic OO Language for
working technological magic. (This could go on the other side of a tee
shirt.)

It may be too late to changes things in time for the conference, but I
don't think we need to declare an official icon and mascot without
giving some further thought about other alternatives and about
marketing leverage.

Conrad Schneiker
(This note is unofficial and subject to improvement without notice.)