Nanopub icon

[tkuhn]

We have been circulating this document with icon and color scheme suggestions for nanopublications.

This logo shape (Option W2) is the favorite of most people who have responded so far:

The different parts of the icon would then be colored by the different nanopub color, which are still to be defined. So, this is only about the shape, not the colors! We will run another poll on color schemes later on.

So, the question here is:

[tkuhn]

I like W2 because of these reasons:

• It's recognizable, also when very small
• It has the shape of an N for Nanopublications
• The three different parts can be colored according to the three nanopub colors (to be defined), where the center largest one represents the assertion
• There don't seem to be any other significant existing uses of other companies/products of this shape
• With its square shape it looks like a building block for something bigger

[Daniel-Mietchen]

W2 is my favourite amongst the options proposed so far, but I see room for improvement.
For instance, nanopublications are about linking things, whereas W2 could be perceived (via the two currently white stripes) as separating the currently black parts. So I would prefer a variant that has some representation of connectivity. A simple approach to that could just be to use the letter N (perhaps stylized in a particular way, e.g. with serifs, as here) and then to colour the components differently.

[rwwh]

I understand Daniel's comments. What I see is another option: look at the three parts of the N in this logo as a winding ribbon for which we see the three front sides. The two back stripes could be added by an artist in a stylistic way making the connection.

[Adafede]

I also second @Daniel-Mietchen 's and @rwwh comment...

maybe something along these lines?

[Adafede]

Now realizing it also makes me think of the CrossRef logo...

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Crossref_Logo_Stacked_RGB_SMALL.png

[phvonessen]

I am skeptical to add more elements, because it would undermine some of the strengths, that @tkuhn pointed out:

• It's recognizable, also when very small
• The three different parts can be colored according to the three nanopub colors (to be defined), where the center largest one represents the assertion
• There don't seem to be any other significant existing uses of other companies/products of this shape

In addition, I really like the simple form and that the gaps between the three elements can be filled by the individual brain e.g. with a ribbon or the missing parts of the N.

But I understand the desire to show more, that nanopublications are about connections @Daniel-Mietchen
and I appriciate your thoughts and suggestions @Adafede @rwwh. So I think we should try two or three options and see what works best.

[lyubomirpenev]

I like the color scheme of R1 and the logo concept of W1 (the octagonal). I will ask our designers also to look at the options and put a comment on these.

[phvonessen]

We will now proceed with the "plain" and "simple" version (W2) in black and white. I will give it to a designer for a little finishing/polishing and post the result here.

After considering your thoughts and suggestions, I would like to share the key arguments:

• Recognizability at Small Sizes: The simplicity of W2 ensures that the icon remains recognizable even at small sizes, a critical factor for its use in various contexts.
• Core Representation: Not all features of nanopublications need to be included in the icon. W2 captures the essence without overloading the design, promoting a clear and memorable graphic representation.
• Memorability: A clear and straightforward graphic tends to be more memorable. W2's simplicity contributes to greater recognition and supports the goal of creating a distinctive and memorable symbol.
• Cost-Effectiveness: Developing multiple options adds costs. Choosing a single, effective design streamlines the process and resources, contributing to cost-effectiveness.

The result will be an icon indicating that this is a nanopublication that someone is looking at, especially for frequent users. It will also be displayed in the browser tab when visiting https://nanopub.net/ and other places.

In the medium term, we will most probably work on it again, for example with colors and for a logo, with more "high-end" applications. Then I suggest to take up again the desire to communicate the aspect of connectivity.

[tkuhn]

I cleaned up the SVG for the black&white nanopub logo and made it available here: https://github.com/Nanopublication/nanopub-discussions/blob/main/nanopub-icon.svg

It's just 150 Bytes, and you can also use it in HTML directly (without reference to an image file) in a one-liner:

<svg width="12" viewBox="0 0 8 8"><path d="M5,8H8L3,0H0M8,4.8V0H5M0,3.2V8H3"/></svg>

We think this is a good start, and we can start using this icon, while also continuing to discuss whether/how to include colors and "ribbons" as discussed above for a next iteration.