OpenTK Logo

Since the old topic has grown quite large and off-topic, let's draw a line and continue from here.

This topic deals with the letters "OpenTK", font choices and design. All posts regarding the mascot will be (re)moved.

General guidelines (updated):

1. It would be good if the website logo and splash screen logo are exactly the same. To increase recognition. That means it should work at very least on the website's background color and white background (so it can work together with GL and AL logos). If it can stand independent of background color (e.g. by a frame) that's even better.
2. The logo might be shown next to the OpenGL and OpenAL logos. It should not be too freaked out compared to them.
3. The logo should be serious. OpenTK is not a joke.
4. Rather work with shapes and color, instead of glow, lensflare or other state-of-the-art effect.
5. The logo should be sharp, not too blurry.
6. People who use OpenTK are software engineers.
7. OpenTK assumes cross-platform through .Net&Mono is the future. No medieval fonts. No anvil. No forge. No brutish tools.
8. However Metal as a material is ok, if it does not show dirt, strain or corrosion (rust).
9. OpenTK favors productivity over full low-level control. A "simple, yet elegant" logo could imply this.

Suggestions so far:

Fiddler's:

Inertia's:

Puklaus' (click for bigger version):

Flopoloco's:

Nythrix':

Oyvindra's:

Keep in mind that most of these are sketches, not supposed to be final as-is.

Fiddler put it right in his last post, so going to cite:

A general reminder of what we are looking for.

We basically need a way to say "OpenTK" in a distinctive / artistic manner. Inertia has provided a rough idea of what we are looking for. Flopoloco has broken down the different ways to approach the problem.

Maybe I am stating the obvious here, but we are still in the brainstorming stage: gathering different ideas and designs, saying what we like or not, evolving existing ideas. Some designs will be shot down immediately. Others will mutate and survive. In the end, we'll be left with a few refined ideas - then we'll vote for the best and make it our logo.

Since we are talking about art, a subjective topic, it's highly likely that not all of us will be able to agree 100% on a design. Fortunately, there is no immediate pressure for a final decision. Branding may be important, but the project will survive without a logo, as it always has, which gives us the opportunity to do things right. And do things right we should: once we pick a design, it sticks.

It all boils down to this: creating a logo is a creative process. Don't hesitate to propose a design, even if it seems silly at the time. If nothing comes out of it, we are no worse off than before, but there's also a chance that you've hit gold!

Last but not least: we are not payed for this. All contributions are welcome, from design proposals to (constructive) criticism, provided you keep it civil and avoid personal jabs.