[marketing-python] Py Design Forum mandate

[Tim Parkin]

>>Laura Creighton wrote:
> (me too.  But its been a pleasure disagreeing with you :-) )
Nice to see disagreeing done so pleasantly :-) and good to see more
focused discussion.

I've only just caught up with the list so another collection of comments
follows.

*Serif/Sans
As far as I have been taught, sans-serif is more legible whereas serif is
more readable. The difference being letters vs. words. This is why it’s
common to have sans-serif header and serif body text. Although other
research suggests that sans-serif is better for transmitted light text
(screen) and serif best for reflected light. I can’t see why this would be
but it may have something to do with serif’s not rendering well on early,
non anti-aliased tty terminals. The use of casual or semi-serif fonts is a
popular choice and the optima font suggested previously is one of the
better designed versions. I'm for some version of sans-serif as my
previous choice of fonts shows (and a survey of 'identity' within logos
reflects this IMO, btw http://www.logoed.fsnet.co.uk/ is a great resource
for logo ideas along with the www.goodlogo.com mentioned already)

Ref : http://www.graphic-design.com/Type/fonteam/

*Typography vs. Dedicated LogoType
As for looking at types for logos I think, unless we're into generating a
dedicated logo (custom font), then a preference for style of logo makes a
big difference as the logo should work as a type face on it's own it might
be a good idea to look at peoples preferences. As most people haven't got
access to lots of fonts I was merely showing people the possibilities and
the differences between lower, title and upper case.

Also the phrase “it’s only six letters” belies the amount of work that
goes into generating a single letter for a font. If the font is to be used
for more than just the logo then we’re into getting a dedicated font set
designed. Whether Just would mind spending the amount of time necessary
for free and whether the results would justify the effort I don’t know but
the use of existing font faces is greatly preferable within the time and
financial constraints we are under.

*Kerning
Kerning is important and should be finished by hand but it's a 'just
before delivery' polish. Absolutely should be done though, agreed.

*More snakish ideas
Just a couple of new ideas with a snake theme

http://pollenation.net/assets/public/snakeeyes_macrame.gif
http://pollenation.net/assets/public/snakeeyes_macramebw.gif
http://pollenation.net/assets/public/snakeeyes_macramecapsbw.gif
http://pollenation.net/assets/public/snakeeyes_mostra.gif
http://pollenation.net/assets/public/snakeeyes_mostrabw.gif
http://pollenation.net/assets/public/snakeeyes_optima.gif

I like the macrame and optima ones

*wiki
Agreed that a wiki is no replacement for discussion but I don’t agree that
one persons way of implementing a wiki is the same as anothers and also
don’t agree that a wiki is a bad idea used in support of a mailing list.
In fact I’d go as far as to say a hell of a lot of work has been
wasted/forgotten because of a lack of persistence. A wiki has it’s place
as a permanent evolving record of consensus within a group and the mailing
list is a way of achieving this consensus. It is also useful in evolving
documents that are too complex to build over a set of mails. Perhaps the
lack of faith in wiki’s is a symptom of experience in their usage and not
a fundamental problem with wiki’s in general.

Anyway, if people are willing to help contribute then I'll set one up. If
not then it's obviously not worth it.

Tim Parkin