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#deviant #deviantart #fixing #logo #update #art
Published: 2014-12-05 18:42:48 +0000 UTC; Views: 67974; Favourites: 1108; Downloads: 444
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Description
I know nothing can stay unchanged to the eternity, but it doesn't mean that we should just accept everything that's brought in front of us. DeviantART is quite a spectacular example of this, but rather than bashing their actions, I wanted to explain myself why I don't like the new dA logo. I'm already in terms with it, but I'm still uneasy with it. Here is my analyze why the logo doesn't work and also an example how it could be fixed. Feel free to call me just typical whiner, but before doing so I kindly ask you to read my argumentsSimilar alterations:
Analysis of the situation etc.
To close, what happens now?Art By yuumei
The logo has been brought up to the staff & also the fact that it's similar to Platzkart will most likely be addressed. It obviously wasn't stolen, but still. If they wanted to try & sue us, lets be real. Lol, it wouldn't be good. We brought it to their attention. & they know about it. Whatever happens from here on? Well it's up to the staff to figure it out.
The balance between staff & the members of this site, has been restored. (or at least more close to being equal)
Overall? I think it all went well.
I'll be honest.
Some of the staff like Ikue, (not a bad dude) even saw this as "rebelling". But I disagree. We're not supposed to just sit here & just agree with every single decision that's made. Like Drones. But, you SHOULD speak up.
Most of the people in this community here were afraid to speak on what they feel & know to be truth.
(If I had premium, I could have linked thumbnails, but these will do for now)
"New DeviantART logo - Why it doesn't work and how to fix it" by Nsio
I’m sure people have already noticed the new dA logo. At first I had no idea what I was seeing. Then I figured “of course, it’s an A letter”. Shortly after I also realized there was an upside down A as well. “This one must form some sort of pattern” I thought. I wasn’t very happy about the design though so I went and read the “Our Story” section.
The logo was indeed designed for tesselation. Okay fine, so we have an “A” letter, standing for Art. It’s also upside down. “Challenges perceptions and perspectives”, “by literally turning the art world upside down”. Okay, I can deal with that. But still, I’m not convinced. Something is missing with the new logo. “We love it because, like DA, people might not get it right away”. I find it weird that dA actually wants to make us confused. If you ask me, art should offer the sensation of realization, not confusion. Or if there is initially confusion, it should still offer some way to turn the confusion “upside down” into sensation of realization. Even though I got the message, I’m still confused. I don’t like the new logo but why?
I understood the reason right the moment I saw the youtube video about the story behind the logo. At one point, there was a logo where it says “dA”. The moment the logo is separated, the problem occurs. DeviantART becomes just ART. It’s not the DeviantART we know anymore. It’s just ART with cool tesselation effect.
I thought I would let it go, since I now know that the logo can be thought as if it reads “dA”. But it was still bugging me. Although I can force myself to think it like “dA”, I still see only “A”. I pondered this for a while and then I realized the issue: amodal completion.
Although we are intelligent beings, our brains are rather simple when it comes to visual perception. Our brains have an ability called “amodal completion”, which allows us to “see” the form of partially hidden objects. That’s why we can tell a person peeking behind the corner is a human, even though we see only half of the face. Our brains can construct human figure fairly well even if it’s partially covered, but with everything else, brains just lack the imagination.
If important details of an object is hidden, our brains can’t construct such complex or abstract things. Instead, the brains just rely on the visual cues to parse the image. A lot of data is lost and the image is greatly simplified. I drew few examples about the phenomenon on the left. For example, if there are arcing details, but no visual cues are offered about it, arcs are discarded in favor of continuity of the lines.
This happens even if you knew there were such details. Instead of seeing one complex object, you see only two lines. On second row I show the arcs. However, our brains are more likely to treat the partially hidden object as two separate objects. This behaviour is exaggerated because of the symmetry, since humans are naturally attracted to symmetry.
So basically this is what happens with the dA logo. Even if we know the logo can be thought to be partially covered “dA” logo, our brains fails to comprehend this because the “d” is discarded in favor of “A”. There are not enough visual cues to support this way of thought process, which leaves us just confused and unsure about the logo. It’s cool, but it doesn’t have any bonding with DeviantART.
However, I find that the new logo could still work, if there just were such visual cues present. In fact, the actual logo could be kept intact by just adding shadow images of the d and A. I made a quick test if this could work and I found that it looks pretty cool now. By using dark green for the shadow image, the visual cues are strong enough to make the dA logo visible while still allowing the real logo to stand out clearly. All the benefits of the new logo are retained, no confusion taking place and the bonding with DeviantART has been formed.
If this change was made, I would gladly accept the new logo. Right now the logo doesn’t feel justified. I’m not saying that my proposal is perfect, but it’s one way to fix the issue. Even if there is huge difference in artistic capabilities between dA members, our physiology is the same. We are humans and we function in a way that’s typical to humans, no matter how much we try control ourselves. I believe that even if people don’t agree with the proposed fixing, they at least acknowledge the need of fixing in one way or another.
Nsio
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Comments: 404
QuestionInteractive [2014-12-07 16:59:50 +0000 UTC]
This is not hating, thanks for understand and sharing.
I want the old logo back, not a copy!
platzkart.ru/
www.google.com.mx/search?q=log…
Movingbrands is the responsable of this abomination
www.movingbrands.com/
Let us ask together for help to Spyed to recover DA originality!
Also you can join and submit your art here:
praise-old-da-logo.deviantart.…
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BlackestFlame [2014-12-07 16:44:04 +0000 UTC]
Are you our savior? I hope so. Amazing work
See, the problem is if they had designed the logo as part of a deviantArt event then changes could be made but they just paid some big company to design it apparently so it is unlikely that they will just throw away their old logo. This concept really does seem like the best of both worlds though, n the part about amodal completion really was what I needed to know, I had the same feeling, it's probably why everyone sees it as a "z" or "not equal to" sign (or cross or "t" in my case, on my tabs anyway). The colour is also not cool for me, I think it's a commonly disliked shade of green too n doesn't blend with the site, it stands out so much =x Just sayin'
A couple of ideas I had that were similar to yours involved the greyed out part of the "d" and "A" slide out of the green icon when moused over and slide back in when the mouse moves away, kind of like an easter egg n maybe in the app they would appear when you logged in or got a notification or something :/
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GoredGuar In reply to ??? [2014-12-07 16:43:44 +0000 UTC]
That simple edit makes it so much better!
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Danubium In reply to ??? [2014-12-07 16:36:17 +0000 UTC]
Alas, nothing stays unchanged for the sake of change for eternity, eh?
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SiulF In reply to ??? [2014-12-07 16:27:12 +0000 UTC]
I could not be more agree. I hope someone will listen.
Thank for de explanation!!!!!!1
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Sharindel In reply to ??? [2014-12-07 16:10:33 +0000 UTC]
Nice explanation... the new logo is quite irritating
it looks like a Z who was cut in half... like the vampire lord in underworld.
I realize it fast that is a cut of a d and an a... but i like the old one.
As german i like the "da".. because.. "da" is german world and phrase like...
"Where is the next burger king" ... some guy point at the end of the streets and mean "da" like "there it is".
The idea behind it, in my head was: "Where is the best Art" = "Da!" = "Deviant Art"
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lenpif In reply to ??? [2014-12-07 16:10:07 +0000 UTC]
when your users need to make a guide on how to properly view your logo and understand it, it can't be that great and isn't going to look very good to new people
it doesn't really fit in with the rest of the site, either. actually, the rest of the site doesn't look that great anymore. they should change it back to how it used to be and just add new features to fit in with that instead
the new look of DA feels very cold and modern to me. not necessarily a bad thing but it doesn't fit in with the actual content on the site. it doesn't contrast very well, compared to the old colors and design. it just doesn't "fit" with the content itself- maybe if the focus of DA was on modern, realistic art (like sci fi stuff i guess).. but the stuff you see here really varies and often clashes with the design, now.
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EpineQueen In reply to ??? [2014-12-07 15:45:02 +0000 UTC]
Thank you! I didn't understand what the logo was meant to suggest until I saw your art and explanation. I like your improvement suggestion.
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iMacG4 In reply to ??? [2014-12-07 15:32:36 +0000 UTC]
Or you can just utilize...
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darkdoomer [2014-12-07 15:19:40 +0000 UTC]
why fixing something that works perfectly, and not fixing things that needs to be fixed, i think it's the biggest concern here for all of us.
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TheStarvingOne [2014-12-07 15:16:13 +0000 UTC]
I totally agree with you. I don't like the new dA logo, because it is not clear. Our brains are getting stupid seeing it. I think your idea is good, but the shade of "A" can work not so well with the DEVIANT ART text part. Anyway I agree with your idea than actual one.
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Palfrost [2014-12-07 14:56:33 +0000 UTC]
You're totally right ! What I find really absurd is that what makes the 'D' a 'D' is the round parts, and all they kept was the straight part where it attaches to the 'A'. It could have been any letter, it's just plain stupid for me.
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xo In reply to ??? [2014-12-07 14:12:24 +0000 UTC]
Although I agree there are not enough visual clues to parse a 'dA', I don't like the idea of adding a "shadow dA".
That ruins the concept (what you call 'amodal completion'). It just doesn't fit in.
They should either go for a completely new shape, or add an extra visual clue positive (green) to fit the existing concept.
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uliram [2014-12-07 13:15:37 +0000 UTC]
I think that's why I wasn't 100% sold on the logo. I couldn't figure it out and never would have unless I saw this entry but it really is missing the details that signify a D.
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oOCrystalOo [2014-12-07 11:32:58 +0000 UTC]
Thanks, this clarified my own lingering unease with the logo.
First I didnt even realize the new Logo could be seen as an A but thought of an inequality sign like used in mathematic problems.
Im not against change and a new logo certainly brings a breeze of fresh air, but this one plays with the human mind a bit to much.
If an object is only seen partial, before your brain even starts filling in the unseen lines, it will try to compare the existing parts with things and forms we already know. Like the process of comparing a facial structure on the street with the ones engraved in our memory and recognizing "hey I went to grade school with that guy".
Thats might be the reason so many DA's think of the new logo as a Z, a =/, or even a known logo.
Sure this goes with the rebranding pitch of "not getting it right away" but it lacks in the way, that this partical form is already associated with a lot of other information in our brains and they are so important to daily live that their association comes first to mind. With time of course, those who read about the explanation behind the logo will get used to the new look as the meaning becomes stable in our memory but yeah, for now it just looks wrong somehow.
Im looking forward if this new logo will establish itself outside of DA's walls (because those people surely didnt read the blueprint when they see the logo on some other website for the first time)
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foxglove-s [2014-12-07 08:30:20 +0000 UTC]
I look at the new logo and all I can think is "Green Lantern" hahaha help
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Sylverone In reply to ??? [2014-12-07 08:10:26 +0000 UTC]
Personally, I like your idea. Given the amount of time it seems the staff spent brainstorming this, it would be respectful to alter the original as little as possible.
By appearances most people don't like the new logo, although negativity bias might be a factor - the tendancy for people to be more vocal about things they don't like than things they do.
I'm curious to see how the company/staff will handle the reaction. It will tell something about them, won't it? Will they ignore the response? After all, the hubbub will die down eventually one way or another; although, there will be consequences of any decision. Will they respond civilly or defensively? If they spent so much effort coming to this decision, it is understandable if the feedback comes as a hard blow. Will they make changes based on feedback? If so, will it really take the feedback to heart? You can't make everyone happy, of course.
The main issue I see is that they talk like it's all about the community, but they appear to have made this decision and done all of this work without consulting the community. Again, how they respond may be telling (as to what sort of motivation is really behind the changes).
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monkeyrockla In reply to ??? [2014-12-07 05:57:59 +0000 UTC]
the new logo is also stolen from this company platzkart.ru/
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Squirates In reply to ??? [2014-12-07 05:05:15 +0000 UTC]
Holy shit people are going insane.
Let's think about this.
Pepsi could change it's logo slightly but guess what, it would still be Pepsi.
A logo doesn't define what it is, what it is is what defines it.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Fern-Sama In reply to Squirates [2014-12-07 06:16:02 +0000 UTC]
thing is logo is stolen and it also makes 0 sense
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Squirates In reply to Fern-Sama [2014-12-07 07:12:39 +0000 UTC]
I don't really care if it makes 0 sense but the fact that it's stolen is a good reason why they should change it.
However I think it's just temporary as they keep saying "it's coming".
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whaaaley In reply to Squirates [2014-12-07 12:44:34 +0000 UTC]
First, just because a logo looks similar to another logo doesn't mean it's stolen. Second, this is anything but a SLIGHT change. Pepsi slightly changed their logo a few years ago. It used to be less wavy. The redesign is still a circle, it's still red, white and blue, and it still has a wave through it. For dA it's a complete redesign with nothing in common to the original and it requires a page long explanation, which defeats the purpose of having a logo at all.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Squirates In reply to whaaaley [2014-12-07 18:29:56 +0000 UTC]
Yeah I've already realized my mistake
probably should have hid this comment
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zakdwyer In reply to ??? [2014-12-07 03:37:40 +0000 UTC]
Jesus the new logo is awful. They think that by taking away as much as possible until it's barely recognized is "good design". I thought it was a prank at first... it looks amateurish.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
whaaaley In reply to zakdwyer [2014-12-07 12:45:47 +0000 UTC]
I agree. On top of that, I hate the corner angles on the top and bottom that aren't 45 degree angles like the others.
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Otherfag [2014-12-07 03:20:10 +0000 UTC]
So, in short, you think that the dA staff are green lanterns?
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kamy2425 [2014-12-07 03:13:26 +0000 UTC]
I thought it was a non-equal sign first time I saw it. Which makes sense seen the definition of deviant...
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Trev-the-wolf In reply to ??? [2014-12-07 03:03:35 +0000 UTC]
plz god. Make them chang it to this.
LET'S MAKE THIS APPEAR AT THE FRONT OF THE SCREEN SO THAT DA SEES IT
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Fushigi-Okami In reply to Trev-the-wolf [2014-12-07 04:42:41 +0000 UTC]
Yes! lets front page the hell out of it and make it go viral!
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SomeNavySEALs In reply to ??? [2014-12-07 02:57:01 +0000 UTC]
It's also the logo of a Metro platzkart.ru/
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AJInu-Okami In reply to ??? [2014-12-07 02:51:58 +0000 UTC]
I don't mind change, but I hate it when the staff of DA thinks that this is what everyone wanted. They went off saying they love the community and listens to us, yet they went off with the Z/currency symbol/cut off A look without setting up a poll or anything. I like your design more because you both incorporate the modern, new look with the old look. This makes sense and everyone here seems to like it more. I just hate how the staff here thinks they know everyone's taste when we are all so different -_- They should really be working hard on people reporting theft and other things.
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Nsio In reply to AJInu-Okami [2014-12-07 08:52:20 +0000 UTC]
Exactly. They even had this kind of design already. I just recycled it from the youtube video. People sure are quick to hate and resists everything, but it's possible to make them accept the change if dA just wouldn't make them so confused about it. I think that this fixing proposal already proves that, as people would gladly accept the new logo if it was done somewhat like this. As long as it says "dA" nearly anything would go
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AJInu-Okami In reply to Nsio [2014-12-10 06:55:27 +0000 UTC]
Exactly. Now I'm starting to see the A, but the 'd' is just fully gone all together. Maybe they will soon host a poll to see if they will change or keep the logo. It doesn't help that people said that the logo looks like another one from a different site, so they better get on it.
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mysteriouswhitewolf In reply to ??? [2014-12-07 02:08:10 +0000 UTC]
THIS. Perfection. You good sir/madam should get paid.
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Kiel-Sullivan In reply to ??? [2014-12-07 01:00:07 +0000 UTC]
I actually like the new logo, I got it right off the bat.
I guess that's just because I love puzzles and look at things differently. ^^'
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Nsio In reply to Kiel-Sullivan [2014-12-07 08:48:15 +0000 UTC]
You got good perception then . I'm also eager to challenge my perception, but I'm also eager to figure out the reasons why something doesn't please me, or other people who don't have as extensive artistic capabilities to perceive conceptual things.
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19ohshcfreak [2014-12-07 00:59:50 +0000 UTC]
I was thinking the same thing with turning it into a dA, and until they explained it that was what I thought they were going for. I have mixed feelings for the new logo. I think they should make an optional "switch back" to the old version for people who really don't like the change.
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shmekldorf [2014-12-07 00:50:10 +0000 UTC]
That really makes a lot of sense to me. I didn't understand the new logo at all until you explained it. I definitely support your idea to make it more readable.
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portalrunner2 [2014-12-07 00:44:48 +0000 UTC]
I totally agree and I think the idea with the shadows is great
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AliceSacco In reply to ??? [2014-12-07 00:14:27 +0000 UTC]
I remember when I was little somebody said 'True art is the one nobody can understand'. and maybe those of DA though that thing too.
I though the logo was a Z. Or a piece of a puzzle. I really didn't care about that, because I have other things to think.
But is strange that often even professionists do mistakes.
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Nsio In reply to AliceSacco [2014-12-07 08:45:16 +0000 UTC]
Maybe it's just my personal opinion, but I think that true artists have the ability make people see things they wouldn't otherwise. Make them realize and convince them that the artist is indeed right. And I think that's just about knowing how people perceive things and understanding human psychology and physiology. When it comes to a logo, it should never confuse the viewer to an extent that it needs to be explained and even then it won't get it job done in a way it's meant to.
The new logo, while having gone trough careful planning process, fails to bond with DeviantART. Even though we can say it's technically a masterpiece, it doesn't fit in the context and that's only because no one can associate the logo with dA. Art is ART, but DeviantART art is DeviantART, a place where Deviants and ART meet.
But well, it's pretty much futile to complain about it. I can deal with it. With this I just wanted to convince people that even the logo they hate so much could work splendidly.
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savvazakharov In reply to ??? [2014-12-06 22:38:03 +0000 UTC]
Yes, I certainly agree with all the author is saying.
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Northildr In reply to ??? [2014-12-06 22:26:26 +0000 UTC]
I can only hope they read this. Your idea has my support .
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