Recent Design Work for Unity

The logo/design project has been inactive for some time now.
As far as I am aware, the only designers left are Ruel and myself, so we are now moving on putting the finishing touches to the overall look for Unity Linux.
I have been toiling with one of Ruel's original submissions, to give the best layout I can manage. I think this one works very well.
The appearence of the "T" has been mentioned, that it looks like a "C" so, I will work on correcting that problem, as it is a very good point and a fact.
I will also look into using different items (rather than the mint leaf) as this has also been commented on. Just not sure yet what will be a logical and appealing replacement at the very moment (experiments will resume)
But, over all, the layout of the text and (what ever the chosen bg item shall be) works well and gives a good look to the "big picture"

GRANULAR 2.0 design underway

Finally, I have assimilated and working within a KDE4 environment, and I have to say, I kinda like it. There are a few things I am frustrated are missing but, beyond those things, KDE4 is a nice, fresh place to be, and it is reviving my passion for graphic design.
It will take me a bit to become familiar with the new scripts but, that is the part that makes it all so interesting.
I am working with a "test" release for development of GRANULAR 2.0, which sports KDE 4.3 which Anurag put together for the team to work with.
This iso is basically, the Unity Linux core, with task-kde4-minimal installed and openbox stripped out, and the Granular/Wolverine repo ready to go.
So far, kde4 is providing me with a lot of fun in getting to know the differences from kde 3.5.10 (which I am still partial too) But I am sure, in time, as I am able to customize this install more and more, I will come to love kde4 just as much as kde3

Been a while...

It has been a while since I last posted on this blog. I have been pre-occupied with life-matters, which have taken a lot of time from things I like to do. So, I took some time during it all, to try and find myself a positive attitude and the motivation which continuously gets sucked out from me by these matters at hand.
I am feeling better now, and making a move to get the logo project for Unity rolling again. This time learning from past mistakes, and getting a nice, clean, finalized image, in a timely manner.
I am working on getting everyone to vote from the 3 ideas which were chosen, to pick one of the 3, polish it up, and get this task finalized.
In the past, we wound up drowning in our own deep thoughts and politics, and the machine came to a full stop. But there is still time to get this done, and the machine is not completely broken (just some missing parts)

Home Sweet Home

My favorite project, my Home Sweet Home... is a place I started with my friend Dadster called Linux Graphics Users
We wanted to create a place for artists / designers, where they could just relax and share and learn from one another, far away from the restraints of a distro-centric environment. A place where we could just kinda hang-out and talk about the various graphics software within the Linux platform.

We are getting ready to enter into our 2d year (official) and also getting ready to begin discussing ways to really dress up our community/forum, and attract new members. We are all taking some time to put some ideas together, individually... and after the Easter holiday, will have a meeting to discuss those ideas, and find the best ways to go about making them a reality.
We are blessed with a really great member base at LGU. And we are hoping to put some nice ideas into play which will make the site more attractive to new and prospective members.

This year... the 3 old fools (err, I mean wise men) That being the admins Dadster, Jaws, and myself decided to split the cost of hosting for our 2d year... and just as long as no one touches my crayons, I'm good with it (hehe)

But, this is my public way of saying "Thank You" to everyone involved with LGU... because a person just could not ask for a better staff, or a better group of members than we have there.
I have not been as involved as I wanted to be over the last year, due to personal matters... but this is about to change greatly. But, Dadster and Jaws... and everyone else, have been keeping things running pretty smooth and that is a really nice feeling.

So, if you have ever wanted to create your own wallpaper, or anything graphics related, using any of the wonderful graphics software available under Linux (which beats any commercial software IMO) swing on by, we'd be glad to have ya... And don't let the little things like "But I have no talent.." stop you. This is a group of some of the most laid-back, nicest people you could ever run into, and we will help you along the way...
I am the type who feels that "everyone" has talent. There are so many different levels and views to art that it has to be considered beautiful in the eyes of the beholder... and even if you are the only one beholdin'... who cares, as long as it is beautiful to you, and you feel good that you made it yourself.

Hope to see ya soon

Another rough idea for Unity Logo

Yet another rough idea I had on the Logo for Unity Linux. Combining the "U" & the "L" into one, unified character. Not sure as to the integrity of this design... but I like to just get the ideas out into a visual form when they come to mind, otherwise they get lost in the swill.

GRANULAR 2.0 Design (cont'd)

First step of the new design, will be to hold a vote, through the community at the GRANULAR forums... to choose the main color to be used.
Up till now, GRANULAR has used a gray base... and pulled it off quite well to tell the truth. But the thoughts have been for a little while, in the air about making a change in the future. And, what better time, than now? GRANULAR is undergoing some significant changes (hence the decision to move the release number to 2.0)
There have been 3 colors chosen by the team to place in the poll for the members to vote on.
Blue
Green
Amber

The poll will open with 3 equal (example) desktops... one of each color, so everyone has them to compare and make their decision... which makes it much easier, just as when shopping for paint, flooring, or anything related to decorating.
Once those samples are put together, they will be posted along with the poll. And I will post them here as well. We are anxious to see which is chosen, because once we know... we can begin on a couple other major items related to the design, and then we are off & running.

Some Logo ideas for the Unity Linux project

Being part of the new Unity Linux project, is very exciting for me. The concept of this project, along with it's limitless possibilities, and such a gathering of wonderful minds and talent, is all more than enough to cause people to see... that this is going to be something big.
But, more importantly... it is something solid. Even in the beginning, we are seeing the stage being set for a dependable, highly maintained core, and a strong community with much emphasis on the leadership structure.
A leadership which will not only just hear the ideas and thoughts of it's community... but take them under serious consideration, and... in a transparent manner. Meaning, that the community will always know what is going on behind the scenes (minus the death matches, those are pay per view only)... and what can be expected.
A community, where each and every member's guestion or thoughts, are just as important as the next.

It is also a great honor to me... to be working with some of the most dedicated, and talented people I have ever had the joy of working with. There are no elitist personalities here, like I have met and known in other places. Everyone is open, honest... and speaks their mind, knowing it is exactly what the others want... because it is truly the only way progress can be achieved and maintained.

And, now that I have gotten all the butt-kissin out of the way. One of our objectives of late, has been to come up with a logo. The logo for the Unity Linux project will need to mirror the qualities of the project itself. A logo which is solid, unique, and bold.... yet, simple. It also needs to communicate "Unity"
The toughest goal of this logo project... is to come up with something unique, to show Unity... as it is a word/theory which is common, and widely used throughout the commercial and non-commercial, business world.
We are already seeing a good interest in the new community of members to be involved in the creation of this logo. And it is a welcome thought... and it looks as if we will have a logo contest, which is open to the entire community... which I fully agree with, and gets me excited to see the many ideas/submissions which will come of it.
I, myself, will be watching closely to see some new talent evolve from such a contest... and I will swoop down and catch each submitter... and pitch my plugs to get them to join my graphics forum.

Well, with much delay... here are some ideas I have been tossing around for the Unity Linux logo.