On 9/29/07, Otto Moerbeek <otto@drijf.net> wrote:
quoted text
> On Sat, 29 Sep 2007, Karel Kulhavy wrote:
>
> > Personally, the feeling or message I am getting from these stickers is "we're
> > not sloppy, we want to do everything well, including graphics design."
> > In marketing terms, it makes an impression that OpenBSD has a good
> > corporate identity (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corporate_identity).
>
> Speaking as an OpenBSD developer, I can assure you that OpenBSD would
> become much less attractive to spend time on if it was run like a
> company. I think what we produce (software and and other stuff) is
> high quality because we like what we do.
>

good corporate identity != run like a corporation

The "corporate" in "corporate identity" should be taken literally.  Or
rather, the metaphor should be divested of any associations with
private, profit-seeking organizations.  A good corporate identity is
about clarity of message; there's no reason that message can't be what
OpenBSD is really about.

In my view OpenBSD has an excellent identity and message - clear,
narrow focus on a small and easily understandable set of concepts
(security by default, unencumbered, quality, etc.) and a variety of
well-designed and executed graphic images unified by a well-chosen
icon.  In fact the great virtue of that is that it obviates the need
for top-down discipline in getting the message out.  Anybody who wants
to evangelize the unwashed will have no problem figuring out what
message to convey.  No reason to fear that.

-g