Comments on: Why the new Google favicon sucks* http://nathanbowers.com/design/why-the-new-google-favicon-sucks/ Demystifying Usability Thu, 04 Dec 2008 05:42:04 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Nathan Bowers http://nathanbowers.com/design/why-the-new-google-favicon-sucks/#comment-810 Nathan Bowers Tue, 24 Jun 2008 20:41:32 +0000 http://nathanbowers.com/?p=448#comment-810 The previous favicon did need some work, but different applications have different needs. The Google brand should be recognizable as a logo, as a desktop icon, as a phone icon, and as a 16x16 browser favicon. Each of those formats has different needs. Obviously a 16x16 favicon has the greatest design burden because it's so small and because it needs to stand out in long lists of other small favicons. What's crazy is that dealing with icons at different sizes is a known and solvable problem. You make a nice detailed big alpha channeled icon for the desktop and a tight distinctive one at 16x16. Google shoulda hired this guy: http://www.famfamfam.com/lab/icons/ Everyone uses his free icons. The previous favicon did need some work, but different applications have different needs. The Google brand should be recognizable as a logo, as a desktop icon, as a phone icon, and as a 16×16 browser favicon. Each of those formats has different needs. Obviously a 16×16 favicon has the greatest design burden because it’s so small and because it needs to stand out in long lists of other small favicons.

What’s crazy is that dealing with icons at different sizes is a known and solvable problem. You make a nice detailed big alpha channeled icon for the desktop and a tight distinctive one at 16×16. Google shoulda hired this guy: http://www.famfamfam.com/lab/icons/ Everyone uses his free icons.

]]> By: Alister Cameron // Blogologist http://nathanbowers.com/design/why-the-new-google-favicon-sucks/#comment-809 Alister Cameron // Blogologist Tue, 24 Jun 2008 13:48:01 +0000 http://nathanbowers.com/?p=448#comment-809 Agree, it sucks. Can't make any sense of it. What is Google thinking?? Frankly, it's a point of weakness in the brand of the world's largest "Internet company" that they don't have way of representing themselves in a favicon that works well! Could it be that if you plan on ubiquity on the web, a key design issue is the attractiveness of your favicon?!?! Ponder ponder. -Alister Agree, it sucks. Can’t make any sense of it. What is Google thinking??

Frankly, it’s a point of weakness in the brand of the world’s largest “Internet company” that they don’t have way of representing themselves in a favicon that works well!

Could it be that if you plan on ubiquity on the web, a key design issue is the attractiveness of your favicon?!?!

Ponder ponder.

-Alister

]]> By: gb http://nathanbowers.com/design/why-the-new-google-favicon-sucks/#comment-739 gb Mon, 09 Jun 2008 07:36:53 +0000 http://nathanbowers.com/?p=448#comment-739 i don't get it. how is a large G not able to work across multiple applications? that small squigly emasculated "g" seems to be the work of the marketing department trying to prove it's worth to the company. bet you they spent tons of departmental ass kissing on this, and the so called "creative guys" are starting to take over... oh oh.... i don’t get it. how is a large G not able to work across multiple applications? that small squigly emasculated “g” seems to be the work of the marketing department trying to prove it’s worth to the company. bet you they spent tons of departmental ass kissing on this, and the so called “creative guys” are starting to take over… oh oh….

]]> By: Britta http://nathanbowers.com/design/why-the-new-google-favicon-sucks/#comment-736 Britta Mon, 09 Jun 2008 02:49:03 +0000 http://nathanbowers.com/?p=448#comment-736 http://www.bringbacktheoldgooglefavicon.com/index.php created by a friend of a friend http://www.bringbacktheoldgooglefavicon.com/index.php

created by a friend of a friend

]]> By: Nathan Bowers http://nathanbowers.com/design/why-the-new-google-favicon-sucks/#comment-732 Nathan Bowers Fri, 06 Jun 2008 20:52:58 +0000 http://nathanbowers.com/?p=448#comment-732 Looks like the non-engineer "Prince of Insufficient Light" types are infiltrating Google. Not a good sign. Looks like the non-engineer “Prince of Insufficient Light” types are infiltrating Google. Not a good sign.

]]> By: pachi http://nathanbowers.com/design/why-the-new-google-favicon-sucks/#comment-730 pachi Fri, 06 Jun 2008 07:32:33 +0000 http://nathanbowers.com/?p=448#comment-730 Search Engine Land has an official position from Google: “We recognized there was a need for a Google icon that would better work across multiple applications including web, mobile and client applications. We felt the small ‘g’ had many of the characteristics that best represent our brand: it’s simple, playful, and unique. We will be looking to improve and enhance this icon as we move forward.“ more on http://arbitness.wordpress.com/2008/06/05/why-google-changed-their-favicon/ Search Engine Land has an official position from Google:
“We recognized there was a need for a Google icon that would better work across multiple applications including web, mobile and client applications. We felt the small ‘g’ had many of the characteristics that best represent our brand: it’s simple, playful, and unique. We will be looking to improve and enhance this icon as we move forward.“

more on http://arbitness.wordpress.com/2008/06/05/why-google-changed-their-favicon/

]]> By: Nathan Bowers http://nathanbowers.com/design/why-the-new-google-favicon-sucks/#comment-702 Nathan Bowers Sun, 01 Jun 2008 21:39:42 +0000 http://nathanbowers.com/?p=448#comment-702 I think there's already a Greasemonkey script. I think there’s already a Greasemonkey script.

]]> By: New Icon SUCKS http://nathanbowers.com/design/why-the-new-google-favicon-sucks/#comment-701 New Icon SUCKS Sun, 01 Jun 2008 21:33:36 +0000 http://nathanbowers.com/?p=448#comment-701 NEW ICON REALLY SUCKS!!! I want the old one back!!! Is there anyway I can assign the old one? Addons or shit? NEW ICON REALLY SUCKS!!! I want the old one back!!! Is there anyway I can assign the old one? Addons or shit?

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