New logo and visual identity for Bitcoin

[Goldmundo]

Regarding earlier objection by franky, based on numerous examples (both historical and contemporary), using the single strike-through B for Bitcoin does not actually present a problematic conflict with the THB symbol. There are many currencies in the world whose symbol is not unique to them. Here are some examples:

¥
Japanese yen
Chinese yuan

$
United States dollar
Canadian dollar
Argentine peso
Mexican peso
Australian dollar
Hong Kong dollar
Singapore dollar
and a few dozen more...

£
British pound
Irish pound (discontinued 2002)
Italian lira (discontinued 2002)

While I would personally rather lean towards using a completely new symbol - thus overcoming the naivety and lack of innovation of the original concept - I do realise the strikethrough B is too deeply entrenched in the minds of Bitcoin supporters and going against it would probably render my efforts useless since the new design would never gain traction. Therefore, with this design I am trying to achieve fine balance between doing the much needed improvement and honouring the spirit of the original graphics.

I am confident this strong, modern new identity will quickly spread across the web. Before it does, however, and before I create the final files and let them out in the wild, I would really appreciate it if more of you would offer your constructive input on how the design I presented can be improved.

For those of you who dislike the idea of redesign, please note that I do respect your opinion as well. We may disagree but I respect your view and am happy to hear all opinions. That's exactly the beauty of an open source project.

[Goldmundo]

Another thing I would like to discuss is what graphic elements do we need.

So far I have worked on these, please add what you think is necessary to be covered:

Working on:

- currency symbol logo
- typography logo for the word Bitcoin

- 'accepted here' button
- '฿ preferred' button

- pay button
- tip button
- donation button


To be worked on:

- 'bit' symbol
- 'satoshi' symbol

[sifter]

These look very nice, however I still prefer the original look of bitcoin, it has historical value.

[Goldmundo]

Regarding the symbols for 'bit' and 'satoshi':

For 'bit':

Instead of using obscure characters that already exist in Unicode and belong to rare languages or are meant to represent something else, how about stepping back a bit, keeping it real simple and perhaps using plain "b" for 'bit'?

It would be easy to adopt, we would not have to chase the character in the dungeons of Unicode, we would avoid confusion, and we wouldn't have to wait two decades for (physical) keyboards to support it.

So if you would like to represent an amount of 1200 bits, you would simply type b1200.

Other option would be to create a new symbol (such as lower-case strike-through "b") and popularise it until it's strong enough to enter Unicode as a dedicated Bitcoin related symbol.

To look at the past&present and learn from it - you don't really see people using the cent symbol when they mention it. In everyday communication people simply type "that's my 2c".


For 'satoshi':

It's not like we're really time pressed to create a symbol for satoshi but here are some thoughts:

Again, one option that would go with previously described logic for 'bit' would be to simply use lowercase "s". Therefore, if you would like to represent an amount of say 24,000 satoshis you would just type s24,000.

If going for an existing symbol in Unicode, for this one there is actually one interesting candidate. It's the ¤ (the unspecified currency sign). For various practical reasons it is not very usable in real life to represent what it was meant to represent, but Bitcoin could adopt it and make it a total hit that could (let's dream a bit shall we?) potentially replace the almighty $ in a generation or two. It would also make for a neat little story to tell your grandkids in the unlikely case you're a boring grandpa typographer who likes to torture people with his professional nostalgia. LOL

So, with this one, your 24,000 satoshis would look like this: ¤24,000.

The third option would again be to create a unique symbol from scratch.

Thoughts, suggestions, comments? Please share what you think.

[hilariousandco]

You've not exactly changed much and I prefer the old symbol, but the beauty of bitcoin is that there is no central authority who gets to design or choose the logo so if you create something that people like people will use it and it'll become the default logo naturally. People are free to use whichever one they wish, but for now I'll personally be sticking with the 'classic' version.

[Mitchell]

I prefer the current design and I have no reason to change my opinion about that. A lot of people have tried to change it something else, but it never catched on. I'm sure this will happen with your design as well, sorry man.

[doubleredrolex]

trying to change the logo doesn't make any sense. The classic Bitcoin logo is the best one. Why change things when its just starting to become recognized?

[Goldmundo]

Why change things when its just starting to become recognized?

Exactly because of that.

As more people get familiar with Bitcoin, it will be increasingly more difficult to change its visual identity. Professionally designed visual ID will help improve the image of Bitcoin and accelerate widespread adoption. That's why I want to contribute my expertise in this area, just as programmers contribute in the area of maintaining and improving the code of the whole thing.

Even before I started working on this I already expected there would be resistance from people in the community who are emotionally attached to the "old-school" style and don't mind its stylistic shortcomings. I understand your preference for the Ubuntu inspired design, but, with all due respect, you don't make the major world currency using that kind of design. Some people couldn't care less about "tiny details" like this but most people do, either consciously or not. Whatever your position, let's agree to disagree and not turn this into a battle. It's all just a game anyway..

Anyhow, I will continue working on this and once I'm done I will offer the final files to the public. Whoever wishes to support the new design, please get in touch, offer suggestions and help spread the word. Thank you.


https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/54619107/Goldmund/bitcoin/btc-badge-preferred.png

[R2D221]

Just a question.

What is the font you are using for these designs? Did you design it too?

[HELP.org]

Why change things when its just starting to become recognized?

Exactly because of that.

As more people get familiar with Bitcoin, it will be increasingly more difficult to change its visual identity. Professionally designed visual ID will help improve the image of Bitcoin and accelerate widespread adoption. That's why I want to contribute my expertise in this area, just as programmers contribute in the area of maintaining and improving the code of the whole thing.

Even before I started working on this I already expected there would be resistance from people in the community who are emotionally attached to the "old-school" style and don't mind its stylistic shortcomings. I understand your preference for the Ubuntu inspired design, but, with all due respect, you don't make the major world currency using that kind of design. Some people couldn't care less about "tiny details" like this but most people do, either consciously or not. Whatever your position, let's agree to disagree and not turn this into a battle. It's all just a game anyway..

Anyhow, I will continue working on this and once I'm done I will offer the final files to the public. Whoever wishes to support the new design, please get in touch, offer suggestions and help spread the word. Thank you.

There are already multiple logos such as the orange one you point out, the gold one used by this forum, and a few others.  The more the better and the free market can sort it out. 

[franky1]

Regarding earlier objection by franky, based on numerous examples (both historical and contemporary),

the whole premiss that i imply is that all examples you use are of legal tenders which governments recognize and have diplomatic relationships with. for instance if thailand do not want to recognize bitcoin as a currency, and especially that bitcoin wont be a legal tender, then they wont like the fact that people are using their single strikethrough B for something thats not recognized by them..

this is why liberty dollar got shut down, because of the use of the $ symbol.

its easier and more innovative, and of course more legit to use a totally new symbol for bitcoin or bits rather than trying to borrow the symbol of a legal tender.

[R2D221]

this is why liberty dollar got shut down, because of the use of the $ symbol.

I don't think that was the reason. Liberty dollar was meant to be a replacement of the US dollar (it even shares its name). Bitcoin, on the other hand, has no relationship with the Thai baht. Bitcoin might want to go against national currencies, but all of them in general, not the baht specifically.

[franky1]

this is why liberty dollar got shut down, because of the use of the $ symbol.

I don't think that was the reason. Liberty dollar was meant to be a replacement of the US dollar (it even shares its name). Bitcoin, on the other hand, has no relationship with the Thai baht. Bitcoin might want to go against national currencies, but all of them in general, not the baht specifically.

exactly, so thats why i said dont use the thai baht, thai government wont like it!

anyway this discussion of single strikethrough ฿ vs doubleBTC is futile, its much easier to stick with the double strike through and use our energies to move to the future and think about the innovation to come. such as designing logo's for bits(100satoshi's)

lots of people are thinking of many unicodes that look like a letter b, but with funny tails. some have even thought about the name satoshi and want bits symbol to be §

[Q7]

Call me old school but i still prefer the light background design which is orangy in color. As in your case, i prefer the blend of gold orangy shades that u have put in. Good work!!!!

[newflesh]

Just a question.

What is the font you are using for these designs? Did you design it too?

The font used is Neo Sans:  http://www.fonts.com/font/monotype/neo-sans

It is a nice modern font but I'm not sure if there would be any licensing issues with people using that particular typeface.

[BitcoinPenny]

I'm still a little lost on why the BTC symbol must be in a particular font. Is the US dollar symbol $ only good/legible/official/legal if it's written in a particular font? I always thought the symbol could be written in any number of fonts. (After all, it's not even shown on the dollar bill.)

And what about handwriting the symbol? I've seen the US dollar symbol written with a single strike-thru as well as a double strike-thru.

I guess that my main confusion comes by comparing it to the US dollar sign, and maybe that's wrong. Personally, I don't care how you write/type/print the US dollar sign--italics, no italics, single strike-thru, double strike-thru, Arial, Times New Roman, whatever. I'll recognize it, and I won't doubt its legitimacy. In other words, if I'm shopping at a local store and see a sales sign with "dollars off," I'm not going to question the font. (Personally, I think it would be ridiculous to do so.) "Excuse me, miss? I see the sale sign, but I'm unclear about the font. Is the discount in US Arial dollars or US Times New Roman dollars? Oh, I see. When do you plan on running the next US Double Strike-thru Italics sale?"

Again, maybe it's just me.

Personally, I like the original, double-strike-thru BTC symbol.

Regards,
Christopher

[Goldmundo]

The font used is Neo Sans:  http://www.fonts.com/font/monotype/neo-sans

It is a nice modern font but I'm not sure if there would be any licensing issues with people using that particular typeface.

From Wikipedia:

"Under U.S. law, typefaces and the letter forms or glyphs they comprise are considered to be utilitarian objects whose utility outweighs any merit that may exist in protecting their creative elements. Typefaces are exempt from copyright protection in the United States (Code of Federal Regulations, Ch 37, Sec. 202.1(e); Eltra Corp. vs. Ringer)."

[franky1]

I'm still a little lost on why the BTC symbol must be in a particular font.

the BTC is not really important that its a particular font, nor is the colour background inportant.. but the whole single or double strikethrough is the main thing that people do not like to see change.

i have nothing against a blue background or the neosans typeface. but i and many others still want the double strikethrough.

im all for people being creative. i just think the OP will have alot more freedom and fun to go in any creative direction he pleases and be.. maybe the first to make the symbol for 'bits' as thats where things are going to move to in the future.

after all the egyptians use to move tonnes of gold. now we 21st century folk talk mainly about ounces, even if tonnes is still a valid measure (just not used as much by mere mortals and only really used within bank reserves and financial behind the scenes stuff)

[R2D221]

this is why liberty dollar got shut down, because of the use of the $ symbol.

I don't think that was the reason. Liberty dollar was meant to be a replacement of the US dollar (it even shares its name). Bitcoin, on the other hand, has no relationship with the Thai baht. Bitcoin might want to go against national currencies, but all of them in general, not the baht specifically.

exactly, so thats why i said dont use the thai baht, thai government wont like it!

You're not getting my point.

[LiteCoinGuy]

no need for a change. thx.