Logo Design

Here’s a collection of some of my early logo work. I used to be focused on Linux audio software.

Check the Logos category for recent work, including drafts.

I mainly use Inkscape and the GIMP. For colored versions of the Ardour and Ingen logos, I used Xara Xtreme.

linuxaudio.org

2006-05
The linuxaudio.org consortium was looking for a logo. After initial attempts at an abstract logo, it became clear there had to be a penguin involved πŸ˜‰

linuxaudio.org banner

There are several variations available on the linuxaudio.org logo page.

Ardour

2006-09
Ardour is a digital audio workstation. A collage of design iterations describes the creative process better than words could.

The main variation, also available on shirts:

Ardour

A “Made with Ardour” Emblem:

Made with Ardour

Banner for the web:

Ardour Banner

Wallpapers (1440×900, 1920×1200, 1920×1200, click on the thumbnails):

Ardour Wallpaper Blue 1140Γ—900 Ardour Wallpaper 1920Γ—1200 Ardour Wallpaper 2560Γ—1024

Ingen

2006-10, updated 2007-04
Ingen is a modular synthesis and effects environment not ready for public consumption yet. The logo is meant to refer to module patching and to convey an “industrial” style.

Ingen

Patchage

2006-11
Patchage is a modular patch bay and control center. This is not really a logo and not in use, but see for yourself πŸ™‚

Patchage Hydra

(Click to enlarge)

FFADO

2007-03
FFADO: Free Firewire Audio Drivers. With the name change from Freebob, this project was in need of a new logo. It contains some elements that should look familiar to Firewire users πŸ˜‰

FFADO

zynjacku

2007-03
zynjacku is a host for LV2 synth plugins in early development. After a number of scribbles I made 3 concepts for the author to pick from, all based on the central idea of plugins wrapped in a host.

zynjacku

Softwerk

2007-04
Softwerk is an old step sequencer project that is about to be brought back into shape. The logo design is about steps, vintage hardware and if you think Scrabble, that’s fine, too πŸ™‚

Softwerk

18 Responses to Logo Design

  1. Dieter says:

    It’s cool to see the evolution of design ideas for the Ardour logo

    Btw I’ll keep you in mind when I never need a logo for an open source program πŸ˜‰

  2. Scott says:

    Very nice work.
    Everyone needs some positive feedback:)
    take care.

  3. Yay, free software!
    Zynjacku is one of my favorites. The center feels held in place, but not contained.

  4. Excellent work! It’s great to see open source apps getting some real “faces” by real artists πŸ™‚ Especially for the ones used for creative tasks themselves.

    Now if we could also get a collaboration of artists and UI designers to attack the “coder-UI”‘s which can be seen in countless open source applications.

  5. Pingback: AudioResearchBlog » Blog Archive » Audio development & design

  6. Is very good job, very cool logos. Congratulations.

  7. Kevin says:

    These logos are great! How are they licensed? Could I use the β€œMade with Ardour” Emblem on a CD I publish? I think that could help get Linux Audio at least a little better known.

  8. thorwil says:

    Thanks, everyone!

    Kevin: I usually leave it to the projects to define licensing terms for the logos.

    Regarding “Made with Ardour”, feel free to use it as you see fit, as long as the message is true πŸ˜‰
    Send me an email, if you want a larger image.

  9. KayGenz says:

    Wow.. nice logo πŸ™‚

  10. Indijan says:

    Great work, you’re getting pretty ubuntu famous now, so I might ask for an autograph :-p

  11. thecommutist says:

    Awesome work! Great designs!

  12. THEOSKARWERNER says:

    THANKS!!! It’s soo cool that there are lads like you out there. Awesome job.

  13. linuxaudiolive says:

    Hi Thorsten,

    I bumped into your site today through one of your posts from 2004… Then I learned, that you designed the knobs from specimen, I remember when I had to install phat. These knobs are really good. Now I saw all these logos. It is really nice indeed, that guys like you put so much effort into the development of open source software.

  14. Alex says:

    I have a question – what is it about the Ingen logo that made you use Xara? By looking at it, I fail to see how Inkscape couldn’t have accomplished the same job.

    The logos are very nice, I’ve gone through your archive and looked at your other works – I’m impressed, thanks for sharing them! I will get back to your site when inspiration is needed πŸ™‚

    I also liked your proposal for the scroll-bar widget.

    Greetings from Moldova!

    • thorwil says:

      Hi Alex. The early work on the Ingen logo simply happened at a time when I tried out Xara. It’s fast and has nice shadow and emboss effects, but as is very clear now, no future on linux.

      Thanks!

  15. It’s great to see what others are designing. These logos are fantastic. Everyday I search the web for inspiration. Thank you.

  16. adib says:

    What software do use to design all of this cool logo?

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