Blame Manuals/RepoReference/en_US/Directories/trunk/Identity.texinfo

b32b45
@subheading Goals
b32b45
b32b45
The @file{trunk/Identity} describes what The CentOS Project Corporate
b32b45
Identity is and the components it is made of.
b32b45
b32b45
@subheading Description
b32b45
b32b45
The CentOS Project Corporate Identity is the ``persona'' of the
b32b45
organization known as The CentOS Project.  The CentOS Project
b32b45
Corporate Identity plays a significant role in the way The CentOS
b32b45
Project, as organization, presents itself to both internal and
b32b45
external stakeholders. In general terms, The CentOS Project Corporate
b32b45
Identity expresses the values and ambitions of The CentOS Project
b32b45
organization, its business, and its characteristics.  
b32b45
b32b45
The CentOS Project Corporate Identity provides visibility,
b32b45
recognizability, reputation, structure and identification to The
b32b45
CentOS Project organization by means of @emph{Corporate Design},
b32b45
@emph{Corporate Communication}, and @emph{Corporate Behaviour}.
b32b45
b32b45
@image{trunk/Identity/Images/Manual/Corporate/monolithic,450pt,,,jpg}
b32b45
b32b45
@subsubheading Corporate Mission
b32b45
b32b45
The CentOS Project exists to provide The CentOS Distribution.
b32b45
Additionally, The CentOS Project provides The CentOS Web and The
b32b45
CentOS Showroom to support and promote the existence of The CentOS
b32b45
Distribution, respectively.
b32b45
b32b45
@subsubheading Corporate Design
b32b45
b32b45
Corporate design is focused on the effective communication of
b32b45
corporate visual messages. Corporate visual messages are all the
b32b45
information emitted by a corporation that can be perceived by the
b32b45
people through their visual sence (i.e., the human eye).  In order for
b32b45
such visual communication to happen, it is required to put the visual
b32b45
message on medium available for people to see.  These kind of media
b32b45
are know as corporate visual manifestations, since the corporate
b32b45
manifests its existence through them using corporate design. 
b32b45
b32b45
The amount of visual manifestations a corporation uses to communicate
b32b45
its existence is very specific to each corporation itself. Inside The
b32b45
CentOS Project Corporate Identity, considering @emph{The CentOS
b32b45
Project Corporate Structure}, @emph{The CentOS Project Corporate
b32b45
Mission} and @emph{The CentOS Project Release Schema}, the following
b32b45
visual manifestations were defined:
b32b45
b32b45
@table @strong 
b32b45
@item The CentOS Distribution 
b32b45
b32b45
The CentOS Distribution visual manifestation exists to cover all
b32b45
actions related to artwork production and rebranding required by the
b32b45
The CentOS Distribution (--- @strong{Removed}(pxref:Directories trunk Identity Images Themes
b32b45
Models Default Distro) ---) in order to comply with its upstream
b32b45
redistribution guidelines.
b32b45
b32b45
The CentOS Distribution is made of software packages. Inside the
b32b45
distribution there are packages that make a remarkable use of images
b32b45
and there are packages that don't use images at all. The CentOS
b32b45
Distribution visual manifestation gets focused on software packages
b32b45
that do use images in a remarkable way (e.g., @file{anaconda},
b32b45
@file{grub}, @file{syslinux}, @file{gdm}, @file{kdm}) and that way,
b32b45
through images, implements the corporate design in The CentOS
b32b45
Distribution (i.e., the operating system).
b32b45
b32b45
@item The CentOS Web
b32b45
b32b45
The CentOS Web visual manifestation exists to support The CentOS
b32b45
Distribution. 
b32b45
b32b45
The CentOS Web covers web applications which let The CentOS Project to
b32b45
manifest its existence on the Internet. Through these web applications
b32b45
The CentOS Project provides Corporate Communication.  These web
b32b45
applications are free software and come from different providers which
b32b45
distribute their work with predefined visual styles.  Frequently,
b32b45
these predefined visual styles have no visual relation among
b32b45
themselves and introduce some visual contraditions when they all are
b32b45
put together.  These visual contraditions need to be removed in order
b32b45
to comply with The CentOS Project Corporate Structure guidelines.
b32b45
b32b45
@item The CentOS Showroom
b32b45
b32b45
The CentOS Showroom visual manifestation exists to promote The CentOS
b32b45
Distribution.
b32b45
b32b45
The CentOS Showroom covers industrial production of objects branded by
b32b45
The CentOS Project (e.g., clothes, stationery and installation media).
b32b45
These branded objects are for distribution on social events and/or
b32b45
shops. They provide a way of promotion and a route for
b32b45
commercialization that may help to aliviate The CentOS Project
b32b45
expenses (e.g., electrical power, hosting, servers,
b32b45
full-time-developers, etc.), in a similar way as donations may do.
b32b45
b32b45
@end table
b32b45
b32b45
The visual manifestations above seem to cover all the media required
b32b45
by The CentOS Project, as organization, to show its existence.
b32b45
However, other visual manifestations could be added in the future, if
b32b45
needed, to cover different areas like building, offices, road
b32b45
transportation and whaterver visual manifestation The CentOS Project
b32b45
thouches to show its existence.
b32b45
b32b45
@subsubheading Corporate Communication
b32b45
b32b45
The CentOS Project Corporate Communication is based on @emph{Community
b32b45
Communication} and takes place through the following avenues:
b32b45
b32b45
@itemize
b32b45
@item The CentOS Chat (@code{#centos}, @code{#centos-social},
b32b45
@code{#centos-devel} on irc.freenode.net)
b32b45
@item The CentOS Mailing Lists (@url{http://lists.centos.org/}).
b32b45
@item The CentOS Forums (@url{http://forums.centos.org/}).
b32b45
@item The CentOS Wiki (@url{http://wiki.centos.org/}).
b32b45
@item Social events, interviews, conferences, etc.
b32b45
@end itemize
b32b45
b32b45
@subsubheading Corporate Behaviour
b32b45
b32b45
The CentOS Project Corporate Behaviour is based on @emph{Community
b32b45
Behaviour} which take place on @emph{Corporate Communication}.
b32b45
b32b45
@subsubheading Corporate Structure
b32b45
b32b45
The CentOS Project Corporate Structure is based on a @emph{Monolithic
b32b45
Corporate Visual Identity Structure}. In this configuration, one
b32b45
unique name and one unique visual style is used in all visual
b32b45
manifestation of The CentOS Project.
b32b45
b32b45
In a monolithic corporate visual identity structure, internal and
b32b45
external stakeholders use to feel a strong sensation of uniformity,
b32b45
orientation, and identification with the organization. No matter if
b32b45
you are visiting web sites, using the distribution, or acting on
b32b45
social events, the one unique name and one unique visual style
b32b45
connects them all to say: @emph{Hey! we are all part of The CentOS
b32b45
Project}.
b32b45
b32b45
Other corporate structures for The CentOS Project have been considered
b32b45
as well. Such is the case of producing one different visual style for
b32b45
each major release of The CentOS Distribution. This structure isn't
b32b45
inconvenient at all, but some visual contradictions could be
b32b45
introduced if it isn't applied correctly and we need to be aware of
b32b45
it. To apply it correctly, we need to know what The CentOS Project is
b32b45
made of.
b32b45
b32b45
The CentOS Project, as organization, is mainly made of (but not
b32b45
limited to) three visual manifestions: Distribution, Web and Showroom.
b32b45
Inside the Distribution visual manifestations, The CentOS Project
b32b45
maintains near to four different major releases of CentOS
b32b45
Distribution, parallely in time.  However, inside The CentOS Web
b32b45
visual manifestations, the content is produced for no specific release
b32b45
information (e.g., there is no a complete web site for each major
b32b45
release of The CentOS Distribution individually, but one web site to
b32b45
cover them all). Likewise, the content produced in The CentOS Showroom
b32b45
is created for no release-specific at all, but for The CentOS Project
b32b45
in general.
b32b45
b32b45
In order to produce the correct corporate structure for The CentOS
b32b45
Project we need to concider all the visual manifestations The CentOS
b32b45
Project is made of, not just one of them.  If one different visual
b32b45
style is used for each major release of The CentOS Distribution, which
b32b45
one of those different visual styles would be used to cover the
b32b45
remaining visual manifestations The CentOS Project is made of (e.g.,
b32b45
The CentOS Web and The CentOS Showroom)?
b32b45
b32b45
Probably you are thinking, that's right, but The CentOS Brand connects
b32b45
them all already, why would we need to join them up into the same
b32b45
visual style too, isn't it more work to do, and harder to maintain?
b32b45
b32b45
Harder to maintain, more work to do, probably. Specially when you
b32b45
consider that The CentOS Project has proven stability and consistency
b32b45
through time and, that, certainly, didn't come through swinging
b32b45
magical wands or something but hardly working out to automate tasks
b32b45
and providing maintainance through time. Said that, we consider that
b32b45
The CentOS Project Corporate Structure must be consequent with such
b32b45
stability and consistency tradition. It is true that The CentOS Brand
b32b45
does connect all the visual manifestations it is present on, but that
b32b45
connection would be stronger if one unique visual style backups it.
b32b45
In fact, whatever thing you do to strength the visual connection among
b32b45
The CentOS Project visual manifestations would be very good in favor
b32b45
of The CentOS Project recognition.
b32b45
b32b45
Obviously, having just one visual style in all visual manifestations
b32b45
for eternity would be a very boring thing and would give the idea of a
b32b45
visually dead project. So, there is no problem on creating a brand new
b32b45
visual style for each new major release of The CentOS Distribution, in
b32b45
order to refresh The CentOS Distribution visual style; the problem
b32b45
itself is in not propagating the brand new visual style created for
b32b45
the new release of The CentOS Distribution to all other visual
b32b45
manifestations The CentOS Project is made of, in a way The CentOS
b32b45
Project could be recognized no matter what visual manifestation be in
b32b45
front of us. Such lack of uniformity is what introduces the visual
b32b45
contradition we are precisely trying to solve by mean of themes
b32b45
production in the CentOS Artwork Repository.
b32b45
b32b45
@subheading Usage
b32b45
b32b45
The @file{trunk/Identity} directory structure organizes most files
b32b45
used to build and implement The CentOS Project Corporate Identity. In
b32b45
that sake, the following work lines are available:
b32b45
b32b45
@table @strong
b32b45
b32b45
@item Brushes
b32b45
b32b45
This work line provides brushes for GIMP. When you prepare the
b32b45
repository, brushes in this location are made available immediatly for
b32b45
you to use in the ``Brushes'' panel of GIMP.
b32b45
b32b45
@xref{Directories trunk Identity Brushes}, for more
b32b45
information.
b32b45
b32b45
@item Fonts
b32b45
b32b45
This work line provides the typography information required by all
b32b45
different visual manifestations of The CentOS Project. When you
b32b45
prepare the repository, fonts in this location are made available
b32b45
immediatly for you to use in GIMP and Inkscape.
b32b45
b32b45
@xref{Directories trunk Identity Fonts}, for more information.
b32b45
b32b45
@item Images
b32b45
b32b45
This work line provides output location for final images that don't
b32b45
need to use background images (e.g., brands, icons, illustrations,
b32b45
etc.).
b32b45
b32b45
@xref{Directories trunk Identity Images}, for more information.
b32b45
b32b45
@item Models
b32b45
b32b45
This work line provides design models for final images that don't need
b32b45
to use background images (e.g., brands, icons, illustrations, etc.).
b32b45
b32b45
@xref{Directories trunk Identity Models}, for more information.
b32b45
b32b45
@item Palettes 
b32b45
b32b45
This work line provides palettes of colors for GIMP and Inkscape. When
b32b45
you prepare the repository, palettes of colors in this location are
b32b45
made available immediatly for you to use in the ``Palettes'' panel of
b32b45
GIMP and Inkscape.
b32b45
b32b45
@xref{Directories trunk Identity Palettes}, for more information.
b32b45
b32b45
@item Patterns
b32b45
b32b45
This work line provides patterns for GIMP. When you prepare the
b32b45
repository, patterns in this location are made available immediatly
b32b45
for you to use in the ``Patterns'' panel of GIMP.
b32b45
b32b45
@xref{Directories trunk Identity Patterns}, for more information.
b32b45
b32b45
@item Themes
b32b45
b32b45
This work line provides theme design models and theme artistic motifs
b32b45
for The CentOS Project. If you are interested in creating brand new
b32b45
visual styles for The CentOS Project this is the place for you.
b32b45
b32b45
@xref{Directories trunk Identity Images Themes}, for more information.
b32b45
b32b45
@item Webenv
b32b45
b32b45
This work line provides the HTML/XHTML and CSS standard definitions
b32b45
used by The CentOS Web visual manifestation. If you are a web
b32b45
developer and plan to improve The CentOS Web visual manifestation,
b32b45
then the files in this location may result very useful to you.
b32b45
b32b45
@xref{Directories trunk Identity Webenv}, for more information.
b32b45
@end table
b32b45
b32b45
@subheading See also
b32b45
b32b45
See @url{http://en.wikipedia.org/Corporate_identity} (and related
b32b45
links), for general information on Corporate Identity. 
b32b45
b32b45
Specially useful has been, and still is, the book @emph{Corporate
b32b45
Identity} by Wally Olins (1989). This book provides many of the
b32b45
conceptual ideas we've used as base to build The CentOS Artwork
b32b45
Repository.