Introducing the Adobe AIR Logo
mikechambers November 15th, 2007
If you have been following Adobe AIR during its young lifetime, then you have probably noticed that it has been pretty inconsistent as far as branding goes. It has had a number of logos and graphics associated with it, including the rocket-ship, and the current “AIR” branding.
Part of this was due to the surprisingly complex process of designing and settling on a logo in the technology world. There have been quite a few times during the past year where we felt that we were close to having the final logo, only to then find out that it was just a bit too familiar to some other logo in the computer / internet / tech world.
Well, I am happy to say that we have the final logo. I had the honor of showing it for the first time today, at the Adobe User group meeting in Paris.
I am not going to go into a detailed analysis of what the logo represents, but I do want to point out one of the core concepts behind the logo. Adobe AIR is built on top of three core web technologies (HTML, Flash and PDF), and we wanted the logo to represent this. Thus, each corner of the logo represents one of these core technologies.
We are going to be posting some “Download Adobe AIR” Badges (88 x 33) over the next couple of days in case you want to show your support for AIR. Feel free to build you own (if you do, post them in the comments). Who knows, if there is enough interest, maybe we will have a contest to see who can make the best Adobe AIR badge or desktop wallpaper (post in the comments if you are interested). (I will upload an vector version of the logo shortly).
One last note. Normally, this is the type of information and news that we would post on the main website and not on a weblog. However, we know that the success of Adobe AIR is dependent on developers and the applications and content that they create. As we have learned from Adobe Reader and the Flash Player, content drives adoption. This is why we are posting the logo here first. We wanted the developer community to be the first to see the new logo.
You can find out more information on Adobe AIR on Adobe Labs.
Update : You can download vector versions of the logo here.
I like it! :)
I especially like how it fits with the CS 3 and Photoshop family icons. Er… wait…
I don’t like it! :(
Rocket forever!
Seems like this icon would make a great loading/waiting/spinning cursor :)
I like it (its a keeper).
Although I admit I was attached to the rocket.
Ha ha ha… that’s nice… reminds me of some sort of boomerang or airplane helix…
I was actually wondering how come you guys didn’t bring any stickers last tuesday in Barcelona… now I know why :D
BTW: Great presentation, both of you. I sent the pictures I took to the Adobe User Group guys, but let me know if you’d like me to send them to Lee and/or you (pando, anyone?) ;)
Best regards
[...] Mike Chambers ?????????? ?????????? ???? Adobe AIR. [...]
Reminds me of GameTap, although the device feels like a Frisbee, which makes sense for a product name like it.
Holy cow the first decent logo out of Adobe in a while! Maybe the CEO designed ‘that Photoshop logo’ and he realizes how awful it is and has stepped down :P (little humor for a Thursday).
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I hate to say this .. but it reminds me of a toilet seat. I do see the rationale now that you posted what it was to represent .. but .. and it does seem to break the consistency with recent logos sort of thing.
I have seen worse tho. :)
Any credits to the graphic artist?
Who did it? Which team? Please share!
Mike,
Congrats on finalizing a logo. I feel your pain on the tech logo thing. It took us a good two months of design iterations and then TM clearing to get our logo for blendables (www.blendables.com). I too liked the Rocket first and then just the AIR logo next, but with all new things I’m sure this will grow on me. Key thing is to get some schwag flowing with the logo.
Blog badges are a good first step, but let’s see those developer stickers in the wild for the lappies.
Kurt
Hey Mike - I like it! I was attached to the whole rocket concept when it was going by the code name Apollo - it made total sense. This new logo seems to fit pretty well with the product name AIR. It actually reminds quite a bit of some Nerf products for throwing through the AIR which appeals to me on a couple different levels. Its got the Adobe red, reminds me of the Adobe logo, and a bit of Acrobat, and the whole three prongs coming from a central area. I’ve seen some other critical comments, but it works for me. :)
First off, it is very different from the traditional “F” logo. And I only think the logo is useful if they plan to keep that shape as a symbol. If they change it in the next version - then it’s uber-stupid.
That said, I am a bit corny. But I kind of want to see an “Earth, Wind, Fire, Water” them.
Adobe AIR = Wind, take the object and make it look like it’s windy.
As for the other’s, I haven’t completely worked them out. *lol*
Flash = Fire or it could equal Water (Flash Flood).
Flex = Water (fluid, flexible, etc)
ColdFusion = Water (cold fusion, heavy water, etc) or perhaps Earth.
But I guess we should all just be grateful that Adobe AIR did not get named “Flair”. :P
This would be a good loader graphic while an AIR app is loading.. it could be animated with a cartoon visual of air rushing through the hole in the middle.
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I like it - just wish you guys would have stuck with “Apollo” :-/
Cheers,
Davo
[...] es el nuevo Logo Oficial de Adobe Air (antes conocido como Apollo), según Mike Chambers, Gerente Principal de Producción de Adobe [...]
[...] Chambers just released the new AIR logo into the wild. It’s interesting to see the new direction in logos that Adobe is taking. They [...]
So it’s really going to be the Adobe Adobe Integrated Runtime? Could be worse, I guess, I’ve seen it referred to as Adobe AIR Runtime (Adobe Adobe Integrated Runtime Runtime).
I like the logo. Vaguely reminiscent of the Acrobat trefoil so it has a fundamental platform-ness to it.
I see the Acrobat logo influence.
Bring the rocket back. It still makes more sense, and added a little fun, which Adobe has lost sense of lately with the new periodic table logos. Not everything has to be serious to a fault. AIR lets you make some great applications and this logo just doesn’t cut it. Some people are just willing to take whatever logo is thrown at them. (us, not you Mike) Why Web2.0 all logos? It’s a phase in logos, and we’ll al get tired of it too soon.
The rocket was nice, and made sense for Apollo, but still makes sense for AIR. Standing by my thoughts, which mean nothing, but feels good to voice them.
Dee
[...] Mike Chambers as announced the new AIR logo, I love the look, and I believe the inspiration is the top of a oxygen tank knob. [...]
Looks great. However, the real question is… when can I get a new logo sticker to put on my laptop? :)
I like it but I don’t like the donut hole in the middle. It should be filled like a filled donut and topped with chocolate icing and sprinkles… hmm… maybe i need to go eat something. ignore this comment :P
[...] de Adobe AIR a mi gusto esta muy simple demasiado genérico, pero según la explicación que dio Mike Chambers sobre la nueva identidad es que representa la esencia misma de lo que Adobe AIR es, es decir la [...]
Hey Mike, I was wondering if maybe you could shed some light on just exactly what the PDF portion of things entails. PDF generation is one thing that is essential in a lot of the development I am doing. I am toying AlivePDF tool at the moment, but an officially supported PDF library would give me way more peace of mind. The ability to simply embed a PDF surely wouldn’t be considered a core technology, so I am curious to know what the plans are here.
This is a huge thing for me, and will be the deciding factor on whether I choose AIR over XULRunner for multiplatform development, at least for the next few projects of mine coming up.
Thanks :)
I dig it. It’s so simple.
thanks for this afternoon and this logo mike !
kev.
I like this a lot - I think this logo works very well for AIR. However, I’m puzzled about something. Why does a company which, from a marketing communications perspective, made the integration of Adobe and Macromedia messaging look so effortless and consistent - now serve up 2 logos - a fantastic one like this and an embarrassingly horrible dog like the new Photoshop logo? Is consistency in Adobe’s communication strategy coming off the rails?
I really like it a lot. But when I first saw it, it made me say “Oh!”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WazA77xcf0A ;)
Why is there a big hole in the middle of your icon … I hope there is not a big hole in the product …
I agree, it does look like a Nerf Frisbee. But it’s cool, I like it.
[...] Chambers präsentiert das offizielle und finale Logo zum AIR 1.0 auf seinem Blog. Nach dem Pfeil in Form einer Rakete (damals noch unter Apollo bekannt) und dem simplen AIR [...]
Mike kudos. I like it. When I saw it on Ben Fortas’ blog it instantly reminded me of helicopter blades which related to “air” and reading your explanation just makes it more solid as an icon for this technology.
The rocket ship was cool but maybe I have gotten use to the fact that over the years with macromedia software using letters for their icons that it wasn’t “all that” but definitely like this logo alot.
super!!!
The rocket was indeed kick-butt and I will miss it, but this logo is fine too. :-)
Adobe Air is based on HTML (understand that), Flash (that’s obvious) and PDF (huh?).
Mike, could you clarify this, because to me it sounds more “marketing strategy” than merit. What on earth has PDF got to do with AIR?
Thanks,
= Dirk
[...] I’m sure you’ve already seen and read many blogs now (link, link, etc), Adobe AIR has a new [...]
[...] Mike Chambers introduced today the new Adobe AIR logo. [...]
Great logo Adobe! As a design professional who has created logos for many different companies, I am impressed. Most people do not understand what is involved in creating a logo AND how much time it takes if it is done correctly. It is not just drawing the final graphic - that is the easy part. It is the market research involved in determining the target audience the logo is to speak to, how the design can effectively communicate the essence of the product or service - and then finally, the execution.
Designing effective logos requires a design firm with specific skill sets. Creating an effective logo is much more complicated than designing a brochure, annual report or a website - and in general, takes many more hours. Throw in the fact that AIR is a technology people are not familiar with - and it makes it an even bigger challenge. How do you best communicate in a simplistic manner what the product does, and at the same time - make it appealing, memorable, pass the test of time and easily recognizable.
I think the design team behind this logo did an excellent job. The logo communicates the integration of the 3 technologies - and looks like it could float on AIR - great way for the general public to remember the name!
Kudos Adobe!
Not a bad logo I guess, but it doesn’t exactly excite me really. Which is a shame, as AIR is an exciting platform and Adobe as a company are so closely associated with the creative industries, I would have thought you could do better really. Mind you, look at the recent re-branding of the creative suite products.
But having been through the logo design process a fair few times myself, I know how difficult it can be. For someone working within an organisation such as yours, I feel for you. Having to balance all those competing concerns must be extremely trying. I’d guess you’re also tied down quite heavily within corporate guidelines also.
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Hehe if u understood the idea u will forget that cool rocket logo
Great work Adobe
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Dont like it, is too simple…
Hey Mike, sounds good the logo and I loved, Well as you said I’ve adapted to Brazil and created our new support and mine support to get AIR as good enough in Brazil.
Here’s the modificiation
http://br.groups.yahoo.com/group/air-brasil/
Regards
I like it a lot.
Although it looks a little like a conference call hub or a frisbee. I like it a lot better than the rocket. Well done.
Looks like a hub from Moonbase Commander (http://images.rottentomatoes.com/images/games/coverg/16/635316.jpg). And as I’m sure you already know, in a Hub vs. Rocket situation…the rocket should win.
The video in PARIS for the new AIR logo
http://www.inwayvideo.com/adobeairlogo
Nice concept =)
Adobe AIR New Logo
?Mike Chambers?????Adobe ?????????AIR Logo?
??Mike Chambers??????AIR ?????????HTML, Flash ? PDF???????Logo???????????
??????
Popularit…
[...] is apparently addressing this, and debuted a logo. As announced at Mike Chambers’ blog here (which includes a link to download a vector version), it looks as [...]
I like it, and I’m very interested in seeing how it relates and fits in with the other product logos.
And btw, I think the hole in the middle is for us to fill in with great content and usage of AIR! :-)
[...] ???http://www.mikechambers.com/blog/2007/11/15/introducing-the-adobe-air-logo/ [...]
Somehow to simple. I also prefer the rocket propelled grenade. And I also like the periodic table icons of the new CS products … looks very scientific …. many more things should have a more scientific design IMHO!
[...] Mike Chambers just unveiled the new logo for Adobe AIR. This is the final logo and we tried to incorporate a lot of what AIR is into it. As Mike says: Adobe AIR is built on top of three core web technologies (HTML, Flash and PDF), and we wanted the logo to represent this. Thus, each corner of the logo represents one of these core technologies. [...]
Hi Mike,
Although I like the general idea behind the logo there are two things about it that get me thinking:
1. It’s to far off from the more recently adopted product logos from Adobe. AIR would not be the only to “suffer” from this deviation (Acrobat, Connect, the Flash Player are also good examples). In my opinion this kind of breaks the “family of products” idea that has been central to Adobe marketing. Everything seems highly related;
2. The gradient darkens towards the lower right of the logo making that point seem longer. So, in the holistic perception experience, the first impression I got was that of a down pointing arrow and that stirred mixed feelings about how to interpret it. This not the kind of thing you’ll want from a logo.
That said, I’ve also struggled a lot of times to find good logos for companies and products and its definitely not easy!
I kind of like the whole idea behind the “runic” approach to product logos that was started with the MX line. It conveyed the idea of being elements of a language that could be orchestrated to express great sensory experiences. So, I liked the AIR logo a lot more, or maybe a deviation in the two letter direction, something like AR which, in turn, means air in portuguese… :)
[...] comenta Mike Chambers en su blog , este logo representa las tres tecnologías sobre las que se sustena AIR; HTML, FLASH/FLEX y PDF. [...]
I would like to thank Mike and Lee to have made the effort
to visit us in Paris and give two very interesting, and full of humour,
sessions about AIR: what for an exciting technology!
I hope you have been able to reach Geneva, despite the strong strikes in trains we are facing these days
in France.
Philippe
[...] Mike Chambers, Adobe AIR-Produktmanager, stellt in seinem Blog das neue, offizielle Adobe AIR Logo vor. Nachdem das Team im letzten Jahr viele Vorschläge aufgrund von Ähnlichkeiten zu bestehenden Marken wieder vom Tisch räumen musste, liegt nun endlich das finale Logo vor. [...]
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Je le trouve sympa et tellement mieux que l’horrible logo de la famille Photoshop !
[...] Et voila que l’histoire ce répète encore, comme pour le logo de photoshop, le nouveau logo de AIR na rien avoir avec les autres logos de la gamme ADOBE, pour plus d’information je vous invite à lire le billet fait par Mike Chambers [...]
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[...] logo to represent this. Thus, each corner of the logo represents one of these core technologies. Mike Chambers [...]
Beautiful work! I think it’s perfect.
As someone else pointed out: “I believe it sums pretty much Adobe AIR: ‘three unrelated technologies that briefly touch each other and leave a big hole in the middle’… way to go”
Very true.
Adobe Air Logo. Definitivo.
¿Qué os parece?
Yo: Es bonito. Aunque creo que es muy corporativo, muy Adobe…
Yo: Ya, pero el tema es que es un producto de Adobe.
Yo: el cohete me gustaba…
…
This is a laugh. Seriously this looks like a lobe pump gear! This logo looks like a creation by a Zen Buddist who used to work in particulate distribution systems and liked the shape! lol (Yet, I like it also… in spite of the lobe look!)
[...] noticed the posting over at Mike Chambers blog. Adobe has released a new (and I hope final) version of the AIR [...]
I like it! In regards to what Mike Chambers explained, it suits the Technology it represents.
Its here to stay.
[...] AIR Logo November 16, 2007 — Clint Modien Mike Chambers » Blog Archive » Introducing the Adobe AIR Logo: Adobe AIR 1.0 Logo Posted in [...]
Nice look, pretty sleek. Simple and recognizable even when scaled down to a 32×32 icon. :) Congrats!
1st thought: “plane propeller” - right away made the connection to “air”
Worked for me!
[...] Mike Chambers whips it out. Not impressed, I really miss the rocket and the whole “apollo” name early on. Share This [...]
Yesterday i couldn’t sleep, i think i am in love…loved this logo ;)
So i made this little application, it’s just for fun :
If you couldn’t download tell me i will re upload on other server
http://rapidshare.com/files/70297028/AIRMania.air
The Escape Trick:
( Escape key never ment to be the “End” key )
:D
Yesterday i couldn’t sleep, i think i am in love…loved this logo ;)
So i made this little application, it’s just for fun :
If you couldn’t download tell me i will re upload on other server
http://rapidshare.com/files/70297028/AIRMania.air
The Escape Trick:
( Escape key never meant to be the “End” key )
Sorry Mike, I couldn’t help myself. :-)
http://blog.everythingflex.com/2007/11/17/air-polycom-soundstation/
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At least amatecha gets it. This logo will scale nicely … recognizable at super small, medium, and friggin’ billboard size - just like a logo should. I did click around to find the new Photoshop logo …. that’s a joke, right? As others have noted - the PS logo is … horrific. This one though, I like. Very nice.
As someone from http://blog.everythingflex.com/2007/11/17/air-polycom-soundstation/ pointed out:
“A very disturbing resemblance with the logo… http://www.astrojax.com/”
The Photoshop logo looks like the PBS logo, as numerous people pointed out from John Nack’s blog.
The commonality seems to be a hole in the logos … There are two things that come to mind in regards to that:
1. The products are incomplete.
2. CS3/4 is like a child’s peg board and the logos fit into place, as in fit together.
Neither really speaks well of the products on their own.
… The concept reminds me of the Adobe Extension Manager logo - same alignment and pieces fitting together. Except the new one has a hole where everything is combined … hmmm.
“I believe it sums pretty much Adobe AIR: ‘three unrelated technologies that briefly touch each other and leave a big hole in the middle’”
Sorry, but that really did make me lol.
…the most important part about naming it Adobe Air is that it is in fact floating in air…Drop Shadow anyone?
Mike,
I feel like Odders… Since the first day of Apollo/AIR you say that it is build on 3 core web techno and PDF is one of them. Until today I didn’t see anything about considering PDF as a core technology in AIR ! (just Acrobat plugin call from html component). If the logo confirm the slogan, may be there is some hope to have more about PDF integration in the final release than what we have today !!!
Hey Mike!
I loved the new logo so much, I put together some wallpapers in Photoshop vectors (I know guys, I can hear you already). There are a ton to check out on Flickr, and you can download all the sources here. Enjoy and let me know if you make some of your own!
P.S. Be sure to read the text file to know what you’re getting.
I quite like the new logo. The rocket wasn’t that great:)
Mesh
Does this mean we’ll finally see those laptop stickers in the mail real soon? I’ve been waiting for mine forever.
Act soon, or I may be forced (gasp!) to put a Silverlight sticker in the space that I’m reserving for the Adobe AIR one!
[...] is the look and logo for Adobe Air as discovered over at Mike Chambers blog - introducing the Adobe Air Logo. I personally think the logo is great. Clean, simple and easy to recognise.Mike says “I am not [...]
[...] via:[mikechambers ] [...]
It favors the Fantasy Interactive logo quite a bit, except it has a hole in the middle. Visit http://www.fantasy-interactive.com to see what I’m talking about.
No charge for this observation. ;-)
So someone took four shots at a triangle.
Three close shaves and one bull’s eye.
Aah, just had to let in some fresh AIR…
Really dont like it. Sorry Mike. So - maby later in next time….
couldn’t be better, great work
nope, don’t like it. Especially those Microsoft like tm and © stuff in the logo.
Hi, very intresting information for me)))))). I completely, completely agree. I read the article with pleasure.
Thank you admin of this site for interesting and useful information.))))
I like the logo, nice work! But I don’t understand what AIR is for, especially since Flex is out. You already have Flex, Flash, Widgets and Gadgets. They all can do similar things. And Flash content can be integrated into Widgets and Gadgets.
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Mr. Chambers,
I like the logo as well, but it looks almost identical to the one I have been using for my corporation, Ternion Design Group, Inc., for over 4 years. I am curious who I would contact concerning this. Could you please send me an e-mail with contact information.
Kind Regards,
John Petersen
Ternion Design Group, Inc.
john@solution3x.com
The rocket was nice, and made sense for Apollo, but still makes sense for AIR. Standing by my thoughts, which mean nothing, but feels good to voice them.
I did like the rocket, it was a lot more stylized and I was able to identify with it immediately…but there is one problem…it is, in essence…a red rocket
Perfect, it looks like a valve handle - I’m guessing this was intentional. Also, if the handle were allowed to rotate, it would turn counterclockwise (”lefty loosie”), which would open the valve and release the AIR. Though, Adobe ‘Adobe Integrated Runtime’ seems a bit a bit redundant.
Very nice logo. simple and creative!
I don’t like it. Rocket the best!
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