Re: Linux Magazine Guadec ad

[Andreas Nilsson <nisses mail home se>]

Claus Schwarm wrote:
> Hi, Andres!
>
> On Fri, 27 Apr 2007 10:51:13 +0200
> Andreas Nilsson <nisses mail home se> wrote:
>
>   
> > Hi all!
> > Here is the ad we're going to print in Linux Magazine.
> > http://andreasn.se/diverse/temp/guadec2007-lm-poster.pdf
> > Feedback is welcome! [...]
> >     
>
> This is a rather flat design when compared to what you do usually. Is
> there going to be some more changes? Very cool nevertheless.
>   
Hi Claus!
Thanks for the feedback. Your text great.
(it's on http://live.gnome.org/ClausSchwarm in case someone missed that)

We're going with the same style as the Guadec leaflets we did for Fosdem 
[1]. Using a flatter style than our interfaces and web graphics because 
we're going to print this, and being on safe side, that means no 
gradients and shadows.
I also wanted to portray the energy and fun coming from Guadec.
There is also a web-banner [2] in the works that we hopefully can put up 
soon.

> Some points maybe worth mentioning:
>
> First, the headline is a good start. However, it generates no real
> value: Nobody is is going to travel large distances *just* to find out
> about GNOME's future. An brief artiticle in a magazine does the job,
> too, and bears no travel expenses. Additionally, if nobody's going
> to listen to your opinion, would you *really* bother?
>
>   
A small sidenote...
What's the 1000 euros thing?
> Second, the text misses an opportunity to make some advertising for
> GNOME. Additionally, it excludes potential visitors, namely
> those who wouldn't consider themselves "GNOME community members" yet.
> Also, it adds nothing new. Readers are usually not *that* clueless.
> They don't need an explanation that the answer to a rhetorical
> question is the advertised conference. In fact, they are not that
> interested at all.
>
> Third, as a page in the Linux magazine, the text will be read by a
> rather broad audience I guess. Thus, only a minority of their readers
> will recognize the names of the keynote speakers. And names
> present no benefit. Thus -- unless there's space to include the topics
> of the keynotes --, I suggest to drop the names completely.
>   
Interesting point. Need to think this over though.
> Forth, I'd center the date and place to give it more prominence.
>
> Fifth, you didn't forget the action item. Good. Unfortunately, due to
> the color people will probably place it close to the upper paragraph and
> miss them. Insert black text in between or use a different color.
>
> Sixth, what about a conference fee? If it's free to attend, we should
> say so. I remember some problems about this in the past. If not, we
> should say so, too.
>   
Good point.
What is the fee this year?

1. http://andreasn.se/diverse/temp/guadec2007-leaflet-a5.pdf
2. http://andreasn.se/diverse/temp/guadec-splash.png
- Andreas