[Autocrypt] Logo design considerations

[Daniel Kahn Gillmor]

Thanks for getting the ball rolling, Noah--

On Tue 2017-05-02 08:39:50 -0700, Noah Swartz wrote:

> As far as size and shape, we seemed to agree that something that would
> look good as an icon would be the right level of complexity - but feel
> free to chime in if you disagree.

I've imagined the logo being used on the website or download page for a
MUA, as an indicator of Autocrypt compatibility.

Given that we've got multiple levels of compatibility, it might be nice
if there was a way to distinguish between something that is
"Autocrypt-friendly" (but not itself autocrypt-compliant), "Autocrypt
level 0 compliant", Autocrypt level 1 compliant", etc.

I was also hoping that the icon would be something that a compatible MUA
could use as an icon associated with the section of Autocrypt
preferences, or the checkbox that allows the user to enable or disable
Autocrypt.

Some variant of it might also be displayed in the UI in several places:

 * next to the "encrypt this message" option (or as the icon on a toggle
   button whose tooltip is "encrypt this message") during message
   composition.

 * next to (or as) the "this message was encrypted" status indicator
   when viewing a message.

 * next to any warning or explanation shown when the user manually
   deviates from the Autocrypt recommendation during message
   composition.

 * next to any "show what this message looks like to an eavesdropper" UI
   element.  I don't think we have any demonstration of this yet, but it
   has been suggested by multiple users.

 * next to any "how many of your friends can you Autocrypt with?" UI
   element (this relates to the "gamification" discussion we had at the
   IFF)

> The big question (as posed by dkg) is: 'what do we want the logo to
> communicate?  are there ideas like security or ease-of-use?  or just to
> be distinguishable from other logos?'

The main thing that Autocrypt offers security-wise is usable protection
from passive eavesdroppers.

In the future, it's possible that Autocrypt could offer more protections
as well, though, so i wouldn't want the logo to try to limit itself to
that.

If we're talking about the semantic impact, i'd prefer ideas of
"privacy" or "intimacy" or "confidentiality" over the idea of
"security".  I also want something that doesn't look intimidating or
spook-y.

Lastly, i note that Autocrypt is about e-mail, and e-mail specifically.
if the icon can incorporate visualizations of e-mail, that'd be great.

Any other reflections for visual identity?

   --dkg