Thunderbird: Free Your Inbox

#Thunderbird family: Thank you for the wealth of feedback about our redesigned logo. We listened to it, appreciated it, and took some action.

Your loudest criticism was that our beloved bird looked a bit evil or sinister (LEFT, version 7).

So, in this subtly improved version (RIGHT, version 7.5), we've rotated the eye and tweaked the gradient under the beak to look less harsh.

We think this results in a calmer expression, making the bird look less predatory and more protective.

Jun 2, 2023 at 8:55amWeb
Show thread🇬🇧Daron BrewoodJun 2, 2023
@thunderbird I rather liked the more aggressive look :)
Looking forward to it rolling out on the production build….
Show thread@reiver ⊼ (Charles) Jun 3, 2023

@t3kk @thunderbird

Same. I also prefer the more aggressive version.

Show threadanyone_yun  Jun 2, 2023
@thunderbird It looks very good!
Show threadJason Robinson 🐍 🍻 🚴Jun 2, 2023
@[email protected] Great logo. And nothing wrong with looking like you're about to rip an Outlook to shreds.
Show threadJon HicksJun 2, 2023
@thunderbird Something's gone very awry with that forewing highlight 😲
Show threadJungle George 🌴🌳🌲🍃Jun 2, 2023
@thunderbird I like both versions, looking forward to the new icon and look releasing
Show threadPaul Wilde  :dontpanic_nobg:Jun 2, 2023
@thunderbird The only way to tell if it's less sinister now is to see it in the Street Fighter/Mortal Kombat Vs. Firefox view I think...
Show threadScandinavian ⁂ ArchitectJun 2, 2023
@thunderbird nice upgrade. Maybe the shape of the eye could be a little rounder to come even closer to desired feeling.

I think this shape make it looks like the bird frowns and, therefore, looks a little angrier ^^
Show threadragectlJun 2, 2023
@thunderbird I didn't mind the earlier version, but looking again the pink colour seems an odd choice against the blue.
Show threadThunderbird: Free Your InboxJun 2, 2023
@ragectl Take a refreshed look -- we updated the image because something got lost between the PDF and posting it here (ended up a very "hard" pink instead of a subtle gradient)
Show threadragectlJun 2, 2023
@thunderbird thanks, looks much better with the correct image
Show threadTuncayJun 2, 2023
@thunderbird I noticed the changes right away. :-) I also never thought about the meaning of the logo. After all, there is a deeper meaning that the bird protects my mails. Wow, that just "blue" my mind.
Show threadIan McLeanJun 2, 2023
@thunderbird You're my boy, Blue!
Show threadTillJun 2, 2023
@thunderbird Actually, I found the fierce look of the protective Thunderbird very reassuring.
In the first version, I saw a fierce protector. Now I see a falling bird, helplessly clinging to my mail...
Show threadSamuelJohnsonJun 2, 2023
@thunderbird Better but I preferred the original.
Show threadlecroix74Jun 2, 2023
@thunderbird this feels much better. now...just issue it already
Show threadMohammad  🇮🇷Jun 2, 2023
@thunderbird
Sooo, can anyone tell me which one is less evil? 
Show threadDucoJun 2, 2023
@thunderbird I like the improvement. Good job 👍
Show threadThomas Frans 🇺🇦Jun 2, 2023
@thunderbird I like the new logo, but to me the right one looks annoyed. I think the eye gives it that look. I think the expression of the bird in the old logo was a bit better.
Show threadHunnyPunsJun 2, 2023
@thunderbird Lovin' the new look!
Show threadMerikeJun 2, 2023
@thunderbird To me the detailless white eye looks intuitively blind. Matter of taste but feels like a simplification gone too far.
Show threadJackJun 2, 2023
@thunderbird Your new logo looks really good
Show threadGetting Some RestJun 2, 2023

@thunderbird

All I see is some creature with a huge mouth devouring my mail. What is it meant to be?

Show threadRaygan Kelly Jun 2, 2023
@thunderbird @donmelton lol now he look sad 😢
Show threadPeteJun 2, 2023
@thunderbird For as much as I hate what I get in my email account, I didn't mind the first design. The new one is fine too.
Show threadJ.V.B.Jun 2, 2023
@thunderbird The envelope doesn't look like a square envelope because it cuts off in the middle of nowhere. It can't get cut off because of the background and the blue "feather" part in the foreground has a bunch of empty blue background space between it and the envelope.
The flap also still makes it look like a clock especially for the android adaptive icon which this doesn't address. If someone who doesn't know what thunderbird is saw the android adaptive icon they would think it"s a clock app
Show threadTom MarshallJun 2, 2023
@thunderbird I've only just spotted the speech bubble 😄 It is a speech bubble, right?
Show threadTâi Siáu-káu 台痟狗 ㄊㄇㄉ 🇳🇫 台灣國Jun 2, 2023
@thunderbird
Still "sinister," IMHO. 🤔
Show threadteamtuckJun 2, 2023
@thunderbird People complained about this?!?! Glad you guys are listening to suggestions but that seems super silly lol.
Show threadRogueJun 2, 2023
@teamtuck People don't like change lol. @obsidian just did a re-brand, which I think is better but more importantly was to avoid copyright issues, and there's a lot of people upset about the change trying to find ways to revert it lol
Show threadR. L. Dane  Jun 2, 2023

@roguefoam @teamtuck @obsidian

I only notice it when seeing them side-by-side.

The second image *does* look a bit more benign, but the angle of the eye is out of alignment with the other lines in the logo.

By itself, I don't think v7.0 looks sinister, just a bit more intense. ;)

Show threadThunderbird: Free Your InboxJun 3, 2023

@roguefoam @teamtuck @obsidian Another perspective: the logo has gone largely unchanged since 2004. We recognize that possibly millions of Thunderbird users have spent more time with it than they've had the same job, or the same relationship.

It sounds silly, but people get attached. I think the criticism that arose from the change comes from a place of passion for the brand. And that's pretty cool.

Show threadteamtuckJun 3, 2023
@thunderbird @roguefoam @obsidian I think the way I read your post was that people were angry because the "thunderbird" looked mad/angry, not because the logo changed. Change is not always a bad thing so I commend you guys for updating the logo; I think it looks great! Keep up the good work. I think the Mac app has been a fantastic alternative to Outlook.
Show threadXorOwlJun 3, 2023
@thunderbird still can't unsee the bird eating the mail whole, but i'm not sure that's a bad thing either.
Show threadcameronbosch Jun 3, 2023
@thunderbird I kind of like the predatory nature of a bird of prey. Kind of like a FOSS killing proprietary app look! 😂
Show threadactivivanJun 11, 2023
@thunderbird I think the new logo looks great! Still, I think there is something to improve. The pastel color palette of the new logo does not really harmonise with the bold one of Firefox. The logo also feels comparably flat, even though it uses additional shadow. Furthermore, the corners are way rounder and do not give the sharp feeling of the Firefox logo. To showcase the harmony and same heritage of Thunderbird and Firefox, the two logos should be similar regarding basic design principles.