Design Brief: Ubuntu 11.04 Wallpapers - Digital Illustrations

Problem Statement

The Ubuntu community desires to create a high quality Linux Distribution which appeals to a wide variety of user lifestyles and personal preferences. To aide in meeting this objective a selection of alternate wallpapers is shipped by default which is readily available through the "Appearance Preferences" dialog.

Goal(s)

The goal is to solicit graphic designs in the form of illustrations to be used as wallpapers from the community at large targeted to this release.

Assumptions

• The Unity desktop, classic desktop, and humanity icon themes will be used.
• The collection of classic desktop themes may include themes which are generally described as light and themes which are generally described as dark.

Subject Matter

It is important to note Ubuntu is shipped to users from every part of the globe. Your images should be considerate of this diversity and refrain from the following.

• No brand names or trademarks of any kind.
• No illustrations some may consider inappropriate, offensive, hateful, tortuous, defamatory, slanderous or libelous.
  • No sexually explicit or provocative images.
  • No images of weapons or violence.
  • No alcohol, tobacco, or drug use imagery.
• No designs which promotes bigotry, racism, hatred or harm against groups or individuals; or promotes discrimination based on race, gender, religion, nationality, disability, sexual orientation or age.
• No religious, political, or nationalist imagery.
• No version numbers as some may prefer to continue to use your theme with an older version of Ubuntu.

• No branding assets like "Ubuntu CoF" or text to permit use by derivative distributions.

Composition

• Your image should strive for subtlety and poetry.

• Regardless of the role or inspiration, the desired result of the successful submission will render feelings which may be described as light and bright.

• Avoid high frequency images

  • A soft focus is one way to achieve this
• As the name suggests, visually, it should settle into the "background" of the activity scene.
• Design to accommodate the Unity dock.
• Do not compete for the user's attention

Design Inspiration

  Roles    ( from marketing team )

1. Individuals who are unaware or have limited exposure to Ubuntu
2. Interested individuals who currently use an alternate solution
3. New users to Ubuntu
4. Regular users of Ubuntu
5. Inspired users of Ubuntu

  Desired message to individuals who are unaware or have limited exposure

• Ubuntu is:
  • Entertaining
  • Simple
  • Carefree
  • Steady
  • Handy
  Metaphors and associations:
  • Concert
  • Lever
  • Park bench
  • Rain drops
  • House key

  Desired message to those who currently use an alternate solution

• Ubuntu is:
  • Interesting
  • Uncluttered
  • Safe
  • Quick
  • Helpful
  Metaphors and associations:
  • Street art
  • Stonehenge
  • Fence
  • Marathon runner
  • Flash light

  Desired message to those who are new to Ubuntu

• Ubuntu is:
  • Fun
  • Easy
  • Secure
  • Fast
  • Supportive
  Metaphors and associations:
  • Night Club
  • 1 + 1
  • Padlock
  • Humming bird
  • Family and friends

  Desired message to those who are regular users of Ubuntu

• Ubuntu is:
  • Exciting
  • Intuitive
  • Unworried
  • Speedy
  • Empowering
  Metaphors and associations:
  • Solar Eclipse
  • Stop sign
  • Vault
  • Bow and Arrow
  • Ocean wave

  Desired message to those who are inspired users of Ubuntu

• Ubuntu is:
  • Thrilling
  • Flexible
  • Protected
  • Robust
  • Inspirational
  Metaphors and associations:
  • Hang gliding
  • Gymnast
  • Queen's guard
  • Race car
  • White Clouds - blue sky

Constraints

• The dimensions of successful candidates will be 2560 x 1600 pixels.

  • See Background Guidelines for additional information.

  • Flickr submissions of 1024 x 480 pixels are acceptable for the selection process
• The successful design will be accepted in the Portable Network Graphics ( "png" ) and/or Scalable Vector Graphics ( "svg" ) format.

• Submissions must adhere to the Creative Commons ShareAlike 3.0 license.

• Attribution must be declared if the submission is based on another design.

• Photographic images should be submitted to the Flickr Ubuntu Artwork group.

Links

• Community

  • Canonical Design Team

Workflow

• Post submissions to the Ubuntu Wallpapers - General Illustrations Flickr group.

• The successful candidate will be chosen by members of the Ubuntu community or Canonical Design Team.
  • Submissions will also be available to other communities to be included in their packaging if desired.

• Public comments and suggestions for improvements may be posted to the Artwork Team list ( ubuntu-art@lists.ubuntu.com )

  • Personal comments may be posted directly to the submission on Flickr.

  • All comments should be constructive and adhere to the Ubuntu Code Of Conduct.