Overheard on Twitter via @DanGayle: " I actually kinda like the Digg logo. Very NON-web 2.0"

Sure, but the Digg logo is more like Web 1.0, when designers were first discovering GIF optimization and pixels.

Needs polish, but:

BTW, I don't get why we can't use existing fonts (I used Franklin); most logos start with fonts. But if "you" really like the idea I can make it from scratch.

hhp

Please don't accept JPG files... the artifacts are horrid for typography, and the compression algorithm it offers is unnecessary for the subject matter.

"stretch" your type muscles?
flex! :)

Reasons to like the current logo:

1. Boxy appearance makes it work very effectively if you think of "text as user interface", i.e., a call to action button. In fact, I would say that Digg does a poor job of capitalizing on that fact by NOT using the logo on the myriad "Digg this" buttons on the interwebs.
2. There are no shadows, gradients, reflections, swooshes, spheres, whitsits or whatsits
3. The logo reproduces well on ALL mediums, works as a single color, and works positive or reversed
4. The overt technical connotations of the bitmap-esque letterforms are appropriate to the concept of "repository of web resources"

What they should replace is that stupid icon of the dude with a shovel, which is barely recognizable even at large scale.

@Jeff Peppers: edited. :)

@Jared Benson: Thanks for updating the format requirements ;)

Used Fontstruct to keep the squarish quality intact. This is Hexagen.

This might as well serve as my introduction. Hi there.

high five,
Joe

Actually looking at my finished solution my i is to fat, FAIL. hahaha

"Because Digg is all about sharing and discovery,
there’s a conversation that happens around the content."

hhp

You want pixels?

Or maybe a shovel head instead of that triangle.

hhp

ChrisL

don't like it -- Flag it :)

Here is your shovel @hrant

digg deeper

My first entry in Typophile!

Very nice, Sulekha! (...maybe not appropriate for the task, but a gorgeous composition on its own!)

Laugh out loud. Perfect.

Sulekha: Could we please have a separate thread about that luscious thing?

Darrel: Good one! The only cool thing about the Bing logo is its use of the Koch "g", which is -rightly- getting more airtime lately.

Bruno Bruno: Thanks - I can dig it. :-)

hhp

Don't have Fontlab to adjust anything, so my Illustrator rough will have to do:

I always kinda liked their logotype. Love the hipster, constructivist feel.

ChrisL

ChrisL

If only I could somehow work in a likeness of Sammy Davis, Jr.

Just a quick sketch. Trying to keep the blocky feeling of the current logo.

So many great designs!
@Sulekha: beautiful!
@Chris, I know you've heard this before, but that gg ligature is just adorable.
@Hrant, you have some great concepts there.

Yours,
Måns

I like where you're going with that, eliason

If you're enjoying this topic, please digg it up!

The icon represents a man with a shovel, huh? For some reason, I immediately thought of a man next to a letter box.

Actually, a man with a prosthetic jackhammer.

hhp

Man with an oversized stapler :-)

ChrisL

Here's another effort at making the existing square design less clunky:

Looks at the legs... them being different... is it supposed to signify something ? :-)

like this... but more aggressive

Nice.
Put a notch in the "d" too - at the top of the bowl-stem join.

hhp

Wow - Nicely done, Jared!

a bolder version of my earlier one:

this is my entry. i may try some variations on this; but for now. this is it. done in fontstruct, or course :)

here is a variation :)

It's as literal as it gets:

-

BTW, Always great to see new challenges. Thanks.

…
-=®=

@ Mans …

Somehow I see that as an animated gif logo :o)

@ JL …

hilarious.

@ dezcom

You can never go wrong with a gg lig. :o)

-=®=-

@ Bruno Bruno …

very clever.
So far, your first one is my favourite - But Sammy Davis Junior is right on your heals.

-=®=-

Mark: I see what you did there, very smart! :o)

For shits and giggles.

Trying not quite as hard as my first entry, and better for it I think:

Perhaps something a little less gridded.

I want to work on a double g ligature for this but I can't figure out a way to without it just looking plain odd with these letterforms.

Not exactly a marvel of type design per se, but it is amazeingly simple :-)

@apankrat that pun alone should make you win

Used Cocon with some adaptations…

. . .
Bert Vanderveen BNO

knight's my favorite too :)

--

"Good taste is almost as hard to come by as good design."

I like Craig's first one a lot.

And why is the man with shovel holding it upside-down?

Wow, some good stuff. I love Bruno Bruno's first! And Mark's, with the curly-quote.

Take #2

Craig, that is much better.

ChrisL

The thumbs-up icon is kind of appealing. Working with that and an Ed Benguiat flavoured script g might be interesting.

Felicity, try a single head with two tails.

hhp

My first version was a bit rushed. Here's another take:

@Mark Simonson: This one's much better, indeed.

This is awesome! I've shared this battle with the design team at Digg :) Keep it up, stoked to see all of the entries!

Mark, curving the "g" descenders was actually important.
They're too much like "9"s now.

hhp

You're right. I thought the the same thing right after I posted it, but didn't have time to deal with it. Here's another take:

When you dig, you extract stuff:

hhp

Someone please tell me this type battle wasn't a cover for Digg getting a free logo...

Bert, yours is clever!

Funk_king's remind me of Dig Dug.

And why is the man with shovel holding it upside-down?

Methinks his designer has never actually held a dirty shovel!

Ben, of course if Digg ends up using anything [close to] one of
these, proper credit -and a generous gift- would be in order.

hhp

Sketch I did this afternoon. Any takers for a cleaner version?

. . .
Bert Vanderveen BNO

Ben, I think digg guys are quite capable of designing the logo themselves :-) Not that they actually need or want to mess with their existing identity in the first place.

Gotta be lowercase, Bert!

Just messin' about during my lunch hour.
Somewhat inspired by Knight's design.

Alex, there's always room for improvement.
Especially in this case.

hhp

I don't think Digg would have such talent in-house as the designers on this forum have. Craig and Mark's are exceptional designs IMO. I was worried they were being invited do spec work under the guise of a Type Battle. Call me cynical ;)

@DanGayle
What they should replace is that stupid icon of the dude with a shovel, which is barely recognizable even at large scale.
Yes, Dan. And why a dude? Isn't it time a woman had a turn?
With inspiration from FF Ginger Icons, Velinge and the parentheses of Diavlo, I have cobbled together a female digger. No gradients, drop shadows or bevels for her! Just some unfortunate harem pants that she kept from 1986.

I never thought the name had much to do with shovels, but with being enthusiastic about something (as in hipster lingo), and talking about it.

A couple more variations, taking the punctuation theme further:

I can digg it, Mark :-)

ChrisL

@mark
I like your second one there, with the curly d and the perspective i. Very cool.

Mark, that last one with the person* in there is very nice.

* Could even be a girl, with that skirt. :-)

hhp

Way to go, Mark!

Girl? I thought that was an exclamdown. :-)
Agreed, great stuff.

Lc revision.

. . .
Bert Vanderveen BNO

Mark, I might still try an upright "d" but with no counter (not sure about having a foot or not), because the double-quotes mean something but an extra single quote seems extraneous.

hhp

Rockin' the dotless i.