We propose the symbol ⁂ to represent the fediverse.

We propose the symbol ⁂ to represent the fediverse.

…

⁂ is called an asterism. In astronomy, it refers to groups of stars in the sky, akin to constellations. We suggest that it’s a very fitting symbol for the fediverse, a galaxy of interconnected spaces which is decentralised and has an astronomically-themed name. It represents several stars coming together, connecting but each their own, without a centre.

…

@ is the symbol for e-mail. # is the symbol for hashtags. ☮ is the symbol for peace. ♻ is the symbol for recycling. ⁂ can be the symbol for the fediverse. ⁂ is standardised as Unicode U+2042, making it ready to copy and insert anywhere.

Git Repository: fediverse-symbol/fediverse-symbol

  • m-p{3}@lemmy.caEnglish
    5·
    7 months ago

    I’d rather see the current Fediverse logo added to Unicode than reuse an existing symbol. It’s not impossible, considering that the Bitcoin symbol (₿) ended up making it.

      • aasatru@kbin.earth
        2·
        7 months ago

        I kind of like the idea of just using pentagon. ⛥

        Close enough to the current logo in appearance, scales well, not used by other social media, satanic undertones.

      • chiisana@lemmy.chiisana.netEnglish
        0·
        7 months ago

        Emojis used zero width joiner to combine multiple single code point emoji to a single combined emoji.

        ⛥ + ZWJ + ⬠ could form the combined character, and be rendered as desired.

  • Hal-5700X@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    2·
    7 months ago

    It looks like a bunch of snowflakes, making it very representative.

    EDIT Why change something that isn’t broken?

  • Handles@leminal.spaceEnglish
    2·
    7 months ago

    Whoever decided that a logo should be standardised as Unicode? That is the worst criterion for picking a symbol that has and will have hundreds of other uses than inline text. If it’s so important — work to have the current, pentacle fediverse symbol included in Unicode.

    Registering a domain to introduce your dumb idea with a lot of empty bravado leaves you with … an annual bill and a dumb idea. The pentacle symbol is so much more recognisable.

  • Tippon@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
    2·
    7 months ago

    Am I misunderstanding this - you want to replace a recognised symbol with a symbol that’s already being used by another group? That seems counterproductive at best.

    I’m also wondering, have you spoken to anyone with poor eyesight? This is my reply to a comment below suggesting that the new symbol would be easier to read:

    I’m reading this thread on mobile, and the fediverse logo next to the community name is much easier to see than the three stars. If I didn’t already know what the three stars were from the rest of the post, I wouldn’t have a clue what they were supposed to be in the body. They look like a blurry capital A. Obviously the fediverse logo is bigger there, which helps, but it’s not significantly bigger, and would still be clearer at a smaller size

    • Jerkface (any/all)@lemmy.caEnglish
      1·
      7 months ago

      It’s not being used by another group to represent themselves. It’s a technical symbol like degrees or pi. This idea is similar to how the semicolon is being re-used as a symbol for a group of people. Nothing is being stolen from anyone.

      • Tippon@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
        0·
        7 months ago

        I didn’t say that it was being used to represent anyone, or that it was being stolen, I said that it was already in use. To use your examples, I’d think that using Pi or the degree symbol to represent the fediverse would be a bad idea too, as they could also lead to confusion. The semicolon is punctuation, so there’s less chance of confusion with that.

        If an astronomy group made a poster with the three stars, would the stars be representing star clusters, or advertising that they’re on the fediverse? Given that the fediverse is still relatively small, is there more chance of the stars being seen as an astronomical symbol?

  • dudenas@lemmy.mlEnglish
    1·
    7 months ago

    Isn’t there one already widely adopted? The rainbow mesh pentagon? Why rebranding?

    • max@lemmy.blahaj.zoneEnglish
      0·
      7 months ago

      is said in webpage: the pentagram symbol is hard to distinguish at smaller typographicl sizes

      • Tippon@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
        1·
        7 months ago

        I’m reading this thread on mobile, and the fediverse logo next to the community name is much easier to see than the three stars. If I didn’t already know what the three stars were from the rest of the post, I wouldn’t have a clue what they were supposed to be in the body. They look like a blurry capital A.

        Obviously the fediverse logo is bigger there, which helps, but it’s not significantly bigger, and would still be clearer at a smaller size

    • citrusface@lemmy.worldEnglish
      01·
      7 months ago

      my friend, please read the article. it does a great job of explaining the why. it only takes a minute to read.

  • astro_ray@piefed.socialEnglish
    1·
    7 months ago

    Do we need to address the typographical issues for the existing symbol? I am not using that symbol every time I talk about fedi. Fedi accounts are identified as @username@instance, so there’s no need to use some obscure unicode.

    • aasatru@kbin.earth
      2·
      7 months ago

      And in white, for the dark mode folks:

      ⁂

      But it’s hardly a fair comparison, especially because it seems I cannot upload SVG files to Mbin. I also didn’t make the lines thinner or any other adjustments that might be a good idea at this scale. Still, might be better than noting.

    • cron@feddit.orgEnglish
      1·
      7 months ago

      At least on my screen and font size, the three asterisks are way too small to be recognizeable as a logo.