Branding in the fediverse raises considerations about how to effectively communicate the identity and values of the decentralized network while preserving its diverse and inclusive nature.
Purpose of Branding: Branding serves different purposes for different organizations within the Fediverse. It is a way to assert control and ownership over the platform/network, but it can also be used to communicate identity and values to people and potential adopters.
Instance Branding vs. Project Branding: Shifting the focus from project branding to instance branding give’s more control to the communities using and running the instances. This decentralized approach allows for customization and fosters inclusivity within the Fediverse.
Impact of Strong Branding: Strong branding by developers and platforms overshadows the diversity of instances and communities within the Fediverse. It limits collaboration and customization, threatening decentralization.
Scale of Branding: Branding is used at different scales within the Fediverse, from single instances to suppliers of federated services. While branding can facilitate onboarding and accessibility, it may also pose a threat to decentralization if single entities gain domanating influence over the network.
Balancing Accessibility and Freedom: Visual identities play a crucial role in guiding new people to the Fediverse and communicating its values. However, a strong branding presence may inadvertently restrict the freedom of expression of instances and communities. It’s important to balance accessibility and freedom when designing branding solutions.
Community Acceptance: New branding solutions should be organically accepted by the majority of communities within the Fediverse. The current logo’s are tolerated because they communicate an idea without imposing a single identity or viewpoint. Any new branding should aim to achieve the same balance to gain “native” community acceptance.
This was sparked off by a good thread on Mastodon