In all the excitement, buzz and coverage that Windows Phone 7 has been receiving over the past few months one thing has struck me, the lack of an icon for Windows Phone. Yes, the below image is the official image used by Microsoft for Windows Phone and I like the idea that even mobiles running 6.5 are branded as a Windows Phone just like ones running Windows Phone OS 7. However the problem lies in that the icon used, not the text, looks too much like the Windows logo. In fact I am sure more people up on seeing the logo will think it Windows for the PC and that it has nothing to do with mobile devices.
People may argue that the icon also needs to feature the text “Windows Phone” which clearly shows that its referring to a mobile device. The problem still exists that people will see “Windows” and think of the PC and not a mobile device. Microsoft have been very keen to point out that Windows Phone 7 is not just a small PC so they should steer away from this. I think the name is too long to be quickly identified as a unique product.
Then there are some people who would like Microsoft to change the name completely, after all this does have nothing to do with the version of Windows we all use on our PCs. Its not like the Xbox is called Windows TV.
Yet, I actually like the name Windows Phone, it should integrate so well with Windows Live that I see the need for Windows to remain in the name but I don’t see it meaning Windows on the desktop. That’s possibly something that will be missed by most consumers but it makes sense to me.
I think all Windows Phone really needs is a more identifiable logo, yes it can still feature the text “Windows Phone” but I think it needs a single icon that people can immediately associate with the mobile devices. If we look at Android, it has the green robot that many people know what it means. Some have even come to love, or hate, that green robot, but the fact it conveys a message so easily is good for Google and its mobile strategy. Apple don’t really have an icon for the iPhone but in fact iPhone is the logo. I fear Windows Phone is too long to be used in a similar way.
I started thinking about how the Windows Phone icon could look. Should is feature the Windows logo? Should it feature a phone? Should it be inspired by the Metro user interface? There were many questions I thought about for the icon. Here are some of the designs I quickly came up with.
I tried to keep as few colours in the icon as possible to allow for any colours to be used, in a similar way to how the Windows Phone icon is used at the moment. The last two designs are my attempt at a Metro-like icon, possibly not great for Windows Mobile, but then how long will that OS be on the market after the launch of Windows Phone 7? My other designs tried to combine a phone with the Windows logo, I’m not sure they work all that well.
What do you think about these designs? Do you think Windows Phone should have a more identifiable, obvious icon/logo?
