[OSM-talk] [Design] Banners on the Front Page

[Martijn van Exel]

Hi,

On 03/23/2013 11:21 AM, Rob Nickerson wrote:
> Hi All,
>
> I saw the request for a banner [1] and replied via email as I am not
> on the design mailing list. For transparency here is my reply:
>
> === start ===
> There is a wider issue (and  don't mean to be a spoil sport) that
> local events using the SotM "brand" could lead to a weakening of the
> main SotM. I cannot think of any big conferences that allow their
> brand to be used almost identically for local events. The exception
> that comes to my mind is TEDx events [2] but they have a clear
> communication that they are independent.

We have been doing this for a number of years now, with SOTM EU, US, 
Scotland - and I think it has been working really well, actually.

FOSS4G is another conference closer to our field that has local events 
that share the same name, with success.
>
> Now for OSM (given the crowd-source structure) you could say that the
> main SotM is independent too, with other people suggesting main SotM
> is becoming less relevant. Either way, I think some clearer
> communication would be useful.

Who is suggesting that the main SOTM is becoming less relevant? What are 
their arguments?

What do you suggest we make clearer? SOTM US (an event I am helping to 
organize) profiles itself clearly as a conference targeted primarily at 
the U.S. This does not mean that we do not welcome participation from 
abroad - quite the contrary - but we don't aim to be the global 
community conference that SOTM is, and in my view, will continue to be.

[..]

>
> Now before this turns into an argument about my use of the word
> "brand", I would like to add that I am all for local OSM groups. Also
> I think Richard's idea is a great one. Particularly the idea to "use
> GeoIP etc. to find what country the user is from. Serve the message
> for that country." Adding to that, can I suggest that if no local
> banner is found then my suggestion of a generic "attend an event"
> banner be explored.

I like that idea too, but that's something to follow up on on design@

-- 
Martijn van Exel