On one hand, bitter cynical me wants to shake my head and congratulate Mozilla for wasting money on a character who will inevitably join Fivey Fox six feet under. On the other hand: it's not LLMs,...
On one hand, bitter cynical me wants to shake my head and congratulate Mozilla for wasting money on a character who will inevitably join Fivey Fox six feet under.
On the other hand: it's not LLMs, advertising, surveillance capitalism, or anything else nearly as dystopian as what Mozilla typically churns out these days. So good job? At least they made something cute with our donation money!
I think it's quite cute and not a waste of money. Companies and non-profits alike need to constantly refresh themselves and advertise and attract new audiences. Mozilla really is only known among...
I think it's quite cute and not a waste of money. Companies and non-profits alike need to constantly refresh themselves and advertise and attract new audiences.
Mozilla really is only known among Xennials and elder Millennials. Gen Z and Alpha don't know much about Mozilla. "Mozilla Firefox" probably sounds to them like "Netscape Navigator" sounds like to older folks: the browser for mom and dad.
I'm not the best judge of what's trendy with my gen z peers, but I can say that a lot of my friends have switched to firefox. Of course, I'm friends with a bunch of nerds, so take it as you will.
Mozilla really is only known among Xennials and elder Millennials. Gen Z and Alpha don't know much about Mozilla. "Mozilla Firefox" probably sounds to them like "Netscape Navigator" sounds like to older folks: the browser for mom and dad.
I'm not the best judge of what's trendy with my gen z peers, but I can say that a lot of my friends have switched to firefox. Of course, I'm friends with a bunch of nerds, so take it as you will.
Most Millennials I know now just think I'm nerdy with computers (which I kinda am) when I say I use Firefox... they know what it is but it didn't come preinstalled so they don't bother. I'm GenX...
Mozilla really is only known among Xennials and elder Millennials. Gen Z and Alpha don't know much about Mozilla. "Mozilla Firefox" probably sounds to them like "Netscape Navigator" sounds like to older folks: the browser for mom and dad.
Most Millennials I know now just think I'm nerdy with computers (which I kinda am) when I say I use Firefox... they know what it is but it didn't come preinstalled so they don't bother. I'm GenX and have been using FF since AOL took over Netscape (which I used before, since I have always avoided using Windows' browsers).
I think you're right about demographics. But, I look forward to the inevitable return to earth as people learn more about Google. Chrome will not be the king forever.
I think you're right about demographics. But, I look forward to the inevitable return to earth as people learn more about Google. Chrome will not be the king forever.
Wow, so how is the browser funded? The browser is the only product of theirs I use, I'd have hoped I could donate to them and directly support it. Does anything change if the donation comes from...
Wow, so how is the browser funded? The browser is the only product of theirs I use, I'd have hoped I could donate to them and directly support it. Does anything change if the donation comes from outside the US?
By Mozilla Corporation’s business dealing. Subscribers to the VPN, etc. but mainly because Google pays them $300m a year to be the default search engine. No. Mozilla Foundation (the non-profit...
By Mozilla Corporation’s business dealing. Subscribers to the VPN, etc. but mainly because Google pays them $300m a year to be the default search engine.
Does anything change if the donation comes from outside the US?
No. Mozilla Foundation (the non-profit that accepts donations) cannot move money to Mozilla Corporation (that does the development work on Firefox), no matter the country of origin.
To support the browser, subscribing or buying something that Mozilla sells is the best way.
I think it's because the entity that solicits donations is the non-profit Mozilla Foundation. However, the entity that develops and maintains Firefox is Mozilla Corporation, is for-profit. The...
I think it's because the entity that solicits donations is the non-profit Mozilla Foundation. However, the entity that develops and maintains Firefox is Mozilla Corporation, is for-profit. The Foundation wholly owns the Corporation, but there are likely tax-related laws that stops a non-profit from funneling tax-free donations into a for-profit, even if it owns that for-profit.
If you look at Mozilla Foundation's website, you'll see that the branding is completely different from the Corporation site. Even the site text itself talks more about lofty goals of technology for good, community, etc, as opposed to specific talk about developing the browser.
Kit is adorable and I love them. Honestly I think we need more cute mascots like Kit. Right now, literally all design and branding is just too cold and sterile. Overly sleek and minimalist logos,...
Kit is adorable and I love them.
Honestly I think we need more cute mascots like Kit. Right now, literally all design and branding is just too cold and sterile. Overly sleek and minimalist logos, corporate architecture that rely heavily on neutral color palettes... Everything is blending together in the worst ways, it feels like even all the corporations are losing any individual identity. I've been saying for a while now the world needs more color because going outside can honestly be kinda depressing with how droll everything is. A rise of cute mascots would be a nice step away from the current cold landscape of corporate design.
You know what, I was thinking "what is a non-profit like Mozilla doing making a cute animated mascot, it seems like a bit of a waste of effort" until I read your response, and you've brought me...
You know what, I was thinking "what is a non-profit like Mozilla doing making a cute animated mascot, it seems like a bit of a waste of effort" until I read your response, and you've brought me round on it. I completely agree about the minimalist corporate dystopia and the worth of bucking that trend!
Strong agree. I increasingly vet companies based on whether or not there is literally anything human about their branding. You'd be surprised how often companies fail that incredibly low bar!
Strong agree. I increasingly vet companies based on whether or not there is literally anything human about their branding. You'd be surprised how often companies fail that incredibly low bar!
Somehow your comment reminds me of the article: Why do AI comapny logos look like buttholes?. And also by the same author: Why do so many brands change their logos and look like everyone else?....
That first post was on my mind when writing the comment since it was reposted so recently, so makes sense. I've had this general thought for a while though. Really came to the forefront when I...
That first post was on my mind when writing the comment since it was reposted so recently, so makes sense. I've had this general thought for a while though. Really came to the forefront when I watched Austin Powers for the first time recently, the opening scene jn the 60's showed such a colorful world compared to even the "present" of the early 2000's. Everything just feels increasingly drab and utilitarian, and I feel like that's impacting people's psyches on a massive scale.
It's hard for me to pin down, but everything feels more optimized in some indescribable way that lacks the internet of my childhood's whimsy. I guess I should say, perceived whimsy, through the...
It's hard for me to pin down, but everything feels more optimized in some indescribable way that lacks the internet of my childhood's whimsy. I guess I should say, perceived whimsy, through the eyes of a young pepperjackson
I went in wanting to be curmudgeonly, but Kit is honestly very cute, and I kind of loved how they tipped their hat to user debates on fox vs. red panda. It's a nice little way to show how they...
I went in wanting to be curmudgeonly, but Kit is honestly very cute, and I kind of loved how they tipped their hat to user debates on fox vs. red panda. It's a nice little way to show how they listen to their users.
I wonder if the the Internet will give Kit the Fivey Fox treatment (non-paywall Wayback Machine link) Cute lil guy, though. I was always surprised that Firefox hadn't played more into having a...
Cute lil guy, though. I was always surprised that Firefox hadn't played more into having a little mascot. They kinda did with the red panda, but felt like not as much as they could've.
Sadly I suspect Kit is cute enough that this will happen. Rule 34, after all. I'd love to see a thunderbird mascot that isn't terrifying. But isn't Thunderbird totally separate from Mozilla now?
Sadly I suspect Kit is cute enough that this will happen. Rule 34, after all.
I'd love to see a thunderbird mascot that isn't terrifying. But isn't Thunderbird totally separate from Mozilla now?
I actually didn't know that! It looks like the Mozilla Foundation (not Mozilla Corp) still owns the subsidiary that runs Thunderbird. So not involved with Mozilla Corp, but still within the larger...
I haven't used Thunderbird in a long, long time. Got introduced to it in the mid-00s, but once the company moved to an Exchanged-hosted email, went to Outlook. And these days, I just webmail for everything, both personal and work.
Edit: I initially misread your comment to say "we did something with AI". :D I'll leave this quote here anyway, in case someone wants a quick recap. I wasn't sure how to feel about this at first...
Edit: I initially misread your comment to say "we did something with AI". :D I'll leave this quote here anyway, in case someone wants a quick recap.
I wasn't sure how to feel about this at first but now I think it's nice that someone is doing something in an attempt to educate people on how human artists do things and the value they provide. (It's also sad that this isn't just everyone's normal MO, but here we are.)
To bring Kit to life, we partnered with creative agency JKR and illustrator Marco Palmieri. We chose JKR because they’ve helped iconic character brands evolve for modern audiences, and we needed collaborators who could build a companion with range – not just a mascot.
Marco helped shape Kit’s personality through the kind of craft that only comes from drawing characters for a living. He started the way he always does: with a pencil. “I tend to stay away from the computer at the beginning,” he said. “I want as few obstacles as possible between me and what I’m trying to see.”
From there, the work moved into Illustrator, where Kit could be refined through many rounds of iteration.
On one hand, bitter cynical me wants to shake my head and congratulate Mozilla for wasting money on a character who will inevitably join Fivey Fox six feet under.
On the other hand: it's not LLMs, advertising, surveillance capitalism, or anything else nearly as dystopian as what Mozilla typically churns out these days. So good job? At least they made something cute with our donation money!
I think it's quite cute and not a waste of money. Companies and non-profits alike need to constantly refresh themselves and advertise and attract new audiences.
Mozilla really is only known among Xennials and elder Millennials. Gen Z and Alpha don't know much about Mozilla. "Mozilla Firefox" probably sounds to them like "Netscape Navigator" sounds like to older folks: the browser for mom and dad.
I'm not the best judge of what's trendy with my gen z peers, but I can say that a lot of my friends have switched to firefox. Of course, I'm friends with a bunch of nerds, so take it as you will.
Young millennial and I’ve been a Firefox stan for a long time.
Most Millennials I know now just think I'm nerdy with computers (which I kinda am) when I say I use Firefox... they know what it is but it didn't come preinstalled so they don't bother. I'm GenX and have been using FF since AOL took over Netscape (which I used before, since I have always avoided using Windows' browsers).
I think you're right about demographics. But, I look forward to the inevitable return to earth as people learn more about Google. Chrome will not be the king forever.
Yea we said that about Windows too.
I would prefer it not take till I'm on my deathbed.
Circles of control, though, right?
They can't spend your donation money on anything related to the browser anyhow. It would be illegal under federal tax codes.
Wow, so how is the browser funded? The browser is the only product of theirs I use, I'd have hoped I could donate to them and directly support it. Does anything change if the donation comes from outside the US?
Google funds Firefox, AFAIK it is one reason google doesn't look like a monopoly ready to be split up to whatever level of USA-law is concerned.
By Mozilla Corporation’s business dealing. Subscribers to the VPN, etc. but mainly because Google pays them $300m a year to be the default search engine.
No. Mozilla Foundation (the non-profit that accepts donations) cannot move money to Mozilla Corporation (that does the development work on Firefox), no matter the country of origin.
To support the browser, subscribing or buying something that Mozilla sells is the best way.
Can you explain please or point to some explanation?
And why they can spend money on mascot but not on browser itself?
I think it's because the entity that solicits donations is the non-profit Mozilla Foundation. However, the entity that develops and maintains Firefox is Mozilla Corporation, is for-profit. The Foundation wholly owns the Corporation, but there are likely tax-related laws that stops a non-profit from funneling tax-free donations into a for-profit, even if it owns that for-profit.
If you look at Mozilla Foundation's website, you'll see that the branding is completely different from the Corporation site. Even the site text itself talks more about lofty goals of technology for good, community, etc, as opposed to specific talk about developing the browser.
I presume the mascot counts as part of "anything related to the browser" in this context.
Kit is adorable and I love them.
Honestly I think we need more cute mascots like Kit. Right now, literally all design and branding is just too cold and sterile. Overly sleek and minimalist logos, corporate architecture that rely heavily on neutral color palettes... Everything is blending together in the worst ways, it feels like even all the corporations are losing any individual identity. I've been saying for a while now the world needs more color because going outside can honestly be kinda depressing with how droll everything is. A rise of cute mascots would be a nice step away from the current cold landscape of corporate design.
You know what, I was thinking "what is a non-profit like Mozilla doing making a cute animated mascot, it seems like a bit of a waste of effort" until I read your response, and you've brought me round on it. I completely agree about the minimalist corporate dystopia and the worth of bucking that trend!
Strong agree. I increasingly vet companies based on whether or not there is literally anything human about their branding. You'd be surprised how often companies fail that incredibly low bar!
Somehow your comment reminds me of the article: Why do AI comapny logos look like buttholes?. And also by the same author: Why do so many brands change their logos and look like everyone else?. The wasteland of interesting logos dropped for a sans serif font is just so sad.
That first post was on my mind when writing the comment since it was reposted so recently, so makes sense. I've had this general thought for a while though. Really came to the forefront when I watched Austin Powers for the first time recently, the opening scene jn the 60's showed such a colorful world compared to even the "present" of the early 2000's. Everything just feels increasingly drab and utilitarian, and I feel like that's impacting people's psyches on a massive scale.
It's hard for me to pin down, but everything feels more optimized in some indescribable way that lacks the internet of my childhood's whimsy. I guess I should say, perceived whimsy, through the eyes of a young pepperjackson
I went in wanting to be curmudgeonly, but Kit is honestly very cute, and I kind of loved how they tipped their hat to user debates on fox vs. red panda. It's a nice little way to show how they listen to their users.
I wonder if the the Internet will give Kit the Fivey Fox treatment (non-paywall Wayback Machine link)
Cute lil guy, though. I was always surprised that Firefox hadn't played more into having a little mascot. They kinda did with the red panda, but felt like not as much as they could've.
Now they gotta do one for Thunderbird!
Sadly I suspect Kit is cute enough that this will happen. Rule 34, after all.
I'd love to see a thunderbird mascot that isn't terrifying. But isn't Thunderbird totally separate from Mozilla now?
I actually didn't know that! It looks like the Mozilla Foundation (not Mozilla Corp) still owns the subsidiary that runs Thunderbird. So not involved with Mozilla Corp, but still within the larger Mozilla umbrella.
I haven't used Thunderbird in a long, long time. Got introduced to it in the mid-00s, but once the company moved to an Exchanged-hosted email, went to Outlook. And these days, I just webmail for everything, both personal and work.
It's a sneaky fox. Eating your cookies and playing your Internet videos.
The introduced the mascot back in November, I wonder why they're only posting about it now
Edit: I initially misread your comment to say "we did something with AI". :D I'll leave this quote here anyway, in case someone wants a quick recap.
I wasn't sure how to feel about this at first but now I think it's nice that someone is doing something in an attempt to educate people on how human artists do things and the value they provide. (It's also sad that this isn't just everyone's normal MO, but here we are.)