Why on earth did they leave the apple logo off the front ??

[familychoice]

Sounds like you are in your own bubble. People who design products for the home know to put logos where people can't see them.

Yet as I look around the room I'm in now (checks out computer gear, printers, hifi, monitors, speakers, desktops, laptops (Apple), music gear etc.), walk into the kitchen (massive logo on the Smeg fridge, microwave, oven, kettle etc.), the living room (HiFi, Xbox, TV etc.)...every single piece of computer or electrical equipment has the company logo right smack bang on the front of the device. Every, single, one.

So if I'm in a bubble, then it seems about 50 major companies are in there with me.

It's hard to believe that you spent a significant amount of time in branding. Because it sounds like your concept of branding revolves around logos.

I didn't say that though, did I. You can't dismiss 30 odd years of experience just because I commented on a hidden logo.

A computer on your desk is obviously your computer. You don't need a logo on a toilet or a shower either. You realize that Crate and Barrel and The Pottery Barn don't slap the logo on all their products? Do you consider that a bad move?

So you're comparing Apple's move to hide their logo from the front of their new computer, to furniture and toilet manufacturers that have done the same? Well there's a novel idea!

 

[kmj2318]

So you're comparing Apple's move to hide their logo from the front of their new computer, to furniture and toilet manufacturers? Well there's a novel idea!

It's really not. It's a product that is meant to exist in homes.

I'm giving actual reasons why a designer would choose to do this. It's not hard to understand. You are acting like there's absolutely no logic to it. Apple said themselves that they want to make a product that fit into homes. I give examples of home goods, and you act like it's absurd. Imagine thinking that it's ridiculous for a computer design could be inspired by other designs.

I don't know if you are genuinely perplexed about the design decision (because it's pretty obvious design) or if you are just feigning confusion because you simply don't like it.

Apple intentionally went a different way than typical consumer tech, so it really means nothing when you reference a TV and an Xbox. The fact that major companies agree to spam my space with their logos is only evidence that they are branding that way. Not that they are making pro-consumer designs. I have handmade, luxury, and custom made products in my home that have no logos. So what is the 50 major companies evidence of? That they hire people in branding to make decisions I wouldn't make if I was designing something for myself? As I've said before, logos exist for the brand, not the user.

You are unable to contend with the notion I put forth about furniture and toilets. They are not that different from computers.

 

[familychoice]

I give examples of home goods, and you act like it's absurd. Imagine thinking that it's ridiculous for a computer design could be inspired by other designs.

I simply replied that the electrical items in my house that I can see - computers, TV’s, hifi, cooker, fridge (which you picked as an example of an unbranded product - yet ours has more prominent branding than anything else), musical equipment, speakers, monitor, games consoles etc., in my house, all have the name/logo of the maker prominently displayed, almost always, on the front. I fail to see how my response is ‘absurd’.

I don't know if you are genuinely perplexed about the design decision (because it's pretty obvious design) or if you are just feigning confusion because you simply don't like it.

I’m not perplexed, or confused about anything. As I’ve said, I just think it’s a weird thing to do. It’s no big deal as I probably won’t buy one anyway.

You are unable to contend with the notion I put forth about furniture and toilets. They are not that different from computers.

.....!

 

[dspdoc]

At first I was appalled by it. Strangely it is growing on me, and well, seemingly it was on purpose to be "less distracting". Was it a good move...? We shall see in time I suppose. At this point Apple is committed to it, so I expect to see it across more of their lineup soon.

 

[kmj2318]

I simply replied that the electrical items in my house that I can see - computers, TV’s, hifi, cooker, fridge (which you picked as an example of an unbranded product - yet ours has more prominent branding than anything else), musical equipment, speakers, monitor, games consoles etc., in my house, all have the name/logo of the maker prominently displayed, almost always, on the front. I fail to see how my response is ‘absurd’.


I’m not perplexed, or confused about anything. As I’ve said, I just think it’s a weird thing to do. It’s no big deal as I probably won’t buy one anyway.


.....!

I think the issue is that you see electrical items as different than home goods. You are a rules-based thinker, ie, to state what I'm interpreting from you: "all these other electrical gadget have logos, so it's weird that this one doesn't". A toilet, couch, and stove are all pieces of technology. They are built from earth materials, placed in people's homes, to achieve some goal. You are narrowly focused on categories to make your point.

"fridge (which you picked as an example of an unbranded product" I was referring to high end ones that you see in custom homes and magazines. I didn't say your response is absurd, I said you act as if my response is absurd. See "and you act like it's absurd". Shown with ".....!".

I am explaining why this direction makes sense. You want to place things into boxes, by giving examples of other consumer tech, implying that some rules must exist. Listing a bunch of stuff that have logos is still not evidence that this is a flawed design. You are unable to contend with the idea that the design of a computer can be related to the design of toilet, it's shocking. Where do you think designs come from? Does god give the rules to us? Because that's the end point of this type of ideal forms argument. There are countless products that are inspired by designs from other categories. Is it ".....!" for a design of a shoe to be compared to an abstract sculpture? I can imagine you saying "shoe designs can't be inspired or compared to designs from other categories, only other shoe designs". Creative people look elsewhere for new ideas. Do people in branding just look at what other products in the same category are doing and make rules from there? I can see how you are purposefully not responding to talking about furniture, toilets, and computers together because your rules-based framework will fall apart.

Again, my point is that it seems like Apple is trying to achieve a look that works with homes. When I state that most items in homes have no logos, you come back to suggest that all the home products with no logos are irrelevant, and only the tech gadgets are relevant. This rules based framework means that the right design is the one that best exemplifies the category, for example, tech gadgets have logos front and center, so if a tech gadget doesn't, it misses the mark of what a tech gadget is supposed to be.

Why is it that toilets and couches don't have logos? And why is it fine that they don't? why doesnt it feel like something is missing when they have blank spaces? I imagine if they did have logos and someone produced ones without logos, people would react the same way, and use categorizations to rationalize why it simply makes them feel strange to see something different than what they're used to.

 

[za9ra22]

I think the issue ...

I think at least part of the issue is that in my experience, designers at almost all levels have a somewhat pre-determined idea of what the item/product/language should be, and adapting isn't easy, because it's a matter of their own experience and visualization.

I saw this many years ago particularly in the desktop publishing business, where page design is a very personal skill, and even the best had a tendency to invoke their own 'layout' language because that was how they saw the business of communicating effectively.

I've read a whole lot of arguments to and fro about the new iMacs, and personally, I don't get what the problem is, simply because the logo missing off the front not only makes no difference to me, but it is what the product will look like. Designers gave it thought, and decided not to put it there. That's fine by me, because I don't care in the slightest, and I would better understand the 'yes but it has always been there on the front' argument if that was actually true.

But it isn't. As has been pointed out, there have been plenty of Apple products without the logo on the front over the years, and indeed, I'm working on one now. Two in fact, since I've been setting up a Mac mini in the office today, so the absent logo-thing is nothing new at all.

Clearly though, telling some folk that there's reason they shouldn't care doesn't stop them caring. They can, and perhaps should, use the feedback link to tell Apple what they think, and hope the next model is changed as a result.

Assuming that the young Jony Ive had a few ideas knocked back in his earlier career, it makes me interested to see what this person's visualization of a new iMac might be, bearing in mind the corporate design language it seems to conform to.

 

[familychoice]

I am explaining why this direction makes sense. You want to place things into boxes, by giving examples of other consumer tech, implying that some rules must exist. Listing a bunch of stuff that have logos is still not evidence that this is a flawed design. You are unable to contend with the idea that the design of a computer can be related to the design of toilet, it's shocking. Where do you think designs come from? Does god give the rules to us? Because that's the end point of this type of ideal forms argument. There are countless products that are inspired by designs from other categories. Is it ".....!" for a design of a shoe to be compared to an abstract sculpture? I can imagine you saying "shoe designs can't be inspired or compared to designs from other categories, only other shoe designs". Creative people look elsewhere for new ideas. Do people in branding just look at what other products in the same category are doing and make rules from there? I can see how you are purposefully not responding to talking about furniture, toilets, and computers together because your rules-based framework will fall apart.

You seem to be ’imagining’ a lot of things that I haven’t said, and making a lot of assumptions about my apparent ‘narrow’ approach to design.

I think the design looks weird, for the simple reason that most computer and electrical items usually have a logo on the front, and that there’s a big blank space available where it could go. If it didn’t have a big blank ‘chin’, it wouldn’t have crossed my mind.

That’s all. It’s a simple statement of opinion in a thread about the missing logo, on a forum discussing the iMac.

I was on the fence - new iMac vs Mini, but after watching the unboxing video it’s confirmed the new design isn’t for me.

 

[familychoice]

Assuming that the young Jony Ive had a few ideas knocked back in his earlier career, it makes me interested to see what this person's visualization of a new iMac might be, bearing in mind the corporate design language it seems to conform to.

Not sure if that was aimed at me, but I'll add my ten pence worth anyway

Personally I would have made the device thicker, so the internal gubbins could be located behind the screen, thus allowing for a narrower bezel.

If that was a technical no-go, and the chin had to stay, I would have added a descrete logo, and provided a grey/silver option with a black bezel similar to the current 27" iMac for the non-funky gloomsters like me.

The current version looks fabulous from the back, like an iPad from the side, but from the front - where 90% of people are going to see it (including how it'll be displayed at point of sale in Apple's own stores), it looks a bit (in my opinion) ugly.

By having two options to choose from, the funky colours and white bezel will attract new, cool customers who like that sort of thing, but there'll also be a more traditional looking option for people who don't.

It'll be interesting to see/hear reactions from folks when they actually get to see one - maybe they'll look better in 'real life', but after watching the 'unboxing' vid today, I'm less inclined to buy one than I was before. I'd go so far as to say it looked absolutely hideous in yellow. But again, that's just my personal opinion.

 

[kmj2318]

I think the design looks weird, for the simple reason that most computer and electrical items usually have a logo on the front,

I'm not imagining things. This is a categorization framework. Apple said they wanted to make something that fits in with homes. I gave examples of home products that maybe Apple was shooting for. When I did, you react with "that's nove!l" and "....!", because I'm making cross-category comparisons (which is not novel by any means). You keep coming back to the category that the iMac belongs to. This approach is narrow. Not neccissarily bad, because it means that mistakes are rarer and it's a safer approach to design.

If I was to design something that would fit in a room like this, I would be more focused on how the couch, carpet, and decorations look instead of trying to adhere to the to the category. I know it's novel to draw inspiration from other categories, no one has ever done it before.

It's just a different framework. Calling the decision daft with your reason being that similar products tend to do it one way ignores all the successful designs that did something in a different way.

 

[4sallypat]

....
Personally I would have made the device thicker, so the internal gubbins could be located behind the screen, thus allowing for a narrower bezel.

If that was a technical no-go, and the chin had to stay, I would have added a descrete logo, and provided a grey/silver option with a black bezel similar to the current 27" iMac for the non-funky gloomsters like me.

The current version looks fabulous from the back, like an iPad from the side, but from the front - where 90% of people are going to see it (including how it'll be displayed at point of sale in Apple's own stores), it looks a bit (in my opinion) ugly.

By having two options to choose from, the funky colours and white bezel will attract new, cool customers who like that sort of thing, but there'll also be a more traditional looking option for people who don't.

It'll be interesting to see/hear reactions from folks when they actually get to see one - maybe they'll look better in 'real life', but after watching the 'unboxing' vid today, I'm less inclined to buy one than I was before. I'd go so far as to say it looked absolutely hideous in yellow. But again, that's just my personal opinion.

Watching the unboxing videos just uploaded, I'd say Apple made the bold move to have the new iMac look like a work of art in TV form.

The thin 11mm squared off edge design without the stand almost makes me want to mount to a wall like my big screen TV !

I'd imagine, working from a color matching, Apple Magic keyboard & mouse wirelessly while the iMac is hung on a wall without a single logo / emblem / model name showing....

Here's my favorite video showing off the colors:

 

[familychoice]

I'm not imagining things.

You said:

I can imagine you saying "shoe designs can't be inspired or compared to designs from other categories, only other shoe designs".

Calling the decision daft with your reason being that similar products tend to do it one way ignores all the successful designs that did something in a different way.

Apple can afford to take chances like this. Most companies aren't in such an enviable position.

But still, they have to keep their shareholders and accountants happy like everyone else, so it'll be interesting to see if this is continued when it's next updated, and whether applying (non) branding techniques, such as those found in general household items such as toilets and sofa's is a better way to go.

 

[familychoice]

Watching the unboxing videos just uploaded, I'd say Apple made the bold move to have the new iMac look like a work of art in TV form.

I'm sure it'll be a big hit with lots of funky, cool people.

Just not for me.

 

[4sallypat]

I'm sure it'll be a big hit with lots of funky, cool people.

Just not for me.

Look - color matched Apple logo stickers for your colored iMac:

 

[familychoice]

Look - color matched Apple logo stickers for your colored iMac:
View attachment 1776655

I hate it even more lol

 

[za9ra22]

Not sure if that was aimed at me, but I'll add my ten pence worth anyway

Personally I would have made the device thicker, so the internal gubbins could be located behind the screen, thus allowing for a narrower bezel.

If that was a technical no-go, and the chin had to stay, I would have added a descrete logo, and provided a grey/silver option with a black bezel similar to the current 27" iMac for the non-funky gloomsters like me.

The current version looks fabulous from the back, like an iPad from the side, but from the front - where 90% of people are going to see it (including how it'll be displayed at point of sale in Apple's own stores), it looks a bit (in my opinion) ugly.

By having two options to choose from, the funky colours and white bezel will attract new, cool customers who like that sort of thing, but there'll also be a more traditional looking option for people who don't.

It'll be interesting to see/hear reactions from folks when they actually get to see one - maybe they'll look better in 'real life', but after watching the 'unboxing' vid today, I'm less inclined to buy one than I was before. I'd go so far as to say it looked absolutely hideous in yellow. But again, that's just my personal opinion.

Yes, it was aimed at you, and I appreciate the observations and thoughts. While we get what Apple have given us, it actually does help to have a coherent vision of an alternative.

What I found interesting in one of the videos, was a comment that absent the logo on the front, the new iMac is still indisputably an iMac in appearance, and I think it is, but the same reviewer drew parallels between Macs from the early days right through to the new iMac because they have all shared a 'chin'. I hadn't recognised that part of the design language before (and it isn't universally true of all Apple Macs anyway), but it is a valid observation.

However, the videos also served to confirm that it is very much a consumer product - which leaves room for plenty of tweaking within the design language for the 'pro' models to come. They will be very interesting - and possibly even more polarizing!

 

[familychoice]

the same reviewer drew parallels between Macs from the early days right through to the new iMac because they have all shared a 'chin'. I hadn't recognised that part of the design language before (and it isn't universally true of all Apple Macs anyway), but it is a valid observation.

The problem with relying on the 'chin', as an identifier for the brand is that it's not unique - HP and Dell, for example, both have all-in-one desktop's with the same feature. In a computer store with the three manufacturers models side by side (and most usually, backs against the wall), the iMac would look very similar to the HP and Dell's, but to the average consumer the iMac would look like an unbranded PC.

I guess the new colours will set it apart, but again the full impact is going to be hidden against that wall. But no doubt most of their sales will be online and from Apple stores, so it won't cause a major dent in their sales.

However, the videos also served to confirm that it is very much a consumer product - which leaves room for plenty of tweaking within the design language for the 'pro' models to come. They will be very interesting - and possibly even more polarizing!

I noticed that some of the reviews echoed the reservations about the design discussed on here, which show's it's not just me and the two other blokes.

But yeah, this does seem aimed at the consumer market. Not exactly cheap though.

Assuming that the young Jony Ive had a few ideas knocked back in his earlier career

They wouldn't dare.

 

[za9ra22]

I noticed that some of the reviews echoed the reservations about the design discussed on here, which show's it's not just me and the two other blokes.

But yeah, this does seem aimed at the consumer market. Not exactly cheap though.

My experience of design work is that there is always room for views at tension with each other, and Apple's deigns have caused a fair amount of that over the years at the best of times. It would be hard to imagine even two designers reaching full agreement over something where the language has such history but the product is so new. Easy to stick to the heritage or move instead to a blank canvas.

I'd be the first to say that my preferences in design are of only any relevance to me as an individual, but I'd hate to try and design any product by committee. I've seen that too, and it's ugly in process or outcome - often both!

But I do appreciate your thoughts. It is easy to tell everyone what you don't like, but not so easy to describe how to do it better.

 

[familychoice]

My experience of design work is that there is always room for views at tension with each other, and Apple's deigns have caused a fair amount of that over the years at the best of times. It would be hard to imagine even two designers reaching full agreement over something where the language has such history but the product is so new. Easy to stick to the heritage or move instead to a blank canvas.

I'd be the first to say that my preferences in design are of only any relevance to me as an individual, but I'd hate to try and design any product by committee. I've seen that too, and it's ugly in process or outcome - often both!

But I do appreciate your thoughts. It is easy to tell everyone what you don't like, but not so easy to describe how to do it better.

The issue for me with the new design is that it’s a ‘like it or lump it’ approach. The missing logo (despite finding it weird it’s been left off) is not a deal breaker for me, but I find the combination of the colours and white bezels distracting.

It’s a very strong design statement, that’s then been applied to an otherwise very bland looking computer.

Considering I’ll be stuck in front of it all day, doing design work, it needs to blend into the background and feel like a serious, but invisible work tool. But instead it almost feels like they don’t want people like me to buy it. ‘This isn’t for you, it’s for the cool kids’.

I just think they’d make a lot more sales if they offered a grey or silver version, with black bezels for boring old farts like me, then everyone’s happy.

Maybe they will, if others start thinking like me, and considering a cheaper Mini...

 

[za9ra22]

The issue for me with the new design is that it’s a ‘like it or lump it’ approach. The missing logo (despite finding it weird it’s been left off) is not a deal breaker for me, but I find the combination of the colours and white bezels distracting.

It’s a very strong design statement, that’s then been applied to an otherwise very bland looking computer.

Considering I’ll be stuck in front of it all day, doing design work, it needs to blend into the background and feel like a serious, but invisible work tool. But instead it almost feels like they don’t want people like me to buy it. ‘This isn’t for you, it’s for the cool kids’.

I just think they’d make a lot more sales if they offered a grey or silver version, with black bezels for boring old farts like me, then everyone’s happy.

Maybe they will, if others start thinking like me, and considering a cheaper Mini...

The like it or lump it approach is Apple's DNA, I think. They have traded a great deal over the years in breaking rules, or norms, and there is a distinct flavour of that in this design too.

I'm more interested than ever in mine arriving, because the enthusiasm from the reviewers so far is somewhat infectious, but overall, it'll be settled into its spot on my desk and then mostly not even noticed by the day after!

I must say that in my work environment, black bezels are a distraction if they are anything at all, but I noted one comment today from a journalist who said that black might be better for those who work in dark mode, but he typically preferred light. Me too. Dark mode is visually a bit confusing to me, and in light mode, black bezels do draw the eye sometimes away from the workspace. And they contrast a bit harshly with my office walls.

It will be interesting to see if the new iMac blends into the background or not.

I do rather expect more 'sombre' colours for the 'pro' editions though - including black bezels.

 

[familychoice]

The like it or lump it approach is Apple's DNA, I think. They have traded a great deal over the years in breaking rules, or norms, and there is a distinct flavour of that in this design too.

I'm more interested than ever in mine arriving, because the enthusiasm from the reviewers so far is somewhat infectious, but overall, it'll be settled into its spot on my desk and then mostly not even noticed by the day after!

I must say that in my work environment, black bezels are a distraction if they are anything at all, but I noted one comment today from a journalist who said that black might be better for those who work in dark mode, but he typically preferred light. Me too. Dark mode is visually a bit confusing to me, and in light mode, black bezels do draw the eye sometimes away from the workspace. And they contrast a bit harshly with my office walls.

It will be interesting to see if the new iMac blends into the background or not.

I do rather expect more 'sombre' colours for the 'pro' editions though - including black bezels.

I really want to like it - I’m working on a 16” MBP since my desktop died, and though it’s a great laptop, need a desktop companion. The screen size (23” and a bit), ‘unique’ appearance, and long wait (just checked and I was getting a 7 week delivery quote for a 16gb option) are stopping me press the button though. 27”, boring design, couple of week delivery slot, and I’d be raring to go.

So I head off to the Mini forums ready to plump for that one, and read about Bluetooth and display connection problems, and I’m back to square one.

I may still end up getting the 24” iMac, despite all I’ve said, but it’ll be a compromise over what I really need, and want. I guess there’s no rush considering the current wait for orders, so who knows, the bigger model might turn up in the meantime!

 

[za9ra22]

I really want to like it - I’m working on a 16” MBP since my desktop died, and though it’s a great laptop, need a desktop companion. The screen size (23” and a bit), ‘unique’ appearance, and long wait (just checked and I was getting a 7 week delivery quote for a 16gb option) are stopping me press the button though. 27”, boring design, couple of week delivery slot, and I’d be raring to go.

So I head off to the Mini forums ready to plump for that one, and read about Bluetooth and display connection problems, and I’m back to square one.

I may still end up getting the 24” iMac, despite all I’ve said, but it’ll be a compromise over what I really need, and want. I guess there’s no rush considering the current wait for orders, so who knows, the bigger model might turn up in the meantime!

The 27-inch is just a bit too big for my circumstance. It wasn't when I got it, but moving offices meant that while my workspace is actually bigger, the depth of my desk is less. The 27-inch is just too close, so I'm having to flex my neck up and down a lot each day. The 24 will be more suited, though I do like the 27-inch overall, and it is plenty powerful enough for the job.

The short-term demand creating longish wait times after preorders are dispatched is a bit frustrating, and somewhat counter productive. Obviously Apple doesn't mind because it's selling everything it can, but absent the option to visit an Apple store (the nearest to me is about 4-5 hours away) missing the preorder slot means waiting. And waiting. And waiting.

 

[Altis]

Look - color matched Apple logo stickers for your colored iMac:
View attachment 1776655

They don't fit on the chin. 😂

 

[DarthMoops]

They don't fit on the chin. 😂

"Why El Guapo?" 😉

Now Apple is just trolling us.

 

[Altis]

"Why El Guapo?" 😉

Now Apple is just trolling us.

Oh no doubt I suspect they don't want people putting the stickers on the chin themselves, then taking photos/videos of it.

 

[familychoice]

The 27-inch is just a bit too big for my circumstance. It wasn't when I got it, but moving offices meant that while my workspace is actually bigger, the depth of my desk is less. The 27-inch is just too close, so I'm having to flex my neck up and down a lot each day. The 24 will be more suited, though I do like the 27-inch overall, and it is plenty powerful enough for the job.

The short-term demand creating longish wait times after preorders are dispatched is a bit frustrating, and somewhat counter productive. Obviously Apple doesn't mind because it's selling everything it can, but absent the option to visit an Apple store (the nearest to me is about 4-5 hours away) missing the preorder slot means waiting. And waiting. And waiting.

It’s about a four hour round trip for us here too. To be honest I might be tempted to do it if they stocked a 16gb version. Or Amazon...

I pre-ordered the Air 4 iPad on the Apple website on the day of release. It gave me a delivery time of a few weeks once available. That came and went, and when I chased them up, they said it would ‘probably’ be shipped a few weeks later. So over two months after my pre-order.

In the meantime everyone else seemed to be getting theirs. So I cancelled the order with Apple, and bought one from Amazon instead, who sent it out next day delivery for £49 less!