Mozilla

Business Card Redux

June 4th, 2009

Thanks to everyone who offered suggestions for describing the Mozilla mission for a business card. Also to those involved in the related conversation on the characteristics that make the web better over at Mark Surman’s blog.

After reading the suggestions a few times I realized I want to try something that is explicit about the public benefit or non-profit nature of Mozilla. This concept helps people understand that we are fundamentally different from most of the software vendors they are accustomed to. And i think it makes it easier for people to believe that our talk of “open” or “shared control” or “benefit to the user is first” reflects our guiding principles, and not simply nice-sounding words that promote some other goal.

Mozilla offices are moving this weekend and I need new cards in a hurry so I went with something very simple for the first batch. I’m not remotely done yet with this project though. I’ve already got ideas for the second batch, and I’m trying to figure out how to incorporate more ideas from the recent discussions.

The front side is a template, where colors, the Mozilla dino logo and the text block are predetermined. The back side is open for exploration. Here’s my first batch.

For the second batch I think I’ll try adding a second line, so the text next to the Firefox logo says:

Public Benefit Internet
Opportunity for All

I like many of the other ideas quite a bit and am working on incorporating them in future versions, until I find one that really works. I hope anyone who feels inspired to use these ideas in any setting to describe Mozilla, please of course feel free.

5 comments for “Business Card Redux”

  1. 1

    Jon G said on June 4th, 2009 at 1:04 pm:

    I still like “Internet by the people for the people…” 🙂

  2. 2

    sethb said on June 4th, 2009 at 1:33 pm:

    honestly, i might have gone with “chairwoman”. hope you don’t mind if that’s how i refer to you. 🙂

  3. 3

    Mitchell Baker said on June 4th, 2009 at 1:44 pm:

    Seth: i go back and forth on the “chairwoman.” Probably I’ll use that on the next batch.
    Jon G: yes, that’s a nice phrase. I wonder if it works as well in other languages and cultures. I have a sense it is US-centric, but maybe I’m wrong. I’ll ask mozilla contributors.

  4. 4

    Gerv said on June 5th, 2009 at 9:41 am:

    I’m British, traditionally a fairly US-friendly place, and I know more than most Brits about US culture, and I still had to look up the “by the people, for the people” reference. I knew it was a famous speech, but not which one.

    “Public Benefit” is actually a fairly American phrase; we don’t use it over here in the same way. Internet for the Public Good might be more culture-neutral? But I agree it doesn’t have the same ring, so maybe you should just stick. People will figure it out 🙂

  5. 5

    Mitchell Baker said on June 5th, 2009 at 3:26 pm:

    Gerv: good to know. Will keep looking for something snappy and more applicable

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