W3C HTML5 Logo Unveiled

Anyone know who made it?

Looks like a stretch to me...

The class semantics section appears to be related to the other logos that the w3 has created for them.

Personally, I think its extraneous information. If you came away with knowledge of what the logo looks like (and you should since it took up fully 2/3rds of the first page), then you're set.

As for the rest of your criticism:

> I know nothing of web development, so I have no idea what this means.

Although HTML originally was created to be human readable, and better yet--writable by ordinary people---that isn't how history played out. Hardly anyone writes their websites in bare HTML anymore.

For a time, it seemed that HTML instead would be automatically generated by machines--either a CMS or Dreamweaver/Frontpage and its ilk. This 'dream weaver' age brought us XHTML and its XML inspired draconian parsing requirements.

But slowly, a cadre of individuals was growing who did write HTML by hand and documented the fine differences between browsers, and put pressure upon their makers to change them. These folks were a sect that didn't exist before (and perhaps couldn't have existed in the 90s low-bandwidth websites)...they are web designers.

HTML5, logo and all, looks like the w3's way of trying to capture the attention of web designers because at the moment they have little to no credibility with that group.

Without considering the context, the logo itself is pretty good. I like the badge/custom badge and related components. Overall though, I don't like it. I don't think it's a fitting logo (the superman/superhero comparisons are what come to mind to me as well).

The logo treatments and website seem like a contrived effort design a logo to whatever the designers believe is the "HTML5 Design Aesthetic." Sure, rich content and all, but HTML5 (and related technologies, like this logo is supposed to imply) shouldn't be represented by over contemporary design.

Interestingly, the logo is not the "official" logo. On paper, it's just the community logo - and it will only officially be adopted if it gets enough grassroots support.

Is this W3C's "official" logo for HTML5?

Not yet. W3C introduced this logo in January 2011 with the goal of building community support. W3C has not yet taken it up in any official capacity. If, as W3C hopes, the community embraces the logo, W3C will adopt it as its own official logo for HTML5 in the first quarter of 2011.

"IS THIS W3C'S "OFFICIAL" LOGO FOR HTML5?

Not yet. W3C introduced this logo in January 2011 with the goal of building community support. W3C has not yet taken it up in any official capacity. If, as W3C hopes, the community embraces the logo, W3C will adopt it as its own official logo for HTML5 in the first quarter of 2011."