Hawk Wings gets new header from Iceland
Hawk Wings reader and graphic designer Sigurður Ãrmannsson (his blog 
is in Icelandic and, hence, very mysterious and cool) has whipped up a new header for Hawk Wings.
He was astonished that the old header was so plain. It didn’t take long to explain my level of Photoshop expertise to him.
The new header is obviously much more swanky but still carries through the legacy of the Red-tailed Hawk from Mail’s stamp icon and the font of the old header.
I am quite taken with it. What do you think?
For old time’s sake and by way of comparison:
UPDATE: I have asked Sigurður if he would be kind enough to take on some of the suggestions in the comments. He was, so the image now features the Lucida Grande font of the original and some drop shadow to lift out the text.
Slightly more readers who left comments prefer the new one. More interesting still, Mint tells me that 9,286 individuals visited the site yesterday. Most of them didn’t care either way!
[Thanks, Sigurður!]
Similar Posts:
- Forwarding HTML eNewsletters in Mail.app
- Hawk Wings gets first donation. Celebration.
- USA and UK Mail Stamp Icons
- How to change Mail.app’s new mail badges
- Roll your own Mail Stamp icon
Tags: Apple Mail, header, iceland, mail.app, Photoshop, very kind
March 27th, 2007 at 2:12 am
Frankly, I liked the old one better. It was simple, minimalistic, clean. This one is “complex”, text harder to read and looks blurry.
Early April Fool?
No hard feelings, k? :-)
March 27th, 2007 at 2:19 am
As of this post, the JPEG has a lot of artifacts (particularly around the letters). If the file size isn’t too big, I’d advise either going with a PNG file, or exporting for web at a higher quality percentage. A slight drop shadow around the text (or a single pixel outline, which is easy to create using an outer glow) would also help offset it from the clouds).
Otherwise it looks really good!
March 27th, 2007 at 2:40 am
I like the design but it would be even better without the spelling mistake: “ad-ons” …
March 27th, 2007 at 2:43 am
If you’re going to stick with the new one, it would probably be a good idea to fix the typo so it says ‘add-ons’ like the old one…
March 27th, 2007 at 2:45 am
Nice upgrade. It adds a lot more to the design even though its a simple change.
March 27th, 2007 at 2:46 am
David — OMG! I didn’t even notice that. That will make Claire feel better.
That’s my fault not Sigurður’s and certainly needs fixing.
March 27th, 2007 at 2:48 am
I agree with Jean-Francois, I prefer the old one :/
March 27th, 2007 at 2:59 am
I think it’s a nice update, although the typo and compression need some fixin’
March 27th, 2007 at 3:04 am
I rather like the new one! Maybe put in a header background-image switching button for folks to use?
March 27th, 2007 at 3:17 am
I think there’s a typo:
the old one says “add-ons”, and the new one says “ad-ons”
March 27th, 2007 at 3:21 am
I’m sure the guy that created the new header meant well, but it’s lacking in so many areas. Please put the old one back.
March 27th, 2007 at 3:43 am
I was staring at the old header, wondering, “Well, what’s changed? Looks pretty imperceptibly different to me.” Finally, I expired my cache and saw the lovely new header. Looks great.
March 27th, 2007 at 3:54 am
Much better than the old one…! And it’s unique now, instead of being just one of the many, just slightly edited WordPress default/Kubrick headers…
Nice work…
March 27th, 2007 at 5:21 am
fix the typo and it’s a keeper. much bolder than the old one. and a change is good!
March 27th, 2007 at 5:37 am
The old one graphically said “Mail.app”. The new one graphically says “something about a bird”. So the old one wins.
March 27th, 2007 at 5:56 am
I like it.
March 27th, 2007 at 7:04 am
It’s way too cool. I’d revert back quick before throngs of people begin to notice just how trendy it’s getting around here and crash your server and leave crumbs on your couch.
March 27th, 2007 at 10:53 am
Honestly, and with all due respect, bleh. I liked the former one.
March 27th, 2007 at 10:59 am
Also with all due respect, I liked the former. It was more simple, elegant, and Mac-like. The new one looks more frilly, complicated, and Windows-like. (Ouch—I said “with all due respect” and then I compared it to Windows…sorry!)
March 27th, 2007 at 11:36 am
What a great update! It looks fresh.
March 27th, 2007 at 1:55 pm
Old one.
But then I like simple elegance.
And I haven’t been around here long enough to be tired of it.
March 27th, 2007 at 3:32 pm
My girlfriend prefers the new over the old. Me? …. not so much. (pssst ..she’s an artist)
March 27th, 2007 at 3:40 pm
Nice, creative use of the mail.app dock icon elements. However, the white text needs to be differentiated from the (equally) white clouds to improve legibility. A little drop shadow perhaps?
March 27th, 2007 at 4:24 pm
I like the new header more than the old one. I agree that it now stands out and no longer looks like other word press sites. Keep up the great work.
March 27th, 2007 at 5:24 pm
The old one was simple, elegant and to the point without being distracting. A quiet not to Mail.app and to the tone of your writing. Yes, a relatively un-modified Kubrick header, but then again, everything about this layout is Kubrick.
The new one is busy, distracting and does little to impart to a casual (apple user) browser that this is a site about Mail.app.
I’m sure Sigurður meant well but there are far better solutions to “fancifying” your header than this. Given a choice, I’d say stick with the old.
March 27th, 2007 at 5:37 pm
The old one was better.
March 27th, 2007 at 6:19 pm
If this site was about a windows mail application it would be perfect.
But come on guys… this is really to ugly!
THE OLD ONE PLEASE!!
March 27th, 2007 at 8:13 pm
Little blurry but cool! Looks like it was small and expanded or used too much jpeg compression… But… I didn’t fun of your old one but this is not a replacement. I think there are a good chance to create a competition for best header or at least idea of header.
March 27th, 2007 at 9:41 pm
Guys, to have an opinion is ok. Not to like the new header, too. But don’t try to excuse offense with meaningless phrases citing respect your words do not show.
Tim, I think the new header would do well with a slightly less broad and bold font for the explanation (tips and add-ons etc). The font of the old header was a little less intrusive and more elegant, so to speak.
And whoever blabbered about windows-like: Show me or stop whining.
March 28th, 2007 at 12:19 am
I “blabbered about windows-like”. Lighten up Andreas.
March 28th, 2007 at 12:59 am
The new one is great for long-time readers – we get what the site’s about, so seeing a large hawk and the word ‘apple mail’ only in small size at the bottom left is OK. For new readers, I’d imagine it’s hard to figure out exactly what the site’s about at a glance. The old header made it clear: we all know that icon from our dock.
IMHO, of course! ;)
March 28th, 2007 at 1:27 am
It’s superb.
Why mac users are saying good design is windoze-like is beyond my comprehension.
Definitely worth keeping, thanks Sigurður.
March 28th, 2007 at 1:46 am
Greg, I am as light as a feather.
I just disagree with blaming all things considered to be non-apple on Windows, to begin with. Plus I find some of the previous comments on the edge of acceptance and unfair to Sigurdur. And I have been using Windows for many years without ever seeing any image or application resembling the new header in the slightest possible way. And I have trouble seeing what was elegant about the previous header, too.
But alas.
March 28th, 2007 at 2:08 am
The new theme looks really good. Regarding to the update-message – I reas the blog personally only through the preview pane of my feed reader (NNW) and there you see only the text part of the blog and not the rest of the layout…so more or less I don’t care (and I think most ppl who use NNW read it the same way)
March 28th, 2007 at 2:26 am
The new header is great. You know what they say “a change is as good as a vacation…”! WHAT? – nevermind, the header is a nice change.
March 28th, 2007 at 3:09 am
Andreas (or anyone else), I certainly did not mean to offend Sigurdur or anyone with my comments. I find it hard believe that anyone in this forum would intend that. Like others (I suspect) my comment was intended convey my opinion with a little light-hearted mac-zealot humor. (Incidentally, I have used Windows since its very beginning, DOS before that, CP/M, Osborne computers, etc.) Clearly there are lots of different opinions here, but they are all just that: opinions, which are by definition subjective. The fact that someone doesn’t share an opinion doesn’t make the opinion invalid.
In any case, peace. I am much more interested in the wonderful content of Tim’s site than I am about the logo. Personally I find it fun that this has generated so much interest. I think it’s a testiment to how much people care about Tim’s site.
March 28th, 2007 at 3:45 am
Greg (and anyone else), no offense intended and none taken.
And yes, it is indeed amusing how many comments the header has generated in relation to most othe rposts by Tim, hehe!
Tim, the changes are for the better – keep going!
March 28th, 2007 at 4:05 am
I feel that it’s the new font that’s killing it; if that was changed around a bit I think it would be nice.
March 28th, 2007 at 5:24 am
“Reminiscent of Windows” was a bit harsh after all the trouble Sigurður must have taken.
Perhaps if it had been an albatross rather than a hawk.
And a wooden horse would have been even more appropriate for Windows Mail:
http://www.technewsworld.com/story/56526.html
March 28th, 2007 at 7:03 am
Glad to see the typo replaced and drop shadow!
I’m also confused why people seem to think that this header make it unclear that we’re talking about Mail.app:
1) The header has a stamp border
2) The header has the “Hello from Cupertino” postage mark (with a clear Apple logo partially visible)
3) The header is clearly the same hawk
4) The header has the words “Apple Mail” centrally located and easier to read than the old header
Seems to me this new header will actually be more effective at telling new visitors what the content of the site is.
I also definitely approve of people moving away from Kubrick. Seeing a site that is obviously a Kubrick derivative can have just as negative an impact on a first-time user. It’s a great theme, but a custom theme for a site makes it stand on its own much better.
So don’t be scared of change! ;-)
March 28th, 2007 at 7:28 am
A bob each way: I like both old and new …
But keep the new: tres cool!
Steve
March 28th, 2007 at 8:14 am
as i said earlier, i like the new design. but after looking at it for awhile i would like to suggest that the designer try another version; one with the postmark further to the left or move the hawk closer to the right. i say this because the wings of the bird “interfere” with the “swooshe”s on the postmark. separating these two might make for a better design. I also think the apple logo needs better exposure, and moving the postmark may achieve this. just a thought….
March 28th, 2007 at 8:57 am
I prefer Sigurður’s version.
March 28th, 2007 at 9:16 am
I like it Tim, Don’t listen to ither people! It was time to get a new header. As if you are going to a transition to another fase of your live ;)
March 28th, 2007 at 5:04 pm
I read many Kubrick websites. It’s never occured to me to hold that against them.
March 28th, 2007 at 8:36 pm
Love the new one! Fresh :)
March 28th, 2007 at 9:47 pm
I take back my previous comment!
Since the update, I think it has gotten way better. Subtle color changes, drop shadows around text and much more crisp.
I like it!
March 28th, 2007 at 9:54 pm
I liked the new one better than the old, now the best just got better.
This is a great corner of the net, keep up the good work,
Be well, all,
March 29th, 2007 at 1:21 am
Nice work, icelandic friend, but too compressed. Visible JPEG compession artifacts along the left wing. And I’d like to see more of the bird.
-dag, Oslo, Norway
March 29th, 2007 at 1:44 pm
I like where this is going, Tim. My only critique is that the hawk looks a bit too big in the new design, overpowering the site a bit too much. It almost makes the site look a little scary, which contradicts the friendly and helpful tone of your content. My solution would be to shrink the bird about 25%.
March 29th, 2007 at 11:13 pm
It’s getting better and better!
Excellent!!
March 30th, 2007 at 12:44 am
i liked the old one better. it was more web 2.0-ish and it went well with the whole mac theme i think with the stamp on the blue background..
not to mention you’ll never see a stamp that large.
i’m sure i’ll get used to it over time, but i do rather enjoy the older one better.
March 31st, 2007 at 5:01 pm
The new one is nice enough in general, but I don’t think it suits this site. I much prefer the old one because it had a much more Mac-like simplicity. The new one would be better for the Audubon Society.
March 31st, 2007 at 11:55 pm
The new header is simply wonderful! As Tera Patrick of Mac360 often said, “Nothing Improves Without Change.”
April 1st, 2007 at 2:49 am
I am in much more favour of the new one — It is distinctive — not a quick kubrick modification.
April 2nd, 2007 at 5:29 pm
My two cents : I think the original was clever and more “The Apple Way of Design”. The center of interest in this one is the hawk, and it is quite blurry, and partially hides the Apple logo.
I quite like the text header over a blue sky, though I think it is a bit dark, and would deserve a more shiny feeling.
Frankly, I think it would be better without the hawk, or perhaps keep it small in the back.
April 11th, 2007 at 12:50 am
Like the new logo. Liked the old one too. Great blog anyway.
November 6th, 2007 at 5:58 am
I like this new version. Very dramatic.
I had forgotten what the old version looked like after the ‘vacation’.