Beautifying Gnome control center (Tango friday 16.2.2007)
Evolution of Network proxy icon
For this tango friday, I took a quest on finding better metaphor for network proxy applet in gnome control center. This is the story how the metaphor evolved and where it ended 
If you look over the Internet, the “internet proxy” or “network proxy” in images and schemes usually use a wall or a general computer/server metaphor. It is good when the proxy has also a firewall inside or when it is in the scheme and has a description.
Not a good metaphor The next was a series of “Just another globe”(TM) styled icons, one inspired by Apple’s icon or network configuration and the last one inspired by the icon used in Tango icon theme for the same purpose.
Then some brain damage happened to me and this icon appeared After Jimmac’s suggestion, the wire on the right side was added.
Based on these, the final icon was created Added some colours, line enhancements etc… et voila! Icon created, packed (renamed as gnome-network-preferences as Dobey suggested and sent to bugzilla)
Update 17. 02. 2007: I’ve just beaten another c-c bug, the icon for sound applet
Sound preferences icon
Now the icon waits for GO/NO-GO result
February 17th, 2007 at 2.10
It’s amazing how how many bad metaphors you can try before getting to the one that just makes sense. Keep rocking!
February 17th, 2007 at 12.35
Sharp!
February 17th, 2007 at 23.34
yeah it is pretty crazy to figure out the right metaphor in a sane number of experiments
March 4th, 2007 at 18.51
I really dig the proxy-icons. Did you try making the loudspeaker look to the right instead of upwards?
March 4th, 2007 at 19.28
Paul: well, I was thinking about it but didn’t create this variant. It would not look as good as this one imho, it would be too flat. The left to right direction is imo better for status icons…
March 5th, 2007 at 12.32
Ah ok. It’s just that the icon, despite it’s beauty, doesn’t reflect reality at all as there are very few loudspeakers directed upwards.