# Introducing: šŸŽ™ļøMike - your mascot? **URL:** \ **Category:** Project management\ **Created:** [July 20, 2024, 3:29pm UTC](https://forum.antennapod.org/t/introducing-mike-your-mascot/5179 "2024-07-20T15:29:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mike](https://forum.antennapod.org/user_avatar/forum.antennapod.org/mike/32/2963_2.png) [@Mike](https://forum.antennapod.org/u/Mike)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2024, 3:29pm UTC](https://forum.antennapod.org/t/introducing-mike-your-mascot/5179/1 "2024-07-20T15:29:45Z")
Hi there! ![antennapod_stickers_FOSDEM_2024-Mike_3in_1](https://forum.antennapod.org/uploads/default/original/2X/e/ecf8c89a0662b2bc95d3f52a510fb4bf4054c664.jpeg) Iā€™m Mike - AntennaPodā€™s potential mascot! I was drawn a while back by a designer who helpded out the AntennaPod project with making stickers. You might have seen me before [on Mastodon](https://fosstodon.org/@AntennaPod/111873414958178170) around FOSDEM last year. If you visited FOSDEM, you might even have me as a sticker! I havenā€™t showed up anywhere since FOSDEM. And Iā€™m wondering: do you think I should? Should I stay around as core member of the AntennaPod team? Or should I rather hide in podcastersā€™ recording studios? Or should I showing up on parties and social media, but stay away from your precious app? @ByteHamster, @Keunes and @Femmdi wanted to hear the communityā€™s thoughts before making a decision on my fate. So please, let them know what you think! And donā€™t mind me - I wonā€™t be offended or overjoyed. Speak freely! ---
**Author:** ![keunes](https://forum.antennapod.org/user_avatar/forum.antennapod.org/keunes/32/61_2.png) [@keunes](https://forum.antennapod.org/u/keunes)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2024, 3:31pm UTC](https://forum.antennapod.org/t/introducing-mike-your-mascot/5179/2 "2024-07-20T15:31:25Z")
Pinned globally on July 20, 2024, 3:31pm UTC ---
**Author:** ![Nilex](https://forum.antennapod.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/n/bbce88/32.png) [@Nilex](https://forum.antennapod.org/u/Nilex)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2024, 3:52pm UTC](https://forum.antennapod.org/t/introducing-mike-your-mascot/5179/3 "2024-07-20T15:52:54Z")
Personally, I like it and think it should be in the app. Gives it ā€œpersonalityā€. ---
**Author:** ![keunes](https://forum.antennapod.org/user_avatar/forum.antennapod.org/keunes/32/61_2.png) [@keunes](https://forum.antennapod.org/u/keunes)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2024, 9:10pm UTC](https://forum.antennapod.org/t/introducing-mike-your-mascot/5179/4 "2024-07-20T21:10:39Z")
I personally like it a lot, but am wondering if it isnā€™t too ā€˜frivolousā€™. I want AntennaPod to be (perceived as) a serious competitor to the big apps and Iā€™m not certain a fun character would fit that or hinder it. Where would you see Mike being used in the app? The only (acceptable) place is certain empty state screens, like when you search for podcasts and nothing is found. ---
**Author:** ![Matth78](https://forum.antennapod.org/user_avatar/forum.antennapod.org/matth78/32/62_2.png) [@Matth78](https://forum.antennapod.org/u/Matth78)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2024, 10:39pm UTC](https://forum.antennapod.org/t/introducing-mike-your-mascot/5179/5 "2024-07-20T22:39:30Z")
Donā€™t like it and I canā€™t see why there is a need for a mascot apart to use it for merchandizing. Besides I donā€™t know any other app having a mascot. (except if it is already the app icon) But worse he reminds me of the horror that was clippy when microsoft tried to push it on itā€™s office suite. Of course the one from Microsoft was much more annoying as it was trying to interact with your normal use. ---
**Author:** ![andbenn](https://forum.antennapod.org/user_avatar/forum.antennapod.org/andbenn/32/2590_2.png) [@andbenn](https://forum.antennapod.org/u/andbenn)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2024, 1:26am UTC](https://forum.antennapod.org/t/introducing-mike-your-mascot/5179/6 "2024-07-21T01:26:48Z")
Mike should have built a poll on his post to simulate a vote. I do like the mascot. Shrinking for the app icon may get kind of crowded. He could certainly appear in certain places in the app, the website, and the forums. ---
**Author:** ![VoidCrater](https://forum.antennapod.org/user_avatar/forum.antennapod.org/voidcrater/32/2125_2.png) [@VoidCrater](https://forum.antennapod.org/u/VoidCrater)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2024, 2:19pm UTC](https://forum.antennapod.org/t/introducing-mike-your-mascot/5179/7 "2024-07-21T14:19:16Z")
Iā€™m really curious, could someone please describe the mascot that is being proposed here? ---
**Author:** ![loucasal](https://forum.antennapod.org/user_avatar/forum.antennapod.org/loucasal/32/615_2.png) [@loucasal](https://forum.antennapod.org/u/loucasal)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2024, 4:24pm UTC](https://forum.antennapod.org/t/introducing-mike-your-mascot/5179/8 "2024-07-21T16:24:38Z")
> [@keunes](#): > > Where would you see Mike being used in the app? The only (acceptable) place is certain empty state screens, like when you search for podcasts and nothing is found. Yes, that would be it. If done in a very subtle way (size and colour-wise) and with the design adapted to the context of a given screen, it could tie in nicely with some existing gaps (e.g. [this ticket](https://github.com/AntennaPod/AntennaPod/issues/6183)). I probably wouldnā€™t take it further than that, as far as the app is concerned. It would be visible to users, but not _too_ visible. > [@VoidCrater](#): > > Iā€™m really curious, could someone please describe the mascot that is being proposed here? Itā€™s a table microphone (the kind that you would expect a podcaster or radio host to use), with human features (eyes, eyebrows, hands) and wearing a blue t-shirt with the AntennaPod logo. ---
**Author:** ![Listener](https://forum.antennapod.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/l/b782af/32.png) [@Listener](https://forum.antennapod.org/u/Listener)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2024, 6:42pm UTC](https://forum.antennapod.org/t/introducing-mike-your-mascot/5179/9 "2024-07-21T18:42:35Z")
> [@Matth78](#): > > reminds me of the horror that was clippy Now that you mention it, there _is_ a resemblance to Clippy. ---
**Author:** ![Nilex](https://forum.antennapod.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/n/bbce88/32.png) [@Nilex](https://forum.antennapod.org/u/Nilex)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2024, 10:55pm UTC](https://forum.antennapod.org/t/introducing-mike-your-mascot/5179/10 "2024-07-21T22:55:49Z")
> [@keunes](#): > > The only (acceptable) place is certain empty state screens, like when you search for podcasts and nothing is found. I would agree with this.I was thinking just as a filler for white space in situations like you mentioned. ---
**Author:** ![keunes](https://forum.antennapod.org/user_avatar/forum.antennapod.org/keunes/32/61_2.png) [@keunes](https://forum.antennapod.org/u/keunes)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2024, 6:49am UTC](https://forum.antennapod.org/t/introducing-mike-your-mascot/5179/11 "2024-07-22T06:49:27Z")
> [@andbenn](#): > > Mike should have built a poll on his post to simulate a vote. I did create a poll on Mastodon: [AntennaPod: "So, what do you think of Mike (see linked toot)? ā€¦" - Fosstodon](https://fosstodon.org/@AntennaPod/112819690779529744) It is still open so you can vote there if you want. I didnā€™t add a poll here because I was afraid people would just click-and-leave, while Iā€™m mainly interested in hearing the arguments and sentiments šŸ™‚ > [@VoidCrater](#): > > Iā€™m really curious, could someone please describe the mascot that is being proposed here? Sorry, Discourse doesnā€™t remind/encourage you to add an alt text. Thanks for describing @loucasal! Your description is better than the one I posted on Mastodon šŸ˜› > [@Matth78](#): > > the horror that was clippy when microsoft tried to push it on itā€™s office suite Thereā€™s a lot of people making that connection (on Mastodon also). But was clippy really that bad? I personally see clippy as a dumb/useless but funny thing, so I donā€™t have a negative connotation with it. I think the average clippy sentiment is an important thing to consider, because Mike _does_ remind of clippy to many and I donā€™t see how we can prevent that in the design. ---
**Author:** ![Matth78](https://forum.antennapod.org/user_avatar/forum.antennapod.org/matth78/32/62_2.png) [@Matth78](https://forum.antennapod.org/u/Matth78)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2024, 5:13pm UTC](https://forum.antennapod.org/t/introducing-mike-your-mascot/5179/12 "2024-07-22T17:13:37Z")
Really Clippy was horribleā€¦ Everybody was turning it off because it was popping a lot and was intrusive. Thanks god they removed it afterwards ! ---
**Author:** ![VoidCrater](https://forum.antennapod.org/user_avatar/forum.antennapod.org/voidcrater/32/2125_2.png) [@VoidCrater](https://forum.antennapod.org/u/VoidCrater)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2024, 3:58am UTC](https://forum.antennapod.org/t/introducing-mike-your-mascot/5179/13 "2024-07-23T03:58:03Z")
That sounds so cool! Thanks for the image description! ---
**Author:** ![keunes](https://forum.antennapod.org/user_avatar/forum.antennapod.org/keunes/32/61_2.png) [@keunes](https://forum.antennapod.org/u/keunes)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2024, 8:05am UTC](https://forum.antennapod.org/t/introducing-mike-your-mascot/5179/14 "2024-07-26T08:05:20Z")
So we have the outcome of the poll: With 568 votes, these are the results: > So, what do you think of Mike (see linked toot)? Should he become our mascot? \* (Weā€™re asking for your input because we love him, but arenā€™t sure if he would well represent the quality app that we aim to provide.) > 25%Yes, definitely! > 41%Yes, but only on social media etc (not in the app) > 34%Meh / Nah / Nope Also interesting feedback: - [Someone](https://fosstodon.org/@Mehrad/112819721909891035) commented that the logo on the t-shirt looks more like a compass than like an A. I think think the design could be tweaked a little bit to prevent this. [Someone](https://chaos.social/@Kurt/112832996746380306) replied that maybe the RSS logo could be used on the t-shirt instead. - Many people indicated the link with clippy. Not too many negative sentiments, though. Someone made the link with Luxo Jr.; Pixarā€™s desk lamp. - [Someone](https://social.tchncs.de/@pixelcode/112823768973353800) suggested Mike could actually give advise in a few cases. (Ehm, thanks, but no thanks.) [Someone else](https://norden.social/@olafk/112823550439793665) suggested we could show Mike in-app giving a suggestion to long-time users as an April foolā€™s easter egg. (Well, not ruling out that one šŸ™‚ ) - [Two folks](https://masto.ai/@ifrit/112832604092892268) argued our mascot should be an antenna, not a microphone, because AntennaPod is not about recording but about receiving. Thereā€™s definitely something to say for that. All in all, it seems itā€™s OK to use a mascot in the app, but very sparingly. Iā€™m thinking in a way that GitHub does it: ![Imagepipe_5](https://forum.antennapod.org/uploads/default/original/2X/c/cc30a629d71bcbe069a31b2ff5f074975f353cfc.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![keunes](https://forum.antennapod.org/user_avatar/forum.antennapod.org/keunes/32/61_2.png) [@keunes](https://forum.antennapod.org/u/keunes)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2024, 8:12am UTC](https://forum.antennapod.org/t/introducing-mike-your-mascot/5179/15 "2024-07-26T08:12:41Z")
> [@Matth78](#): > > I donā€™t know any other app having a mascot. (except if it is already the app icon) There are a few apps actually. GitHub I already shared above; they have an [octocat](https://brand.github.com/graphic-elements/mascots). Mastodon is another, with their friendly elephant (visible on [Mastodonā€™s website](https://joinmastodon.org/)). Iā€™m sure thereā€™s more. ---
**Author:** ![ByteHamster](https://forum.antennapod.org/user_avatar/forum.antennapod.org/bytehamster/32/4041_2.png) [@ByteHamster](https://forum.antennapod.org/u/ByteHamster)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2024, 5:00pm UTC](https://forum.antennapod.org/t/introducing-mike-your-mascot/5179/18 "2024-08-01T17:00:23Z")
> [@keunes](#): > > All in all, it seems itā€™s OK to use a mascot in the app, but very sparingly. Hmm, the way I read the poll, 75% of the participants donā€™t want it in the app šŸ¤” I think the ā€œemptyā€ screens are a bit too prominent. Maybe we can use him on Echo? Or actually go full ā€œclippyā€ on April 1st ---
**Author:** ![keunes](https://forum.antennapod.org/user_avatar/forum.antennapod.org/keunes/32/61_2.png) [@keunes](https://forum.antennapod.org/u/keunes)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2024, 8:04pm UTC](https://forum.antennapod.org/t/introducing-mike-your-mascot/5179/19 "2024-08-01T20:04:18Z")
> [@ByteHamster](#): > > 75% of the participants donā€™t want it in the app šŸ¤” True, but I didnā€™t specify _how_ it would be used/showing in the app. From the comment replies, many people seemed to think ā€˜in the app equals clippy-like experienceā€™ which is not at all the case. Some folks mentioned this also: > **[Olaf Kock (@olafk@norden.social)](https://norden.social/@olafk/112819997234638655)** > > @AntennaPod@fosstodon.org the "not in the app" vote is so that he won't become a clippy-cousin. > "It seems you want to subscribe to a podcast..." > **[Gorobar (@gorobar@rollenspiel.social)](https://rollenspiel.social/@gorobar/112819935131989645)** > > @AntennaPod@fosstodon.org the principle of mascots doesn't really work for me and Mike reminds me too much of Clippy to really like him. > > But if it helps the advertising, that's great. > > Just please leave it out of the app. It's nice and tidy - any... So for me the results give a feeling of mood, but (as I wrote also as a disclaimer in the toot) we should make our own analysis and decision. So again: the way GitHub approaches it can work for AntennaPod as well. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://forum.antennapod.org/uploads/default/original/2X/3/3c7b7383b59ca5ff7c2c145444e45bd1436aa6c1.png) [@system](https://forum.antennapod.org/u/system)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2024, 5:04am UTC](https://forum.antennapod.org/t/introducing-mike-your-mascot/5179/21 "2024-11-30T05:04:31Z")
Closed on November 30, 2024, 5:04am UTC This topic was automatically closed 120 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.