If we're going to be pushed in any direction of what you've already laid out, I'd go with Option 1. The thinner font choice on Option 2 immediately makes it a "no" from me. It's like I'm reading a newspaper, and I'm not really thinking "newspaper" when I think "programming". I might think of it if I think of "technology" but... Probably not. I'm also not really a fan of the {''} fella. Stick to your brand icon, even if it's the slightly changed one without the "base" for the stack. It works and it's obviously a "stack".

Option 1, while I do prefer it, reeks of the modern day need to make things big, bulky, and with a large smattering of colors that don't seem to coincide with each other. These images in particular don't really make sense to me. I don't feel like these colors scream "programming", "technology", or "knowledge" to me. Cooler colors like blues, and greys might suit the idea better. The font also allows the "f" and "l" in "Overflow" to be too close together such that they're touching which feels odd.

To round out the critique with a compliment, the line "Knowledge doesn't loop, it stacks" is really neat. I like that a lot.

I'm also going to echo a bit of what Journeyman Geek said in his answer. I'm really concerned about putting everything under the "Stack Overflow" umbrella. I think it can work, but you have to do it right. A big part of that is ensuring that the non-tech sites have their identity intact. For a long time the non-tech sites have felt like their concerns have gone by the wayside in favor of Stack Overflow's needs. Some of that makes sense, SO is massive by comparison, but that feeling will be exacerbated if you don't take the time to ensure they make sense and feel at home under the new umbrella.

I think we're in agreement that it's a bit difficult for a newcomer to understand that there is "Stack Overflow" and then there is "Stack Exchange", and that the former lives under the umbrella of the latter, except the company's name is Stack Overflow, Inc. and not Stack Exchange, Inc. Did you get a headache reading that explanation? Was it even correct? Who knows anymore. Resolving that makes sense, it's just super important that you do it right, and not haphazardly.

If we're going to be pushed in any direction of what you've already laid out, I'd go with Option 1. The thinner font choice on Option 2 immediately makes it a "no" from me. It's like I'm reading a newspaper, and I'm not really thinking "newspaper" when I think "programming". I might think of it if I think of "technology" but... Probably not. I'm also not really a fan of the {''} fella. Stick to your brand icon, even if it's the slightly changed one without the "base" for the stack. It works and it's obviously a "stack".

Option 1, while I do prefer it, reeks of the modern day need to make things big, bulky, and with a large smattering of colors that don't seem to coincide with each other. These images in particular don't really make sense to me. I don't feel like these colors scream "programming", "technology", or "knowledge" to me. Cooler colors like blues, and greys might suit the idea better. The font also allows the "f" and "l" in "Overflow" to be too close together such that they're touching (which is called a "ligature" I guess, TIL) which feels odd.

To round out the critique with a compliment, the line "Knowledge doesn't loop, it stacks" is really neat. I like that a lot.

I'm also going to echo a bit of what Journeyman Geek said in his answer. I'm really concerned about putting everything under the "Stack Overflow" umbrella. I think it can work, but you have to do it right. A big part of that is ensuring that the non-tech sites have their identity intact. For a long time the non-tech sites have felt like their concerns have gone by the wayside in favor of Stack Overflow's needs. Some of that makes sense, SO is massive by comparison, but that feeling will be exacerbated if you don't take the time to ensure they make sense and feel at home under the new umbrella.

I think we're in agreement that it's a bit difficult for a newcomer to understand that there is "Stack Overflow" and then there is "Stack Exchange", and that the former lives under the umbrella of the latter, except the company's name is Stack Overflow, Inc. and not Stack Exchange, Inc. Did you get a headache reading that explanation? Was it even correct? Who knows anymore. Resolving that makes sense, it's just super important that you do it right, and not haphazardly.

If we're going to be pushed in any direction of what you've already laid out, I'd go with Option 1. The thinner font choice on Option 2 immediately makes it a "no" from me. It's like I'm reading a newspaper, and I'm not really thinking "newspaper" when I think "programming". I might think of it if I think of "technology" but... Probably not. I'm also not really a fan of the {''} fella. Stick to your brand icon, even if it's the slightly changed one without the "base" for the stack. It works and it's obviously a "stack".

Option 1, while I do prefer it, reeks of the modern day need to make things big, bulky, and with a large smattering of colors that don't seem to coincide with each other. These images in particular don't really make sense to me. I don't feel like these colors scream "programming", "technology", or "knowledge" to me. Cooler colors like blues, and greys might suit the idea better. The font also allows the "f" and "l" in "Overflow" to be too close together such that they're touching which feels odd.

To round out the critique with a compliment, the line "Knowledge doesn't loop, it stacks" is really neat. I like that a lot.

I'm also going to echo a bit of what Journeyman Geek said in his answer. I'm really concerned about putting everything under the "Stack Overflow" umbrella. I think it can work, but you have to do it right. A big part of that is ensuring that the non-tech sites have their identity intact. For a long time the non-tech sites have felt like their concerns have gone by the wayside in favor of Stack Overflow's needs. Some of that makes sense, SO is massive by comparison, but that feeling will be exacerbated if you don't take the time to ensure they make sense and feel at home under the new umbrella.

I think we're in agreement that it's a bit difficult for a newcomer to understand that there is "Stack Overflow" and then there is "Stack Exchange", and that the former lives under the umbrella of the latter, except the company's name is Stack Overflow, Inc. and not Stack Exchange, Inc. Did you get a headache reading that explanation? Was it even correct? Who knows anymore.

If we're going to be pushed in any direction of what you've already laid out, I'd go with Option 1. The thinner font choice on Option 2 immediately makes it a "no" from me. It's like I'm reading a newspaper, and I'm not really thinking "newspaper" when I think "programming". I might think of it if I think of "technology" but... Probably not. I'm also not really a fan of the {''} fella. Stick to your brand icon, even if it's the slightly changed one without the "base" for the stack. It works and it's obviously a "stack".

Option 1, while I do prefer it, reeks of the modern day need to make things big, bulky, and with a large smattering of colors that don't seem to coincide with each other. These images in particular don't really make sense to me. I don't feel like these colors scream "programming", "technology", or "knowledge" to me. Cooler colors like blues, and greys might suit the idea better. The font also allows the "f" and "l" in "Overflow" to be too close together such that they're touching which feels odd.

To round out the critique with a compliment, the line "Knowledge doesn't loop, it stacks" is really neat. I like that a lot.

I'm also going to echo a bit of what Journeyman Geek said in his answer. I'm really concerned about putting everything under the "Stack Overflow" umbrella. I think it can work, but you have to do it right. A big part of that is ensuring that the non-tech sites have their identity intact. For a long time the non-tech sites have felt like their concerns have gone by the wayside in favor of Stack Overflow's needs. Some of that makes sense, SO is massive by comparison, but that feeling will be exacerbated if you don't take the time to ensure they make sense and feel at home under the new umbrella.

I think we're in agreement that it's a bit difficult for a newcomer to understand that there is "Stack Overflow" and then there is "Stack Exchange", and that the former lives under the umbrella of the latter, except the company's name is Stack Overflow, Inc. and not Stack Exchange, Inc. Did you get a headache reading that explanation? Was it even correct? Who knows anymore. Resolving that makes sense, it's just super important that you do it right, and not haphazardly.