Behind the scenes

Etymology

Gromox ([ˈɡɹɔ̝.mɔks], [ˈɡʁo.mɔks]): A made-up word that was chosen based on a set of initial constraints: max. 3 syllables, preferably CV patterned, and the domain must be free. It would be great if one or more of the letters 'M', 'G', 'O', 'E'/'X' — because mail, groupware, office, exchanging — could make an appearance. It is not meant as an acronym, and if you find an acronym expansion—well, good for you. On the topic of lettercasing: just like Linux (the software) or Ottawa (the city), Gromox falls into the category of proper nouns.

That bird

Many mail-related software has some bird reference. As kind of a running gag, Gromox uses one as well. It does not depict any particular one species, however the drawing started off with a hawk's head. With little space and little resolution, the body structure inevitably veered to resemble a pigeon's (unintentional reference to messaging, again). Color in the first draft was graded yellow/orange, but the contrast to a light background was low, so a mountain bluebird had to stand in. The black line and red beak are based on the blue ringed parakeet.