Comments on: 2012 olympic “brand launch”

By: Queen of Suburbia

Queen of Suburbia — Sun, 10 Jun 2007 04:57:23 +0000

I’m reminded of the Sex Pistols….not sure that was in the brief!
Not keen on the animation but much of hysteria around the logo is way over the top. It’s expensive and it’s not wonderful but I’ve seen worse!
Danni

By: Darcy Moen

Darcy Moen — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 15:03:04 +0000

Now they be animating the logo!
*WARNING* NSFW (not safe for work)
http://theospark.blogspot.com/2007/06/london-olympics-logo.html
‘living the brand’ I would say.

By: Warwick

Warwick — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 12:55:42 +0000

If you think the London logo is bad…check out the logo for our 2010 Vancouver games. It’s an Inukshuk – a native rock structure that is mainly seen in the North. Not only is it a horrible, cheesy, no-style logo, it also gives the West Coast natives a huge smack in the face. We have so much great West Coast native art (totem poles, masks, etc.)…why did we have to use a mainly Inuit icon?

By: David Armano

David Armano — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 12:02:55 +0000

Hugh,
Anyone who reads my blog has probably figured out that I love design but am not a design snob. With that context, I have to tell you that I’m stunned this logo was chosen. My beef with it aside from an aesthetic dislike is that it focuses on the wrong things like:
“The new emblem is dynamic, modern and flexible. It will work with new technology and across traditional and new media networks.”
what??
I’m lost. I thought this was supposed to be about the Olympic spirit and London coming together in 2012.
I could be wrong here, but I think something went awry in the design process.
I wrote about it on L+E if you’re interested…

By: Hrishi

Hrishi — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 09:41:48 +0000

That logo is no doubt ugly, but Hugh does make two valid points. An image made to please everyone and their cousin must have died before inception itself. Given the scale of the event, it really doesn’t even matter what the logo is.
There’s no point in pretending that there’s one voice when so many different people have been and are going to be involved in creating this ‘brand’(if thats’s what they choose to call themselves). Fundamentally, the Olympics are about sports and I don’t think any sportsperson would give much attention to this.
Anyway, they say it’s got in much more money than was spent on it. Of course, no one’s going to look at the logo once the media flames die out. Plus, half a decade should be enough to forget all about it.

By: alan p

alan p — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 04:13:13 +0000

Agree re letting the people have a go at designing the logo for the “people’s Olympics” – if this is what the pro talent can do, give me user generated design anytime

By: hugh macleod

hugh macleod — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 23:56:14 +0000

Al, given the vast myriad of special interest groups, committees and quango’s the logo designers had to pass through, and get out in one piece, it’s amazing a logo got made at all.
Secondly, I doubt there is any logo that people would’ve liked…

By: Al Robertson

Al Robertson — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 23:40:25 +0000

Huge missed opportunity for me – looking at the quality of people-generated logos on the BBC website, they should have run some sort of national ‘create the logo’ competition. Great PR, buy in from all and sundry, etc… as it is, for me it says unimaginative, bureaucratic, overinvolved client. Dome II, anyone?

By: John Dodds

John Dodds — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 22:07:32 +0000

When any scheme starts going on about “The Brand”, “Inclusivity”, “Excitement”, “Passion” etc, it all gets more than a bit cheesy.

By: John Dodds

John Dodds — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 21:10:21 +0000

It’s dead in the water – associated with ridicule in the public mind. No wonder when people like this are involved.
Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell commented: “This is an iconic brand that sums up what London 2012 is all about – an inclusive, welcoming and diverse Games that involves the whole country. It takes our values to the world beyond our shores, acting both as an invitation and an inspiration. This is not just a marketing logo, but a symbol that will become familiar, instantly recognisable and associated with our Games in so many ways during the next five years.”

By: cp

cp — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 20:31:19 +0000

Hugh, I agree with you more often than not…. but… man, that logo is atrocious. mmmm…. maybe this is all part of the evil Blue Monster Microsoft gig…. launching a logo on the world that was clearly designed in the original version of MS Paint, etc.

By: Terinea Weblog

Terinea Weblog — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 17:38:52 +0000

What do you think about the 2012 logo they released yesterday? http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/6719805.stm

By: Slava

Slava — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 07:20:31 +0000

That’s great Hugh, but let’s get to the juicy part… What do you think about the logo?