Posts by Bart Janssen
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So I thought I'd look for other city logos ... it turns out to be harder than I thought.
I can't really find one for Paris ... there are a bunch of Paris logos but nothing that I can find that is specifically for the city government.
New York is a problem. There is a the iconic I heart NY but that doesn't appear to be anything to do with the actual city government. The NY city sanitation dept has a cool logo , but that appears to be a historical thing. The NYC.gov thing in the top left might be the city logo but it's seem more like a logo for the web page.
Rome apparently ran a competition for a logo in 2009 but I can't find the winning logo. Not being able to read italian may be an issue though. 40000 Euro prize sounds good though.
I think the little pink blobs after the name Tokyo on this web page might be their logo. Maybe it means something important to the citizens but it doesn't mean much to me.
Closer to home I think the funny anchor in an orange circle thing is the Sydney city logo but they seem more concerned about other peoples logos on their banners.
So either this logo thing for cities is really hard or maybe cities don't really suit logos.
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but if the city decides it does, then a good designer will simply say "okay, so what are the requirements...
That's not quite my point. By one definition of a logo I do believe we need a city logo ... specifically City Council in a standard font/colour, typed on things the council does.
You do NOT need a designer for that. And most folks don't give a rats arse if it isn't perfect.
In essence what I'm saying is cheap is just fine in this instance because frankly I don't believe it matters much.
One thing that NZers often take pride in is our creative community and how both art and design is well developed across a broad spectrum of amateur and professional forms.
Absolutely! I love good design. I think there are things that can benefit from design and for which it is worthwhile spending our creative juices eg a waterfront recreation area.
I also think there are things that designers have created a niche for which there is no real benefit to society eg logos in general and government department logos in particular. Fine to play at making a logo for fun but to pay real money for it???
James
This anti-artistry has tinges of the anti-intellectual movement to it. "What do the experts know? Bah, I could do that!"
Are you suggesting a council logo is art? I think you are creating a straw man here. Most of the posters here have a very strong appreciation of art (much stronger than my own). The point is a friggen council logo does not need to be art, if it has any purpose it is to identify things the council does and simple words do that just fine.
But why stop at singing or cooking or graphic design? Why not let everyone have a crack at being an architect? Or an engineer? Or a neurosurgeon.
I just want a) my rates spent more effectively (IMO) and b) our designers using their creative skills on something that matters. It is because I value the designers we have in NZ that I want them using their powers for good not evil.
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Because clearly it's a zero sum game. All money for providing quality services by the Auckland Council is being redirected to a $10,000 logo competition.
Which I agree is cheap. More than I would spend but still not too bad.
But the OP wanted a "professional" to do it. Any guesses what that might cost.
The real question is "why can't all those building have Auckland City painted on them and be done with it?" see, no logo needed really.
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would it be too much to ask that it's one created by professionals?
Is this dismissal of design as a professionLet me be clear. I think design is tremendously important. Good design makes a huge difference to how people live and the enjoyment they have in their activities.
My sarcasm and loathing is directed at logos and people who's contribution to society is the perfect squiggle. To waste time effort money and creative designers on such nonsense makes me go argh.
Design as a profession, yes.
Logo design ... er not for me thanks, but feel free to spend your rates on it if you like.
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The idea that logos are only for organisations that are selling things misses the point.
No the idea that a logo is important misses the point.
The idea that a logo must be changed regularly misses the point.
The idea that a logo must be perfect misses the point.
The idea that a logo will make up for inadequacies in real services misses the point.
Yeah it's nice if people can recognize that service x is actually provided by the council, but dear god first you have to get service x working and have money for it. That is the point.
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I'm ever so glad the council is taking the logo seriously because good grief we can't possibly manage to run a city without a logo.
Of course the designer is absolutely right leaving such an important decision to amateurs is a disaster waiting to happen. I, as the author obviously does, believe that after this process the new logo will fail to result in a well managed and functional city and hence will require professional remediation.
The time for protest is now - gird your loins gather all your resources to protest this critical decision failure.
No effort is more important than ensuring a city logo is created, by professionals, that can carry us through the next century.
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I nominate Fraser Gardyne for a seat on the B ark. -
I think we should choose the cheapest and quickest option possible. Don't waste time and effort on planning or design, nobody bothers looking at any of the other things we've built so why bother making this thing look good anyway. So what if there aren't enough toilets, it's a harbour after all. Who cares if it's a bit rough around the edges, it's part of the charm of being in a south pacific island and it's only for Rugby watchers and they'll be too pissed to notice.
Cheap No8 wire options are what we are famous for in NZ and in Auckland in particular. Who cares if it only lasts a few months after the world cup no-one will want to hang out down there after that anyway so spending more on the building isn't worth it.
Besides every dollar we spend on this thing is another hip replacement we can't afford right?
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You need more than three dolars in your pocket for that.
pi dollars even
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but I've got the Power, to vote.
No
You don't.
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said in total jest of course, with tongue firmly in cheek
So you admit ACT's plans for the management of one quarter of New Zealand are a total joke?