Supercity logo a no-go—for some
With all the hoopla that has surrounded the new Supercity (and let’s face it, it has not been all good hoopla by any shot), it seemed like a smart idea on the part of the Auckland Transition Agency to invite a disgruntled Auckland population to play a creative role in their city’s new future identity, by creating the new Supercity logo. But while budding (and perhaps not so budding) artists put their creative hands to task, one group is creating not a logo, but a fuss. The Designers Institute of New Zealand (DINZ) has spoken out against the competition today, saying they are both disappointed and concerned that the design profession was not consulted on a matter of such importance.
The new logo is critical because it will represent the city on the national and international stage, according to DINZ president Sean McGarry.
He says the competition “undermines the value of a quality strategy-led design process”.
“The lack of vision, professional engagement and consultation with this whole process will make us look rather foolish when the eyes of the world turn to New Zealand next year.”
Brand strategist and DINZ member Brian Richards, says the competition turns the logo into something of a carnival with “…no central ethos or brand to explain the desired outcome.”
Another criticism by DINZ is that there is no professional branding expert or professional designer on the judging panel. Panel members include Hamish Keith, artist Dick Frizzell, Waitakere Mayor Bob Harvey and designer Karen Walker.
DINZ chief executive Cathy Veninga says she is concerned about what the competition will do to the credibility of New Zealand as a “design-led innovation nation” and went on to call the competition a “lost opportunity”.
Here at StopPress we don’t like to miss any opportunities, so with that in mind (and with some long, careful and diligent consultation with the StopPress team), we came up with our very own Supercity logo. Judging by this masterpiece, we think we have a pretty good shot at taking out the prize.
Martin Bell
February 19, 2010
I like it! Evocative of dark and mysterious Rangitoto with a plume of smoke the harbinger of impending doom. Or is it the harbour bridge with a majestic but wayward Cumulus drifting through the central span. Oh hang on. It's a snail.
Classic!
February 19, 2010
Sooo Auckland! The iconic landmark Rangitoto representing prosperity (because if you can see it from your house..chh ching!) The Koru (new beginnings/growth) because in Auckland, you can grow wealth and lose it and start again, and the cute little antenna's on the tip because eventually Telecom will have one there so "you better get used to it!!!" I don't see a snail?
John V
February 22, 2010
I think DINZ needs to focus on what's important, and Richards and McGarry need to read with a bit more care.
The competition's to design a logo for the new Auckland Council – it's not to create a destination brand for the city.
While I agree the logo design job would be best done by a specialist, it’s not uncommon for “design competitions” to be run for logo development projects (companies sometimes invite staff to participate in similar kinds of competitions, and then use that input to help brief a professional design company who may or may not build on those concepts). It’s hardly life-threatening surely.
In my view we’re running the risk making a big deal about something that would have been far better dealt with by DINZ face to face with the Auckland Transition Agency than in the public arena.
My personal feeling is that DINZ is beginning to look rather petulant, and our design industry somewhat lacking in self belief and confidence.
Is it such a bad thing to ask stakeholders with or without formal design training to have a go? Do you really think this will undermine the value of high quality professional design work? Are designers the final arbiters of everything creative? I don’t think so.
The biggest threat to the design profession is the poor quality of work produced by an increasing number of so called professional designers. It lowers peoples perception of the value and quality of good graphic design, and limits the ability of the profession to make a strategic contribution to the national economy as a consequence.
That’s an issue I’d rather DINZ grappled with rather than getting on its soapbox about a logo competition that will no doubt be enjoyed by many schools and students, and even the odd design company, for a couple of weeks in an entire lifetime.
Alan Galbraith
February 23, 2010
I'm chuffed that John V has clarified the brief on this one. Why anyone thinks a city needs a logo is beyond me. I can't think of any major city that has one, or if it does, I can't remember it. Iconic landmark, yes. Logo, oh no. Personally, I'm already logo'd up to the bloody eyeballs.
Red
February 23, 2010
Give that man a DB. John V you've hit the nail well and truly on the head.
John V
February 23, 2010
Red, the perfect post!
Martin Bell
February 23, 2010
I'm with you Alan. Off the top of my head I can only think of one logo ("I heart NY") that is an iconic and instantly identifiable emblem for a city. And that's not really a logo at all, is it?
Su Yin Khoo
February 23, 2010
First ominous sign of this contest is having to explain what a logo is in the FAQs:
"If you want to know more about what a logo is and what it is used for, there are many resources available on the internet. You might like to start your search at wikipedia.org"
Doug & Co
February 23, 2010
Sounds like the boys and girls at Doug & Dinzdale Designs Inc. are getting a bit concerned that they wont be able to make their Vespa payments this month, in fear that they might loose out an incredibly expensive publicly funded "we must have a new logo for the Super-City project". What ever happened to that frayed orange "A" logo that we have just finished paying for, and didn;t use? Cant we change its colour, add a few starbursts from the Auckland City logo debacle, and voila!
Vincent Heeringa
February 23, 2010
Personally, I liked the logo promoted by Mike Hutcheson when he was at Saatchis: "Auckland, eh?" accompanied by an 'A' shape formed by the hands.
Whatever happened to that, Mike?
Alan Galbraith
February 23, 2010
Please don't encourage Hutch. This is a serious matter.
Vincent Heeringa
February 23, 2010
That's Mr Hutch to you