Governments Debate Logo Evolution Too - Jonathan Munk
Just as corporations face the challenge of updating their logo from time to time to keep up-to-date and in touch with consumers, governments around the globe are facing the same challenge. Many municipalities are finding they need to add branding to their list of civic duties. Increasingly, national, state and local governments are adopting or updating logos to give an added sense of unity, direction and purpose to a city or country.
Bahrain, a small island off the coast of Saudi Arabia and the current home of pop star Michael Jackson, is currently passing through such a debate. Bahrain’s updated national logo will have to be approved by the Prime Minister, Parliament, and His Majesty King Hamad prior to implementation. The country has opted to stay with a traditional crest design, probably to maintain formality and symbolism in the design.
Apparently, crests are the preferred logo format among governments in the UK as well. In Driffield, England, a town Northeast of Liverpool, citizens are outraged by the possibility of losing their historic crest logo for a sans crest logo design. The change was proposed to attract more tourists and appeal to a younger demographic, but public outrage at the thought of altering tradition has put the proposal on hold until the next fiscal year.
The necessary increase in taxes to cover costs of the $1,000 logo has also caused concern among citizens. The current logo (below) does seem a bit antiquated if proud.
This is the classic struggle between tradition & heritage, and adaptation & progress. Time will tell whether “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” or “Survival of the fittest” reigns in Driffield.
(Sources: Bahrain logo: http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/Story.asp?Article=129732&Sn=BNEW&IssueID=28268;
Driffield: http://www.driffieldtoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=736&ArticleID=1283162;
Driffield Logo: http://www.driffield.co.uk/index.htm)