Hypercolor T shirts, Members Only Jackets, and Logos?
They say that everything goes in cycles. We’ve seen it in automobiles with the beginning with the PT Cruiser and on to the Dodge Challenger. We’ve even seen it in with clothes in the form of flare jeans and now skinny jeans. One place I never thought that I would see it, is with logo design.
I’m not sure when the retro movement began, but I really noticed it with the 2012 London Olympics logo. The last time I saw those colors was on my Gotcha t shirt in elementary school. Everybody remembers the hideous neon colors from the 80’s.
A few weeks ago, Art Gallery of Ontario unveiled a new logo. The new AGO logo was designed by Bruce Mau of Done by Toronto . I’m not really sure what I think of it. Sometimes when I look at the logo it gives me a headache and other times I find myself wanting to tight roll my jeans and bust out my old Members Only jacket. 
I never thought that logo design would be cyclical to the point that we went back to using colors and design like 2012 Olympics and AGO. I suppose that both are memorable for being different, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s a good logo.
What do you think?
June 26th, 2008
i think we’ve seen some corporate identities change with fasion trends over the years…
and they still do. what about the fat groovy type/fonts of the 60’s and 70’s? all the earth
colors: rust, orange, mustard, gold and brown… lots and lots of brown! now retro
psychadelic color and vector design art styled as tattoo art is the rage… i think design
trends extend into products of all kinds.
July 15th, 2008
Good.. I really appreciate.
July 15th, 2008
It seems to be great…
July 16th, 2008
Its superb…
August 26th, 2008
got a great job done! keep it up.
August 26th, 2008
This site has good information.Thanks
August 26th, 2008
woww
January 24th, 2009
firstly, the AGO logo has been posted incorrectly. The multi-coloured letters are supposed to be housed in a black square. It’s being used incorrectly all over the place. I don’t know who is responsible for approvals. I know for certain the design team has monitored AGO logo usage very closely. Marketing better get their act together when they contract out design work.
As for the logo itself… I think Bruce Mau is an arrogant idiot and insult to the design profession for building this logo and probably charging the gallery a ba-zillion dollars for a logo that simply doesn’t work/print/reproduce/function. – I know… I had to work with it for months before it’s official release and have to commend those printer/suppliers that put their best foot forward to make product/creative come out relatively well.
Bruce’s deliverables included some 6 - 10 logo variations depending on application because not one works well in more one application: 4 colour, 2 colour, one colour, emboss, textile, etching… what a disaster.
I do, however, want to wish the AGO much success. A great place, full of great people. Hard working, committed and eager to make and see it’s public happy.
Bruce Mau…? yuk
January 24th, 2009
p.s. I’ve been dying to let that cat out of the bag for ages.
feels good.
February 26th, 2010
I really quite like the Ago logo with all the funky colours but am not so keen on the 2012 logo. Thisis not really the style of logo that I do but would be fun to try soon. Thank you for sharing.