I popped down to Tralagar Square today to take a look at the Olympic Clock.
It's been vandalised, presumably during the march on Saturday. Unless it's all the people from the comments thread on the Creative Review blog who really hate the logo.
I'm pretty strongly against vandalism. It's what stops me from liking graffiti as much as other graphic designers (NB I'm not saying graffiti is necessarily vandalism , that's a whole other blog post for another time). But in a weird way these paint splashes make the clock look better. They almost look part of the branding.
Good colour choices. Makes it feeling exciting. Adds movement.
The clock itself is actually pretty dull. The steel seems old and tired. The shape ought to be exciting but it doesn;t come across that way. It doesn't really fit in Trafalgar Square. It feels small, both physically and conceptually.
But that's the problem with this damn logo isn't it - all the executions are weak. I love that logo I really do, but it' so hard when all the supporting stuff seems to lack the energy and boldness of the original concept.
And the typography. Jesus Christ the typography.
I really just cannot warm to that logo. It maddens me when they use this, I think it's the Paralympic logo, next to it:
http://www.bis.gov.uk/~/media/BISCore/corporate/images/O/olympics-2012-logo.ashx?h=155&w=250&as=1
Apart from a colour change, there are no distinct differences between the two, I'm continually confused as it what it's for or what its relevance is in context of whatever it's been shown on.
Despite the fact I know what the logo says, I still get confused when I look at it. I suppose that's partially down to the joys of dyslexia, but I do find my oddly wired brain a good way to judge clarity in design.
I had a few friends in the protest who have generally been involved in recent political actions, they referenced a good quote: 'Riot Is the Voice of the Unheard'.
I get that - when 1 million people peacefully walked the streets over Iraq, and were ignored what chance do the peaceful protesters of recent have to be heard?
I very much disagree with violence (as in, towards a human being) but rioting and vandalism with a political drive - I'm ok with that.
Posted by: Lily_dart | Mar 28, 2011 at 20:56
Anything 'installed' that needs a load of barriers around it...fail! It immediately detracts from the item and its surroundings, so what is the point of 'installing' it? You're right, it doesn't quite fit where it's situated, and the paint actually looks part of it in a crazy way.
My favourite comment: "And the typography. Jesus Christ the typography." - LOL! Well said. It's got a forced style of energy that just doesn't gel with the logo. Still, it could be worse. Personally I don't like the logo, on it's own I don't think it works and it's like a sad 80s throwback - but I was hoping the promised executions of it would all bring it to life and give it the energy it implies. Some do. This one definitely doesn't :(
Posted by: minxlj | Mar 29, 2011 at 14:50
Gotta be honest, I kind of like the paint splatters too. And well, you can still read the digits on the clock for the most part, so no harm done, right?
Posted by: Ashley | Mar 29, 2011 at 22:25
- "Guys, the tagline typography is awful..."
- "Don't worry, there's Futura underneath, so everything's gonna be alright"
Posted by: Minimaloid | Mar 30, 2011 at 12:56
" jesus christ the typography " love it !
i agree to me its a total mess !
i also do not agree with vandalism towards design , but terrible design ,oi ! weres the paint ? lol :)
Posted by: Woodstock69 Dollie | Mar 30, 2011 at 16:06
Have to agree Ben, I think the paint splats seem absolutely bang on, what amazingly brand aware vandals. To be honest I'm really starting to like the logo, at least it has balls, I saw it next to the BMW logo the other day and while BMW probably hated the association, I thought it actually enlivened their brand. Completely agree about the type though, it makes me want to weep, some of the new adverts on the tube are really nice, well composed, lively and balanced, but then that type is smeared across the middle like a collection of sickly turds.
Posted by: TinderandSparks | Mar 31, 2011 at 10:37
The clock ended up being what triggered the nastiness that night. Some guy tried to put a sticker on it, which he got arrested for, which he fought against and then suddenly I found myself thrown 6 feet to my left by one of the roughly 100 police approaching. I left as the rest of the night turned nasty.
Not much about the design, but that's my relationship to it.
Posted by: James Darling | Apr 26, 2011 at 01:03