I’ll be the first to admit I do sometimes look for opportunities to view photos of women in their underwear, but this one (opportunity not woman) fell into my lap and could not be ignored.
Obviously we could all find examples of existing logos which are similar to entries here on the OLP, and even those designs that make our shortlist. One of the OLP1 gang Thomas mailed this image today after reviewing the shortlist of designs from week 2.
What strikes me about it is not the similarity to Red Tab, but how they have used the logo. We’ve discussed this design a lot internally this week, because we all really like it. When you talk to people about it, we are all talking about using it in a similar way, and seeing this ad from Triumph its pretty much exactly how they have executed with the seam and photo realistic label.
So what do you think? Is it too similar? Triumph are an internationally renowned brand, and also sell apparel of sorts, like us. Now that you’ve seen this do you think there is enough left in design that Kimlarsen and Spreadshirt could do to make this distinctive? (red tab to blue would be an easy start I guess)
Here’s the thing:
Triumph has its logo(!) on a red label.They use that combination a lot, but the actual logo is without the red label.Because they do have their own logo, they can plaster it on almost anything they like, be it a red, blue, yellow - whatever label, material, surface etc.
What i’m trying to say is that the company typed on a red label like it has been with some logo concepts in this contest is not a (distinctive) logo.It’s type on a red label.
So the main issue is not if it’s too close to Triumph’s logo (of course it is and you bet it’s close to at least 20 others given the generic nature of “type label”) but if Spreadshirt wants to have a distinctive, unique logo or not.
See, the main function of a logo is not (just) to look pretty.It really isn’t.
hehe, I swear to every living man that I had no idea that triumph was using this way to present their logotype. Never even heard of the brand.
We believe you Kim :)
As I understand it this is just an Ad campaign executed by Triumph. That’s not _the_ Triumph logo. The idea with the tab is good, really nice. And I of course there are ways to make it distinctive enough, since the idea is strong enough.
the triumph logo is the crown, but they use the tab in ads in a very prominent way. It’s a shame I didn’t remember & detect it earlier … but surely no offense to you kim, it’s a german brand. the question to me is if your design could also work with an other color.
I’m on it…
Having seen this (and logodesigner’s erudite point, above) it does beg the question whether the words ’spreadshirt’ on a little tab is enough. Like logodesigner, I see the method of presentation as interesting and viable for the company (ie the little stitching running up the side/along the top of the site) but as a logo design it still needs some differentiation. You could take any of the more classic icons in the shortlist (like mine, or the ‘your own logo’ shirt/’s’ combo or Kreadid’s shirt/tag combo) and place it with the ’spreadshirt’ text onto a little blue(!) tab and that makes sense. To just have ’spreadshirt’ written on a little tab doesn’t strike me as enough.
Points to Kim for coming up with an exciting way of displaying the logo, but for the logo design itself, it needs more, um, design.
(imho)
Without licking any ass, I feel that I have to defend my work. I can clearly see a problem with the triumph issue. But this discussion has taken an absurd u-turn.
This discussion could soon end up in a new definition of what a logotype should be instead of looking at this specific case. Is this the best solution for Spreadshirt? That should be the core of this discussion. For example:
“Does this encourage creativity?”, “does it communicate the picture of the Service they’re providing?”.
As long it communicates the right message and gives a unique image of Spreadshirt - shouldn’t it be considered? Then ofcourse there are many secondary questions to ask, like “is it working in print and on the web, small and big” etc. But They Are Secondary.
User Centered Perspective. Let’s not forget who the logo is for.
Absolutely couldn’t agree more, and I’m not bashing your proposal (as such). As I’ve mentioned on a couple of other posts, I see this contest is constantly evolving as new/important topics crop up that are completely relevant to spreadshirt.
While we discuss what makes a logotype we are (or should be) bearing spreadshirt’s needs in mind. Considering every submission begs the following questions:
‘does the logo work?’ and
‘does the logo work for spreadshirt?’
These questions differ, but they both need to be answered in the positive by the winning logo. Again I’ve said before that it’s not my place to say whether it’s right for spreadshirt – that’s for spreadshirt to decide. And that’s reflected in the fact that you’re on the shortlist (congrats, by the way). But regarding the conversation about whether it constitutes a logo at all – well, I feel qualified in venturing an opinion.
I still believe that your submission represents an excellent way to display a spreadshirt logo – but that it’s not a logo in itself. In comparison with the Triumph pic above, we can concede two different facts:
• The Triumph logo is PLACED on a red tab
• Your spreadshirt logo is ITSELF a red tab
So the question as to whether it is successful is simple: is it right for spreadshirt to have a logo that IS a little red tab? Or is it better for them to have a logo which – as one of its varied applications – they can graphically place on a little red tab?
That’s for spreadshirt to decide.
In my opinion its obvious that Triumph as a big brand does not rely on having only a red tab, it is only using that as a nice visual thing.
I am not saying using a simple element is wrong - to defend Kim at this point. But as Logodesigner mentioned, an element like this is just all but unique and is not doing a good job as functioning as a logo, besides the aspect that its not remarkable and outstanding, since red tabs will be found in more than one ad I fear.