FIRST Email - Introducing Evolution of the FIRST Logo

[Travis Hoffman]

Hello. This is an important announcement for all FIRST Robotics Competition teams. Please share this information with the rest of your team in a timely manner.

Greetings Teams:

As we strive to build and maintain a powerful visual identify for FIRST, we are pleased to introduce an evolution of the FIRST logo.

Full details are available on our website at http://www.usfirst.org/about/news/newlogo2004.htm including:

• Q&A
• Artwork (jpeg and eps formats)
• Standards

*************************************************
Here's the new logo...

[sanddrag]

Warning. Preliminary response. I have not read the link yet.

Oh, my. I think that is absolutely aweful

I will edit this post when I read the link

EDIT: I have read that link and I still stand behind what I have said. The old logo looked professional. It had class. This looks like something from a cartoon. I don't like it. Personally, I may make use of the entire 12 month transistion period, if you know what I mean.

[Brandon Martus]

Originally Posted by T. Hoffman

Hello. This is an important announcement for all FIRST Robotics Competition teams. Please share this information with the rest of your team in a timely manner.

Greetings Teams:

As we strive to build and maintain a powerful visual identify for FIRST, we are pleased to introduce an evolution of the FIRST logo.

Full details are available on our website at http://www.usfirst.org/about/news/newlogo2004.htm including:

• Q&A
• Artwork (jpeg and eps formats)
• Standards

*************************************************
Here's the new logo...

The S and T look .. off. Maybe its just an illusion..

[LBK Rules]

Not to hurt anyone's feelings, but it's just plain uninviting, and bland.

I really can't think of a better way to put it.

I am usual not so critical, but I just don't like the logo, and I think it was a wrong move to change it just before a season. It should have been released during the championship.

[Joel J]

I have to say I don't really like this evolution at all. Not because it is different, but because it is ugly. No big deal, its just a logo.

[GeorgeTheEng]

I have to agree, the logo is a rather poor substitute for the existing one. On a white background, the circle fades out of existence without an outline.

[sanddrag]

Originally Posted by GeorgeTheEng

I have to agree, the logo is a rather poor substitute for the existing one. On a white background, the circle fades out of existence without an outline.

I hadn't even noticed that. I guess it just shows that with how often I see that shape, my brain kind of just fills in the missing lines.

[Pat Fairbank]

Originally Posted by GeorgeTheEng

I have to agree, the logo is a rather poor substitute for the existing one. On a white background, the circle fades out of existence without an outline.

Originally Posted by Kevin Sevcik

I think the kerning is a bit off. The S and T are too close together and it makes them look like they are seperate from FIR. Actually, from the blown up picture, I think the kerning needed to be tweaked on all the letters a bit. The I and R look too seperated as well.

Originally Posted by Squirrelrock

Also, the font that FIRST is written in could be changed for the better, and the spacing of the letters could be worked on a little bit.

I would not be too quick to criticize the design quality of the new logo. I just finished reading the Logo Standards Guide and I suggest everyone else who has an issue with the design of logo do the same. The new logo was definitely not something that was thrown together in a couple of hours or even a couple of weeks - that document alone must have taken ages to design. (Does anyone else think it odd that the restrictions on logo use and modification are so strict, especially in comparison to previous regulations?)

According to the document, "the lettering is specifically designed and cannot be recreated by any conventional typesetting methods." If the kerning seems "a bit off", it was clearly designed to be that way.

That being said, I have to agree that at first sight, the visual appeal of the logo is somewhat underwhelming, but as Jessica Boucher and Ken Leung are wisely suggesting, I'm going to give it a while before judging.

[rocknthehawk]

i don't really like it.....MAYBE THE HINT IS HIDDEN IN THE NEW LOGO!!!!

[Koko Ed]

It looks squished up and crowded.

[Kevin Sevcik]

Originally Posted by Brandon Martus

The S and T look .. off. Maybe its just an illusion..

I think the kerning is a bit off. The S and T are too close together and it makes them look like they are seperate from FIR. Actually, from the blown up picture, I think the kerning needed to be tweaked on all the letters a bit. The I and R look too seperated as well.

I'm not entirely sure why the logo needed to change, but I think this is an attempt to "modernize" the FIRST logo. I think the original had a kind of classic look with the line art style. I also think the original had 15 years of advertising and recognition behind it, so a change to it should have been a bit smaller. Then again, I'm just an opinionated ex-student, so I don't know the logic that actually went into this decision.

Mostly, I think this will be tough on teams and RDs that have a goodly amount of material with the old logo that probably isn't going to get replaced in the next year. Plus, this design looks a little rougher on people that screen print T-shirts. The gray is just one more color and you'll have a heck of a time lining it up with the other colors.

I just realized something. This means no more classic gray FIRST shirts. I guess I'll have to hoard and cherish the limited supply I have at the moment.

[Elgin Clock]

I FEAR CHANGE!!!!!

Just kidding.. But seriously, I hope no one spent a lot of time on this new one. It looks more aimed at a kid's competition. Like, Maybe FLL?

Also, as a former team advisor said about the Enron logo: It's feng shui is off. It is standing precariously on only one tip. The tip from the Square, and it looks like it will fall.... As did Enron's logo, and thus corporation.

CLASSICS NEVER DIE!!

I wonder if those are gonna be on sale now? w00t!

http://www.logoloc.com/first/13330.html

[Rich Wong]

OMG!

*breathing stopped*.......................................... ..*breathing starts again*

Ah.....
it is different...
it's a little retro looking...
Ah.... it has greater international appeal! Qui? Si? Ho? Da?

[Courtneyb1023]

maybe they are only doing this to make us realise how great the other logo was. They'll use this new one for a while, then go back to the old one that everyone knows and loves, and call it "retro"...i am going to choose to beleive that...

[Kevin Sevcik]

Originally Posted by Courtneyb1023

maybe they are only doing this to make us realise how great the other logo was. They'll use this new one for a while, then go back to the old one that everyone knows and loves, and call it "retro"...i am going to choose to beleive that...

So the new logo is like New Coke?