FIRST Brand Refresh

[MattRain]

Originally Posted by Greg Needel

The thing that is really bugging me about the new website right now is that they have quite literally broken every single link to any FIRST page everywhere online. Google anything about FIRST and click the link, it will be broken. They could have done a much better job when phasing out the old url and done a full sitemap re-direct instead of a full url redirect, so that all of the content still shows up.

While FIRST doesn't really care about SEO because they have some help in that regards, it will be frustrating for quite some time.

The same goes with the FTC Forums. They have a few posts, answering questions from teams, from last night, and even this morning, that are broken already...

[Alan Anderson]

Originally Posted by dag0620

On another note: thumbs up to the standardized region nomenclature and logos. It'll save districts time and effort in developing brands, and makes FIRST look much more united.

On the other hand, it conflicts with the already well-established Indiana FIRST name. I'm looking forward to finding out whether FIRST HQ's provisional "grandfathered acceptance" for the name will have to be revisited in the light of the new branding guidelines.

[GaryVoshol]

Anyone know, can you get a list of more than 100 teams? Like, how do you see all the FRC (sorry, FIRST Robotics Competition) teams in Michigan? And can the list be sorted? Default seems to be by team name.

[kmehta]

Originally Posted by Greg Needel

The thing that is really bugging me about the new website right now is that they have quite literally broken every single link to any FIRST page everywhere online. Google anything about FIRST and click the link, it will be broken. They could have done a much better job when phasing out the old url and done a full sitemap re-direct instead of a full url redirect, so that all of the content still shows up. [/url]

Yes, this is absolutely ridiculous. Cool URI's don't change.

I've also filed an issue about frclinks being broken as a result.

[Christopher149]

Originally Posted by GaryVoshol

Anyone know, can you get a list of more than 100 teams? Like, how do you see all the FRC (sorry, FIRST Robotics Competition) teams in Michigan? And can the list be sorted? Default seems to be by team name.

I'm not sure this is the answer you want, but http://frclinks.com/t/MI-USA

[Barry Bonzack]

Don't mind the lighter color blue.
I like FIRST LEGO League Jr.
I like the words FIRST being bigger.
I dont understand why bringing the square to the front of the triangle signifies "keeping up with the times"
I do like that the triangle isn't significantly taller than the circle and square.
I like the darker outline around the triangle-circle-square
The URL needed updated.
I'll never be able to stop saying "FRC" "FTC" and "FLL" but at least I can stop using it in print.

I am saddened that FTC is changing from gold to orange. Gold is a much more flattering color for the judges' polos.

.....I just realized I had a large FIRST logo embroidered on the back of my blue flight suit last year. do'h. I'm going to be hearing "That's the old logo" for years.

[Christopher149]

Originally Posted by Barry Bonzack

.....I just realized I had a large FIRST logo embroidered on the back of my blue flight suit last year. do'h. I'm going to be hearing "That's the old logo" for years.

And then it becomes nostalgic, then retro, then antique.

[James1902]

Originally Posted by Christopher149

And then it becomes nostalgic, then retro, then antique.

Barry: "Yeah, I was in FIRST way back in 2015. Back before the water game changed everything..."

[Tristan Lall]

Has it really been 11 years since the last time they changed the logo?

[Hallry]

Thinks to self: "Huh, I wonder what people thought of the now-beloved 2005-2015 logo when it was first announced?"

Originally Posted by Tristan Lall

Has it really been 11 years since the last time they changed the logo?

Looks at thread. First reply is: "Oh, my. I think that is absolutely aweful"

Yep, exactly as expected. History will repeat itself.

[Jalerre]

Originally Posted by Hallry

Thinks to self: "Huh, I wonder what people thought of the now-beloved 2005-2015 logo when it was first announced?"



Looks at thread. First reply is: "Oh, my. I think that is absolutely aweful"

Yep, exactly as expected. History will repeat itself.

The same thing will probably happen again in another 10-15 years. Everyone will say that this new logo is the best logo ever and whatever they change it to will be bad in some way. People just don't like change. While I'm partial to the old logo, I expect this new one will grow on me eventually. It would be interesting to see what the people who commented on that thread 11 years ago have to say now about the FIRST logo history...

[Shrub]

I think it's important to realize that rebranding is sometimes necessary. FIRST has gone through many changes in its program and how they "advertise" their programs to others, and are looking for a brand change that seems to embody that. After scanning the old logo change thread, I see a lot of the same responses. People don't enjoy change with something so familiar, especially something that can be so nostalgic for some like FIRST.

On the other hand, I will agree the new site has tons of broken links, but I'm glad that they did this before kickoff got any closer so they will have plenty of time to work on it.

[lethc]

I'm a fan of the old FIRST font. I also think that the new logos for FIRST's programs will grow on me.

[orangemoore]

Originally Posted by lethc

I'm a fan of the old FIRST font. I also think that the new logos for FIRST's programs will grow on me.

+1

I understand the change and I currently am not a huge fan but it will grow on me.

[GeeTwo]

Originally Posted by David Brinza

.. FRC (I'm not going to stop using the acronym!)..

Agreed. Unless a credible terrorist organization takes on an acronym of FRC, I'm not going to change all the tags on my images from #FRC3946 to #FIRSTRoboticsCompetition3946. Even then, I'd probably do something like #FIRST-RC3946.

Originally Posted by AllenGregoryIV

..I don't like that they added a map on the team information page.

As someone who spent the better part of a professional decade programming geographic information systems (GIS), [particularly the 1990s programming GRASS] and who now uses COTS GIS on a daily basis, I have to disagree. While the current level of geographic detail leaves much to be desired, geospatially enabling the information allows it to be used for a variety of purposes.

The Vornoi polygons posted a while back for the nearest regional, and the erroneous "nearest CMP" map published recently are just the tip of the iceberg in working with geospatially enabled data. With geospatially enabled data, districts and regional-hosting organizations can better identify optimal locations for new event locations. Teams can better plan their competition season. HQ can (in future years) more efficiently allocate teams between the two CMPs.

Originally Posted by Greg Needel

The thing that is really bugging me about the new website right now is that they have quite literally broken every single link to any FIRST page everywhere online.

YES, YES, YES!

Bottom line: new logo, great - fills a rectangle much better. + 2 points. Introduction of poorly geospatially enabled information, +1 point. Sudden disruption of every link into usfirst.org with zero time interval to fix, -150 points. Net, -147 points. I'd really enjoy seeing how you thought this would work out. This is probably one of those cases where no one had the guts to say what needed to be said. I can somewhat proudly say that this afternoon I literally told a roomful of people (and at least as many people on a worldwide voice virtual meeting) that there was an elephant in the room - based on someone else's evaluation. I fear that the sudden rebranding without providing at least interim links may be on a par with Coca Cola's New Coke decision.