FIRST Email - Introducing Evolution of the FIRST Logo

[Jon K.]

To me the hardest part of this change, is the fact that we have recieved permission to modify the old logo, paid set up fees for getting it screenprinted and embroidered, and now we can no longer use it. The other part is that when designing a website, you now have to form the website around the new logo, because you can't modify the background, and just sticking it on a website as is, in place of the old just wouldn't look right if you dont really have any white or black spaces on your site, as in with our website http://www.rage173.org where we have no white or black spaces, we will now have to redesign the site to make the FIRST logo look correct, and we will have to change around the font, because they also what certain fonts used with the new logo.

While I understand they want to re-brand and the reasons behind it, it just seems like it has become a larger hassle then they may have thought.

[DCA Fan]

Originally Posted by Kit Gerhart

I guess I don't care much about the logo one way or the other, but there is one thing about the new one I don't understand. Why did they put lots of space between the first three letters of FIRST and then run the "S" and "T" together? They did what I was taught NOT to do when I learned to letter in drafting class. Of course, drawing with pencils is obsolete, so maybe that explains it.

I think that's one of my concerns as well. If I get used to the logo and it's new look, the lettering will still irk me. Is there a reason it's there or was that just an honest mistake that can be corrected?

[Billfred]

Originally Posted by Jon K.

To me the hardest part of this change, is the fact that we have recieved permission to modify the old logo, paid set up fees for getting it screenprinted and embroidered, and now we can no longer use it. The other part is that when designing a website, you now have to form the website around the new logo, because you can't modify the background, and just sticking it on a website as is, in place of the old just wouldn't look right if you dont really have any white or black spaces on your site, as in with our website http://www.rage173.org where we have no white or black spaces, we will now have to redesign the site to make the FIRST logo look correct, and we will have to change around the font, because they also what certain fonts used with the new logo.

While I understand they want to re-brand and the reasons behind it, it just seems like it has become a larger hassle then they may have thought.

I'm no FIRST rep, but if I'm reading page 16 right...

Originally Posted by Page 16

Do not obscure and weaken our logos by placing them on visually active background patterns, strong textures, or incompatible shades of color.

...you can put it on other colors. You just can't wash out the colors, or use a really annoying pattern. Your site oughta be alright.

[Mike Martus]

Chief Delphi has made very careful changes to their team logo over the past 9 years. So small most people did not even notice. To us that's a good thing.

It is like raising the cost of an item by a penny many times over a long period of time, people will get used to it without complaining.

I used to pay $0.19 cents for a gallon of gas (this really dates me, opps!).

Whenever change happens fast and drastic people notice and opinions surface. That is what is going on here.

My $0.02

[David Kelly]

Originally Posted by Mike Martus

Chief Delphi has made very careful changes to their team logo over the past 9 years. So small most people did not even notice. To us that's a good thing.

It is like raising the cost of an item by a penny many times over a long period of time, people will get used to it without complaining.

I used to pay $0.19 cents for a gallon of gas (this really dates me, opps!).

Whenever change happens fast and drastic people notice and opinions surface. That is what is going on here.

My $0.02

Well, I did notice the new CD logo up at the top yesterday.

[Kevin Sevcik]

Originally Posted by DCA Fan

I think that's one of my concerns as well. If I get used to the logo and it's new look, the lettering will still irk me. Is there a reason it's there or was that just an honest mistake that can be corrected?

The S-T thing is another feature to help make the logo trademark friendly. The S and T were deliberately run together much like the s and o in Microsoft. This is a unique feature of the logo's type-setting so that FIRST can jump on people that typeset something the exact same way. Or that change the typesetting of the text but use the rest of the logo.

[AmyPrib]

Change happens - and we learn to deal with it.

But if I had one constructive critique to make, I would say that just outlining the new logo with black would make it look much sharper....not as "cartoony" as others have said. It would be sort of a middle ground between new and old logos. Ironically enough, this is one of the "do not do" items in their standards document.

But looking at their outlined example in their do-not-do section.. I think it looks pretty good.. It looks pretty sharp all on black background as-is, but the outline helps it out on white.

just my opinion..

[Sidney San Martín]

When I first saw the new logo page, I was shocked. I double checked the URL to make sure it wasn't a fake page. The older logo seemed much more professional, much more precise. And while the new one might grow on me, I don't want a logo I have to get used to. I understand that they're not going back, and that complaining about changes is pointless, but I can't help but wish that an online petition might convince them to abandon the change.
But this is now FIRST. We'll learn to live with it and love it again.

But I actually like the way some of their examples of illegal modifications looked

[J@GMFlint]

Like many others I am also a bit "surprised" by the new logo.

What seems equally "surprising" is the great length that FIRST has went to provide their lists of "thou shall nots". I have seen many teams creatively employ the "old" FIRST logo into their team logo and identity tastefully and w/out damage to the integrity of the logo. It almost seems that they are being a bit over-protective, and that they clearly do not trust anyone to use the logo in any manner other than clearly specified. I know this is well within their rights to request this, I just wonder what drove them to this? Has someone been profiting from knock-off FIRST merchandise? Where are they going next? Royalty fees to use the "official" logo?

For 2005, it is not going to be financially feasible for our team to revise our banners and uniforms to fit the change -so we will not change this year, and try to come up with a financial strategy for 2006. I know they are allowing some time to change, but I wonder how long is going to be acceptable? Our jackets and jerseys are expensive but they have patches on them, so maybe we'll just remove the patch with the "old" FIRST logo altogether if they complain.

While we may not be able to affect change to FIRST' position, it is ultimately up to the teams to decided whether or not to use the logo at all. So, when it comes down to it, if it really bothers you -ask yourself/team the question: Do you really owe this "free" advertisement and exposure to FIRST at a cost to your team anyways? Going forward- Omitting the FIRST logo can be a cost savings to the team that doesn't like it the way they have dictated.

Don't like it, don't use it.

[Billfred]

According to the page, FIRST is transitioning to the new logo through December 2005. If you can use the new logo sooner, however, do use it.

[Alexander McGee]

Originally Posted by J@GMFlint

While we may not be able to affect change to FIRST' position, it is ultimately up to the teams to decided whether or not to use the logo at all. So, when it comes down to it, if it really bothers you -ask yourself/team the question: Do you really owe this "free" advertisement and exposure to FIRST at a cost to your team anyways? Going forward- Omitting the FIRST logo can be a cost savings to the team that doesn't like it the way they have dictated.

Don't like it, don't use it.

I don't think that is much in the spirit of Gracious Professionalism. FIRST wants a new logo. I don't like it either, but it will defineatelly be going on our t-shirts and banners and robot. This "free advertising" as you call it is the lifeblood of FIRST. Not having it on your various things out of spite is not the right thing to do. FIRST exists and has grown because of how much the logo means to people. Heck, I even had the old one on my rear window of my car.

Obviouslly, FIRST has some important reason for protecting their identity. I don't blame them for wanting to have everything straightened out. This is one of the very first steps needed in obtaining an ISO9001 / ISO9002 certification. Did you stop and think what that could mean for FIRST if it were accomplished? They would save soooo much money.

Things change. Whine if you must, but understand that it's not going to do any good. It's progress. It happens.

[D.Stephenson]

dislikeing the new logo, but then i dont like change...

a few years ago we were thinking of changing our team logo, but in the end we didnt, because you shouldnt change somthing that represents the team or in this case a society of robotics teams.

I liked the old one, it was clean and defined with the black edging

[ShadowKnight]

I was looking at it today actually and I like it...it actualy seems cleaner and crisper to me...

[Courtneyb1023]

I think this new logo has some kind of hypnotic mind control. The first time I looked at it, i thought it was terrible, but now after looking at it several times, i think its actually pretty cute. hmm...

[roboticsguy1988]

Yeah, at first i thought the logo was terrible, but now i think it actually looks kinda good. I still say that it needs the outline but other than that, i like it, it looks nice now. Maybe i was just used to the old one to much. Give me another week or two and i may love the new logo, instead of just liking it.