FIRST Brand Refresh

[Hallry]

From the official FIRST Robotics Competition Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/FIRSTRoboti...72664062798892

We’ve got a new look! FIRST has launched a new FIRST brand complete with a redesigned website, new url, and updated logos! Every so often, great brands need to be refreshed and updated to stay current with the times and to help enhance their recognition and awareness. That’s what we are doing with the FIRST logo, icon, colors, fonts, and website. Learn more about these exciting new changes from FIRST President, Don Bossi.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTQqBzynVdI

Besides for the logo change, they also did away with the acronym logos, they adjusted the colors of each program, changed the name of Jr. FLL to FIRST Lego League Jr., and changed usfirst.org to firstinspires.org

New Logo:


EDIT: Here's a list of all the changes:

[notmattlythgoe]

I actually like the old font better. Also, not a fan of the new website name.

However, I do like the subtle changes in the logo design and the switch to a consistent logo across all of the areas.

[Christopher149]

I see the new website launched, though the dashboard still refers to Junior FIRST Lego League (not FIRST Lego League Jr.), and the YouTube channel still has the old logo. Do we know when they will release all the new branding and graphics on the website?

Edit: Also, the Programs>FIRST [program] menu now brings up a submenu for About, For Teams, Game & Season, etc. so you don't to click so much as earlier with the beta site.

Edit2: About>Press Room>Brand Standards. And it looks like they've announced the next FLL game name: Animal Allies.

[wilsonmw04]

Small changes. I like the FLL Jr. change. I always wondered about usfirst.org. It seemed odd for a global organization.

[Christopher149]

Originally Posted by wilsonmw04

Small changes. I like the FLL Jr. change. I always wondered about usfirst.org. It seemed odd for a global organization.

Well, they are (still?) officially incorporated as The United States Foundation for the Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (USFIRST).

[jaredhk]

Originally Posted by Christopher149

Well, they are (still?) officially incorporated as The United States Foundation for the Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (USFIRST).

I got a response from FIRST on Facebook. Basically, they are officially the one with foundation but they would like to be called just the "short version."

Good question! The legal name of FIRST is “United States Foundation for the Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology.” However, the organization does business as, and should be referred to as, “FIRST.” FIRST is an acronym standing for “For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology.”

From Facebook

[Rick]

Good thing we just got a banner printed and 100 sponsorship packets made with the old logos.

I feel like this would have been better received if done in a summer month but at the same time understand the issues with rebranding.

[PayneTrain]

Originally Posted by Rick

Good thing we just got a banner printed and 100 sponsorship packets made with the old logos.

I feel like this would have been better received if done in a summer month but at the same time understand the issues with rebranding.

It was teased during the Stronghold teaser next month, and the rebrand itself probably won't be really present until Champs.

[Greg Needel]

Originally Posted by Rick

Good thing we just got a banner printed and 100 sponsorship packets made with the old logos.

I feel like this would have been better received if done in a summer month but at the same time understand the issues with rebranding.

I wouldn't worry about it so much, up until last year there were still sponsors using the old old logo on their websites. I presume there will be a year or so of overlap for printed materials, even within FIRST as it would be really wasteful just to throw them out.


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.

Thankfully this link still works, which is the one I use 99% of the time. https://my.usfirst.org/myarea/index....mber&year=2016

[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...

[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.

[Taylor]

For Inspiration & Recognition of Science and Technology Inspires dot org.

Add this one to the list of RAS Syndromes like MSDS Sheets, LED Lights, PIN Number, RAGE Event, ATM Machine, AC Current, LCD Display, HIV Virus, LAN Network, RF Frequency, and BBS Systems.

[Jared Russell]

Originally Posted by Taylor

For Inspiration & Recognition of Science and Technology Inspires dot org.

Add this one to the list of RAS Syndromes like MSDS Sheets, LED Lights, PIN Number, RAGE Event, ATM Machine, AC Current, LCD Display, HIV Virus, LAN Network, RF Frequency, and BBS Systems.

Is there anything more inspiring than inspiration? The answer is no; there is not.

[bkahl]

My biggest grievance is the stress put upon moving to the new logo, all while Don Bossi is wearing the "old" logo, sitting in front of a large poster of the "old" logo.

How can we look as "One Brand" when the production of the video itself is still using both brands?

[maths222]

As a red-green color blind individual, I really dislike the color changes. At a distance, the old colors were easy to distinguish. Now, for me, FTC, FLL, and JrFLL kind of blend together if I don't look very closely.