I checked out the following post about a bad logo that got corrected within a few weeks’ time: http://www.jay-han.com/2008/04/22/small-changes-big-difference/. But that led me to look for other bad logos. I found a goodie page full of them at a real estate blog of all places! Check out http://blog.sellsiusrealestate.com/logos/when-logos-go-bad/2007/04/19/.
The logo from the first Web page mentioned, found by Jayhan, is not so bad. The logo was for Bank Islam, with the “k” of “bank” used stylistically to try to form a crescent shape around “Islam.” Many people probably didn’t get the fact that the logo was using a “k” as a design element, which is why it was changed. The “k” didn’t look enough like a “k” so the logo at first looked like something for Bani Islam.
The logos in the second Web site mentioned are much funnier. Many of them include something that looks inappropriately sexual, especially for the subject matter. The Arlington Pediatric Center’s logo, in particular, does not look good – it looks like a place that promotes pedophilia! Not good for any business, but especially a pediatric center. Doesn’t anyone look at these logos to see if any negative connotations can be picked up from them? Obviously not.
This leads me to think that these establishments need to know what makes a good logo. Here’s a short list:
1. The logo should not look like a man’s most important body part or any body parts surrounding said important body part. When you design a logo, have other people take a look at it, please! Get some opinions. Ask if anyone sees anything that could be looked at as sexual in the logo. This is generally not a good thing. Revise logo if so.
Reminds me of Mr. Garrison on Southpark, writing a book with all gay themes in it and he doesn’t see the gay themes. When the designer gets so involved in the work, he is blind to obvious themes.
2. If your company does anything internationally, it’s a good idea to check out local taboos or “naughty” words. Some of these funny logos were funny only in our language, in our customs. Ask people from other countries to take a look at your logo for any kind of offensive language or image that is culturally sensitive.
3. Don’t confuse people with your logo. When you show your logo to other people and they don’t get it, don’t write them off as dumb people who don’t know a good logo when they see one. Everyone needs to understand your logo and if people don’t, they might not want to do business with you. They won’t know what you’re about if they are confused by the message being sent in your logo. If your logo isn’t sending a message at all, that’s another problem.
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