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New Logo and Identity for Library of Congress

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Re: New Logo and Identity for Library of Congress

#71
post #5

My gut reaction is that this new logo is strictly worse than the old one. This is my first time seeing either of the logos. Can someone with a graphic arts background explain why the LoC is so attracted to this new design (after only 8 years with the previous one)?

Because when you pay an extreme amount of money for something, you are automatically biased towards liking it.

Re: New Logo and Identity for Library of Congress

#72
post #41

interesting tidbit from the comments there; this design firm, Pentagram, also did the recent redesign for EFF: https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2018/07/effs-new-logo-member-s... Looks very similar, and while I strongly dislike the Library of Congress redesign, it almost works for EFF.

It is the same logo. Big heavy sans-serif font with the full name of the org stuck in the middle. The only difference is EFF's big EFF letters are stretched and the full title is condensed, while LIBRARY LIBRARY's big LIBRARY is condensed and the full title is normal-width.

It makes more sense for the EFF, though, since both “EFF” and “Electronic Frontier Foundation” are valid names for the organization. The LoC’s version creates the impression that the brand name is just “Library”.

Re: New Logo and Identity for Library of Congress

#73
post #48

I don't think the library of congress should have an aggressive, in-your-face logo. It's a library. It's mission statement is about maintaining history. There's no reason to try to appeal to hip coffee shop urbanites. The old logo was both more clever (resembling the American flag and a book at the same time), and still pretty darned modern. Designing a new, tone-deaf logo is a waste of everyone's time and resources.

Libraries are quiet. An all-caps logo is the branding equivalent of yelling.

Re: New Logo and Identity for Library of Congress

#75
post #5

My gut reaction is that this new logo is strictly worse than the old one. This is my first time seeing either of the logos. Can someone with a graphic arts background explain why the LoC is so attracted to this new design (after only 8 years with the previous one)?

They traded what was "just a logo" for an entire design system. This is the branding equivalent of Google’s “Material Design.” Also for what it’s worth Pentagram — and Paula Scher — are very prestigious, considered top-of-their-field. But I agree they phoned this in. Unnecessary and uninspired.

Despite their prestige, Pentagram's work is very hit or miss, often erring on the side of minimalism to the point where it sucks any soul or character out of the brand
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