Joe Biden's High Crimes Against Logo Design

[brooklynite]

The Bulwark

Joe Biden is finally running for president and along with his carefully understated launch video he rolled out a website and not one but two logos.

There’s nothing especially objectionable with the rectangular “Biden” logo. The color scheme is decidedly old-school red, white, and blue, with the only modern aspect being the super-sans serif font. The red-striped flag element in place of the “E” is derivative and unhelpful, but maybe not too much of a net negative. (I would have preferred a comp with “Biden” all in straight text.)

The best thing this design has going for it is “President.” Everyone else in the Democratic field is running for America or the People or the BioDome. But Biden’s entire campaign is really about his status as front-runner—as the guy who will beat Trump. The choice to put “President” there emphasizes this idea. It gets you halfway home. It makes you realize that maybe, if you squint, you could see some of the other candidates as president of these United States, but that Biden is a natural fit. He’s ready for the job.

Which brings us to the circular “Joe” logo.

It is very not good.

[Shell_Seas]

1. I like it. It would look good on a button.

[Demsrule86]

4. I like it.

[brooklynite]

6. Apparently there's a set...

[Hortensis]

61. White Joe button's attractive. Agree with the nitpickers

that the red's too recessive in the other. Who's Jo?

I'm too uncool to know whether I'm too old or too young, or just too uncool, for the aviator glasses to ping, but presumably they do with some group.

[LongtimeAZDem]

14. It does:

[Honeycombe8]

15. I love both of 'em. I really do. They look like the flag, in part.

Very creative and clear.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

54. A flag? That was not my first thought.

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[Cha]

65. Red, White, and BLUE

WAVE, baby!

[leftofcool]

2. Joe, get a new logo designer

[LongtimeAZDem]

3. I already ordered the coffee mug, so, I'm just gonna go ahead and disagree

[Ohiogal]

5. I can see the circular logo

as a lapel button and the “Biden President” one as a bumper sticker.

[targetpractice]

7. Ooof... Nope.

I haven't read the article, but don't really need to... First impressions.

[sunonmars]

8. I would have put the J in the 2020 bit like......JO20

[Siwsan]

9. Simple. Concise. Easy to identify. I like them.

And I agree the circular one will make a great button.

[WeekiWater]

10. His name is already a brand.

I think he can come out with four or five more logo designs for merchandise and rallies. People like choices and Biden doesn't need to brand himself. That part is done.

[Honeycombe8]

16. ...

[brooklynite]

23. Actually our taxes went up, if it makes you feel better...

Between our SALT and property taxes, we lost a lot of deductions.


As for the article, you DO realize that this is an evaluation on graphic design, right?

[cwydro]

26. Interesting, isn't it?

I’m thinking Biden never invited them to lunch.

[Honeycombe8]

12. I love them! Reminds me of the flag. I really like them.

He's probably had those logos for years.

[cwydro]

22. I like them too.

Be happy to put one on my car!

[MineralMan]

13. One random guy's opinion?

Why should I care? The round one is a natural button design. It will work well at any size, which is its strongest point.

The bumper sticker logo is accessible at a glance. Nothing is more important than that.

And that's this random guy's opinion.

[.99center]

18. *One random Republican guy's opinion.

"The Bulwark
The home for the best of American conservative opinion. Curated commentary and analysis on news, politics, public policy, and culture."

[MineralMan]

21. Yes, I see. I did not know that about "The Bulwark."

So, the editor of that is a graphical designer? An expert on that topic?

I'm not. I see no problem with the logos, though. I'd wear the button or use the other as a bumper sticker in a minute.

I'm not really interested in a "conservative" opinion. I get tons of those on Facebook. Feh!

[brooklynite]

40. Does New York Magazine work better for you?

All of the Problems With Joe Biden’s Logo, According to the Haters

Joe Biden is in. After months of speculation and dozens of other candidates entering the race, the former vice-president launched his campaign for president Thursday. With it came all the trappings of a campaign launch, including a video, a website, merch, and a new logo.

And what a bad logo it is! At least, that seems to be the prevailing sentiment on Twitter, a platform that’s notoriously anti-Biden. Here are the problems people have:

It’s no secret that Biden plans to make a considerable effort to remind people of his association with the first black president of the United States. His logo is even doing some of the work for him, aping the circular shape of and red stripes of Obama’s logo.

Link to tweet

With the “e” of “Joe” in red and the lack the letter’s vertical line, the logo makes it look like Biden’s first name is “Jo.”

Link to tweet

http://nymag.com/intelligencer/2019/04/the-many-problems-with-bidens-logo-according-to-the-haters.html?utm_source=tw&utm_medium=s1&utm_campaign=nym

For those looking for deep inner meaning in everything, I just happen to like grahic design analysis

[MineralMan]

44. And that's based on random Tweets from random people.

Someone has too much time on his/her hands today, and is just looking for click fodder.

In reality, logos have no real effect on votes. They're just graphical representations people quickly get used to and ignore.

As many people will like them as dislike them, so it's a wash. It simply doesn't matter.

[brooklynite]

45. If logos have no real effect on votes, why do campaigns spend time and money on them?

[MineralMan]

49. Because some sort of logo is essential.

It's a symbolic thing that can be identified with the campaign. That's why. However, logo design is always a compromise between the graphics team and whoever is paying. Since I deal with websites all the time, I often get asked about brand logos for the companies who are my clients. My real answer is always: It doesn't really matter all that much. The answer I provide to the client is based on the client's opinion of the logo, really. If the client likes it, it's fine with me. I'm a words guy, not a graphics guy.

If I need a logo, I design my own. I know it doesn't matter, so I just do it. I keep it simple, use spectral colors, and make it as symmetrical as I can. I design logos in Word or Windows Paint. Same thing with book cover art. If I need a book cover, I open Paint, size a blank box the size of the cover after calculating the number of pixels I need and then pick some art, choose a font and color and put it where I think it should be. If I want some sort of background effect, I use another Windows tool and pick something.

Takes about 10 minutes to do any of those things. I don't have an art department. I get to decide, so I make it look however I want it to look. In the end, it doesn't matter all that much, really. Here's the cover for my most recent book. 10 minutes, including creating the word cloud online. Like it? No? It doesn't matter. People are buying it, so...

[brooklynite]

62. I think the argument, like in medicine is: "do no harm".

As some have pointed out, there's nothing wrong with the "Biden President" version, but the "Joe" version suggests that "Jo" is the candidate to support.

[MineralMan]

68. I had no trouble seeing the "E."

Much ado about nothing, I think.

[cwydro]

28. Never heard of it, but it must be regular reading

for the OP.

Thanks for the info!

[brooklynite]

30. "It must be regular reading" because.....

Don't be shy!

[cwydro]

33. Because you posted it?

Must have come across it somehow

[brooklynite]

37. Twitter...

Link to tweet

I don't protect myself from opinions of people I don't always agree with.

[highplainsdem]

17. I like them. Think they're at least as good as the other Democratic candidates' logos.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

19. I like them both.

Clear, easily read, bright colors=great!

[peggysue2]

20. Sorry, I like them both

Easy to identify, easy put on a button or car bumper. I also like the 'No Malarkey' meme on accessories.

Btw, anyone who writes: "It is very not good" has already lost me. Yoda-speak is for Yoda alone.

[MineralMan]

24. Confusing that sentence is.

Impressed am I not.

[peggysue2]

27. LOL!!

[cwydro]

34. ...

[demmiblue]

25. I like the rectangular one. n/t

[Doreen]

29. I do not know if this is negative

but I have never paid attention to anyone's logos. It just has never been an issue of importance with me.

[Cha]

66. I like them.. it says who they are right

away. I think Biden's are cool.. Obama's was the best!

[madaboutharry]

31. I think they look great.

But what do I know, I'm just a voter.

Pete Buttigieg and Joe Biden have the best merchandise, imho.

I think that Cory Booker's stuff isn't very good. Amy Klobuchar also has some rather uninspiring merchandise.

[nolabear]

32. Where can I order things with that awful design?

I like them both!

[BannonsLiver]

47. I like it as well

I wouldn’t put much stock in what the OP or the writer says about logos. That stuff is subjective anyway. But I like it a lot.

[MineralMan]

35. Hmm...I think your source might have a bias against Biden.

You think?

[George II]

36. Is this What it's Come down to, a critique of logos?

[LanternWaste]

39. At least it's not pointing to the right.

But I'm certain someone will latch onto something just as absurd to pretend criticism.

[George II]

42. When people complained about Clinton's pointing right...

... I told them if they were BEHIND her, it pointed left!

[progressoid]

38. The circular one is a mess.

It would be lucky to get a C in a design course.

Link to tweet

[liberalnarb]

41. Hickenloopers logo is probably the worst of the cycle so far:

Most of the candidates logos have been not-so-great this year.



I really like Bernie's (shocker) but that's the mark he's had since 2016. Beto's logo is the same as his Senate run, its not very attractive in my opinion, but its a decently crafted logo. Kamala Harris' logo could use work, the font is sort of all over the place. The works FOR and PEOPLE are bigger than her name, which may be meant to convey a populist appeal but it appears sloppy on campaign gear. Cutting the logo down to just the tri-color "KAMALA" on the bumper sticker was a good move.

Elizabeth Warren's logo is disappointing to me. I thought her team would come up with something more dynamic for such a bold, trailblazing leader.

[Demit]

43. It drives me crazy that 2020 is not centered under the name.

And that the name is not centered left to right. There's more to critique but who cares, really. It's a political graphic, not intended for the ages, and probably done gratis.

And yes, I'm a graphic designer.

[BlueFlorida]

46. When was the last time

someone won or lost the race because of a logo?

[David__77]

48. I like the Biden one not the Joe one.

I think the Biden one looks pleasant, and the inclusion of the word President is good.

[brush]

50. What are your credentials in graphic design? As a long-time magazine and newspaper...

art director I like the logo. And what's derivative about the red stripes for the E?

Derived from what, the Amercan flag? That's the point.

[stonecutter357]

51. lol fail !

[Sugarcoated]

52. I'm a graphic artist

and I think it's a very clever well done logo. My biggest problem with political logos is they're all so similar and boring. This one's not just a good design but definitely unique.

[OhZone]

53. Meaningless attacks like this -

remind me of attacks on Obama's brown suit or his use of a selfie stick once.

It's a fine logo, and the GOP/Russbots are just desperate for something.

[Cha]

67. Tan Suit!

[zackymilly]

55. Wonder if Hickenlooper will use his "HICK" for governor logo.

I'd post a pic of it but I don't know how.
Can't wait to see "HICK" on the bumper of your car.
Can you post a pic of it when you get it on?
Thanks in advance.

[Hortensis]

56. Logos of some others for comparison. Colors are definitely

continuing the midterm trend away from flag colors. But only for Democrats.

Black's having a moment, but other blues have always been an option. That is purple in Hickenlooper's, supposedly for his "purple state." Shocking pink with black (or white) in Gillebrand's.



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[jcgoldie]

58. That slogan for Swalwell...

... really rolls off the tongue doesn't it?

[Hortensis]

60. Lol. Just tried it out and went tripping along...

[Cha]

64. Thanks, Hortensis.. I actually do like Biden's Best.

Link to tweet

[jcgoldie]

57. I think the big O supposed to remind us a bit of Obama...

Not a bad strategy if that's intentional.

[Rstrstx]

63. That's the first impression I got

A nod to Obama's logo

[calimary]

59. I actually like the implied "American flag" imbedded in the logo. The three red stripes are

evocative.

And it's short 'n' sweet. The guy everybody refers to by his first name. America is on first-name basis with Joe Biden.

One thing that strikes me right away - he would be an UNSURPASSED "Comforter-in-Chief," which is a big part of what a President of the United States is called upon to be. President Obama was pretty doggone magnificent in that role. The Asset, on the other hand, is abysmal.