http://www.businessinsider.com/best-corporate-logo-changes-2014-12#1-major-league-soccer-10 Chosen as #1 corporate logo change of the year.
Really? This speaks to you? I'm not saying the new logo is perfect or correct, but to say the rebranding was unnecessary, that's crazy talk.
That logo was fine. It didn't suck like the new one. This is a clear case of a downgrade, hence it was unnecessary. All of the other rebrandings in MLS history have been correcting a mistake. This actually created a mistake.
The old logo speaks soccer---it doesnt need much explanation. The new logo --i dont know what it stands for honestly. MLS put out a huge diagram expaining it. I submit to you that if a logo needs to be explained it is at least a partial fail, since a logo is supposed to be easy to understand branding.
I am torn on which is worse. Unfortunately that shouldn't be the debate. The old one is really bad....the new one is really bad. They had an opportunity to really come up with something strong but instead they spent 10 minutes and slapped something up and they came up with explanations for every single line, icon, color, lack of color, etc. At least this is how it appears to everyone with eyes.
When I first saw the new MLS logo I hated it. When I learned that they WANT you to adapt and modify the logo, I gained more respect for the design. Nowadays new logos are treated like icon decent from the heavens, a "Brand is Almighty" treatment. It is refreshing to see MLS take an opposite approach. I still dislike the "kickstand" element. I do like the "blank canvas" aspect.
They have still to my knowledge not released any official uses of the logo with anything in the blank area but a solid color. I think people are misinterpreting their intent with that area. The closest I have seen is the logo overlaid on a photo. Nothing official with actual icons/logos/artwork in the blank area.
Logos aren't intended to explain anything, they are intended to be recognized. The Nike swoosh tells you nothing about what kind of company Nike is, and yet it is probably the most successful logo ever.
Nothing official but look at all the unofficial uses of it, including here on BS that "bring people in and out of the MLS world". I think the logo has been very effective based on how much it has been adopted by people. Compare the use of the new logo by people on BS compared to the use of the old logo by people on BS. Look at all the avatars that use it. That's pretty good marketing in my mind. Personally I've come to like it, specifically because it allows us to be creative with it.
I agree with this, however, it has always bothered me that the logo for Major League Soccer show cleats that don't look like what the players wear, kicking a ball that doesn't look like the ball they actually use. That's why I thought a re-brand was needed.
And I don't think you'll see much of alternate logos directly from the MLS front office. The exceptions will probably be for the All-Star game and MLS Cup, in which we'll probably see adapted logos for those events. The creative logo adaptions will be mostly from the fans, where it belongs. Clubs will be wise to keep an eye open for good club inspired logos from fans, where the truer creativity and passion lie.
This is exactly what I meant by "overlaid on a photo". There has been no releases of the logo by the league or teams that show other items in the empty area...that I have seen. I think the uses by fans is a happy coincidence and wasn't planned. The league and teams have done nothing to show us that the logo will every be officially used with items placed in the empty area...again...that I have seen. Hey I even built a site to generate your own versions, but I still think the logo itself is very poorly done and unfinished. Its an opinion. You are entitled to yours as is everyone else.
yes and I pointed out that the league has done this officially. Please read the whole post. "They have still to my knowledge not released any official uses of the logo with anything in the blank area but a solid color. I think people are misinterpreting their intent with that area. The closest I have seen is the logo overlaid on a photo. Nothing official with actual icons/logos/artwork in the blank area."
READ ABOVE. I acknowledged the league had done this. I am talking about logos, icons etc. Not photos.
Guys either I am not explaining it well or you aren't reading. Probably the earlier. I am saying that I have seen no official uses of the logos with what fans are doing. Fans are putting logos, icons etc in the blank area. All I have seen from the league is solid colors or the logo overlaid on a photo.
My point is the logo becomes dynamic when used in video. This is it's strength. It will be interesting to see what MLS does with it in 2015. Especially at the beginning of Games.