Everyone is a critic… and everyone is a designer.
So the city of HALIFAX is now formally titled HALIFAX (no longer HRM / Halifax Regional Municipality) and this alone is enough reason to celebrate (sociable!). Who actually said HRM?
With its new/old name, comes a new identity and people are not happy. At first I thought I was the only person who didn’t hate it but I am hearing a bit of positive feedback. Actually, the more I spend time with it, the more I like it and here’s why:
… but first, let me state I am NOT a logo designer but I did go to design school so I am somewhat educated in this …
Here is the old logo
I love blue, I love yellow, I love the ocean, I love lighthouses but I do not need to see them all mashed together. And serif? Please!
And Here is the new BOLD logo
Fresh, better blues, sans serif, bold and easy to superimpose over images.
I did a little Google deep-diving and this is what they say on their HALIFAX DEFINED website: The new Halifax logo is bold in its simplicity. Like our region, the logo is not cluttered, over-embellished or contrived. Its strength is in its simplicity, and its simplicity makes a bold statement. Clean, geometric lines bring quiet strength, energy and balance. It has subtle nods to upward momentum and forward progress. While the colour palette is based on bright colours from our local environment and nature, the base colours are shades of blue, which represent our many lakes, the ocean and the sky.
And they offered this:
Geometric Shapes. To complement the identity – two overlapping X’s from the Halifax logo create a unique geometric design feature similar to a compass rose – and nod to our historic nautical past. This design feature produces multiple configurations of angles and colour combinations for a variety of applications with and without the logo – each time creating a unique, undeniable energy that gives a sense of direction and forward movement.
Do we still hate it?
What if you put it on a scenic Haligonian background (I did, this is David and Henry and Point Pleasant Park):
And if you need even more convincing, how about taking a look at the other city logos in our fine nation:
See, we are looking much much better.
I am curious to know your thoughts!
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psst. Thanks Amanda for suggesting this post
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It will be unnecessary millions to make all the new business cards, glass etchings, vehicle signs, letter head, web page, road signs, video’s, etc… this province/city is incredibly over taxed so wasting all that money right now is stupid and irresponsible, but what else do you expect from the “entitled” running this city…
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I think Edmonton has used that logo since 1978!
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I concur with James, add the crossbars on the “A”. With that, I still find the logo unattractive and a huge waste of tax paying dollars. News media said this cost $350,000, I would like to see the actual bill. Nova Scotia has become a dumping ground and is an embarrassment not to mention the roads requiring major repair … People are not angry over the actual logo, it’s the gross waste of money that is making people cringe!
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What you missed was the political reality that Halifax was destined to be the name in 1996 when amalgamation happened. 18 years of political inaction, and $217k to “rebrand” us to what we already are. The logo is inconsequential, but truly the only tangible thing people can vent their anger on.
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You may talk about it until you are ocean blue in the face. I simply do not like it at all. The missing crossbars in the “A”s make me cringe and, especially compared with many of the other city logos, seems bland and uninspired. What does that say about us. I say keep the old one, dropping the “Regional Municipality” underneath, and you have a logo that shows some imagination, not to mention saving a HUGE amount of taxpayers’ money in signage: they only have to cover or remove the two words at the bottom and it is done.
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The new logo is fine! But remember what they say, “dot your i’s cross your t’s” (and now) “put the dash in the A’s!!!”
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I love the primary and secondary colours as well as the geometric shapes. Thumbs way up for those but, sadly, I detest the logo. I just can’t get past the bar-less ‘A’ and I really dislike the two-tone. The only good thing I can really say about it is that it’s sans serif.
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I love Edmontons logo! Very retro.
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I find Yellowknife’s use of Drop Shadow very offensive.
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Yes Amanda,great suggestion. At first I thought the new logo was boring but I agree with you, the more I looked at it the more I liked it. And it is much better than a lot of the other city logos. What the heck Yellowknife?
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