The search for a new logo for the City of Vancouver is back on, two weeks after city council voted to dump the re-branding it had unveiled earlier this year.
A backlash from local creative professionals saw the simple green and blue text design, introduced in February, described as “bland.”
Beginning Tuesday, city residents are being asked for their input on a new design. The process is being led by the B.C. chapter of the Graphic Designers of Canada.
The survey is running at talkvancouver.com through May 25.
“The results will be compiled into a report to inform a creative brief that will be part of a Call for Design to the local graphic design community,” said a press release from the city. The call is expected to be put out in early June.
B.C. chapter president Johnathon Strebly will lead the review of all submissions.
“We provide a neutral and experienced voice,” he said on Tuesday. “We’re not going back to phase zero. The (original) brief did touch on all the points provided…what was missing was public consultation.”
The broad rejection of the previous branding by both professionals and the public at large spoke to the passion for design present in the city, he said.
“It was really great to hear and see that,” he said. “What resonated was a passionate and engaged community which wanted to do more.”
There were three problems he saw in the original reveal, he said. First, it was “out of context: we didn’t see it in its proper environment.” Second, there was a surprise element to how the reveal happened; “wait a minute, how did we get to this.” And third, the process was not as inclusive as it could have been: “the ones you’re representing care. They’re passionate.”
City leadership came to the GDA after the logo was rejected.
“It’s always a pleasure to work with leadership who recognize the value of design,” he said.
The city’s new logo will be determined after a public vote on three finalist designs later this summer.
