Typophile - Obama Seal bites the dust - Comments

Anyone here read the “Rise

bemerx25 — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 09:04:30 -0700

Anyone here read the “Rise and Fall of the Third Reich” by Shirer(sp?) ? Interesting and thought provoking read. At one part Shirer comments on Nazism’s use of imagery as well as rhetoric in winning, legally mind you, elections in the Weimar Republic, which eventually lead to the overthrow of democracy in Germany and the horrors of World War 2. What does this have to do with this thread? Not much other then don’t trust politicians, even ones who utilize good design and speaking skills.

Okay now that I’ve just Goodwined this thread...

Seeing as how I haven’t

DrDoc — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 10:58:02 -0700

Seeing as how I haven’t heard of this anywhere other than this site, I don’t think there’s going to be very much backlash.

(No subject)

Hiroshige — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 09:51:11 -0700

I stumbled over this when

AGL — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 05:03:11 -0700

I stumbled over this when looking for soccer news. It doesn’t have any interesting type in it but the idea is related. This may be the opposite to the above:

http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,557670,00.html

subjugating America’s

EileenB — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 19:39:57 -0700

subjugating America’s patriotic symbols to his own greed/desires - he will surely push Independents over to McCain.

Why? Because Independents want their patriotic symbols to be subjugated only for the greed and desires of oil/war?

The eagle motif is nothing new to Obama branding. An eagle has been part the main background image of his website since the start: http://www.barackobama.com/images/bg.jpg

This particular incarnation is a bit before it’s time, but personally, I’m ok with that. Is it January 20th yet?

Oh, and “Nero possumus” = “Yes We Can” (in Latin)

Why do you think they chose

James Puckett — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 13:48:39 -0700

Why do you think they chose Gotham for this seal?

Because the only other sans font that can be both high class and blue collar is Helvetica. Gotham just appeals to damned near everybody.

I think that the marketing

Lauren — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 13:45:52 -0700

I think that the marketing of his campaign has been really interesting...

Is the sans serif that is in his logo is Gill Sans? Why do you think they chose Gotham for this seal?

“Nero possumus”?

Theunis de Jong — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 13:21:48 -0700

“Nero possumus”? What’s that, something like “The cruel possum emperor”?

Yeah, I thought the seal of

Hiroshige — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 10:03:15 -0700

Yeah, I thought the seal of ’now’ disapproval wrapped up his whole campaign strategy. Add to that, the darn thing is placed crooked.

I also think that those patriotic Dems who were flush with a fresh choice in Obama realise his branding of America - then Lou Dobbs just gained a few more fellow Independent registrants.

On a graphic forum that talks specifically with the POWER of marketing I wrote a piece about how people in times of struggle look for a reason to believe. Obama created a graphic heavy campaign specifically to target those votes (and continues to do so). If Obama doesn’t check his ego - and stop subjugating America’s patriotic symbols to his own greed/desires - he will surely push Independents over to McCain.

Hmmm...I rather like it. A

Koppa — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 07:58:29 -0700

Hmmm...I rather like it. A parody, sure, but why not? To me it’s clever, and I like the Obama camp’s attention to design and marketing. It’s a breath of fresh air in the political picture. But I suppose, if opponents find a way to criticize it in a way that can be distracting and disruptive, it’s probably best to pull it off the shelf and move on. I think the critics (opponents) are scrambling for ways to make him look bad. The opponent’s marketing flat out sucks by comparison.

“Change” and “Hope” are kind of weak campaign themes, I think. Too ambiguous. But that’s beside the point.

The font looks to me like

William Berkson — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 06:07:42 -0700

The font looks to me like Gotham, which was also used for the “Change” signs. I don’t know the italic.

This is beautifully executed, but just a terrible idea. I would guess that the same person did this and the original O, as it has a similar feel. It would be interesting to find out the history of this blunder. I wonder if it is a product of collaboration—someone, or some committee, got the “bright idea”, and then had the designer execute it.

Reminds me of junk mail

eliason — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 05:26:06 -0700

Reminds me of junk mail I’ve received that’s made to look like maybe it’s important info from the IRS.

Sort of reminds me of

Lantz — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 05:14:41 -0700

Sort of reminds me of Interstate Bold, but it might be a bit too bold.

What font did they use for

Lauren — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 00:03:40 -0700

What font did they use for this Obama seal?

Is it different than the sans serif used in his logo or for the slogan on his website?

Sorry, Nick, and thanks BJ.

William Berkson — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 14:19:54 -0700

Sorry, Nick, and thanks BJ. I thought the picture was in the article—it’s not any more—and wanted just to get it up here. Also I am so obsessed with this election that I forget that not everybody is!

Obama Seal bites the dust

William Berkson — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 13:07:48 -0700

According to this article the quasi-Presidential seal that showed up at an Obama event was roundly criticised and removed from the campaign the next day.

The graphic design saga of Obama’s campaign has been covered extensively.

The Washington Post a week ago or so reported that Obama had reservations about the original O logo, finding it a bit too corporate, but went along with it, deferring to his advisors on this. David Axelrod seems to have commissioned it.

The ’presidential seal’ thing was so close to parody that I wonder why they thought it was a good idea. I’m curious as to whether the different designers did the original O (great qualities, but a bit too cartoonish, IMHO), the superb “Change we can rely on” in Gotham, and then this misfire.