"Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future" -- JFK
So what is the future of the Gap logo? Well, the past of course. Change, this law of life, has been duped by the forever adored Gap logo. The GAP logo as we know it, left, has been in use for over twenty years.
The new gap logo, right, immediately went viral after its release in early October.
It had the lifespan of a house fly, barely lasting a week. Social media networks simply ate it alive.
"The new Gap logo is survived by its antagonistic Twitter feed and a dozen 'failed branding strategies' slide shows, in which it will be archived in the annals of history," the magazine wrote. "To heaven, the Helvetica now ascends."
Designers take logo design seriously. Apparently, so does the public.
Take Twitter, for example. There is even an account labeled, GAP Logo. The man behind its tweets has outed himself as "Frank." " Frank's twitter is yet another outlet for people to vent their hatred for the gap logo redesign. Gap Logo's latest tweet, Everyone hates me. (@ Lupe's East LA Kitchen w/ 2 others), pretty much puts the situation in perspective.
Personally, as a designer, it's quite impressive that the new gap logo has inspired someone to create a twitter updating the life of an inanimate object.
Either the influence of design has reached new heights or people have way too much time on their hands.
The public is just not willing to part with a blue box. Specifically, GAP's blue box.
Accordingly, GAP has admitted that they want what is best for the brand and its customers and has reverted back to the old logo.
Controversies such as this one make me feel good about pursuing a career in the graphic design field. Graphic design matters, whether people like to think so or not. If it didn't, then why would this controversy start in the first place? Graphic designers are powerful people.
I mean, what other profession could empower a simple blue box? Design has transformed its four corners into a symbol recognized across the world, a symbol powerful enough to escape the law of change.
Take a look at other companies who have experienced the logo redesign process...
1 comment:
You saw what other people couldn't see in Gap's logo change, Colleen. I'm with you in thinking that it was a positive thing for the brand. Now, the company knows what it got, so I don't think there will be any more changes in the near future. It's what turned the brand into a household (and classy) name.
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