About a month ago, our Editor-in-Chief Giuseppe Russo, shared his critical design opinion about the new City of Cape Town logo in this post. We got a great amount of feedback and following that post, there has since been ongoing controversy and press on the topic. Basically, people feel that the logo was not crafted into a visually strong identity.
Most recently, Now Boarding, one of Cape Town’s smaller advertising agencies, came up with a clever plan. Rather than jumping on the bandwagon of complaints, they decided to put forward their own design for the City of Cape Town logo, as they feel the public deserves to see more options. The team was headed up by Lead Designer Marco de Sousa, Creative Director Michel Brink and Executive Director Jacques Oberholzer. Here’s what they came up with:
Michel Brink from Now Boarding explains that the logo can be broken up into eight parts, each illustrating one of the eight districts of Cape Town. This thinking encourages Capetonians to take pride and ownership in their immediate community. And these eight districts of proud citizens come together to create one city:
Now Boarding has sent the suggested logo out into the cyber sphere, looking to generate healthy debate around the topic. So far, feedback and critiques include the fact that some inspiration has been taken from the City of Melbourne logo, which looks like this:
Regardless of the critiques, this is just a conceptual work, right? So what’s the point? Michel explains that the best case scenario for the agency is that the government and the ‘powers’ will start taking notice of Cape Town’s smaller agencies like Now Boarding, most of which would jump at the chance to rebrand the city, at a fraction of the cost.
So what’s your opinion? Which logo do you prefer? The old or new one? Comment below or Tweet us @onesmallseedSA here.
20 comments
Ross says:
Apr 4, 2014
This looks really beautiful – much better in my opinion. It’s very euro slick though and has very little connection to Africa, which I suppose is very Cape Town. The old one, which I quite like actually, reminds me of those slops made from car tires that you can buy in Durban.
Helen Borg says:
Apr 4, 2014
I like the idea behind the second option and it has been designed very well.
Kailash says:
Apr 4, 2014
The redesign is much better. It is modern and clean. Well done.
Lucian says:
Apr 4, 2014
The “crystalized” version.
Mariechen says:
Apr 4, 2014
Yes please!!! The current situation was the worst idea ever!!
Michelle says:
Apr 4, 2014
really like the redesign – simpler and better executed.
Carmia says:
Apr 5, 2014
I love it! The old one isn’t that bad, but this one is more modern and colourful.
Chantelle Venter says:
Apr 5, 2014
The new option is much better….as well as the fact that it also mixes in with the current trend of multi-colour triangles
Jeremy Riley says:
Apr 5, 2014
Very nice design – emphasizes the rainbow nation and cultural diversity of Cape Town, the Mother City!
Daniel says:
Apr 5, 2014
The new official logo took me a while to get used to. My immediate reaction was not that of awesomeness but after a while I do like it now. This concept logo on the other hand is immediately likeable. Its simpler and so much more intriguing.
So with respect to the work done I would much prefer to put this to a public vote. And my vote would have to be with this new concept logo from Now Boarding.
Well done.
SUZETTE SQUIRE-HOWE says:
Apr 5, 2014
love it! A VAST improvement!!. Modern, eye catching.
Robert says:
Apr 5, 2014
Huge Improvement
Patricia says:
Apr 5, 2014
It is better than the old one but still doesn’t scream Cape Town to me. I like the colours but why a circular image, what is the thought behind the use of a circle? I know marketing can be used to create the link between the image and Cape Town in people’s head, but it will be nice if there was an image that just felt a little more African and a little more Cape Town
Joseph Neethling says:
Apr 7, 2014
A much more resolved and modern design! Infinitely preferable to the jerky junk which looks like a broken gearbox served up previously.
Carmen says:
Apr 8, 2014
Hands down, the Now Boarding design.
Nicole Withers says:
Apr 8, 2014
I totally love it. It has more oomph and meaning than the new City logo. I wish City would reconsider and use Now Boarding’s logo instead
Lorien Bolus says:
Apr 8, 2014
The new one is amazing.
Lenard says:
Apr 15, 2014
Now Boarding’s redesign looks like a software logo, although the 8-piece structure is great.
The original logo looks more African, which is better I guess.
The Case of Cape Town’s New Logo | Designersoar says:
Apr 23, 2014
[…] have – it’s a missed opportunity. Now Boarding’s alternative logo design Photo Credit: http://www.onesmallseed.com/2014/04/a-logo-reinvented-creative-opinion/, Courtesy of Now […]
Alison says:
Apr 25, 2014
‘Now Boarding’s’ concept is a lot better. well done guys.
I would also suggest though, for balance, to put the English in the middle (keep it bold).
Not Sure if “Stad Kaapstad” doesn’t sound stupid… Not to get caught up in semantics, but if it is ‘City OF Cape Town’, if really should be Stad van Kaapstad. Isn’t “Stad Kaapstad” the City centre?
Anyhoo, I hope ‘the powers’ will consider changing to yours.