132 replies to this topic

[GeeVeeF1]

With the news earlier today of the GP2 rebranding to F2, and Liberty's vocal push to improve F1's marketing reach and exposure globally, I have a strong feeling that this will involve a rebrand of the F1 logo itself to reflect this.

Both IndyCar and NASCAR have gone through recent corporate branding and logo redesigns, and with the new F4>F3>F2>F1 pyramid soon to be confirmed, when you look at this recent 'FIA pyramid' image (in image below), as iconic as it is, the official F1 logo does look decidedly dated and separated from the rest of the 'pyramid' (playing devil's advocate, maybe that's a desirable thing so that the F1 logo is different as so suggests the ultimate/pinnacle of the pyramid?...)





http://www.fia.com/n...yramid-goodwood

I see Liberty updating the F1 logo, keeping enough subtle cues to the past, yet with a gentle modernisation.

Think it will be controversial to the purists, yet even the largest most iconic of large brands (the McDonalds, Coca-Colas, Pepsis etc.), even those with 100+ year histories, even though there is a degree of risk/initial consumer backlash concern, look a brand 'refreshes', particularly during a period of new ownership....

Thoughts?

Edited by GeeVeeF1, 02 February 2017 - 16:22.

[Anja]

I like the current logo, but see nothing controversial about possible change. It's not like it's some fixed, core element of F1 present for decades - just a logo created fairly recently. 

[muramasa]

i wouldnt mind logo change cuz i never thought current one is particularly cool but I would oppose if new F1 logo look like those F2-3-4 logos

those F2~4 logos are typical cheap forgettable tasteless modern design

[superden]

Yeah, because this is exactly what they need to be focusing on.

 

This **** really matters.

[BuddyHolly]

I like the logo a lot (even though it was years before I spotted the real '1' in it. lol), hope it's not changed.

[GeeVeeF1]

Yeah, because this is exactly what they need to be focusing on.

This **** really matters.

As a Marketing professional of 20+ years, I can confirm that it kinda does in the grander scheme of things

[Anja]

Yeah, because this is exactly what they need to be focusing on.

 

This **** really matters.

 

You know that it's a big company employing many people that can work on multiple things at once, right? 

[7MGTEsup]

Yep, lets pay a few million £ to get some company to change the font and colour.

 

Time and money well spent.

[David Lightman]

As long as nobody who's had anything to do with graphic design at Ferrari is involved, I'm fine with change.

[superden]

You know that it's a big company employing many people that can work on multiple things at once, right?

Yes, I get that.

[Vielleicht]

I've always felt that the current F1 logo has been a bit tacky, and certainly not as iconic as the old red and blue Le Mans 24 Hours logo. I've always been in two minds about the Le Mans logo change, but a change in the F1 logo wouldn't offend me anywhere near as much. Especially if done right.

Edited by Vielleicht, 02 February 2017 - 16:54.

[AustinF1]

I like the current F1 logo better than the F2, F3, etc in the pic, but it's a superficial change, so who cares, really? Let me know when they do something substantive to make F1 better.

[RedBaron]

A rebrand would be good if they can improve on it, it's already pretty good.

 

Conforming to the new designs of F2, F3 and F4 would not be an improvement. 

[August]

I wish they went back to this.

[Ali_G]

That F1 logo isn't remotely iconic and was only introduced in the mid 2000s.

To me, this is the iconic one. Introduced in the mid 80s.

[Nonesuch]

it's already pretty good.

 

It's so good that every now and then we still get people saying 'Oh so that's the 1...' It's FedEx all over again!

 

But anyway, let them worry about it. If the races are fine, nobody will mind either way.

[RedBaron]

That F1 logo isn't remotely iconic and was only introduced in the mid 2000s.

To me, this is the iconic one. Introduced in the mid 80s.

 

 

It's a bit busy and bulky as far as logos go, but along with the soundtrack I used to love that before the race, the start of the world feed.

 

[Ickx]

 

It's a bit busy and bulky as far as logos go, but along with the soundtrack I used to love that before the race, the start of the world feed.

 

 

I like it too but I was surprised how dated it felt

[MrMan]

I didn't even realise the '1' in the F1 logo was the black bit until somebody mentioned it last year.. It's a bit of a rubbish logo.

[AustinF1]

Seriously? I saw it the first time I ever looked at it. It's pretty obvious.

[Thrasymakus]

It's not just him, I didn't see it either!

[SpaceHorseParty]

That F1 logo isn't remotely iconic and was only introduced in the mid 2000s.

To me, this is the iconic one. Introduced in the mid 80s.

 
Not mid-2000s, it started appearing on race programmes in 1994, the same time when a new TV overlay style was introduced.

Edited by SpaceHorseParty, 02 February 2017 - 19:43.

[MrMan]

Seriously? I saw it the first time I ever looked at it. It's pretty obvious.

 

It is painfully obvious when you see it, I guess I always thought the white bit with the streaks was a crappy representation of the 1. 

 

I'm not the only one - i'm sure there's been a discussion on here about it.

[JHSingo]

I'm not the only one - i'm sure there's been a discussion on here about it.

 

It appears in enough lists of logos with "hidden messages" (or whatever) that you occasionally see that it must be a common thing. I wasn't aware of it either till a few years ago.

Edited by JHSingo, 02 February 2017 - 20:02.

[Risil]

So long as it still has an "F" and a "1" in it I think we'll all manage.

[Risil]

p.s. As it's still almost two months before the first race surely we should all be designing our own F1 logos and submitting them to general applause/contempt/bafflement

[markelov74]

I love the current one.

[senna da silva]

That F1 logo isn't remotely iconic and was only introduced in the mid 2000s.

To me, this is the iconic one. Introduced in the mid 80s.

 

Except why would FOM market the governing body FIA and not just the product F1.

[BRG]

Rearranging one deckchair on the Titanic?

[August]

 

It's a bit busy and bulky as far as logos go, but along with the soundtrack I used to love that before the race, the start of the world feed.

 

 

Now that we're on it, why not going retro with the WRC logo as well?

 

[Afterburner]

 

It's a bit busy and bulky as far as logos go, but along with the soundtrack I used to love that before the race, the start of the world feed.

 

I was about to say: I don't care what they do with the logo if this becomes the pre-race music on the world feed.

[chunder27]

Emperors new clothes, utterly pointless, but very, very American.

[PayasYouRace]

What exactly are any of you adding by telling us that it isn't important? If you don't care don't post.

[evo]

does not need changing. it's pretty good as it is, I reckon it's a modern classic and ages well.

 

Nike's swoosh doesn't need changing

McDonald's golden arches don't require changing

Singapore Airlines' flying bird logo doesn't need changing

Shell's current logo doesn't need changing

MLB's logo doesn't need changing (and has influenced other major american sport league's logos)

 

etc etc...

 

Generally companies like these look to be largely successful and as a result when their logo is known in the wider community, there is little if any reason to change it.

 

 

 

 

If it changes to an MLB type blue red and white silhouette logo, I'm out.

[RedBaron]

I think the logo could be tweaked in a very minor way, maybe slightly round off the sharp corners and reduce the amount of 'speed lines' so it's less busy and can be scaled far better. I think the basic structure must remain though, definitely doesn't require a complete redesign.

 

If it changes to an MLB type blue red and white silhouette logo, I'm out.

 
You mean like this Indycar logo.
 

[Buttoneer]

It might have been a better idea to wait until they have a raft of substantive change to introduce and then the logo won't just been seen as lipstick on a pig, but heralding a new era of relevant sporting and entertainment achievement. But otherwise I'm not sure it will really matter to anyone.

[Peat]

effWun™

Edited by Peat, 03 February 2017 - 09:27.

[RedBaron]

I think the logo could be tweaked in a very minor way, maybe slightly round off the sharp corners and reduce the amount of 'speed lines' so it's less busy and can be scaled far better. I think the basic structure must remain though, definitely doesn't require a complete redesign.

 

 

I whipped this up in 5 minutes to illustrate what I meant, obviously with more time spent on it the speed lines would align properly to form a perfect '1' 

 

 

[RedBaron]

Nike's swoosh doesn't need changing

McDonald's golden arches don't require changing

Singapore Airlines' flying bird logo doesn't need changing

Shell's current logo doesn't need changing

 

A lot of these logos have changed, you just haven't noticed.

 

 

 

 

(Singapore Airlines bird logo hasn't, they did change the colour though from gold to yellow)

[JRodrigues]

Fixed.

 

[Buttoneer]

A lot of these logos have changed, you just haven't noticed.
...snip 
(Singapore Airlines bird logo hasn't, they did change the colour though from gold to yellow)

Interesting to see all these side by side. Each has essential elements which define the brand and have not really changed except to conform to fashion. The golden arches will stay that way whether with a subtle shadow effect or whatever colour background. The Nike swoosh is still the same shape and proportion whether written through, above or under the name.

What essential elements of the F1 logo are there which ought to be retained? Todays logo is a looooong way from the last one so I don't think there's a heritage or theme which needs to be retained at all - Liberty can completely depart from the current logo if it wants to.

[RedBaron]

Interesting to see all these side by side. Each has essential elements which define the brand and have not really changed except to conform to fashion. The golden arches will stay that way whether with a subtle shadow effect or whatever colour background. The Nike swoosh is still the same shape and proportion whether written through, above or under the name.

What essential elements of the F1 logo are there which ought to be retained? Todays logo is a looooong way from the last one so I don't think there's a heritage or theme which needs to be retained at all - Liberty can completely depart from the current logo if it wants to.

 

They can depart from it. I don't think they should keep the current one only because of heritage (as you point out there is little of that compared to how long F1 has been going) rather because the current logo is quite good. So if they did launch a new brand image it would have to be something categorically better. 

 

It would be better to keep the existing logo and bring it into fashion. A good example of that is Mastercard.

 

 

SpaceHorseParty mentioned already the current F1 logo has been around since at least 1994, that's a reasonably long period of time (23~ years) to justify some form of continuity. 

 

Edited by RedBaron, 03 February 2017 - 11:15.

[SenorSjon]

So you are saying the Shell logo hasn't really changed in 46 years.

 

Sometimes it is better not to touch logo's. I've seen some Sony suggested logo's in the early eighties that would look horrible now. 

 

 

 

And +100 for the old World Feed intro. Farting cars in circles doesn't cut it.

[muramasa]

　

that new Mastercad logo is horrible design in itself, typical modern flat design for the sake of being modern and flat, kind of "everyone else is doing so we have to follow and do it too" mindset.

with all these flat things flooding everywhere, you really cannot distinguish it from whatever other random flat design signs and logos now.

change does not mean good always and flat does not mean cool always.

[Buttoneer]

They can depart from it. I don't think they should keep the current one due to heritage (as you point out there is little of that compared to how long F1 has been going) rather because the current logo is quite good. So if they did launch a new brand image it would have to be something categorically better. 
 
It would be better to keep the existing logo and bring it into fashion. A good example of that is Mastercard.
 

 
SpaceHorseParty mentioned already the current F1 logo has been around since 1994, that's a reasonably long period of time (23 years) to justify some form of continuity. 
 

I don't disagree that they could, if they wished, now introduce continuity. It has to start somewhere and it is a good logo now. But what would you do with the current logo? The essential elements could have been outlined and highlighted a long time ago had Bernie's team changed it in subtle ways over the years - perhaps adding or reducing lean angle, putting it in a box, or a circle, reversing the colours etc and established the theme. As it is, I think Liberty are just as likely to *ahem* take liberties and make a complete change.

[Gorma]

does not need changing. it's pretty good as it is, I reckon it's a modern classic and ages well.

 

Nike's swoosh doesn't need changing

McDonald's golden arches don't require changing

Singapore Airlines' flying bird logo doesn't need changing

Shell's current logo doesn't need changing

MLB's logo doesn't need changing (and has influenced other major american sport league's logos)

 

etc etc...

 

Generally companies like these look to be largely successful and as a result when their logo is known in the wider community, there is little if any reason to change it.

 

 

 

 

If it changes to an MLB type blue red and white silhouette logo, I'm out.

[RedBaron]

But what would you do with the current logo?

 

 

I'm sure if given the chance we'd be very surprised with what could be done keeping with the current logo but giving it significant face lift.

[chunder27]

Let's face it, if you are not changing it that much.

 

What is the point in changing it?

 

Maybe because someone somewhere in the board works for the creative company aswell I would think.

[RedBaron]

Let's face it, if you are not changing it that much.

 

What is the point in changing it?

 

Maybe because someone somewhere in the board works for the creative company aswell I would think.

 

A logo needs to work on every media, huge on the side of a truck and small on the pocket of a t-shirt.

 

20 years ago we didn't have apps and the little icons on the tabs in our browsers, we didn't have smart watches with even smaller screens.

 

Busy logos with small points aren't clear on these devices. That's why there is a trend of simple clean logos that can scale cleanly and be read from the smallest size to the largest.

 

 

What's the point in an logo that can barely be read or recognised? 

Edited by RedBaron, 03 February 2017 - 11:31.

[muramasa]

 

 

 

 

 

dont know why you had to post again ( RedBaron posted..), also, in the first place, evo did not say those logos have not been changing, merely saying current ones do not need to change.

 

 

anyways so Nike hasnt really changed since 1978, just some tweaks and that 1978 logo is used for wears and gears now.

 

mcdonalds hasnt really changed since 1962, just tweaks and all these variations can be seen in all those mcdonalds shops in town.

 

Shell hasnt really changed since 1971, only tweaks and "Shell" letters are used for gas stations in town.

 

 

I dont have any attachment to current F1 logo and dont think it's cool design so I dont mind changing itself, but it might as well stay as it is as go for typical modern tasteless characterless design.