question: how can the expense and existence of the 2012 London Olympic logo be justified?

Answer: by looking at the Greater Montreal’s new logo. 

Last year, Montreal was named one of UNESCOs top three design cities in the world, and somehow, the logo meant to represent our city doesn’t reflect that in the least. I mean really, what were they thinking when this logo was not only proposed, but approved!?

Is it worse than the 2012 London Olympic logo? I’m not entirely certain yet, as I’ve only had a few minutes to really take in this new Montreal logo. However, I will say that our logo is far more shameful, because, while the $400,000 2012 logo seems like a complete waste of money, it feels like a pretty fair deal when you take into account the fact that the Montreal logo cost $487,000. 

Of course design is a matter of opinion, and taste, etc. Not everyone is going to feel the same way – just as there are people out there who actually seem to like the London logo. However, I just fail to see how this logo is meant to be the international representation to promote Montreal. Is it because there’s multiple colours, it’s meant to imply the multiple and diverse cultures in the city? Because when I look at the logo, it feels like the logo for an annual festival, or for the opening of a new museum. It does not scream “international city” to me whatsoever. 

It’s a shame too, because I really wanted to love the logo. Montreal is my home, and I love it here. I’ve been to different cities around the world, and I do feel it can stand up to most of them, even surpass them in many areas. However, even with that in mind, I’m quite ashamed to see a city as beautiful as this being branded with a logo like that.

mission statement

i suppose this ‘blog’ was created due to a string of events in the last couple months, be it in my professional life, school life or personal life, i simply felt compelled to create this blog. 

i tend to express myself best in written form – that isn’t to say i have fantastic writing skills and a coherent structure – because i most certainly don’t. however, i just happen to find myself having significant ease in just jotting my thoughts down, be it on paper or by typing. my thought process though, is strongest in the middle of the night, with little or no distraction – because my mind tends to wander through information at an unimaginable speed, and i can hardly ever pinpoint or stop a thought on the spot throughout the day. which is why, and i’m sure those of you who will end up frequenting this blog will notice, is that i tend to ramble a lot (hence the name of the blog).

my primary goal for this to be a design-thought oriented blog, my thoughts and opinions on the design of today, yesterday and the future. my thoughts on art happenings, the way things are handled, other peoples thoughts, etc etc. however, at the same time, i won’t stop myself from posting about anything completely un-related to design either. whatever hits the keyboard, hits the keyboard. this was originally going to be a design-essays blog, but knowing myself, that won’t last for long, so i figured i would keep the form relatively open.

and so that is that! enjoy.