#epicfail – How NOT to sell South Africa to the world!
I had removed my smoking jacket and was preparing for beddy-byes at Hatman Mansions when the latest horror to be afflicted on South Africa by South Africa (well, our misguided government) popped up on Twitter.
“Check out the new logo to market South Africa to the world here – http://bit.ly/2EKREb” was the chest-swellingly proud tweet put out by @Shine2010, the World Cup 2010-linked venture run by First National Bank (FNB), one of the sponsors of next year’s footballing feast.
I licked my lips and clicked on the link. I should have known better. Kirk, the boy who sat next to me at Pelham Primary circa 1969, used to draw better than the “designer” who was paid (how much?) over the course of 18 months to come up with this (Warning: don’t allow impressionable children to see this)…
Hennie's Motor Spares had a better logo than this when it opened its doors in 1973
Hells bells! Words almost fail me. In fact, they do. So I’m off to bed. You can continue to ponder the merits of the logo which was designed to make the world sit up and notice South Africa.
And, should you be feeling really brave, screw up your disbelieving eyes and read the dross which attempts to justify the creation of the above dogs’ breakfast on Shine2010\’s website.
I quote: “”The approval of the new logo marks the beginning of a new era in nation branding as South African entities will now go out to the world under a single, colourful, dynamic logo and positioning,” Government spokesperson Themba Maseko said on Thursday after an ordinary Cabinet meeting.”
What?! It must have been a very ordinary Cabinet meeting attended by extraordinarily stupid people. The logo that they approved is not a “South African entity that should go out to the world”. It should be flushed down the toilet. And the South African taxpayer given his money back.
November 5th, 2009 at 22:41
Nice writing style. Looking forward to reading more from you.
Chris Moran
November 6th, 2009 at 07:55
Flag. Check.
Swirly cursive text. Check.
Completely devoid of creative nous or imagination. CHECK!
November 6th, 2009 at 10:27
would have prob got a better logo by springing about $200 on 99designs.com
November 6th, 2009 at 15:02
Unbelievable, hey Mr Roed? Grade 2 kid could have pushed that out in five mins. They boast that it took 18 months of clever people sitting around and creating to come up with that dogs’ breakfast. Wonder how much of taxpayers’ money was thrown at Project Let’s Project SA in the Most Amateur Way Possible?
November 6th, 2009 at 15:03
@ Ismail Would have got a better logo by asking my granny to get out the crayons for a price of a cup of tea
November 6th, 2009 at 22:39
I quite like the logo, its simple yet clearly identifiable!
November 7th, 2009 at 00:20
@ Kristy I think it’s an abomination. It’s the almost Comic Sans Cursive font that gets me! Let’s agree to disagree, shall we?
November 7th, 2009 at 17:10
The image you have isn’t the actual logo. It’s a strangely squashed version. The real one is here:
http://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/196/423/41764.html
Not that it’s any better.
November 7th, 2009 at 23:12
Thanks for that, Justin. No, it’s not any better, just a little better proportioned. Still an abomination on a epic scale. Hellsbellsness!