We all have witnessed the transitions from re-branding till logo transforming with many brands becoming legacy, while others being simply fading away from this planet.
Older brands have come up with some of the most complex & inventive logos ever, but none other than a political campaign has ever enjoyed branding sessions more!
Yes, the area must be pretty surprising & overlooked but a political campaign also needs a logo chapter for itself to run & inspire the followers as, there is a narrow window to make impression prior to the logo becomes a history.
Let’s jump into the trail of logo designing history behind political campaigns:
Less Is Enough
In contrast to corporate logos that last for years to be absorbed by their audience, political logos don’t lasts for more than 24 months & since they don’t have much time to evolve, they are not very inventive in nature & boring more.
Campaign materials often utilize metaphors that are well-known and easy to understand, calling upon commonly identifiable color schema such as the red, white, and blue of the US flag.
The Clinton/Gore logo and Bush Cheney logo for instance, use bold lettering tactic. In case of Bush logo, the trademark shows actual nation flag with hierarchy of putting the presidential nominee’s name above their running mates.
These logos need to be remembered & recognized & that’s what arguably the world’s most- noted US President Figure wants!
Run Your Logo on What You Have
To design a political logo is veer tricky so, the golden rule of thumb is to build on what you have already.
President Eisenhower showcased his eminent nick in his campaign slogan, “I like Ike.” The name and rhyme was instantly recognizable & error-free.
Due to that , people having 30 plus age still know the meaning of the phrase, even if they weren’t alive to experience his president ship.
Then, there comes President Obama’s in 2008 with his solo campaign logo. Beginning with the first letter of his last name, “O,” it spoke a lot & much more , like an empty funnel waiting to be loaded with many opportunities - one of the best political breading ever done.
Trends Come & Go
Not only fashion designing trends come & go but also this happens with political designing – they are cyclical. 2017 era has bought ubiquitous 3D features like drop shadows and beveling for a compelling political logo design.
Present day campaign logos are all full of flat designing with basic imagery that have captured inspirations from the 1960s and early 70s.
At every point, collective realization is reflected in designing, making the brand labeled as a forward thinker or conservative largely depends upon how it actually wears & catches up with the ongoing trends.
It’s good to be original … sometimes
Jimmy Carter- a true outlier of recent decade presidential campaign logos.
Although the country was still fighting against Vietnam, Watergate, and the first ever bold resignation step of a U.S. president, Carter communicated that the guy is totally different & non-politically sincere.
One who actually loves to wander around streets to serve & care for locals & to complement that message, he decided to use the patriotic triad of red, white, and blue colors in favor of green, similar to the familiar look of a central street signboard of your hometown.
Does Public Opinion Counts?
Pooling in the best designers from town even won’t work out sometimes when it comes to a political logo particularly because what matters in the end is critics & public opinion.
Though Hillary Clinton’s campaign did the same thing but failed badly for the same reason with the logo been commented as distant, cold, and non-welcoming, soon after its early launch.
However, despite of the above critics, the design still has proven to be highly winning lately. It’s not overly branded & simple to stare at with the letter “H” being easily identifiable.
Welcome Mr. Trump, but is your new logo welcoming too?
When Donald Trump officially become Mr. President, public wasn’t that much happy so, to convince was the biggest goal for the senior guy.
The campaign launched a logothat added Mr., Pence to the ticket. Public protest influenced a change and the new logo is now more traditionally sketched with the enclosure of both their names and the nominee’s now famous slogan.
Ready?
Despite of the fact that design trends go cyclical, only those brands are successful who are more open to interpretation & criticism.
Logos, brand names, and political design framework shine more when they speak people’s language.
