Sports Logos: Old is New Again
I like sports. Ok, I like sports a lot and I also like following the trends of design in sports. I especially look forward to seeing which teams change or update their brands, logos, uniforms or colors at the beginning of every new season. These changes can range from the complex — logos, uniforms, colors, etc., to the minute — piping on the numbers. It’s apparent that, no matter the change, teams are always looking for ways to stay current while still maintaining their brand equity. This can be a tricky road to navigate, especially for teams that have been around for awhile and have a loyal, passionate fan base. What I find most intriguing are the teams that have recently returned to the more traditional, classic designs from their past.
A few teams that come to mind are the Detroit Pistons, San Diego Chargers, New York Giants and New York Jets. All of the current looks for these teams harken back to their respective “Glory Days” or times of notable success. It seems that bringing back the nostalgia and equity of past successes has worked well for the Pistons and the Giants; both have won championships since re-introducing their classic designs. Apparently it’s all about the design!
I have to admit, I like this trend of looking to the past for the new uniforms/logo. From my perspective as a Pistons fan, the current look evokes memories of the Pistons’ “Bad Boys” and successes of the late 80s and early 90s. In a survey on ESPN’s Page 2 Uni Watch, 78% of voters liked the “new, old-look” Pistons logo and uniforms. I definitely concur and am sure fans of the teams below would agree that going back in time for their current look is a positive.
Pistons
Chargers
Giants
Jets
November 12th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
Pretty interesting article on branding and logos. Comes to mind that the MN Vikings gave up on Purple as their color and went to blue, even though in ’70’s they had much success as the “Purple people eaters” esp. with thier success on the defensive front line .