sullivan leh designs

sorry MSU, new logo is a fail

Appalling. That’s how feel about the new logo rumored to be unveiled in April by Michigan State University.

Here’s the image posted on the mlive.com blog:

On the left, the current logo. Immediately identifiable as an ancient warrior of some sort, even if you aren’t familiar with greek history or spartans.

On the right, the supposed new logo. Even forgiving the obvious resolution issues, the logo is clunky and difficult to decipher. Is it some weird rss logo? A mutant elephant with extremely loud and carrying gas?

It takes an awful lot to see a helmet in there.

From the mlive blog: The logo redesign is “the result of a two-year collaboration between MSU Athletics and a team of top designers from Nike.”

Wow.

Logo: fail.

Update: my son doesn’t like it, but his reason is that the one on the right looks “too western.” He thinks it more resembles a German helmet than a Greek one.

I love that kid.

Update February 5, 2010: MSU has decided to launch a new look using the old Sparty. Read the Athletic Directors letter here: www.msuspartans.com/genrel/020510aaa.html

Other projects for this client:

More thoughts projects: What went wrong with the Sparty logo? |

This post was written on a Thursday in January 2010, when I probably should have been working on something else.

4 Responses to “sorry MSU, new logo is a fail”

1. New Michigan State Logo | AXI says:

   January 22, 2010 at 12:37 am

   [...] Sorry MSU, New Logo Is A Fail | Sullivanlehdesigns.comAppalling. That’s how feel about the new logo rumored to be unveiled in April by Michigan… [...]
2. New Michigan State Logo says:

   January 22, 2010 at 1:02 am

   [...] Sorry MSU, New Logo Is A Fail | Sullivanlehdesigns.comAppalling. That’s how feel about the new logo rumored to be unveiled in April by Michigan State University. Here’s the image posted on the mlive.com. [...]
3. New Michigan State Logo - Nardu says:

   January 22, 2010 at 1:06 am

   [...] Sorry MSU, New Logo Is A Fail | Sullivanlehdesigns.comAppalling. That’s how feel about the new logo rumored to be unveiled in April by Michigan State University. Here’s the image posted on the mlive.com. [...]
4. Frances Bodley says:

   June 21, 2010 at 7:26 pm

   I admire ur job!