1. Here's the press release that has some explanations of program.
2. A quote:
Michigan State University has a rich athletic and academic history. To keep these traditions alive, historically relevant marks that connect to the school and Spartan history have been utilized. Combined with contemporary typography, the new concept creates a cohesive identity program that not only respects the traditions of the university, but looks ahead to the promise of a great future.
That's crap. Historically relevant wasn't a factor, they just picked whatever they liked and came up with some rationale for keeping it.
3. There's a grain of truth in this brand identity stuff, but it's 90% marketing people trying to justify their existence. If an athletic team wants to build an identity, they need to win. The rest is just window dressing.
4. The explanation for bronze: "Symbolically represents strength and integrity, and was used as a material in Spartan armor." Sure, but that doesn't explain why they picked a clashing, totally new color to use in the uniforms. I will blame every single thing that goes wrong this season on that color. Missed a tackle? "Needs more bronze." Bad call? "More bronze."
5. The new font takes "inspiration from Greek architecture and the Spartan ethos of simplicity and strength."
Greek architecture? Whatever, this is about a new font that Nike has a copyright on so no one else can use it.
6. The MSU shield logo they made up sucks. And it's mostly bronze.
7. There's some talk that the all-green jersey may be the alternate. If that's the case, it's incandescently stupid.
8. Haven't seen a good picture of the helmet yet, but apparently there's a stripe, but it's tapered. I'll withhold judgment until I see a better picture, but I don't think that it will work.
9. I'm trying to figure out the over/under on these uniforms. One year? Three years?
10. A little time to get used to these uniforms is not making them any better.
2 comments:
Bro, it sounds like you need to cross over to the "other side." We'll take you. Come on over.
#3 is dead on. If you want to change your brand, change your record...WIN DANG IT, WIN! That will do all the "justifying" you need.
I'm a Michigan guy and this doesn't even make sense to me. The basketball program is solid not because of some marketing design. Although I do like the uni's they wear.
Remember when the Pistons went with the horse and the crappy teal colors. Joey D. got it right when he immediately went back to the Red, White, Blue...and winning championships.
I find ranting is just the best way to deal with it. If I can make a reasonable argument why something is stupid I can put it to bed faster.
I think the Pistons are a good example. They missed the point completely when they went with the redesign. Sometimes the "cool" thing is absolutely the wrong thing to do.
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