When we came across this post at
Brand New, it was pretty clear from the outset that it was fake (the "April Fools" in the headline didn't hurt). Still, it got all the editors at Engadget thinking, and talking, about how badly
Verizon does need some kind of makeover. Across the board, it seems that the reaction to the big V's logo and branding is like-minded: it stinks. That cheap looking italicized Helvetica, the gaudy gradient on the check... the check itself. The whole thing looks like it was done by a first-year art student with a cracked copy of CorelDRAW. Meanwhile, in a few hours, the cats at
BN managed to mock something up that not only looks clever and inviting, but almost totally washes away the bad taste the current logo leaves in our mouths.
Look, we're not saying you should go the cloud direction here -- it might not be the right fit -- but maybe it's time to reconsider your drab, staid design, and start to paint yourself in a different light. There's one more pic after the break -- a device with the "new" logo... just imagine it.
posted April 2nd 2009 3:14PM
Looks like the Skype logo.
that and a tinge of Virgin.
I concur, it looks like some of the graphics on Virgin pay as you go phones.
Keep plugging away though, anything you produce will look better than the current Verizon logo.
I can't help but think that the gradient logo has to be sorta hard/expensive to produce on the phones.
That and a tiny bit of hipster.
Kind of makes you want to throw up a little.
the real one yeah. this one is totally more awesomer.
then again, anything would probably be better than that stupid check mark.
The original is worse... the "new" one would be an improvement, but the font is still hideous.
@gyung
point well taken.
Ehh... looks too 70's, it would make me feel like my phone is an old piece of junk.
well, considering the technology it uses....it is.
the problem is the word. not how it's drawn.
Naaa I heard they announced today that Verizon will now be called TACOMAN...there's your karma.
Shouldn't they just rename it VODAFONE?
after all, Vodafone is a major shareholder of Verizon and a much stronger brand name and it is the world's largest cell phone carrier.
Vodafone is a minority shareholder and owns none of Verizon Communications, the parent company which owns a majority.
If they were to rebrand anything Vodafone, they would have to break the brand link between the wireline operations (FiOS, ancient telephone lines, the former MCI) and the wireless arms, since Vodafone has no relations with the former company. In the United States, it's more valuable to have a single brand for wireless and wireline then to have a single brand with an international cell phone network that is incompatible anyway. If they branded the whole wireless operation "Vodafone", then people might start to wonder why no "Vodafone US" CDMA phones worked on "Vodafone anywhere-else-on-earth"...
I've always thought that Verizon sounded like a future corporation in a sci-fi movie, like Cyberdyne
Ya know, I think I know where they're going on this one.
Um... nope, no, I don't.
the current verizon logo isnt that great but what these guys think should be the new logo looks even worse. their version is horrible.
I'm not a big fan of the checkmark logo, but I'll take it over that strange cloud thing any day.
They should just bring back the Bell System logo- it's such a classic logo that it's a real shame that nobody uses it...
The 1969 Bell System logo as well as the 1984 AT&T logo (both by Saul Bass) were indeed vastly superior to any of these. But compared to the hideous 3D blasphemy of today's at&t (entirely deserving its lowercase lettering) I'll take the current Verizon logo any day. It's quite effective and no one should ever be ridiculed for the use of Helvetica.
I agree they could use a new look, but the cloud thing..... yea no.
Verizon needs to first re-invent itself, then maybe a new logo would be appplicable.
Data caps indeed. I am glad I am with Alltel.
You DO realize that Verizon OWNS Alltel?
Pwnd..literally.
@Matt: Could be in one of the divested markets, though.
Verizon bought Alltell. :) Bend over, grab your ankles, and get ready to have your phone lobotomised.
Alltel's customers were not burdened with Verizon's data limits.
My $60/mo goes for unlimited, uncapped data on the HTC Touch. Another $25 gets me unlimited tethering any month I want it, for the dumbphone.
Not the world's best plan, but it works for us.
Yes, I know Alltel is owned by Verizon. Right now, I'm happy.
@Idrb, I believe the word you were looking for is sodomized...
@ldrn: It would be interesting to see your frontal lobe destroyed by entering in through the anus for the procedure, but it seems a bit unnecessary.
I had an Alltel phone back in the day and switched to Verizon which, imo, was miles better as far as coverage and reliability. I'd never go back to Alltel, though I've never had a data plan on a phone until I got my iPhone so maybe Alltel does that better but I wouldn't know.
Those commercials are hideous though. I mean really, they are worse than the Apple vs. PC commercials; they use the same insanely dumb advertising strategy of "We're just cooler than the other guy", accept Apple's are actually a little funny sometimes and Alltel's make me want to vomit.
I like the current one a lot more than this one.
that logo isnt much better.
Why is this "Featured"?
It looks like someone had a really bad idea and thought it was great so they posted it Featured on the front page. This looks terrible.
I mean, did you even read the post? You should.
I mean, do you have surveys that say people don't like the current logo? All that's in your article is you saying you don't like and and you saying YOU think it should be changed. That's not journalism, that's blogging. It's not an article. It's a blog post.
Isn't this a blog? That would make sense for it to be a blog post.
It would make sense for it to be a blog post. You're absolutely right. It doesn't, however, make sense for it to have the featured tag and it doesn't make sense to refer to it as an "article" when accusing me of not reading it.
I agree... Verizon is the market leader. The logo follows all the design rules (the emotion matrix, color theory, etc.) and is very recognizable. There's absolutely nothing wrong with it.
On a side note: the article mentions the Verizon buyout of Alltel which reminds me... why does Alltel keep making fun of its parent company in their television ads? Verizon literally owns them yet Alltel's commercials portray the Verizon guy as a loser.
@Rocky -- so you're mad because it has a "featured" tag? How odd.
That's what I said isn't it? The very first thing, actually. The very first line. And you accused me of not reading. Tsk.
For realsies? There is a whole field of design theory known as Typography. It was not referenced for this design. May as well just use papyrus.ttf.
Barf.
...wait... so you're saying that using a a piece of crap true type you downloaded free from dafont doesn't count as typography?
I Like it, It looks nice.
Gives me the feeling "Halloween up High" Dunno why...
I'm not sure what looks more hideous about that logo; the white on red, the curly V, the 80s hacker font used for the rest of the letters, or the elongated cloud. This logo looks like it was done by a first-year art student trying to rip off the Skype logo with a cracked copy of CorelDRAW.
It was all done using the same typeface, dude. It's Estilo, made by the renowned type designer Dino dos Santos. I agree that in this case, it looks bad, but it's really a nice typeface when used in the right situation (as long as it doesn't see overuse, as is likely to happen soon).
Someone should open a Verizon logo design contest on http://99designs.com/.
Its horrible no doubt. But the clue is obvious. Verizon seriously needs rebranding. at&t and T-mob both have a nice look to their branding, Engadget just echoed my sentiments about their crappy branding.
How about they keep the current logo, but unlock their phones.. eh?
What's the point of unlocking their phones? So you can pay full retail and take it to Sprint?
Or so you can do whatever you want to the phone?
LOOK WHO'S TALKING! Engadget, your logo sucks just as much as verizon. fact of the matter is they're both great logos cause the company is great so no one questions anthing. Yeah it'd be cool verizon changed theirs but they dont need to, they're so popular and powerfull, theres no need and + + that cloud crap wouldnt work, they need something sleek.