World’s Most Expensive Logo? The $600k Logo for the 2012 Olympic Games
The logo for the 2012 Olympic Games in London cost £400,000 in 2007. That comes out to be about $600,000+/- USD today.
RIDICULOUS.
So what makes this logo so special? Or, is it even special?
According to a poll on the British Broadcasting Corporation website back in 2007, more than 80% of votes gave the logo the lowest possible rating. Needless to say, people hated it. As a result, several newspapers and organizations worldwide began to run their own logo competitions, displaying alternative logo submissions from their readers that were potentially better than the more-than-half-million-dollar logo.
But, is it really that bad?
Alright, let’s be honest here. $600,000 for a logo seems over-the-top, but all things considered- is the price tag really that high? I mean, think about it. Around 10,000 athletes competing for over 200 nations, all televised, recorded, and documented like no other worldwide event in history. Let’s face it, it’s the olympics.
But I think the problem arises when people think “I can make a better logo than that, it looks childish.”
Google “2012 Olympic logo” and you will find all kinds of angry reviews. People seem to be unhappy about it.
So who is responsible for this pot-stirrin’ logo? An interactive branding & design agency called Wolff Olins. You can check out the 2012 Olympics case study here: http://wolffolins.com/work/london-2012
It’s obvious why some people hate the logo. It’s a bunch of blocks smashed together. There’s no obvious grid, the colors and shapes could provoke seizures and apparently had videos taken down because of it.
But as it stands, that logo will be everywhere over the next couple weeks. It will be permanently branded across the world as the emblem for the 2012 Olympics.
Here are some logo submissions I came across while researching the 600k logo. All of which, are pretty good. Which one do you like the most?
Whether you love the logo, hate the logo, or simply don’t give a damn- make sure to support your nation and watch the games. The excitement starts TODAY.
-SH
I actually don’t mind the logo you guys posted where the rings are connecting with the o, n and d letters…. except for the letter “L” being strangely bold from the rest – I really dislike that part.
I guess, if anything, the current logo has gotten a lot of people talking about it.
For sure. It is a pretty good concept but it’s not quite polished enough… And I agree – the L is strangely huge. I wonder why?
Thanks for posting!
I personally don’t mind NBC’s logo that they have used on all the broadcasting. Its classic looking and befitting to london and far more polished. http://www.nbcolympics.com/
For sure; NBC’s logo is a good example of a crest/badge/roundel logo that can work on a small scale. Not even the Olympic Rings at the bottom get lost at small size/web resolution.