Super Logo Battle: 2012 Olympics

You’re invited to the first-ever Unbeige Super Logo Battle! In this inaugural showdown, we take a look at the logos of the five cities vying to host the 2012 Olympic Games: London, Madrid, Moscow, New York and Paris. Whose logo will reign supreme?

Your judges (I’d say panel of experts, but we’re not, um, experts):

Stevesie, an illustrator in South Africa
TA, Midwestern writer who loves to drink
EHK, Seoul’s finest (okay, not really, but she asked if I could say that) art director
and Kenny, um, that’s me

Let the games begin!

(in alphabetical order)

Candidate City #1: LONDON

TA: Is the ribbon supposed to represent the Thames?
Kenny: Ohhh, that’s interesting, but I don’t know if I like how it weaves in and out of “London 2012.”
EHK: It’s a competent logo.
Stevesie: Competent??? You’re incompetent, (EHK’s real name). It’s a beauty.
TA: I wouldn’t go that far. Honestly, it reminds me of a ringworm.
Kenny: An Olympic ringworm.

Candidate City #2: MADRID

Kenny: Okay, here’s Madrid’s logo. They were the only city that explained their logo on their website.
EHK: Did they have to? It’s obvious it’s a flame.
Kenny: Actually, their description said it was a flame and a flag waving in the wind.
TA: Really? I don’t see the flag…
Kenny: It’s also the only logo that has a different color scheme.
EHK: So they get points for that!?
Stevesie: I see the flame but it’s a little too simple, yeah?
Kenny: Like it’s been done before, too. Like the Amnesty International logo.
EHK: Yes, without the candle.
TA: I still don’t see the flag.

Canditate City #3: MOSCOW

Kenny: Is it supposed to be the Kremlin?
Stevesie: Dunno. Might.
EHK: I don’t like the font they chose, so boring.
Kenny: I don’t like the image. I see a seismograph drawing.
TA: Or a mountain.
EHK: A mountain?
Stevesie: That’s why he’s a writer, mate.
EHK: It’s nothing too interesting.
Kenny: It reminds me of that electric Gremlin they used to kill all the Gremlins at the end of Gremlins 2.

Candidate City: #4: NEW YORK

TA: I admit I like the New York logo, I like the split panels.
EHK: It’s the more ambitious logo of the bunch. Every man is a winner.
Kenny: More like every man is a Statue of Liberty.
TA: You don’t like it?
Kenny: I do, but I don’t like the silhouettes, I guess I’m tired of silhouettes after all the iPod ads.
EHK: Well I vote for this one.
Stevesie: It looks like he’s being robbed at gunpoint. Stick ‘em up!
TA: Anyone notice the free fist is open? Not clenched?
Stevesie: So?
TA: Is that from gymnastics?
(silence)

Candidate City #5: PARIS

Stevesie: Last one, finally.
TA: Not my thing.
Stevesie: Not my cup of tea either.
Kenny: Oh, I just noticed the heart that’s formed by the S and the 2.
EHK: Ahhhh, I see it too!
Stevesie: Calm down, it’s a stupid heart.
TA: A green heart.
EHK: Paris is the City of Brotherly Love?
Kenny: No, that’s Philadelphia.
Stevesie: (laughing)
EHK: Sorry…
TA: Just hang up, Stevesie, you’re just being rude.
Kenny: It’s the city for lovers though, isn’t it?
TA: Which explains the heart.
Stevesie: But not why it’s green.
TA: The city for environmental lovers then.

We decided to take a 24-hour break and think about the logos a little bit more (everyone was pretty tired of Stevesie at this point). Stay tuned for the results!

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