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Belfast logo was plan 'B'
Sunday, 10 August 2008
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It took 15 months of research and cost a whopping £430,000 — but Belfast’s new heart-shaped logo was created in just a few weeks after the former Lord Mayor rejected the original version.
Sunday Life can reveal that council bosses had planned to launch a different logo from the heart-shaped ‘B’.
But they were left red-faced during a dinner at the Hilton Hotel in March when the then Lord Mayor Jim Rodgers refused to endorse it.
Around 60 stakeholders enjoyed a sumptuous three-course dinner to discuss the new branding, but were stunned when Councillor Rodgers refused to give his approval.
A council insider revealed: “The chief executive of the council, Peter McNaney, and Gerry Lennon of the Belfast Visitors and Convention Centre wanted the former Lord Mayor to sign off on the logo, but he categorically refused. They were gobsmacked.
“Instead of giving his seal of approval, Councillor Rodgers stood up and said he’d listened to the views of people from the working groups and it was clear they weren’t happy. He said more work needed to be done.
“It was very embarrassing. News of what had happened spread like wildfire around the council.”
When contacted, Councillor Rodgers confirmed he had refused to sign off the previous logo at the Hilton event. Sunday Life can also reveal that the dinner was just one in a string of events funded by Belfast ratepayers.
A total of 15 meetings were held in Belfast while a member of staff from Belfast City Council and one from Belfast Visitor’s and Convention Centre attended one in London.
As well as the dinner at the Belfast Hilton, stakeholders were treated to a reception at Belfast City Hall, dinner at Ten Square and an event on the Nomadic.
Just one month after the former Lord Mayor’s refusal to approve the original logo, brand consultancy Lloyd Northover presented the heart-shaped ‘B’ logo.
The former Lord Mayor gave that design the green light at a breakfast meeting at Roscoff’s in April and the new logo was officially launched at the Waterfront Hall in June.
Last month Sunday Life revealed that the new logo is very similar to others already in use in England.
Food and Drink Devon paid just £7,000 for its logo four years ago, while both Blackburn and Barrow launched similar logos in spring.
Belfast spent £180,000 on the creation of its logo and £250,000 on advertising, launch events and showcase promotions.
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Comments
21 Comments
First things first. Nobody gave anything to the London designers. It would have been put out to tender. The local agencies probably did apply but didn't come up with anything better.
It is disappointing that the logo seems to very similar to others already in use but it's certainly not hideous. It's way better than what it has replaced.
I would however be interested in seeing the original but I don't think we ever will.
This logo is primarily for visitors to the city, and that's why i guess it was kept simple. Look at any classic logos around the world none are overly complicated.
This thread is so similar to many others on this site. We love to moan and will do, about anything and everything.
Even things most of us know nothing about.
Simple!
Posted by Get Real | 24.08.08, 14:54 GMT
http://designresearchgroup.wordpress.com/2008/07/31/belfast-develops-a-new-logo-and-so-does-blackburn-and-barrow/
So it's exactly the same as Barrow and Blackburn's idea/concept except we got ripped off more than Blackburn did - they managed to pay only £60K for some design firm to copy Barrow's. It must increase incost everytime someone copies it.
Lookout Ballymena - should cost you guys about £750K at this rate - I can do a special rate for you if you like?
Posted by Davy - Belfast Rates paying mug | 14.08.08, 13:03 GMT
Ladies and Genlemen,
Is Jim Rodgers a dicator-does he have the power to just ride rough over everyone else.
A propos, the logo looks like something from the 70s.
Posted by DARCY DANCER | 12.08.08, 17:58 GMT
I'd be very interested to see what the rejected logo looked like.
Could the rejected logo be obtained through a Freedom of Information request?
Posted by Nick | 12.08.08, 15:41 GMT
I have to agree with Daren. Why get a London agency to be the consultants when they don't have a clue about Northern Ireland? It's sad when we have to give this to a London agency purely on their reputation, yet no one here was even given the opportunity to pitch for it.
Posted by Gary | 12.08.08, 09:19 GMT
There´s not much to say - simplistic, brainless, unimaginative.
Posted by Esther | 12.08.08, 04:55 GMT
Agree with Ciarán on this one. More emphasis needs to be placed on the Irish language. Take for example Catalonia/Catalunya. They are so proud of their Catalan and Castillian language alike!
Posted by Sean O'Rourke | 11.08.08, 17:43 GMT
Well done belfast city council on wasting nearly 1/2 million pounds on something that is not needed! rate payers find it hard enough paying their rates without watching their money being wasted on dinners and logos that do nothing for the ordinary people of Belfast.
Posted by Tommy | 11.08.08, 15:56 GMT
And how much will the NITB spend on their current branding exercise for Northern Ireland? More tax-payers money down the drain. How about they get the product up & running before they start 'sexing-it-up'?
Posted by Fed-up tax/rates payer | 11.08.08, 15:50 GMT
I know a nine year old girl who could havew done better - AND for free! She would probably have been happy just to see her work on display.
As for the "sumptuous three-course dinner" at the Hilton, I am just glad I am not a Belfast rate payer! Let them buy their own dinners before they come to discuss logos.
I see NO good reason why these people should be spoiled in this manner. I worked for a public service for 14 years and never once enjoyed a "sumptuous three-course dinner" at the expense of the general population of Northern Ireland.
Posted by Centaur | 11.08.08, 15:41 GMT
To Fred Freud (again) - I think I picked you up wrong. I thought you meant it looked like a set of hydraulics but I now believe you actually meant it looked like one of those things a cyclist wears on his head!! It's ironic that it looks like both!!
Posted by Liam | 11.08.08, 15:19 GMT
I'm rather confused, a logo for what exactly? A new letterhead on your rates bill...that'll cheer us up no end!
Jim Rogers style guru knocked it back after the launch dinner, could he not have been involved in the process from the start?
Posted by Michael | 11.08.08, 14:49 GMT
To Fred Freud - Funny enough, it does look like a set of hydraulics!! I'm glad you noticed it before me though ;-)
Posted by Liam | 11.08.08, 14:36 GMT
Is it me but does the thing not look like a man's thing !
Posted by Fred Freud | 11.08.08, 13:44 GMT
There is no linkage at all to Belfast's uniqueness in terms of identity, cultures or history.
Did the consultants even visit Belfast? Or did they just take a generic image off the shelf?
Scrap it and start again
Posted by Belfast is better than this | 11.08.08, 12:46 GMT
It should have been 'BS' instead!!
£430k to produce that nonsense!? I'm definitely in the wrong job!!
Posted by Liam | 11.08.08, 11:46 GMT
I've seen this concept used before - even in our staff canteen in work!! The B shape says nothing about our city. A five year old could have come up with something better. Why didn't Belfast City Council put forward a few designs incporporating unique features of Belfast (H&W, City Hall etc) and let the citizens of Belfast choose the best? That probably would have been too sensible an idea.
Posted by Paul | 11.08.08, 11:45 GMT
The name "Belfast" has no meaning, it being the Anglicisation of the original and current Gaelic name, "Béal Feirste", the mouth of the river Feirste.
Why was the original name not used as a recognition of the heritage of this very town, something all sides should acknowledge and be proud of, of course alongside the English version?
And why not the Ulster Scots name if there should be such a name...
There's more culture in a pot of yoghurt than amongst the self-serving spenders of public money behind this idea...
Posted by Ciarán | 11.08.08, 11:43 GMT
why did they not get a local company to do this instead of a London consultancy. It is highly likely that these people had never been to Belfast before taking this contract.
It helps if those that are re-inventing the brand actually know something about it!
Most English people dont even realise Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom (living in London I know this through people I meet on a regular basis).
A total waste of money on a pretty poor piece of branding.
Posted by daren | 11.08.08, 10:40 GMT
I don't understand why the Lord Mayor holds the power to act as he did. Months of work and considerable money spent scuppered on his single word of command?
Plus, I saw the new logo driving into Belfast the other day and think it looks ridiculous. It belongs on an upmarket children's clothing boutique.
Start over!
Posted by Jon Hatch | 11.08.08, 09:23 GMT
21 Comments