Real improvement over the old logo. I particularly like that we are now referring to ourselves as U.S. Masters Swimming rather than USMS. If we are trying to attract new members and we are all on occasion walking billboards with meet t-shirts, who knows what USMS means besides those who are already members. I have any number of meet t-shirts in which neither the graphics or text give any indication that it is actually from a swimming event. Kudos to the group who picked the name change and the design.
The designer (also a businessman) was hired to make a logo that USMS can use and license in all sorts of ways. He was not tasked to follow his artistic notions beyond that. If he had presented a swimmer with flames coming out his nose or skydiving, or a baby's arm holding an apple, it would have been a waste of his time because USMS could not use those images as icons..
I'm curious as to why someone was hired when there are plenty of designers here that would have done a design for free. I'm not complaining about the logo but USMS could have saved some money. The new logo is actually very similar to what I pictured when I heard a new logo was being designed. Although I have to agree, the font is a bit boring. I would have done something a bit more to it.
Mike -
The contest, or just a call for volunteers, is a great idea. Give them a time limit to respond and then if no one jumps in, take it out of house.
As an aside, I'm not sure who "we" refers to, but there was a time when USMS was pretty much volunteers, period, as were/are many of the LMSC's and local team organizations.
"We" refers to the Board of Directors of USMS, of which I am a member. We act in the best interests of USMS membership at all times, always knowing that nothing we do will be universally accepted or appreciated. Like any other company, we make the best decisions we can with the information available.
I think the sheer number of unsolicited opinions and offers of "free help" pretty much should settle the debate about the value of using a professional logo/pr organziation versus the general populus of the orgnanization. A logo contest sounds like something a Summer league team does in conjunction with a bake sale to raise money for new flags.
great idea...i'll make the 5 dollar brownies.
I'm curious as to why someone was hired when there are plenty of designers here that would have done a design for free. I'm not complaining about the logo but USMS could have saved some money. The new logo is actually very similar to what I pictured when I heard a new logo was being designed. Although I have to agree, the font is a bit boring. I would have done something a bit more to it.
And we would have loved to save the money, although we believe it was well spent. The answer is very simple. We do not know what is available to us from the membership and we don't make a habit of begging for help. We do know that there are many professionals and artists and all sorts of people out there, but they do not join USMS to do more work. If they want to volunteer their services, we welcome the help. Right now, there is no way for us to gather that information except in arrears, like on this thread.
Perhaps we should have made a contest out of the process?
I'm curious as to why someone was hired when there are plenty of designers here that would have done a design for free. I'm not complaining about the logo but USMS could have saved some money.
I believe the USMS membership is chock full of talented individuals who would love to offer help or assistance to their sport of swimming.
But they have no idea there is a need.
They have no idea how to begin to make an offer of help.
I think the LMSC needs to communicate these "opportunities to help" on a local level. The SPMA sends a monthly newsletter by email.
And now, we have our brand new, very spiffy USMS Newsletter going out each month.
Sounds like a great beginning.
For all you do-gooders who want the logo designed by a bunch of unpaid volunteers, take a look at the Georgia State flag. I've never seen such nit picking in my life, geez louise. A lot of good things are happening in USMS. Like it or not a logo update is one thing that shows our leadership is thinking and taking us forward. Get with the program and stop the whining, it's Smith-esque for goodness sakes.
Alison,
Isn't there is a pretty big difference between a project like a rule book cover and logo/branding? I am not a graphic designer, but I have seen some companies spend some pretty big dollars on logo/branding and I have seen them take the approach taken by USMS and usually the more people involved and inclusive the process the more expensive it is and the results are often similar in the end.
Now, if there was no contest and they just had a professional like yourself who was volunteering their time from the start or even couple volunteers, then maybe that would have been the best alternative. I guess it is too late to go back, but maybe Rob as he becomes more familiar with how willing people are to volunteer and individual talents will do things different next time.
Thanks for volunteering your time to masters swimming!
Tim
Tim, yes there is a difference between something smaller such as a cover design and branding of an organization. You are right. But asking some of us who are professionals volunteer our time to do this, to me, would have been a better use of the organizations money. I would have gladly worked with the team to come up with a new logo but I nor anyone I know was asked. And I would have gladly done it for free and turned over all copyrighting to USMS. I hope this will be considered in the future.
Actually, my thought was to just call for concepts. I wouldn't have the entire membership vote on the design, but rather use the people already designated for such selections.
I guess it is too late to go back, but maybe Rob as he becomes more familiar with how willing people are to volunteer and individual talents will do things different next time.
I assure you Rob has come up to speed extremely on the volunteer nature of Masters Swimming. We realize volunteers are the lifeblood of Masters Swimming.
Our decision (Branding Task Force, Board and elected officers) to engage outside assistance in our branding efforts was decided before we hired Rob Butcher. Rob was instrumental in indentifying the firm to help us.
