Logos In The News
May 24, 2011

New NYC Parks identity

by Cathy Fishel

There is tons of information and visuals about Pentagram's new identity for New York City's Department of Parks and Recreation at pentagram.com.

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17 Comments

jarhead

Hello, Air Canada.

13 years ago

Thomas

Perhaps Pentagram should have done their homework regarding the NYC Parks identity in comparison to icons of a similar (if not identical) look. The national air carrier for Canada's logo (which has been in use for several years I believe) should have been taken into consideration before the NYC Parks logo was implemented. Especially since New York State borders Canada!

13 years ago

Yardie

Someone at Pentagram had to know. These people eat, sleep and poop logos all day long. My question is, how does Air Canada handle this matter?

13 years ago

Toro Loco Design

It's a carbon copy of the Air Canada logo and even if it wasn't, it would just remind me too much of Canada and not NYC . . . Bad idea!

13 years ago

tom

The NYC parks logo has been around for quite some time. I am surprised that nobody has pointed out the fact that this mark wasn't created entirely by Pentagram, but was a refresh of the existing one. The symbol is very recognizable by people living in NYC, and I feel that this was a great update to an otherwise stagnant brand. It may not be the most clever solution, but it certainly solves some problemslike the consolidation of the park sigange (check out Pentagram's blog for more.)

13 years ago

Andrew

Really, a maple leaf in a circle says NYC... really? Really?! I would like to think & hope the even NYCers are pretty familiar with the stereotypical icons of their northern neighbor. Pentagram & NYC Parks couldn't think of anything else nature- or park-related that might actually be, oh, I don't know, ORIGINAL?!?!? Sorry for all the sarcasm, but this is a disappointing "creative" exercise.

13 years ago

Jerron

Couldn't they have at the very least created a unique leaf design instead of a Live Trace?

13 years ago

tom

13 years ago

EnergonCube

@ Jerron: The leaf is not a real leaf at all. Read Pentagram's blog. It's shares similarities with several different species. As for my thoughts on the design, Pentagram really should have tried harder on the mark. The drawing is very poorly done. At the very least, they should have simplified it a bit. The edges are unnecessarily complicated. And while I like the structure and typography on the signs, everything else is trite. Patterns from the logo? Really? Couldn't think of something else, Paul Scher?

13 years ago

Jerron

No one should have to read a blog to understand a logo. Nevertheless it still has that sloppy Live Trace appearance to it.

13 years ago

Thomas

After doing a little digging on the original Air Canada logo (which was derived from the original TCA logo) the question becomes who created the leaf in circle design first. The Canadian carrier was launched in 1937 and apparently NYC Parks was established in 1934... so in fairness to Pentagram I may have been prematurely harsh. With both icons rooted in history, it may be too much to ask one of the institutions to bend.

13 years ago

Joseph - Vigor Restaurant Branding

I'm actually really unimpressed with this. I'm sure there were design constraints, but this is just so blase. Even the illustrations of stick figures are sophomoric. I think the circular logo fits in with the subway signs to a point. that's a nice touch. However, there's nothing distinguishing the different sub brands for the park. Not even colors or extra caveats. Disappointing.

13 years ago

Neil Alexander Watson

Wow!!! Did the designer that thought of this one come up with the idea while on an AIR CANADA flight!

13 years ago

Neil Alexander Watson

Regarding Thomas comment... I concede, but hey, the NYC logo may well be older, but which logo is embeded in the back our subconscoius when we see this one. Maybe it has five fingers and the Canadian maple has 3, but it opened a wee door in the back of my mind that screemed... AIR CANADA!!!

13 years ago

Lane

Like the rest of you I immediately thought of Air Canada.

13 years ago

matthias

are the NYC Parks now in Canada? i´m from Germany, but Canada was the first that came to my mind as i saw this Logo!

13 years ago

Wissam Shawkat

I think NYC parks has more to offer than the Canadian symbol, what s this !?

13 years ago