Skip to the content
Daedalus Howell
Writer | Filmmaker | Media
  • About
    • Media
    • Awards
    • Colophon
    • Privacy Policy
  • Art
    • Le Drama Clüb
    • Airport Bar
    • Stairwell Video
    • Petaluma Postcard Project
    • Lost Roomba
    • Meditation for Commuters
    • Haunted Retainer
    • Interactive Fiction: Write or Drink
    • Lost & Found Pages
  • Books
  • Films
  • Podcasts
  • Blog
  • Contact
    • Work With Me
  • About
    • Media
    • Awards
    • Colophon
    • Privacy Policy
  • Art
    • Le Drama Clüb
    • Airport Bar
    • Stairwell Video
    • Petaluma Postcard Project
    • Lost Roomba
    • Meditation for Commuters
    • Haunted Retainer
    • Interactive Fiction: Write or Drink
    • Lost & Found Pages
  • Books
  • Films
  • Podcasts
  • Blog
  • Contact
    • Work With Me
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Email
Categories
Media Critique

Minding the GAP

  • Post author By Daedalus Howell
  • Post date October 15, 2010
  • No Comments on Minding the GAP
Media_httpfmrlcomwpco_joeix

Much has been written about the Gap’s logo gaff, wherein the San Francisco-based clothier attempted a logo switcheroo only to be shouted down by what seems to be the entire Internet. Not much, however, has been said about Laird+Partners, the NewYork-based agency that devised the rebranding FAIL. Their “About Us” page claims “In creating a unique identity for each of our clients, we provide the highest level of visual sophistication combined with an insightful marketing approach,” to which one can only say, “You mean ‘sophisticated’ like using Helvetica and clip art from a Microsoft Office product?”

It ends with some hokum about delivering “a consistent brand experience,” which in the Gap’s case means consistent disdain. The jean-maker relented within days and restored the original blue box logo.

In a statement published on the corporate site of Gap, Inc., Marka Hansen, president of Gap Brand North America, said ?We?ve learned a lot in this process. And we are clear that we did not go about this in the right way. We recognize that we missed the opportunity to engage with the online community.? This wasn?t the right project at the right time for crowd sourcing.”

Crowd sourcing? Um, yeah. The only contribution sourced from the crowd in this case was apparently ire. The source of the logo lambast was Laird+Partners (who should cash their check, like, asap!). In the meantime, I’m going to send Marka Here Comes Everybody by Clay Shirky as a primer on crowd sourcing and Laird+Partners a copy of Nancy Duarte’s Slideology so they can brush up their PowerPoint-inspired aesthetic.

For the record, our awesome labyrinth-themed logo was designed by Nubby Twiglet, who could totally take Laird+Partners in a schoolyard scrape… Just say’n.

Follow the plight of the abandoned new logo ?? @gaplogo.

Share this post:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)

Related

  • Tags Brand Camp, Crowd-Cloud, fail, FAIL File, Gap, gap logo, Lab Blog, Laird+Partners, Marka Hansen

By Daedalus Howell

Daedalus Howell is the author, most recently, of the novel "Quantum Deadline" and the writer-director of the recently released feature film "Pill Head." He is the editor of The North Bay Bohemian and The Pacific Sun.

View Archive →

← I declare myself Sonoma Valley Film Commissioner → Wooing Hollywood to Wine Country

Any thoughts? Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Email

Cart

© 2022 Daedalus Howell

Privacy Policy

Powered by WordPress

To the top ↑ Up ↑
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.