What would you do if you were charged to re-design the logo for the most prestigous university in the Western Hemisphere? That’s exactly what Boston Magazine asked several Boston-based design firms in their latest issue. Also in the spotlight are Boston schools MIT and BU.

This popped up on UnBeige a few days ago, and I thought I’d share.

The results are interesting. While most of the samples are naff, some of them are actually very interesting and viable updates to classic academic logos. Branding a school is always a challenge (mainly in the scale of it), but trying to toy with the Ivy League is another problem all together. Can an identity be preserved and updated at the same time? What would happen to the overall image of a school simply from an updated logo? Unfortunately, there isn’t too much evidence to conclude an answer. Like college prestige in general, school identities are very nebulous.

// a tale of brands & branding
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eBay has encouraged it’s buyers and sellers to use its subsidiary pay service, PayPal for quite some time. PayPal is fast, easy, integrated nicely with eBay and even includes some dispute-resolution channels. It has a lot of plusses, but some folks still prefer money orders or other payment methods.

The trouble is that now eBay is forcing Australian users to use PayPal for all eBay transactions. The key word here is forcing. Considering our entire economy is based on choice, this is terrible news for an otherwise well-respect brand. An article from Newsvine has more detail.

This issue isn’t about the merits of PayPal itself. Aside from the hefty fees (especially for cross-currency and credit card transactions), most eBayers would welcome PayPal, but when their choice is removed, they feel threatened. Thus a brand that once offered itself as a clever peer and quirky friend, suddenly becomes a greedy oppressor.

When brands become forceful, the end is not too far off. This happened to IBM in the 80s when everything became IBM-compatible. It’s been happening to Microsoft since the late 90s when Internet Explorer landed them in court on multiple continents. And now it’s happening to eBay. Becoming a standard is the goal of any brand, but these days the consuming public isn’t so willing to take what big brother is dishing out — rebellion, as it were, is a new weapon in the consumers’ toolbelt. Threaten our choice and you’re going down. (the glorious exception is telecoms, which generally enjoy lots of protection from government because of the expensive infrastructure required and because of decades, if not centuries, of Political red tape. It sucks that even in the most densely populated areas consumers rarely have more than two choices for cable, phone, or internet. Don’t even get me started.)

I profess that this move is a symbolic peak for the eBay/PayPal brand. While their numbers may do funny things, that their brand is on the way out. With the constant flux of the economy, and the empowered consumer more web-savvy than ever, the place of online auctions remains questionable even in the near future. eBay’s new role as dictator only helps them gain speed on the downward slope.

I’ve written previously about the inevitable downfall of eBay, powered in part by their crappy logo.

// a tale of brands & branding, computers & gadgets, the internet
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This week, I had the honour of being a guest host on Freelance Radio, the official podcast of FreelanceSwitch.com. Yes, I am somewhat reluctant in my freelance career, but in 2+ years of freelancing (plus all the other stuff), I’d like to think I’ve acquired some insight. And in the spirit of altruism, I have to share.

In this episode, I talk with John Brougher and Dickie Adams about creating a “business image”, writing an About page for your site, and other freelancing issues. We also drop a few recommendations on books, software, websites, and other useful tidbits.

Visit the Freelance Radio Site for the episode, or just listen below.

And if anyone reading has a column, tv show, podcast, blog, radio programme, or traveling act, I’d love to contribute. If you ever need an expert on branding and design, I’m your man. Get in touch and we’ll see what happens.

Listen Now

// a tale of the industry
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Remember when I told you about Microsoft’s possible retail venture and how it’s generally an awful idea? Well, as it happens, Microsoft looked into retail space right here in Brooklyn, on the ground floor of the Williamsburg Savings Bank Building.

Gothamist has the story and more details about the space itself:

The 33,000-square-foot space spans two levels, and cannot be altered due to its landmark status. Faith Hope Consolo, of Prudential Douglas Elliman, said they “will lease the former bank space for $2 million per year or sell it outright as a single ‘commercial condo,’ has been talking to other high-end outfits, including Barneys, Sony and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.”

33,000 sq. ft. of Microsoft? What would they sell? They better have one helluva selection of wireless mice. Maybe cool Microsoft golf shirts like they wear in Redmond. I wonder if they’ll try and cash in on the ever-growing trend of retail space as social space. Maybe the hipster crowd will enjoy it as the next ironic social venue.

Brooklyn is still the hot target for tech retail with plans for a Williamsburg Apple Store still in the ether. While it will be convenient to have an Apple store right in my ‘hood, it will be one more excuse for my landlord to raise the rent. Oy, the downside of gentrification.

// a tale of New York, brands & branding, computers & gadgets
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In the desperate pandering-to-customers-in-spite-of-the-inevitable-results move of the day, Chrysler, the other ailing American auto-maker, is offering a fuel card which ensures that drivers will never pay more than $2.99/gal for 3 years!

The obvious response is wow! How can they lock in the price of fuel when oil prices are sure to rise (perhaps double) over the next three years. How many billions of billions of dollars will they piss away on this scheme? Are they really going to sell that many cars as a result of this promotion? Methinks no.

I have two things to say about this:

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// a tale of brands & branding, national identities
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Here’s something to ponder, what’s the worst thing that can happen to a brand? What’s the fastest way to alienate customers, deflate investors, and piss off the industry?

Here’s a few off the top of my head:

• New logo
• Change of packaging
• New CEO
• CEO who has overstayed his welcome
• Mergers
• Restructuring
• Outsourcing/Layoffs
• Product Extensions
• Labour problems
• Decrease in Quality

Can you think of any more pitfalls to avoid?

// a tale of brands & branding
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If you’re like me, you’ve simply grown to ignore that mess of scaffolding around Columbus Circle. But lo and behold that the Museum of Arts & Design is finally unfurled for all to see. The new exterior look is not without its criticism, which is appropriate, I suppose. Check out the photos.

Gothamist has more details, if you’re interested. And you should be, as NYC Design Week is right around the corner.

Unfortunately, the museum won’t open until September.

// a tale of New York, design, design: history
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