Comments on: Graphic Designers Love a ‘Logo-Ectomy’

By: Niri S Patel

Niri S Patel — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 17:29:12 +0000

Dear Ivan

A recent Wall Street Journal article on franchising named BNI as one of the Top 25 Franchise Organisations. and yes, we managed that with the same logo for over 20 years. If it ain’t broke, dont fix it.
Thank you- your comments hit the mark
Regards
Niri S Patel

By: Lori Moore

Lori Moore — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 18:17:20 +0000

In business, it is critical to be recognizable. One way to update without interfering with the logo is to utilize different colors from year to year without altering the logo itself.

Businesses also need to choose their logos carefully as they should have something they will live with for years.

My first business enjoyed tremendous success thanks to the branding another BNI member created for me. The branding was so effective that often people would say that yes, they had heard of me after receiving my business card with the business brand.

Thanks,

By: Wayne Gomillion

Wayne Gomillion — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 18:37:22 +0000

Ivan, I thought your point was well made… I wonder if the graphic designer, who made the remark, also believes that word-of-mouth is an outdated concept? My theory is that they’re making a rather shallow and transparent attempt to coerce BNI to hire them for a logo redesign! Clearly their time would be better spent if they focused on developing their business networking skills. With highest regard, Wayne Gomillion

By: Ivan Misner

Ivan Misner — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 19:48:46 +0000

Wayne, here’s the rest of the story that I didn’t tell on the blog. At the end of HER blog, she said words to the affect that she was going to find a connection to get into BNI HQ to show us new logos. I CAN’T WAIT for that call!!!

Ivan

By: Harald Lais

Harald Lais — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 20:18:41 +0000

Dear Ivan,
for me a Logo is a symbol for values people connect with a logo. Sometimes if you here an old song you remember the good experience you have had. Perhaps the first kiss in a car with this song played in the radio. When you hear 20 years later a remix of the song you can’t have a first kiss …
I think if you change a logo you take value and trust away. A logo can mean trust, quality, frienship, business. A change of the logo means the change of the values and a loss of the identity. So, I agree.

Harald

By: Lynn Blackburn

Lynn Blackburn — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 20:23:09 +0000

Dr. Misner, in response to your position I say YES! As a person who has been advising clients on advertising and marketing issues for fifteen years, I agree completely with the points you’ve made. As the saying goes, “repetition equals reputation.” Simply put: Pick a good logo and stick with it. I think Lori Moore made a good point about changing colors-but I would say not to do that except for a “special occasion” where it really made sense, such as using red or green for a Christmas card or some other seasonal or special event application. Otherwise I think BNI’s color (the exact PMS color!) should be as important to BNI as IBM’s choice of blue is to them. Ever heard IBM referred to as “big blue?”–another example of great branding! Best regards to all, Lynn

By: Tom Doiron

Tom Doiron — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 02:27:08 +0000

Dear Dr. Misner,

I am so glad you ran with this issue. No doubt the BNI logo will never mean more to anyone else than it does to you. In some way it is a reflection of who you are and the vision you had for your company.

It paid good money to a excellent graphic designer to develop my company logo. I gave him the generalities, but he polished the details. Not a day passes that I don’t hear favorable comments about it. And you know what; I am proud of it. It reminds me every time I look at it that I am seriously in business.

Some people will not correct someone when they mispronounce or mispell their name. Betcha those same people use yahoo, hotmail, comcast, gmail, etc. for their company email address.

Thanks for all you do Dr. Misner.

Respectfully,
Tom Doiron
Atlanta

By: Mike Roberts

Mike Roberts — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 03:09:11 +0000

Ivan,

I must say that I agree with you on this point. The BNI logo is our identity as a company, which many people are a member of. They are a member because they believe in the values and mission of BNI and changing the logo will do nothing to enhance that.

By: Dyde

Dyde — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 05:08:28 +0000

It it ain’t broke don’t fix it. There is nothing per se with changing a logo if it’s only a minor modification. However, nowadays when there are millions of companies with millions of logos, average customer simply cannot differentiate a business based on a logo. Sure there are companies like Coca Cola, HSBC, Apple, etc that do have that brand recognition, but they have spent years advertising and builting it.

An average business needs to concentrate in building long term relationships with its customers instead of endlessly tweaking its logo. Note that I’m assuming your logo is appropriate and is not embarrassing unlike the London 2012 Olympics logo. Now that needs some serious designer work.

By: Tony Benner

Tony Benner — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 06:52:39 +0000

Dear Ivan,
Without meaning to sound sexist, but changing a company’s logo is not like changing a dress or a suit.
A few year’s back, I was involved with a major Bank (Westpac) whch was forced to adopt a brand new logo as it was formed out of the merger with another large bank.
What a major exercise, and cost item, that turned out to be. Mainly because a logo is designed to last many decades. It’s a priceless asset that companies like Shell, IBM, MacDonald’s all acknowledge.
If graphic designers had their way, logos would be changed everytime the season changed! Happy Springtime BNI!

By: Cyndi Wiley

Cyndi Wiley — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 21:08:56 +0000

I would like to read the original blog. May we read the original blog please? I did some research online and couldn’t find it with what you have quoted.