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Something I did not expect to see smack in the middle of July — specially when no one is paying any attention to professional basketball, specially after such boring finals — was an unveiling of the 2008 NBA All-Star game logo [bigger view here], to be played in New Orleans a good eight months from now. Even after the devastating effects that the city went through, it is still one of the nation’s most flavorful, with its music roots keeping it afloat and its unique architecture and texture shining through. The All-Star logo — in all of its polished professionalism, typical sports semi-dimensionality and inevitable, expected, city-centric visual cues — manages to convey some personality and add a little spice to the anticlimactic, über family friendly affair that the All-Star game has turned into. The “All-Star” custom typography is quite smooth and has a nice vintage smell to it, nicely complemented by the iron work line art “growing” from the basketball at the bottom. The trumpets (or “brass instruments” as specified in the press release) are not necessarily my cup of tea, but they do add nice tension to the circular logo. The “2008” text is by far the least resolved with way too much letterspacing and, based on the “New Orleans” text in the upper ribbon, what looks like some horizontal scaling, but I want to think it’s the extended version of the typeface. Overall — and in contrast with some past All-Star logos, specifically The Chili Years from 1994 to 1996 — the New Orleans logo stands out nicely and, most beneficial for the city, proudly.
Thanks to Jason Smith for the tip.
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John’s comment is:
Very, very nice. Classy, with local flavor. I'll take mah po' boy dressed, cher. Wherey'at?
(how can you say the trumpets aren't your cup of tea? perhaps you would've preferred clarinets to carry the message of jazz heritage? whatevah!)
...and I'd hardly call the NBA All-Star weekend "fan-friendly." More like thug friendly. God knows NOLA can use some high profile big events, but great googaly moogaly, I hope they can handle it.
On Jul.22.2007 at 08:03 PM
Unit B’s comment is:
I agree with John's comments–classy, pretty elegant, etc.– but feel like I've seen it before. And it hit me just where: check out the Super Bowl logos, 1993 and 2002 specifically.
http://www.sportslogos.net/team.php?t=593
Am I reaching here? Like I said, it looks good, just not that original.
L.Vazquez’s comment is:
I have to agree so far with everyone else. I've never been to New Orleans, so I can only go by what I see and compare to everything I've ever seen about the city.
Looks like sportslogos.net is down. I couldn't see any links. (as of 12:21 am, yes, I was up "working.")
On Jul.23.2007 at 12:22 AM
Anonymous’s comment is:
It seems to me that none of the logos, past or present, have resolved the incorporation of the NBA logo.
On Jul.23.2007 at 12:22 AM
raquel’s comment is:
reminds me of 'stock footage'.. it is neither unique nor memorable. Dull cliche redundant simulacrum of a tastefully done logo.
On the other hand, not horrible.
On Jul.23.2007 at 12:56 AM
Splashman’s comment is:
I agree with raquel: dull. Nothing that grabs me. It's got a lot going on, and nothing stands out.
I tell ya, though -- I'd hate to have to be the one who had to come up with a fresh logo every year for the same event. So I'll cut the designer some slack. A little bit.
On Jul.23.2007 at 01:17 AM
Von Glitschka’s comment is:
It's almost too symmetric in that he cloned the same trumpet over and over. The trumpet's look more on par with what you'd see in the medieval time period. I'd rather see a variety of instruments all the while giving the feel of symmetry.
The mark over all is good but aspects of it hint at some graphic laziness as if they didn't want to explore them?
On Jul.23.2007 at 04:36 AM
Frank’s comment is:
I really like it and think it stands out.That said, i do second the comment on the trumpets looking medieval and indeed the NBA logo itself seems to be a bit too small.Also i find the basketball to be poorly executed; almost looks like i football me thinks.
Other than that it does bring across "New Orleans" and "brass" in a very nicely vintage way.
On Jul.23.2007 at 06:39 AM
C-LO’s comment is:
It's better then the Superbowl's Logo. I think it works though. Yes you aren't gonna talk to you grandkids about oh man 2008 yas THE YEAR!!! but this is a great graphic, esp. for anything related to sports which tends to bring in very lackluster artwork. That logo is for the here and now. And next year it will be replaced as all the logos before it. So it was written, so it shall be done. Gonna be tight to bring it small scale, but I think the athletic gold colored trims give it the most character. And whoever mentioned " just trumpets" has me fixating on them now.
On Jul.23.2007 at 08:38 AM
drew kora’s comment is:
I agree about the NBA logo...it just looks stuck on to the top and sort of out of place. Too bad.
Overall I think it's nice, but it the larger trumpets come to sort of a weird needle-point as they disapear behind the banner graphic thing. They almost look like golden golf tees, not trumpet horns.
But that's me overanalyzing...I think the New Orleans name will make a quick relationship with the trumpets, not golf tees.
On Jul.23.2007 at 10:12 AM
felix’s comment is:
great. perfect.
Looks to be Doret but I could wrong.
On Jul.23.2007 at 04:34 PM
Shane Guymon’s comment is:
I don't mind it, and looking back at the past All Star logos, I would have to say this is one of the better one.
I'll reittereate what others have already mentioned, mainly "C-LO" it's not one of those logos that will go down in history as one of the greatest, but it will do fine for some kids to where a shirt, and to sit on the center court for a weekend.
Does anyone know who designed the logo?
On Jul.23.2007 at 05:40 PM
Paul Corrigan’s comment is:
I like the ironwork growing out of the basketball as well. And the treatment of the All Star type.
Stacked up against the other NBA logos it holds its own, but that's not such a hard thing to do (I'm talking to you, Atlanta 2003). Seems like they are all designed to work well on embroidered hats and pins, which is probably a mandatory. So, like Splashman, I'm willing to cut the designer some slack.
But still, it would be nice to see some originality.
On Jul.23.2007 at 06:54 PM
Joachim’s comment is:
Being a big basketball fan and having a chance to see the All Star logos of previous years, I would have to say this one is one of the better All Star logos I've seen.
On Jul.24.2007 at 09:50 PM
Matt’s comment is:
I think the logo is on point.. in the end it tells a story specifically to this years all star event... I agree with Splashman, designing freshness for the same logo every year? Kudos.
I though I read somewhere that the Adidas team designed most of the NBA stuff? makes since, I guess, having the licensed product and all...
On Jul.25.2007 at 09:23 AM
Andrew’s comment is:
Great logo.
Yes, Unit B, you are stretching.
The NBA kicks these things out every year, They're only used for one weekend.
I think the logo is fine for the purpose especially considering past All-Star logos.
The NBA's logos ARE slowly getting better every year.
Brian’s comment is:
Anyone know who designed it?
On Jul.30.2007 at 09:04 AM
Kyle Hildebrant’s comment is:
I think this is great. On a personal note, probably the only thing I would have done differently (not that anyone cares) is to swap the Ball and the NBA mark, having the NBA mark at the bottom. I'm sure the NBA wouldn't agree, though.
Hildebrant.
On Aug.01.2007 at 12:46 PM
Rebecca’s comment is:
I enjoy this logo overall: specifically, the decorative ironwork, typography, and color choices.
What doesn't appeal to me are trumpets, which seem overused. As Von Glitschka pointed out, it has a "hint at some graphic laziness."
The NBA logo is unfortunate, but seems unavoidable. Judging from past All-Star logos, it seems to be one of the better solutions to the problem.
Classy and well-done overall.
On Aug.05.2007 at 01:44 PM
VA’s comment is:
It’s a four day event. The logo is fine, sounds like a lot of people would have preferred to boast about their creative talent than accept the fact that someone did come up with something for a annual event that is doable. Regardless of what you might think or say ...it works for what it is.
On Oct.22.2007 at 10:16 PM
Ron Domingue’s comment is:
Watched the game this weekend and was very impressed with the overall branding of the All Star Game and as a Louisiana native I felt it was too patronizing as some of these sport festivities are. An excellent job by the NBA. My question is does anyone know which firm, agency or person is responsible for the overall design?
On Feb.19.2008 at 11:45 AM
Armin’s comment is:
The uniforms were pretty sweet too. I'm glad the NBA went back to doing unique uniforms for the all-star instead of the two- or three-year trend where players just wore their team uniforms.
But regardless of what the event looked like, it was about time we saw an exciting dunk contest. Dwight Howard is out of this world. One more off-topic comment: Video of Dwight Howard training for the contest.
On Feb.19.2008 at 11:54 AM
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