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A new identity, designed by Open, has been launched for WNYC (93.9 FM, AM 820), the regional provisioner of NPR & PRI news broadcasting and arbiter of exquisitie cultural infotainment. The station is recognized for its nationally syndicated programs hosted by namesakes such as Brian Lehrer and signature shows such as Studio 360 with Kurt Andersen. For non-New Yorkers, live and archived shows can be accessed at wnyc.org.
The new blocky mark is formally staid in contrast to the modular and retro predecessor. A sober weight of Gotham is resilient at small sizes online. Moreover, this tight approach fits in the familiar family of NPR and BBC. At first glance, the call sign is unembellished as four distinct letters…but with a twist. I am inclined to guess that these blocks are a clever attempt at fusing a skyline of buildings with the LDC volume readout of a boom box. Those thick red bars seem more likely to blast Van Halen & Howard Stern rather than Rachmaninov & Leonard Lopate. But who says we shouldn’t rock out to the latter? The re-brand must have been timed to coincide with the station’s anticipated move to an 80,000 sq ft space at a former printing facility in Tribeca fit with its own street-level performance space.
Window graphics of the new facility were designed by Poulin + Morris (Prior to the new identity?)
Welcome to the block party.
A former incarnation from the 80s, by Dan Friedman at Pentagram.
Jump to Most Recent Comment
Ty Halasz’s comment is:
I would say that this identity rocks the block look better than NPR. Overall, good stuff. I am very interested to see the space in Tribeca to see how the identity was delineated.
On Apr.21.2008 at 03:20 AM
Mongoose’s comment is:
I very much like the new logo. The bars look indeed immediately echoes an output display, and it reads still as 'WNYC' over 'W' 'NYC' even with the red-white flip.
The black/red treatment though, ugh. Sadly, that makes it look like 'NYC'.. oh, and there's the W to the left.
On Apr.21.2008 at 04:22 AM
felix sockwell’s comment is:
dig it.
less subway. more functional.
smart.
On Apr.21.2008 at 08:31 AM
Julie’s comment is:
Ben Thoma’s comment is:
Don't forget the best show on WNYC: Radio lab
Thumbs up from me on the new logo.
On Apr.21.2008 at 09:48 AM
Kosal’s comment is:
Restrained, iconic, straightforward, meaningful.
On Apr.21.2008 at 09:50 AM
Travis Fleck’s comment is:
Ha, I was just about to post that Julie.
On Apr.21.2008 at 10:31 AM
Keenan’s comment is:
I have to say that I disagree. This logo is generic. The old one is far from perfect, but it is at least distinctive. The old logo was more about New York; This logo is more about radio, and the LCD levels display reference is trite. Sorry WNYC, but I think you got this one wrong.
On Apr.21.2008 at 11:11 AM
doogs’s comment is:
[KEXP]
Julie, you beat me to it!
On Apr.21.2008 at 11:48 AM
Darrin Crescenzi’s comment is:
Agree with Julie, Travis and Doogs on this one; It feels like a bit of a knee-jerk reaction to me… well executed, but knee-jerk never-the-less.
On Apr.21.2008 at 12:05 PM
felix sockwell’s comment is:
not that authorship matters much here at Brand New, but is anyone scratching their head trying to figure out who was responsible for this understated, clarifying piece of design?
Well, here is your answer. Hint: these guys are GOOD.
On Apr.21.2008 at 12:22 PM
Joe M. ’s comment is:
Felix, There was a lot of head scratching. Thanks...and Bravo Open!
On Apr.21.2008 at 12:35 PM
Kevin M. Scarbrough’s comment is:
While I can appreciate the criticisms that this logo uses the same visual language as KEXP, I disagree entirely. I feel it is like comparing the old Bell South logo to the old AT&T logo because they are both in blue and both use circles.
Radio bars, being an integral part of sound equipment in general, isn't (and can't, and shouldn't be) owned by any one radio station ID system.
My favorite part of the logo is the amount of information they have elegantly packed into a single mark: the AM station number, the FM station number, and the web site. If I'm anywhere near a radio platform, and I see this logo, I can instantly tune in. I love that.
On Apr.21.2008 at 03:32 PM
dg3’s comment is:
I dig as well.
On Apr.21.2008 at 03:57 PM
Eric Suesz’s comment is:
Yes, Julie! You beat me to it, too. It is totally KEXP!
I actually think the KEXP logo works great because it's about music, but talk radio doesn't scream high-decibel output.
Rock on.
E
On Apr.21.2008 at 05:19 PM
Miha Medvedsek’s comment is:
I like it very much. Modern and meaningful.
On Apr.21.2008 at 06:04 PM
jak’s comment is:
very cool. nice attention to the type, makes you think NPR without realizing it, but is unique enough for the station's specific character to come through. modern, from THE city, etc.
On Apr.22.2008 at 08:30 AM
Patrick Sénécal’s comment is:
I prefered the older version. The letters had a distinct character (WNYC). It said "this is a NY radio channel". Seems all we see nowadays is Gotham.
I think the new logo is nice and I really like what Open does, but this seems really generic. Kind of reminiscent of this:
ceb’s comment is:
To draw a relationship with WNYC's new logo with TLC's is crazy. Not only does each typographic element have its own unique space, but each bar is unique in itself.
I like the new look. Its clean, simple, strong and provides useful
information while maintaining balance.
Good job!
On Apr.23.2008 at 12:25 PM
scott’s comment is:
It's too bad that in this industry it really doesn't matter who did it first, but rather who does it better. That KEXP logo is pretty darned ugly.
The only thing I question with this identity is the use of the colour red, and that specific colour.
On Apr.23.2008 at 06:02 PM
Glenn ’s comment is:
Nice. Love the reference to LED sound bars.
On Apr.23.2008 at 06:03 PM
Paul’s comment is:
nice one. liking it.
On Apr.23.2008 at 07:25 PM
XK9’s comment is:
Well done Open. All you doubters take note!
This is deceptively simple. With four bars it evokes sound, information (graph) and NYC. Brilliant.
A vast improvement on the old design and a solution that should stand for years to come (barring regime change).
KEXP is KRAP. This is intelligent graphic design.
On Apr.25.2008 at 08:24 PM
Patrick’s comment is:
Upon first glance, I too got the impression of the LED soundbars. Actually, I was going in the wayback machine and thinking of graphic equalizer but then recalled which century this is. It also evokes a city skyline but then again why is the W suppressing some building? By having the W and the NYC in contrasting colors, it really calls forth that this is a NYC station. Nice job.
On Apr.26.2008 at 08:04 AM
Andrew Boardman’s comment is:
Sorry to disagree, but it's not a very well implemented logo. It feels like someone redesigned it because it was in their job description. Red + Gotham + Bars = Radio! Not a fan. But I love the station. I listen to WNYC.org a lot of the day while I'm working and I'll often drink coffee from their great mugs, which continue to be graced by the old logo. For what it's worth, I do dig the Dan Friedman one.
On Apr.30.2008 at 11:27 PM
Brian M.’s comment is:
Thank you, Julie!
On May.03.2008 at 04:49 AM
Stephanie Aaron’s comment is:
Ha just saw the Seattle logo on a bag in NYC and was going to post it.
On Jul.29.2008 at 10:13 AM
Comments in Brand New, V1.0 have been closed.
