Barnbrook identity chosen as Occupy London logo

A Jonathan Barnbrook-designed identity has been chosen as the new logo for the Occupy London movement, after winning out in a public vote.

Logo

The new identity, which has been created pro bono, will now be used by the movement on its website and social media communications, and will also be available for use on flyers, badges and other collateral. It can be downloaded for use here.

Occupy London spokesman Spyro van Leemnen says the identity will also be used for Occupy Everywhere protests planned for 15 December. Van Leemnen says that although the logo is available for use, Occupy protesters are free to use their own designs as well. ‘We are an open movement’, he says.

Occupy London had previously been using an identity based on the Transport for London roundel, but last month TfL’s lawyers ordered them to stop using this.

The movement then launched an open competition to find a new identity, which would be chosen by a public vote.

A total of 18 logos were shortlisted and put anonymously to the public vote. Van Leemnen says he approached Barnbrook to take part in the competition, as his Bastard font had already been used in the movement’s newspaper – the Occupied Times of London.

The new logo features an updated version of Barnbrook’s Patriot font. Barnbrook says, ‘What I tried to do was create something bold that expressed the ideology of the movement. It’s quite a traditional piece of design.’

Logo

Van Leemnen says, ‘Occupy London is a movement that fights for social and economic equality and all our decisions are made by practising direct democracy. So we thought that the best way to choose our new logo would be an open, democratic competition that would give the opportunity to people to be creative and contribute to the movement by providing us with their logo design ideas.’

He adds, ‘Jonathan’s logo is simple and versatile and can be used easily on different platforms which is why I think it won. Also the fact that it is designed by Jonathan, who is a politically concerned graphic designer, makes it special.’

Jonathan Barnbrook says, ‘To me this means more than any design award as it’s a movement that I feel strongly about personally. I was a bit worried about a public poll as you never know what’s going to happen with them but thankfully they chose this design.’

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Comments
  • James Hurst November 30, -0001 at 12:00 am

    Great response from Barnbrook for a really important movement posing some fundamental questions and ideas… Couldn’t think of a designer who would better fit the bill than this talented fella.

  • adam November 30, -0001 at 12:00 am

    Really like the mark, think it captures the spirit of the movement well – however find it interesting that there is still reference to individual’s own marks.

    As the numerous flikr groups and Guardian slideshows demonstrate their is an effection for, the amateur, the bodged and the raw when it comes to protest.

    Funnily enough the very topic of ‘is the word occupy now a brand?’ created a lot of very heated discussion at our recent part in the Changemakers Fayre at the Hub Westmintser. The conclusion was a definite and passionate Yes & No, find out why it all got so heated here http://www.forster.co.uk/blog.122.0.html

  • johnjohn November 30, -0001 at 12:00 am

    good on ya Jonathan

  • Matt November 30, -0001 at 12:00 am

    I really liked the use of Barnbrook’s Bastard in the London Occupy Gazette. This logo is ok. I think designers are making a mistake that this leaderless international movement has just been waiting around for a corporate celebrity designer logo. It hasn’t. The man himself calls this ‘traditional’. Glad we weren’t subjected to this contest here in the US. Yes I’m serious.

  • Dave November 30, -0001 at 12:00 am

    @Matt I believe it’s a coincidence that it’s a ‘celebrity designer’. As is explained in the article it was voted for anonymously, so on its own strengths. Therefore not sure what your (cynical) point is here. Barnbrook also has a history of this area of work, so not exactly out of character and seems to be something he believes in. More than you can say for what most designers have to work on.

  • Nick November 30, -0001 at 12:00 am

    You’re right Matt. There in the US you didn’t give the option to people to vote. You just imposed them an I ugly Soviet fist as a logo that has nothing to do with the 99%

  • Darren November 30, -0001 at 12:00 am

    The kerning looks all wrong to me. Like a set of gappy teeth.

  • Craig Hewitt November 30, -0001 at 12:00 am

    I’m a big fan of all things Barnbrook but I think it’s the weakest thing to come out of the Barnbrook stable. It lacks any real power and looks like something that may have been designed for London Underground in the 1930s for a city break.

  • Richard DP November 30, -0001 at 12:00 am

    I don’t get it. OCCUPY is one of those odd words that already looks wrong when you see it as text, so mess at your peril – the ‘U’ is horrible and there is so much tension and anger in it – I see a baseball bat, a logo for a rape crisis centre – and the red and black associations alarm me – it’s a very angry piece of work, could easily be ‘Target London’, or ‘Smash London’, and for some reason it reminds me of ‘Protect and Survive’ – of course, it’s open to interpretation – but that’s probably how people who don’t understand or support the movement will see it – and is that what they wanted?

  • Ian Doughty November 30, -0001 at 12:00 am

    How convenient that the public seemed to (at the very last minute) choose a design by the
    “invited artist” who names Damien Hirst (millionaire artist) as a friend, I followed the poll and
    this design was never a front runner, I and many others will have noticed this and I think it
    reflects badly on the occupy movement, if you wanted a “name” designer to produce your logo,
    then just do it, don’t be ashamed about it, but don’t fake up a competition to choose one .
    As a struggling designer I saw this competition as a great opportunity for an unknown
    like me to have a chance to get some exposure…. a cover story in Design Week is a massive
    boost if you are not already famous, so I was shocked to see that this design, having
    been low in the polls throughout, suddenly became so liked and eventually won.
    You do not need to explain anything, I know how it works………. I am one of the 99%
    and I am used to this.
    Now Every Person On The Internet Should Mistrust

  • Hannah November 30, -0001 at 12:00 am

    I missed out on following or participating in the public poll to select the logo at the time, and would be very interested to see some other entries in to the competition and what other people’s interpretation of how Occupy London should be represented.

    Does anyone know if any of these are still available to view somewhere?

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