Help with my Thesis project...

[yagga]

This is a strange request, and one that I'm sure won't pop up too frequently on a message board like this... but I've come to respect the opinions of the people over here - so here goes.

I am working on my Computer Graphics Masters Degree thesis for the Miami International University of Art and Design (online). Basically, I need quantitative input for the thesis - which essentially is input and opinions by people. My thesis asserts that an up-front understanding of established baseball branding design expectations, can result in the production of a contemporary logo design and branding strategy for an expansion major league franchise that is well-received. Essentially, I feel that in order to design a new logo for a team, a designer must know the history of the league they are designing it for. Baseball fans like their logos a certain way... and in order for new ones to work, they need to follow a certain "formula".

Based on the research I have uncovered about that formula, I designed new branding for a fictitious Major League baseball club called the "Buffalo Red Jackets". No advertising firms, marketing companies, or focus groups were used in this process... just good old-fashioned design school elbow grease. My goal with this blog is to receive as much critical input (negative or positive) relating to the logos by you - the fans, as possible. But, in order to drive a more constructive survey I am going to ask that you answer the following questions about the branding. Otherwise, I might get all sorts of answers that I cannot use in my thesis. If you have any further questions, please contact me through the Buffalo Range contact page.

Here is the file:
http://www.bisonhockey.netfirms.com/redjackets.html

Here are some questions for you to follow:

What do you think this logo represents?

How does this branding compare with other MLB branding?

Does it seem like this team branding has an advantage over other teams? If so, what is it and how does it have an advantage?

What is do you think is this team's message?

Do you feel that this design delivers on that message?

Is there a niche that would benefit from this brand?

Is the Red Jackets name and logo descriptive and distinctive? Are there ways that it can be improved?

Is the design clear and focused?

Do you connect with the logo?

Is the color scheme consistent with other MLB teams?

Does this brand have personality? If not, can you suggest something to ensure that the brand does?

Would you buy merchandise featuring this branding?

Do you feel this logo or team moniker is insulting or stereotypical of Indian culture in any way?

Your answers will be entered into my thesis and are a great help... negative or positive.

Thank you for your help!

If you prefer, I have a MLB blog at this link:
http://mythesis.mlblogs.com/archives/2008/05/the_buffalo_red_jackets.html

[35Pete]

Google "Voice of the Customer" methodologies.

And make sure that your questions are neither leading nor interogative.

You should let the posters here speak freely as your questions may pre-bias information with aspects that YOU feel are important. Not a slam bro. That's just human nature.

Have a conversation with your clients (the members here). Don't interrogate them. They may reveal to you critical attributes that you would have never thought of.

My two cents.

[yagga]

Google "Voice of the Customer" methodologies.

And make sure that your questions are neither leading nor interogative.

You should let the posters here speak freely as your questions may pre-bias information with aspects that YOU feel are important. Not a slam bro. That's just human nature.

Have a conversation with your clients (the members here). Don't interrogate them. They may reveal to you critical attributes that you would have never thought of.

My two cents.

I'm not a marketing person.... so what do I know. But thanks for the advice. I'll take it into consideration. However, what are your thoughts about the logos?

[3LH]

What do you think this logo represents? I get the Native American angle, but it could also represent the history of an "older" American city like Buffalo.

How does this branding compare with other MLB branding? Very much in the "classical" style of MLB logos. Reminiscent of the very old teams and some of the now-defunct teams of the early 20th century.

Does it seem like this team branding has an advantage over other teams? If so, what is it and how does it have an advantage? It is better than the current MLB uniforms of some newer teams (Tampa Bay, Colorado and Arizona come to mind). Too many expansion teams go with something that is "trendy" at the time, only to become quickly dated looking.

What is do you think is this team's message? Heritage, history and tradition.

Do you feel that this design delivers on that message? Yes, the design is what made me interpret the team's message in that way.

Is there a niche that would benefit from this brand? Yes. With the classic look that it has, the brand may benefit from some non "Red Jackets" fans that just like the classic retro look of the merchandise.

Is the Red Jackets name and logo descriptive and distinctive? Are there ways that it can be improved? Descriptive - yes, in a classical way. You don't need something as literal as the Marlins logo to understand what team it represents. Distinctive - sort of. It could be slightly more unique while still retaining its classic appeal. The "Red Jackets" script/font is quite common at all levels of baseball - but maybe you were going for that since you are looking for something that follows the baseball "formula". Maybe you could carry the look/feel/style and maybe even the font of the "B" through to the "Red Jackets". That's a tough one though.

Is the design clear and focused? Yes it has a good amount of clarity without being condescendingly literal.

Do you connect with the logo? I like it. As a baseball fan, the classic logos appeal to me. So maybe the "formula" does apply to me!

Is the color scheme consistent with other MLB teams? The color scheme is fine. Again, it is classic. No teal to be found there - always a good thing. I like the different shade of red you used. Maybe add some brown or grey in there, even if only for the alternates?? The road grey seems a tad dark - unless you were using that shade of grey somewhere in the main logo.

Does this brand have personality? If not, can you suggest something to ensure that the brand does? It has some personality, but it doesn't jump out at you. That's not entirely bad. It's not over the top. Making it a little bit more unique without sacrificing the classis feel of it might give it a bit more personality.

Would you buy merchandise featuring this branding? Yes.

Do you feel this logo or team moniker is insulting or stereotypical of Indian culture in any way? No.


Good luck with your thesis project!