No Logo?

My Supercity logo and strapline

There's an awful lot going on with the Supercity that we ought to be concerned about. I confess to finding the whole topic largely tedious - a fait accompli that we will be stuck with for years to come. But the scale of the change coming, and the speed with which things are changing, ought to concern me.

Of all the things we probably ought to be critical of, this probably isn't it.

The Auckland Transition Agency is looking to all Aucklanders to create a distinctive design, despite the failure of the Queens Wharf public competition to find an inspirational idea for the waterfront.

Executive chairman Mark Ford said the logo should be designed and owned by Aucklanders, and everyone - including professional designers - was invited to take part.

The news of a log competition has led to predicable outrage. Various self-important persons were on the radio this morning expressing horror that the logo is a needless distraction and that there are more important things to be done.

Well, sure, there are more important things than a logo. But what kind of joke would the city, my city, be without some sort of instantly-identifiable logo?

A logo is a brand that identifies who you are and what you are about. That brand needs to be a strong one if we want to attract tourists and give the diverse Auckland region a sense of unity.

It would be an act of astounding negligence if the Auckland Transition Agency were not looking at a logo.