Ever since i was a kid I’ve always had a soft spot in my heart for the Cardinals. Part of it is that underdog thing. I lived in Dallas where the 90’s Cowboys dynasty laid waste to them twice a season. But there was another reason that was much more emotional…
I swear I’m a real fan.
I’ll lead this off by saying I’m not your typical artsy designer that talks though a Superbowl party waiting for the commercials to come on. I genuinely love football and watch several games a week during the season. However, I must admit I’ve always cheered for the Cardinals because I thought they had a cool logo. Now, I know that makes me a stupid sissy fan, but I can’t help it.
…but, I’m a sucker for a great brand.
This year, extra fuel has been added to that irrational fire. The Cardinals redid their logo last year, and it is a thing of beauty. I love to see an old brand polished up with care, and this is a great example. The old iconic bird looks bolder and meaner than ever. The Cardinals also hired design consulting superstars Pentagram for the environmental graphics on their new stadium. Imagine that! A sports franchise that actually got their design right!
…and everyone loves an underdog.
And now, the final straw: Against all odds, the “little-Cardinals-that-could” won an outstanding NFC championship game for the right to play in their first ever Superbowl. So there you go. A lifelong underdog team with the best design in sports beat the odds for the right to play in the big game. Even if you don’t give a rip about football, how can you not cheer for that? GO CARDINALS!
Just in case you can’t picture a sports stadium and classy design going hand-in-hand, I’ve got pictures:
Josh
Tue, January 27 2009
FYI - the redid the logo in 2005, its just that no one noticed…
Thu, January 29 2009
Wow, I for sure didn’t notice.