New MLB cartoon logo.
Designers by nature are visually oriented, we’re attracted to beautiful design and rightly so. But we also take notice when we see something that falls short as well.
There’s been many times a design has flooded my eye gate and caused me to think or say to myself “Ugh! I wish I could have worked on that.” or “The idea is fine but the execution is just horrible.”
Earlier this month both of those thoughts streamed my conscience when I saw the new MLB team logo for the Baltimore Orioles. I’m familiar with this cartoon bird approach because in the 1980′s I was a hardcore Orioles fan. My favorite player was Eddie Murray and my favorite hat was the cartoon bird logo used at that time.
That all changed one summer when the Orioles came to Seattle to play the Mariners. I showed up early at the press gate, baseball cards and a sharpie in hand to get Eddie Murray’s autograph. His cab pulled up and Eddie Murray began to walk towards the gate, I intercepted him holding out my baseball card and saying “Mr. Murray can I please get your autography.” Murray kept walking, didn’t even look at me and said gruffly “Get outta here kid!”
From that point I didn’t like Eddie Murray any more, and found a new favorite team in the Boston RedSox. But I digress, back to the original intent of this post.
As you can see in the image above created by the MLB, the new cartoon logo stinks. The execution of the design is crude. It contains an awkward white shape, inconsistent weight on the line work, confusing detail such as the bottom of the beak, incorrect perspective most noticeable in the eyes etc. The artwork looks like a minor league designer pulled it off instead of a skilled seasoned veteran.
Author Von Glitschka’s re-designed Baltimore Orioles cartoon.
Personally I think the MLB is in a design slump recently. One of the worst ocular offenses of late by the MLB is the Florida Marlins new logo. It’s like getting a 90 mph beanball to the eye socket.
So I decided to step up to the plate and take a swing at the Baltimore Orioles cartoon logo myself. And the above image shows how I would have created it using the same limited palette of colors.
The design created by the MLB obviously went through stages of approval and the fact it was released without being refined and appropriately improved upon only reinforces the fact that the MLB design batting average is hovering around .200 right now.
Embroidered on team hat.
At Upper Deck I was on the design team for the MLB license. I know how some of the artistic politics work behind the scenes at MLB and I can only imagine their marketing throwing a few spit balls into the creative mix? That said I’d love to some day have the opportunity to work on a MLB team logo. Seeing the lame attempts of late what do they have to lose?
Cartoon logo on orange background.
Personally I don’t think the outline needs to remain the team orange especially if used on an orange background. I prefer it being white instead.
Cartoon logo locked up with the team script.
As far as I know the Baltimore Orioles have never locked the cartoon bird up with the script version of their team logo? I think it looks pretty good and would work for warm up jerseys at least.
Cartoon logo colorized.
Historically speaking the Baltimore Orioles have had secondary colors in their team color palette such as a sandy yellow and grey. So I decided to try one version that fleshed out the coloring more. I wouldn’t see this being used on team uniforms but it might work well for promotional purposes?
I’d love to creatively pinch hit for you MLB. I know we could create a graphic home run!
Commentary by Von Glitschka
