New York City decided to swap out the iconic ‘I Love New York’ logo for a new one in an attempt to boost tourism and the local economy after the COVID-19 crisis.
The new icon will be similar to the old one, but it will speak in the plural, saying ‘We Love New York’. However, the decision has sparked controversy on social networks, as not everyone agrees with the change.
The original logo was created in 1977 by Milton Glaser, who drew it on a napkin while driving around the city in a taxi. The simple design captivated the public, and since then it has been put on a myriad of things, from every imaginable piece of clothing to city souvenirs like mugs, plates, and key chains.
This new design was promoted by the mayor of the city, Eric Adams, and the state governor, Kathy Hochul, as part of a campaign that wants to relaunch tourism in New York, although the reception has not been as expected.
Seven days of heart and hustle — because we ❤️️ NYC!
👩💻 https://t.co/W0DTMOwVj0
📲 https://t.co/HCxwPWQ2Oi
🎧 pic.twitter.com/W2ncZrixf9— Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) March 27, 2023
On social networks, the number of negative comments against the new design far outweigh the positive ones, since a large part of users consider the change as “unnecessary”.
“Milton Glaser got it perfect the first time”; “There is nothing aesthetically correct about this design” and “he looks like an emoji, there is nothing about him that feels iconic. Why not ask experienced designers to explore more possibilities?” were just some of these comments.
— George Hahn (@georgehahn) March 20, 2023
This is not the first time that the iconic logo has been modified, as Glaser added the words “More than ever” (More than ever) after the terrorist attack of September 11, 2001, however, the change was well received on that occasion. , as it highlighted the solidarity that the US felt after the unfortunate incident.
Milton Glaser’s sketches for the image of “I Love NY More Than Ever,” a redesign of his iconic logo after the 9/11 attacks. The heart is damaged, also symbolizing the geographical place where the Twin Towers were located. pic.twitter.com/h3sjQFiETt
— Sacha Azcona (@SachaAzcona) March 24, 2023
The controversy that the change of logo aroused reveals the importance that the original design has for the citizens of New York, who have grown fond of the image over the years.
