Wise Startup Blog

Image is everything. Branding is becoming increasingly important in this age of service-industry. Apple is able to sell an iPod for $200, when the device only costs $50 to make.

The remaining $150 is justified by Apple’s branding. From their logo, to design, to marketing, they make consumers jump out windows and watch their laptop events liveblogged on the Internet.

So why are so many companies so far behind the times when it comes to design? I’ve cataloged my favorite 10 worst logos of 2008, and the sad story is these logos have been with the company for quite a long time.

Hey laggards, update your logos to refresh the new times. No longer do we have milkmen delivering to our door (Wise) and once we left college we stopped using out TI-83 (Texas Instruments).

The 10 Worst Logos of 2008

Wise Snacks

This company obviously holds a close place in my heart simply because my grand-daddy started the company. And it’s a shame all of this potato chip money couldn’t buy us a new logo.

3M

Sure they make tape, and post-it notes, but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be hip. Just look at Bic, their website is actually pretty sweet, check it out, seriously..

Adobe

Come on …You make Photoshop. You would think someone at the company could come up with a better logo. Sure you want to stay simplistic, but this just doesn’t cut it. Why not add in some cool web 2.0 effect like Xerox did.

Blizzard

For guys that create cutting edge video games, with great graphics, you would think the old bevel and emboss would be thrown out of their logo. Although it is cool to see them give the icey effect for Warcraft Ice World or whatever.

CBS

I don’t think NBC has updated their logo, and it’s been able to stand the test of time, but this logo is just creepy. It reminds me of the days when people only had 4 channels and Joseph McCarthy would interrupt He-Haw and they splash this nasty EYE-logo on the screen.

Dell

Just because your computers are cheap, doesn’t mean you should be. If Dell ever wants to compete with the likes of HP and Apple, they need to start investing more in their branding. Sure the gamer-versions of their XPS line are getting better looking, but they still look like nerd-boxes.

Epson

Honestly prior to this post, I didn’t know Epson had a logo. But for a company that does PRINTING and IMAGING, you would think they invest just a little bit of money into their damn logo. Christ, they put it all over every printer they produce. Unacceptable.

Motorola

No that isn’t Batman’s call-signal being broadcast from the roof of the police station, that’s a technology company that makes really advanced phones or at least they used to until the RAZR v7.521.

Sandisk

This reminds me of the drawings I used to do in like 4th grade. I really liked lightning bolts, so I put them in every picture. What is that red thing? Maybe they were going through a ‘fire’ phase..

Texas Instruments

So I just recently learned that this company also makes other devices besides calculators. Wouldn’t know it from their horribly out-dated NASA-Houston-we-have-a-problem-logo. Seriously though, this thing looks good on my TI-83 but that’s about it.

What’s The Worst?

So who’s the biggest loser? The worst logo of the bunch. Make your bets in the comments, and please also tell me why I’m wrong about 1 or all of these 10