Comments on: New New BNZ Logo

By: Gattica

Gattica — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 02:35:41 +0000

Reminds me of what they did to the to the auckland city council logo a while back, when someone decided that it needed to be more jazzy, so they threw in some fireworks.

Its a shame and a step backwards. The previous re-brand was one of the best to come out of nz in the last few years.

Even with the stars at least the logo is not as bad as the ANZs which looks like a 70s basketballer – truly awful.

By: Kris Sowersby

Kris Sowersby — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 00:49:14 +0000

“The typesetting looks exceedingly average, the typeface is un-inspiring, looks like someone has done a great job at butchering Serrano.”

I’m not sure which version of the logo you’re talking about, but let me clarify for you. I drew the full “Bank of New Zealand” wordmark under direction from DNA. It’s an optically corrected ’sloped Roman’ based directly on Serrano. Does that mean I’m a butcher? Is it ok with you if I can, at least, butcher my own meat? As you’re a professional designer I can only assume that your comments aren’t merely based upon on a small jpg version of the logo, that you’ve actually seen it—in use—out in ‘the wild’.

As for the new ‘bnz’ mark, I can’t comment as I wasn’t involved with that.

By: Viktor

Viktor — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 01:18:40 +0000

It’s nice to see that they bring back the Southern Cross to the BNZ logo because it represents New Zealand, but unfortunately the lettering looks very simple and plain, I don’t like it at all, I would rather have the one without the stars then have a logo with them, but that’s banks for you thinking they will make you happy by making changes but instead they don’t make you happy at all and make it look much more terrible, the previous logo was modern and fun..this one looks simple and rather horrible.

By: Gerald

Gerald — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 01:08:37 +0000

I don’t like the new logo with the Southern Cross at all and definitely would prefer the previous one, The newish one looks simply boring especially the lettering to me it looks simply childish and ugly, Where has the piggy tail on the letter B gone? I truly liked the previous one…and what’s this I also hear they are getting rid of the pigs…Very disappointing if you were to ask me…It’s good to hear they have bought back the Southern Cross but to my tasting I hate it.

By: Nick

Nick — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 20:26:11 +0000

I think the new new logo has completely killed the personality that the re-brand communicated. The typesetting looks exceedingly average, the typeface is un-inspiring, looks like someone has done a great job at butchering Serrano.

Actually its so bad I don’t know why I’m wasting my time commenting about this =<

By: Jo

Jo — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 07:51:40 +0000

Definite improvement. Some credibility regained for the brand with this design evolution. The Southern Cross adds a visual representation of NZ without it being another barstardisation of a fern. And it’s already historically tied to the BNZ identity. Nice. Good on the BNZ marketing people listening and fixing it. Can be brave to admit you didn’t get it quite right. Logos are always politically charged.

By: len cheeseman

len cheeseman — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 06:43:26 +0000

Its nice to see that awful appendage removed at last and the letterforms are improved,I still think its a bit primary school for my taste but its still better than the ANZ logo.That looks like some sort of health care provider,something cervical prehaps.I’m actually curious to know what sort of drugs the banks are on.One would think at this stage of post financial meltdown the friendly tone is already way past its sell by date.Reassurance and solidity please and no corny italics feel right for the times.

By: Adam Errington

Adam Errington — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 05:14:52 +0000

We were shocked at the first attempt by DNA design – totally inappropriate for a bank, especially BNZ.

It was a classic case of the designers and the marketing manager not understanding the reality of branding in that business market.

Thank god they’ve brought the proud southern cross stars back and fixed the childish “toothpaste” typography. More credible now.

By: Newish BNZ logo brings back the stars :: StopPress :: Breaking news from New Zealand Marketing magazine

Tue, 24 Aug 2010 02:27:00 +0000

[...] What do you think? Read some of the opinions from graphic design boffins here. [...]

By: Anon

Anon — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 03:21:13 +0000

NEWS FLASH: BNZ have announced to staff this week that the logo will once again be changing. Including the re-addition of the southern cross, a less rounded font, and dropping the tail off the B. Keep an eye out for this change!

By: Val Scheu

Val Scheu — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 12:57:12 +0000

found this linked from another blog. I’ll keep following your stuff from now, cause this was rather informative. thanks.

By: F'p

F'p — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 01:16:51 +0000

I closed my account with the BNZ due to this logo and the subsequent advertising.

By: Colin

Colin — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 00:59:18 +0000

At last the Bank of New Zealand has updated and become a ‘Store’ instead of a plain old fashioned ‘Bank’, Bank Managers will now be known as ‘Store Bosses’ tellers will now have the updated name ‘checkout operators’!

By: Chris M

Chris M — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 04:18:10 +0000

Myself and a few of my friends have termed it the “turd”. I applaud the people who sold this idea to BNZ, well done.

By: bta

bta — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 21:08:44 +0000

“It’s very ‘now’” is exactly what is wrong with it to my opinion. How old is BNZ and how much longer it is going to be around? Like a grandma that is dressed as a teenager! perhaps in a couple of years the lady needs to change costume again to go with the fashion flow. This time from a micro mini skirt to a crotchless bikini! :oD

By: Eric Smith

Eric Smith — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 00:47:44 +0000

If you’ve dealt with this bank it wouldn’t make a lick of difference. Damaged goods ha ha ha.

By: Keir

Keir — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 02:46:33 +0000

Ooops! Sorry about the typo! Bad designer!

By: Keir

Keir — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 02:45:48 +0000

Initially hostile to the new mark but have come around after being exposed to the roll-out. Kris is a legend in my opinion and is a surperb ambassador for our little kiwi type industry. Keep up the good work.

By: kristian not kris

kristian not kris — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 07:25:06 +0000

The gap between B & N irks me huge.. I could deal if the N & Z hadn’t been connected but that lone sliver of blue might as well be wedged under my fingernail.

By: Kris Sowersby

Kris Sowersby — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 21:45:56 +0000

Hi all,

I realise I’m a bit late to the party, but I thought you might be interested in a few more opinions on the ‘rebrand’ here:

http://www.underconsideration.com/brandnew/archives/this_little_piggy_went_to_the_bank.php

I’ve chipped in where appropriate, it may help to give you all a bit of perspective as well.

I’d just like to reply to Andrew Symons directly. I’m not sure if you’ve ever undertaken a major rebrand, it’s hard to tell—I couldn’t find a portfolio site with your work. But you’d know that it is a huge, all-encompassing task to rebrand everything at once, from websites to internal livery to advertising to on-site signage. So to say that it’s a mistake to roll the new brand out while the old one is “still in existence” is rather unfair, in my opinion. Perhaps one day you’ll get the call that you desire—hopefully your work won’t be prematurely crucified before it’s fully finished.

–K

By: Martin

Martin — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 00:31:05 +0000

Looks like it was handwritten from toothpaste. Approachable, yes. Not sure it projects a bank that an older market could trust. Maybe kids could put their piggy bank money in it!!!

By: Andrew Symons

Andrew Symons — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 00:00:18 +0000

No, no, no
First mistake is Rolling out a new brand logo while original is still in existence, Absolutely the worst Logo for a bank,
Childish very unoriginal and will date extremely quickly
I thought it was encompassing a pigs tail but not too sure now as a pigs tail is curly,
I very much doubt this is a rebranding exercise God forbid if it is, I wish they had called me first to steer them away from rubbish design like this
Shame on the brand manager and the ad agency who did this.

By: chris

chris — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 08:15:20 +0000

reminds of toothpaste…?

By: Warren

Warren — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 04:28:01 +0000

It’s fresh but it’s not appropriate to the market.

By: Danielle

Danielle — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 13:30:04 +0000

If I didn’t know better I’d think this was for a budget airline…

By: FMan

FMan — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 05:01:35 +0000

The logo looks to0 playful for a banking business. It fits the character of the piggies but not the entire establishment. It looks good but I just feel somehow it is inappropriate.

By: Monica

Monica — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 19:56:18 +0000

Instant reaction: milky, Ami’s friendliness and ANZ’s logo is more like a bank logo.

By: athy

athy — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 04:56:47 +0000

I reckon its dated already. To me its just not right for such a well established bank… I would’ve never thought of anything related to banking if u didn’t say so… But in terms of the font design, thumbs up!

By: casey

casey — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 02:19:59 +0000

http://www.behance.net/Gallery/Serrano/132132

Kris Sowersby’s custom typeface designed for the bank.

By: Rebekah

Rebekah — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 01:26:37 +0000

It’s very ‘now’ – but will it still hold up a year from now or 5 years…i think its gonna date super quickly. It is very friendly, loose and layed back but thats not what i want from a bank! I am layed back with my cash i don’t want them to be! It’s not bad design its just not right for a bank and I don’t know about anyone else but i am pretty over the web 2.0-ness – yawn! Also reminds me of milk…

By: admin

admin — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 01:12:39 +0000

That’s funny! The Herald described it as looking like it was written in “toothpaste” :-)

By: casey

casey — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 01:11:05 +0000

I would absolutely love it if it was for a juice company. It is all squidgy, round and I kind of want to squeeze it.

I left BNZ earlier this year. I did not want to squeeze them once.

By: kate

kate — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 02:14:33 +0000

mmm… don’t mind it. certainly looks better in-situe on the website than the logo on its own as above. It certainly repositions it as an accessible, modern, friendly bank.

By: Elliot

Elliot — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 23:17:05 +0000

I always viewed bnz as a conservative bank. Maybe they have chilled out a bit. The new logo seems casual and laid back. I don’t think its better or worse than before. Its just had pinch of web 2.0 e.g. gradient and round corners etc next it will be reflection logo.

By: admin

admin — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 22:50:57 +0000

Oh it is supposed to be a Pig tail!

http://www.bnz.co.nz/About_Us/1,1184,3-156-503.html?tid=PHPPBFNewBrand

It is the second thing paragraph! “Pig Tales led the way”

By: Louise

Louise — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 22:31:03 +0000

my first thoughts – youthful, friendly, with feminine curves – a white cloud on a blue clear sky… but not sure if I trust it?