Did You See the Obama Campaign Signs? Powerful Symbolism

It's very difficult to work with red, white, and blue in a new or noticeable way on a campaign sign.

* Blue skies

* Red and white stripes looking like neatly plowed fields (appeals to heartland/rural voters, and evokes religious references to peace and prosperity)

* A blazing white sun coming up over the horizon (the promise of a new day)

Compare and contrast the safe (boring) red, white, and blue logo on Hillary's site:

http://www.barackobama.com/

http://www.hillaryclinton.com/

I realize that this is a "style over substance" observation, but - in this business - symbols matter. Whoever the nominee ends up being should hire Obama's graphic design/marketing team to help design the signs for the ticket.

- Dave

It's incredibly memorable, too.

I always hated that truncated flag of Bush's -- it looked menacing to me. Hillary's is too much like it, in my opinion.

... the ideal of the American Dream.

Everything possible. Clean slate. New beginning.

- Dave

Great observation. It is a brilliant logo.

... but I was impressed by the rollout of his campaign yesterday, and this was the first thing I noticed.

- Dave

but there is something about it that kind of reminds me of a gas company logo. Can't quite put my finger on it.

...and for anyone who has worked in that world, it's noticeable, but at least for me, not objectionable. Most of modern Presidential politics IS marketing.

took me to Obama's website, with links to his announcement, requests for funds, etc, but I never saw what you were talking about.

Edited to say I went back to look again, and finally saw it. My eyesight is poor, and frankly I didn't even notice the little logo thing in the corner the first time I looked. It's ok, but I'm not all that impressed--sorry, it just didn't attract my attention.

... and in the crowd yesterday.

- Dave

it seems like something Reagan's folks would have put out, very "morning in America"-ish.

... in a way that captures the voters' attention (as long as the substance of the message is sound).

- Dave

...for Obama. Very clever! :)

... with an animated overlay of the O jumping out or fading in to the logo.

Good eye!

- Dave

:D

That's the first thing I noticed. I rather suspect the symbolism is built around the "O"

You might be correct on the symbolism, and you could add that the stripes look a bit like a Grant Wood's painting.

But I wonder if that sort of erudition is something a New Yorker magazine reader would find more appealling than a heartland farmer?

... and he would have loved it.

- Dave

and his renditions of pleasingly plump midwest pastoral landscapes.

What I wouldn't give for one bushel of my grandfather's corn now.

He had a waiting list each year.

: )

How do you think Obama will do in the Iowa caucuses?

- Dave

Store bought is so much easier to deal with. My farm's corn was delievered to the elevator long ago.

I have no idea how Obama will do in Iowa. He obviously did OK in Illinois, but Iowa doesn't really have as much in common with the "old foundry states" surrounding the Great Lakes (google nine-nations of North America for the distinction...). Clearly he has tremendous smarts and took advantage of a great education in stark contrast to the current occupant of the WH. I appreciate that. But, I've not really followed him and still know little about him.

My own curiosity about him currently surrounds his view of the baby-boom. He was born in 1961 so he is a baby-boomer by definitions that have the baby-boom go until 1963. He clearly has cultivated an appeal among college and university students. Is he selling himself as the potential 3rd baby-boom president or is he going for generation x'ers? I got the impression (which could be right or wrong) that he was trying to make himself distinct from the Biden, Clinton, Dodd, Edwards etc baby-boom/60's generation.

... for corn on the cob can come mid-winter.

; )

The "generational" language he inserted in his message was taken up on several of the talk shows this morning. If he can speak to the unique problems of being caught "in between" - aging/sick (grand)parents as well as young children to raise - he'll resonate, I think.

- Dave

You do know that milk is produced by cows and not in some grocer's stockroom, right? (Just checking :))

Obama's attempt to position himself generationally is something I find interesting--it might be totally irrelevant--but I do find it interesting.

Potential to be a very powerful visual statement.
Whoever came up with it deserves a Job well done type pat on the back.

... bonus, letter of rec, and serious consideration for work at the DNC.

- Dave

making up my mind), so I can truthfully say, I'm not impressed with either logo.

Using the sun as the center of the O is clever, but the rest is just retreads.

I can think of better logos for both of them without expending much effort at all.

Obama has the advantage though. It is much easier to design a logo in an O than on an H.

... and I've even been lukewarm on Obama (the lack of time in concerns me), but I did take notice of how much thought was put into the rollout, and the logo did stand out as more than "bunting" to me.

- Dave

P.S. Send your ideas to Gore and Clark.

; )

currently announced candidates?

Perhaps I will put pastel to paper and send them on.

... and holding out to see the full field. But I was honestly impressed with the thought put into the Obama launch.

- Dave

P.S. Maybe the Clark and Gore draft committees should hold contests for a logo?

& immediately thought "rising sun," "morning in America," which go right along with his "hope" message.

That being said, I was in tears watching his speech yesterday. I've never teared up when a candidate has made an announcement before. I'm so thankful I live in this era when an African American, a woman, and a Hispanic can all announce they're running for President and BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY! I really think Obama can win, not only the nomination, but the Presidency as well.

dg

... no matter how it shakes out.

- Dave

Yea!

... if I'd had enough coffee, I woulda done that.

- Dave

very easy to use. They appear to have a great networking setup and a way to do meetups built in.

... seems a bit more personal of an approach than some other candidates'.

- Dave

that it could also replace the O in DemOcratic.

; )

- Dave

But it works for that too.
I was partly thinking that it changes the emphasis of pronouncing Democratic.It creates a break that says Dem-O-cratic insteadof democ-rat-ic.
It takes away a repuke framing tactic.

; )

- Dave

I usually listen to streaming BBC or Deutsche Welle (in German) while on my computer. Both services had extensive coverage of his announcement. DW actually broadcast his original speech in segments with the German translation afterwards, not over the top, as is more usual.

http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&ned=us&q=obama+campaign&ie=UTF-8&scoring=d

When the conservative Australian PM weighs in, you know the GOP leadership and their friends around the globe are worried about this guy: http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&ned=us&ie=UTF-8&scoring=d&q=obama+campaign+australian

- Dave

He appealed to the YOUNG, IGNORANT (of history), supposedly "idealistic" crowd, on different levels, INCLUDING the artsy angle. Powerful symbolism can work, all right. (I'm talking about FRIEDMAN doing the NADER-spoiler thing, NOT Obama here.)

his candidacy and was impressed with the thought that went into it.

I think your analysis of its sybolism is spot on.

... there, but ignored. I actually noticed this one, and was impressed by the amount of thought that went into it.

Now, let's assume that he was presented with multiple options for the final cut. The fact that he had this sort of intuitive grasp - and willingness to do something "different" - bodes well for his bid.

- Dave

If I were to see it alone, with no other reference, I would immediately think it was a new American company specializing in computers or Internet communications.

Ms. Clinton's logo is trite American-ish. Very boring. Also notice that Mr. Obama's web page title is Obama '08, whereas Ms. Clinton's is Hillary for President. He focuses on the year; she focuses on the title. Mr. Obama is definitely breaking a couple of traditions, which is just fine.

One thing that stands out for me is the main message: "Obama for President," and "Hillary for President." When is the last time a candidate used their first name as the basis of running for president? I understand she wants to distinguish herself from Bill Clinton, but, IMHO, this folksy first-name basis is totally counter-intuitive to her image of a tough and savvy politician.

Another thing which strikes me is that there is a very famous person who focuses on the "O" for their logo. That person is Oprah Winfrey.

I don't care for logos in general, simply because I know someone is trying to manipulate me with shapes and colors. :shrug:

... will be sending someone to reprogram you.

; )

- Dave

P.S. As hinted at in the OP, I prefer substance over style, but I do recognize that symbols can help reinforce the substance.

Must. resist. subliminal. persuasion.

;)

Borg marketing?

:rofl:

- Dave

There's also an organic store brand out here called "O."

I can't imagine that the unconscious association with the most famous and beloved Black woman in America or Organic food could hurt. ;)

So if she wins, will she be "President Hillary"?

I haven't solidly landed on a candidate (though I've had an Obama/Earle '08 sticker on my car since one horrible day in Nov. 04), but there's a spiteful part of me that would just love to hear Limbaugh et all have to choke out "President Hillary Clinton." Oh how sweet that would be.

The informal angle worked for him;why not Hillary?

reminds me of the quality of the light right after the rain. Pure white sun rising in a pure blue sky over a wet field.

There is subtlety to be found here, oh yes. :D

Not to mention the O '08. If it gets into the market enough, people will comment on the "o" part of '08.

I agree

a very nice graphic for the O in Obama

on a similar note I love Dennis Kucinich's new 08 signs: (a little more blatant that Obama's)

I couldn't find a picture but they can bee seen in this video from the recent Peace Rally on the National Mall...

http://kucinich.us/node/2420/play

:)

Not for me, though--I haven't decided who I'll support in the primaries yet, so I'll stick with my '08 convention avatar. But for those who are already in his camp, I think that logo would be a pretty cool avatar.

:)

from the icecream man

and I'm pleased that Obama is becoming more substantive; Hope is fine, but Expectation is better.

It was here in DU that it was brought to my attention the sexism in calling Hillary Hillary. So for the past two years, I've made sure to refer to 'Senator Clinton', only to find that she prefers 'Hillary'?

I give up!!

Two thumbs up. Really, great work.