Conversation with Sol Sender, Designer of the Obama “O”
Steven Heller of The New York Times Campaign Stops blog writes about his conversation with Sol Sender, a Chicago designer and principal of Sender LLC, the firm that designed the now famous “O” logo for the Obama Campaign. Here’s an excerpt:
Steven Heller: How many iterations did you go through before deciding on this “O”? Was it your first idea?
Sol Sender: We actually presented seven or eight options in the first round, and the one that was ultimately chosen was among these. In terms of our internal process, though, I believe the logo — as we now know it — came out of a second round of design explorations. At any rate, it happened quite quickly, all things considered. The entire undertaking took less than two weeks.
It’s a fascinating interview, whether you’re interested in identity and logo design, politics, or just like hearing the backstory on remarkable pieces of work.
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digital delphi says:
Dec 15th, 2008
This logo stands out to me as being more “Half Empty” and a Setting sun…
The Stripes on the American flag represent the 13 original colonies of the US and thus represent the “original Constitution of the US”… All old fraternal institutions employ that there flag must “Never touch the ground” This logo is clearly laying the flag on the ground and to me represents the demolishing of the US constitution! Enjoy the Ride!!! This is there game and does not have to include you! Peace!
Stewart Mader says:
Dec 15th, 2008
@Digital Delphi – While it’s certainly your prerogative to do so, perceiving the logo as putting the flag on the ground or demolishing the Constitution is decidedly pessimistic, and I’m sure that’s not what the designers had in mind. I think the stripes represent the american promise that rises from the land – in the vein of lyrics like “amber waves of grain” from America the Beautiful.
digital delphi says:
Dec 15th, 2008
I see that possibility Stewart and wish I could take your stance as I love the liberties and freedoms I grew up with… however, I feel that those liberties are being taken from us daily and by the time Obama’s Staff enters office, Change will come out of “Forced” as opposed to “Natural” evolution… People are going to be hungry, freezing, homeless and very scared…. all because of a made up financial crisis broadcast 24/7 on a controlled media… There is no such thing as money… it is all numbers in a computer designed to keep people in servitute… and it is my firm belief that it is being manipulated daily to keep “The People” focusing on “Needing/Fearing Government” as opposed to “Government Needing/Fearing it’s People”
At the end of all these government handouts will be a nation indebted forever to those that hold the purse strings… and as much as I like and voted for Obama (as the lesser of two evils), he will be the spokesperson to “pad the blow” of selling our freedoms to the Federal Reserve and thus the World Bank…
He is a fantastic orator and I believe he was hand picked for this task…
donna bell says:
Dec 16th, 2008
check this out
http://www.carbonfund.org/site/pages/about_us/category/Logos/
Look familiar?
ShadesOfKnight says:
Jan 11th, 2010
Anyone ever notice that the Obama logo looks an awful lot like the Pepsi Logo? LOL
Stewart Mader says:
Jan 11th, 2010
ShadesOfKnight:
The Obama campaign and Pepsi logos do look similar, but Obama’s logo predates Pepsi’s redesign by almost a year. The Obama logo was completed in the Summer of 2007 and used throughout 2008, while the new Pepsi logo began to make its debut in late 2008.