Reaction mixed
to new UH logos
Six new designs are offered as
alternatives to earlier rejected proposals
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Six logo designs, intended to represent UH's 10 campuses, were posted online yesterday and are available for public comment through Thursday.
While the designs generated some criticism, some students also said they appreciated the extra effort the university gave in scrapping mainland-design logos in favor of locally designed ones.
"The designs are a lot better now than before," said nursing senior Kawika Kim, who likes the designs that incorporate a map and a canoe sail and one with a book and a torch. "But when you first look at them, you don't know what it represents."
Kim added that it is apparent the local designers tried to use the logos to symbolize Hawaii better than the previous "wave" and "spectrum" designs by a Maryland firm last year, which were rejected by then-President Evan Dobelle after much public criticism.
"They (the logos) have more of a sense of pride in what Hawaii is," said Richard Bigus, associate professor of graphic design.
Bigus said he was immediately drawn to the design with the "U" and "H" intertwined because it had more of the Hawaiian culture than the rest of the logos.
However, graduate student U'ilani Keli'ikuli said the logos do not represent Hawaii.
"I like that they're attempting to incorporate Hawaiian aspects like the ahupuaa (wedge-shaped land division from mountain to ocean)," she said. "But they still have to find new designs; it's not good enough."
Dan Spears, assistant professor in travel industry management, noted: "It's still not capturing the true essence of this institution.
"It's a great start in ideas, but it needs more work."
Keli'ikuli noticed that five of the six logos include a torch to represent the light of knowledge.
"Are we trying to be Greek or something?" said Keli'ikuli. "It looks very eternal flame-like. It's silly."
Leiali'i Mano'i, a graduate student in Pacific Island studies, said she liked the mainland designs more than the proposed designs.
Mano'i said she would have like to seen an artist on campus design the logos, instead of hiring an outside designer and paying them more.
"We have some great talent at UH, and they can do a better job than this," she said.
Some students think the UH logo selection and the controversy it sparked are not important.
"I could care less which logo they choose," said chemistry graduate student Cisco Bee. "The logos are the last of UH's worries. If they fix the ceiling in Bilger (Hall), I'd be more happy than them picking a logo."
"I don't like any of them," said Ryan Shidaki, a junior in architecture, who said he would rather have UH keep the original logo.
The university will put the community's comments into consideration when selecting a logo, said Phil Kinnicutt, director of marketing and brand management.
As of yesterday afternoon he received more than 200 e-mails.
The UH Board of Regents will meet on Aug. 11 to review and discuss the designs, said Kinnicutt.
Graphic House, of Honolulu; Clarence Lee Design & Associates, of Honolulu; and Sae Design, of Maui, each submitted two images. Each was paid $5,000, and the winning firm will receive another $5,000 to finish the design. The identity of the designer of each logo is being kept confidential to keep the selection as fair as possible, Kinnicutt said.
www.hawaii.edu
The logo designs
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