Nov
13
Graphic designer Ken Carbone redesigned what he saw as the NFL’s three worst helmets and blogged about it on Fast Company magazine’s Web site. And the Washington Redskins are one of the teams, along with the Buccaneers and Patriots, who earned the makeover treatment.
I think it’s an interesting undertaking to use available design technology to make possible changes, showing your audience the possibilities and backing up your point. Solid visuals can improve any article and any argument, and in this case the story would be incomplete without them, one of the major advantages to multimedia journalism.
Looking at the helmets of the Cincinnati Bengals and St. Louis Rams compared to the headgear of the Redskins and Bucs hits home his point that the logos on the latter two are two complicated and detailed to look good on television. And seeing his rough sketches become “real” helmets through digital retouching is pretty amazing.
However, even cool technology has its limits. And for me, this is it:
For me, all the nifty technology and nice visuals in the world can’t save you if this is your end result. Does he really believe those feathers will look less muddled on television? I liked the idea to simplify the design, but just use the feathers already in the logo. Or go back to the old school arrowhead. (And I don’t like his other redesigns too much, either.)
The online community is split. Mark Newgent of the Examiner didn’t like that Carbone ditched the “iconic Indian head logo” and hates the New England “mess,” but he praises the changed Tampa Bay helmet. On NBCWashington.com, a reader poll said locals are 42 percent furious and 28 percent laughing, not exactly a ringing endorsement. But the Uni Watch blog, while critical of the Bucs and Pats designs, loves the Redskins one, as does Matt Terl from the Official Redskins Blog. I think we’ll all have to agree to disagree on this one.
What are your thoughts on the new helmets?
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