The Monona city council referred the proposed logo and slogan (sloggo?) back to the Marketing Subcommittee last night (Nov. 3). A few people made appearances and the council also received about 65 comments submitted at city hall. Opposition to the new sloggo ran about 2-1 against. Some people just want to keep the current logo, others did not care for the new design, and many were less than thrilled with the new slogan.
The council referred the matter back to the Marketing committee for their further consideration. The council discussion took two tracks: process and substance. The general feeling expressed by several, including me, was that the public needed a chance to provide more input. I also asked that we be given several choices (including the current logo) rather than a simple up or down on the proposed logo.
On substance, the general feeling was that the city's logo needs to express the importance of the lake and also a connection to the city's history and that the proposed logo failed those tests. Some seemed to think the logo could be tweaked (more green, change trees to sails or something lake-related, resized by losing the long tail).
The slogan did not get much support. Dropping the '-er' suffix (green, blue, bright) was suggested. Or use different words that conveyed a more definite meaning. As was commented here, the meaning of the words was in the mind of the beholder. That flexibility was seen as a negative.
Alders Miller and Speight supported the proposed logo and slogan. While the rest of the council did not do so, I did sense a willingness to seriously consider adopting a new the logo or slogan or both.
Obviously, the slogan is easier to tweak than the design.
Slogan ideas? Submit snarky, if you want, but also include a real one or two.
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