The new-look Ilfracombe logo, has an ‘idosyncratic swirl’ which looks like sperm, according to townsfolk.
To top it all the town has the second highest teen pregnancy rate in Devon.
A town trader told the Daily Mirror: “We have this problem and now we crown our town’s name with a wriggling sperm. It’s a costly joke.”
(Some £5,000 was spent on the campaign – including the logo.)
Apparently, the brief was to “take another look and be surprised” . We’re suspecting there could have been a typo…
Town councillor Paul Crabb defended the new logo.
He told the Mirror: “The squiggle is what your mind’s eye makes of it. It’s a way of making us feel fresh and vibrant.”
(Whatever you say, Paul.)
“I think the inspiration came from the way Fore Street winds down to the harbour. If nothing else it could do wonders for our growing hen and stag night businesses.”
Either way, it could do wonders for the town, with it’s NHS sex clinic feel and bizarre strapline of ‘curious costal charm’.
North Devon doesn’t seem to be doing that well with rebranding at the moment, with the disastrous ‘Petroc‘ being picked for the combined North and East Devon colleges – although it was more the insipid nonesense used to justify that name that caused most consternation – that and the money it cost.
• The Paisely pattern, which is very popular, has been rumoured to be based on sperm. Then there’s the sperm whale, which hasn’t.
What logo’s take a saucy inspiration, and what rebrands don’t work? Comments below, please.
Come and enjoy Devon – book a hotel and get away!
