Colts to tweak Logo/Unis in 2020

[The_Admiral]

14 minutes ago, GFB said:

The Bills don't use block lettering, so I think there's enough difference between the two 

 

Fair enough, the L reminded me of the Bills' L a little. 

 

Just now, DG_ThenNowForever said:

Re: Colts and Bills:

 

Don't forget the Cardinals and sort of the Broncos! 

 

[JOEYxFRESCO]

Nike has proven they can do goood stripes as seen on the Panthers with the VU template. Maybe Indy refuses to go back to that and like the new look better 

 

2019 with the Nike VU

 

2018 with the Reebok template 

[TrueYankee26]

I like it, all parts of it

[FinsUp1214]

34 minutes ago, the admiral said:

On the numbers: I don't mind them for the Colts, but ideally, it would be the Cowboys using the vintage serif numbers, and I feel like of those two teams, only one can take on that quirk because they're not too far apart, conceptually (royal blue, horse-oriented).

I can totally understand that and get where you’re coming from, but I don’t think it would bother me at all if the Cowboys ever were to go ahead with vintage serif numbers as well, though. The Colts and Cowboys coexisted with vintage serifs for about a decade (in the same league) just fine, both looked great in them, and I think they could still coexist today; despite some similarities in branding like you mentioned, I think those are ultimately not as major in comparison to the differences they have. They both have some very different things going for them that still set each other apart, even in color scheme and uniform elements, enough so that I wouldn’t see too much of an encroachment. I even watched a broadcast of Super Bowl V yesterday and was surprised at how even in 1971, the two teams still looked fairly distinct from each other despite some shared similarities (in my eyes, at least). Granted they did have different number fonts, but everything else altogether was still distinct enough that even if the Colts still had the vintage serifs then, it wouldn’t have bothered me.
 

The Cowboys could also further distance themselves if they’d like by switching out regular silver for the greenish silver across the board (helmet and pants), and just own the color outright to make that one of their “things”. That’s something I’ve hoped they’d do for a long time, honestly. 
 

[aawagner011]

What’s stopping them from sublimating the stripes? Clearly the technology is there. Sewn in stripes can still warp, so I don’t see that as a reason (unless I’m missing something). They could have full loop stripes sublimated all the way to the armpits. I remember I did a Chargers concept several years back that had this idea. I figured due to different position groups using different jersey cuts, it could be difficult to apply it consistently across all players. My idea was to utilize a gradient deep under the armpits. Surely Nike could find a solution.

 

 

 

 

For reference, this was my idea. Sorry for the grainy quality. The original file looks like it’s been wiped off the web.

 

[AstroCree]

12 minutes ago, DG_ThenNowForever said:

Re: Colts and Bills:

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is what I mean. If you squint your eyes, they all blend in together. 
I don’t get the argument “the Colts font was old”. The Steelers have an old font. Should they replace it?

[Cujo]

33 minutes ago, the admiral said:

On the numbers: I don't mind them for the Colts, but ideally, it would be the Cowboys using the vintage serif numbers, and I feel like of those two teams, only one can take on that quirk because they're not too far apart, conceptually (royal blue, horse-oriented).

 

And of course it would be the Colts because the Cowboys haven't given af about esthetics since the 1980s

 

[canzman]

Here are the only 2 combos possible for the Colts now with the exception of solid sock possibilities. 
Dark

Light

What I saw they did not update the template with these tweaks and I see no alternate or color rush listed in their official documentation now.

[oldschoolvikings]

15 minutes ago, FinsUp1214 said:

I can totally understand that and get where you’re coming from, but I don’t think it would bother me at all if the Cowboys ever were to go ahead with vintage serif numbers as well, though. The Colts and Cowboys coexisted with vintage serifs for about a decade (in the same league) just fine, both looked great in them, and I think they could still coexist today; despite some similarities in branding like you mentioned, I think those are ultimately not as major in comparison to the differences they have. They both have some very different things going for them that still set each other apart, even in color scheme and uniform elements, enough so that I wouldn’t see too much of an encroachment. I even watched a broadcast of Super Bowl V yesterday and was surprised at how even in 1971, the two teams still looked fairly distinct from each other despite some shared similarities (in my eyes, at least). Granted they did have different number fonts, but everything else altogether was still distinct enough that even if the Colts still had the vintage serifs then, it wouldn’t have bothered me.
 

The Cowboys could also further distance themselves if they’d like by switching out regular silver for the greenish silver across the board (helmet and pants), and just own the color outright to make that one of their “things”. That’s something I’ve hoped they’d do for a long time, honestly. 
 

 

Yeah, it's as classic font, not like something designed specifically for just one team.  I actually think there should be three teams wearing it...

 

 

 

[SFGiants58]

Well, with the Cowboys, I don't think we'll see them change anything about their set while Jerry/his heirs are around. They're locked into his ideal design that partially overlapped with the '90s glory days, which includes the block font without slab-serifs, the mismatched blues and silvers, and the home-road mismatch. I'm just happy that they haven't kept the sex dungeon house from the '90s.

 

The Colts filled the slab-serif void left by the Cowboys. It's also kind of a decent move for the Colts, as it allows them to update their appearance after largely wasting the careers of two amazing QB's (one Super Bowl win in two appearances for Peyton Manning - which Denver matched quickly - and Andrew Luck retiring early). A new era of Colts football, one a bit more divorced from their Baltimore days while also calling to mind said Baltimore days. 

[andrewharrington]

28 minutes ago, aawagner011 said:

What’s stopping them from sublimating the stripes? Clearly the technology is there. Sewn in stripes can still warp, so I don’t see that as a reason (unless I’m missing something). They could have full loop stripes sublimated all the way to the armpits. I remember I did a Chargers concept several years back that had this idea. I figured due to different position groups using different jersey cuts, it could be difficult to apply it consistently across all players. My idea was to utilize a gradient deep under the armpits. Surely Nike could find a solution.

 

 

 

 

For reference, this was my idea. Sorry for the grainy quality. The original file looks like it’s been wiped off the web.

 

The issue with sublimating placed graphics on a pattern panel is that you have to have a separate print for every size and cut, which increases labor and waste. Sublimation is best suited to repeating patterns and/or graphics that cover more of the panel.

[JOEYxFRESCO]

 

17 minutes ago, oldschoolvikings said:

 

Yeah, it's as classic font, not like something designed specifically for just one team.  I actually think there should be three teams wearing it...

 

 

 

There’s something so right about the Saints CR uniforms. The could easily have the best sets in football if they could add striped socks to that and a helmet to match the gold on the jerseys, and a matching home set 

[dont care]

1 hour ago, GFB said:

The more I see the logo and the wordmark interact with one another, the more I'm convinced they don't really mesh together:

 

If they make the wordmark letters a little closer to the uniform numbers with bigger serifs and angled-cuts, it feels a lot more natural IMO. 

Looks too much like oklahoma’s

[BrandMooreArt]

1 hour ago, GFB said:

The more I see the logo and the wordmark interact with one another, the more I'm convinced they don't really mesh together:

 

If they make the wordmark letters a little closer to the uniform numbers with bigger serifs and angled-cuts, it feels a lot more natural IMO. 

 

personally, i'd like to see some rounded corners in the wordmark to push it a bit further (maybe the insides of the letters?) but nonetheless, that is a definite improvement. NFL logos and unis get picked on, but their typography has been just as awful through the Nike era and thats clear here

 

on the overall package ill say as a fan, im not a fan. though the new wordmark, despite its flaws, it still a step forward. and thats maybe the biggest bone to pick. why do NFL uniforms so consistently now move in different directions? what are they trying to do with the identities? why are they making these decisions? honoring the state and pushing some elements forward makes no sense when you also bring in the Baltimore number font— which is mostly associated with Dallas for anyone with an eye for that. the new alt logo... we know they didnt rip it off a small college, it just shows what an easy idea it is. and the execution is pretty corny. want to use black? ok... but why only on the swoosh of the white jersey? thats incredibly odd. and still in the Elite51 template? 

[IceCap]

The number font is excellent. 

The wordmark is a downgrade for reasons @GFB pointed out. 

The secondary "C" is forced and may have been plagiarized. 

The black Nike swoosh is dumb. 

 

That being said overall the identity isn't that different and they still look good. 

I also love that they officially called the grey in their colour scheme "facemask grey." 

[SFGiants58]

30 minutes ago, BrandMooreArt said:

 

but their typography has been just as awful through the Nike era and thats clear here

 

Indeed. The Falcons went lateral with their already-awful font, the Dolphins just look bland, the Jaguars leaned too heavily into the "jagged," the Browns did the odd rounding, and the Panthers are underwhelming (the whole "tweakening" of the Panthers' brand was poorly-handled, IMO - @BrandMooreArt is right about how the new cat head falls apart on close examination).

 

     

 

The Buccaneers were a slight upgrade, IMO (especially the new version). The Titans also improved the beveling on their extant design, while I'm OK with the Lions' changes (I don't get the hate for it shown on here).

 

 

 

Tangentially, the two LA teams are a bit underwhelming. The former just did a "I can't believe it's not Microgramma/Eurostile" design, while the other just "got too cute with it." Futura Display should be the Rams' font, while the Chargers only need a tiny tweak (no bolt on the "A") to work.

 

< 

 

I'm glad the Seahawks, Vikings, and Jets stayed put with their wordmark fonts (especially the Vikings). 

 

[Gothamite]

Hmm.

 

Numbers are an upgrade, unique with historical precedent.

 

 

Adding black?  Major downgrade.

 

 

New secondary logo?  Sure, why not.  Not a fantastic design, but I do like anything with a local connection, so that's good.

 

 

New wordmark is an upgrade, and also looks better on bumpers.

 

 

Helmet logo is pretty subtle, figure television stations will be using the old one for years to come.

[Germanshepherd]

As they are, the changes are harmless,  but you just know this was their way of opening the door for a black jersey in the future. 

[~Bear]

Pretty lateral changes, which isn't the worst thing in the world. A brand like the Colts shouldn't be revamping on a major scale. Not a fan of BFBS of course, but I really like the new font. 

[FiddySicks]

Minor changes here, but mostly good. Every bit of slightly bad execution here is overshadowed by those AWESOME numbers. They should’ve been wearing those the whole time. 

 

Though, weirdly, I almost wish they would’ve added the nail home pattern to the numbers, too