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'Don't pay Olympic logo designers a penny', says Ken Livingstone
Last updated at 07:52am on 07.06.07A video for the hugely unpopular 2012 Olympics logo which triggered at least 22 epileptic fits was a "catastrophic mistake", London Mayor Ken Livingstone has said.
Mr Livingstone, whose support for the Games is crucial to their success, pulled no punches when he made clear his disgust at the way the logo's launch was handled.
He said the firm which made the film should "not be paid a penny".
It emerged that the Olympic Committee had feared the film - featuring flashing lights and psychedelic colours - might cause seizures, and even put up warning signs at the official launch in London as a precaution.
Scroll down to see readers' alternative logos...
Within hours of the logo's launch on Monday, the Internet was flooded with hundreds of alternative designs from members of the public angry at the official choice
Yet the committee, headed by Lord Coe, put the film on the 2012 website and released it to broadcasters, causing serious epileptic fits in several viewers.
Andy Peacher-Finch, 32, from Manchester, who had a major seizure after seeing the footage on TV, said: "I'm angry this film was ever allowed to be shown and I'm disappointed that no one has so far seen fit to apologise."
Epilepsy Action said it had received reports of 22 people having fits while watching the video, with reports of others vomiting and having migraines.
The charity said a seizure could have a "major impact" on epilepsy sufferers' lives, potentially leading to them losing their driving licences.
Click enlarge for a closer look at readers' logos
Mr Livingstone, who reportedly "hates" the graffiti-style logo, said the London-based LIVE agency, which made the film, should not be paid.
"I wouldn't pay them a penny," he said.
"Who would go to a firm like that again to ask them to do that work? I mean, this is a pretty basic thing."
Live was paid an undisclosed fee to produce the minute-long video used to launch the 2012 logo, which was designed by brand consultants Wolff Olins at a cost of £400,000.
Epilepsy Action said the number of people affected by the film was "unprecedented".
A spokesman said: "Normally if there is a programme on TV with flashing lights we might get one or two reports of people suffering seizures as a result.
"So far we have received 22 such reports relating to the Olympics film."
The poster for the last London Olympic Games
The video was withdrawn on Tuesday as the 2012 committee announced an investigation into whether it had breached broadcasting guidelines which state that precautions should be taken to ensure footage does not trigger photosensitive epilepsy.
Broadcasting watchdog Ofcom said it was investigating several complaints that TV channels had breached its guidelines.
The backlash against the logo itself reached new heights, with 45,000 signing an online petition calling for the "ridiculous" emblem to be scrapped.
But former Olympic gold medallist Lord Coe, who is colour-blind, stood by the "edgy" and "flexible" design, which comes in bright shades of pink, orange, green and blue.
The London Olympic Games Organising Committee, or Logoc, said ditching the design was "not an option".
It will now re-edit the launch video, removing a five-second excerpt of a diver jumping into a pool which explodes in ripples of flashing bright colours.
Logoc will consult Epilepsy Action before putting any reworked version of the film on its website.
Reader views (34)
Here's a sample of the latest views published.
BIN IT!
- Ivan Jones, brighton, england
I dont know what the big fuss is about.
The new olympic logo has nothing wrong in my eyes.
It's a very modern, edgy logo that will hold its own from now, and for years to come.
The people who have designed it have to be one of the most influential and popular corporate identity design companies in the world, so they definitely know what they are doing. I am a designer myself, and I would like to see what other people think is better. Websites have been flooded with people sending in their designs of what they think is better. They are all a joke. They look old, useless, tame, boring and way too traditional. Did they use clipart to produce these? Give me a break.
Many of the people who are complaining, know nothing about design, so in my view, put up and shut up.
It is definitely a logo to be proud of, and I can guarantee it will grow on a lot of people for the years to come.
- Lee Bamforth, Sheffield, England
What an awful dated design. It says nothing at all about London or the Olympics.
- Mg, Oxford
Why are we paying for this? It's rubbish!
- B, Birmingham
The London Olympic Games Organising Committee, said ditching the design was "not an option".
Sorry ? Whose money is this again? And what we think means nothing? The sheer arrogance! I have heard not one good word about this logo and personally think it is very, very ugly, and stupid. If you want my money then please do re-consider the design - or prepare for an almighty backlash by us "irrelevant" punters coughing up for this!
- Sandra, Kent
Well I totally support the mayor when he says that "the London-based LIVE agency, which made the film, should not be paid". The point we need to understand is that a city like London has a great history of rich culture and art. A logo like this would do nothing but ridicule the level of that culture. Hence the logo should bring out the true ethos of the city's culture and not that of a presumed one.
- Sidakmeet Sandhu, London,uk
It’s beyond belief. As an ex-Londoner it hurts to see London and the UK displayed so poorly
- Blue, Gladstone Australia
The logo is totally inappropriate for the event. If it was some kind of kid's championship it would be spot on. It does a sad job representing the Olympics.
- Muj, London, UK
Okay it is a bad design but the customer must have Okayed it. Don't shoot the design company, shoot the idiot who commissioned and okayed it.
- Casper, Ibiza Spain
The disasters who actually commissioned this shambles should pay for it, by having the cost removed from the exorbitant salaries they are paid for knowing nothing.
- Lezli Taubler, London/UK
Whilst like many other council taxpayers in London,I knew that the
Olympics would end up with a massive waste of our hard earned money I had not expected it to happen so soon.
So the cost of the project has gone from £ 2.5 billion to £ 9 billion and then they pay £ 400,000 for this ****.
- John, UK
The 2012 logo seems to offend on every level, the creators should take a train ride at least real graffiti artists don't try and make you feel sick.
- John Freeman, Birmingham
This logo is complete waste of money. London is fast becoming a laughing stock to the world. We need to portray a professional approach to the Olympics. DOWN WITH THE 2012 LOGO!
We can't afford to have another shame like the Dome.
- Christian Diaz, London, UK
I would have thought the obvious way to pick a logo for the 2012 Olympics is to put it out to competition for London school children with the winner winning tickets to Olympic events of their choice. This is an obvious solution and a way of involving the younger generation in the community and a far cheaper option.
- Marianne Falk, London Uk
It will take more than a few flashing lights to bring this stagnant, charmless and crude logo to life. It reminds me of an aerial view of a Victorian prison complex or a sixties council estate. Maybe the designer is a Frenchman who's still smarting about losing the bid. I can think of no other rational explanation.
- Nic, Hackney, London
I am a new media design and I think this logo should not be used as the 2012 Olympics logo. It shows lack of effort and design skills. You would have had a better chance letting the schools participate in creating this logo.
- Sean Dey, Fife
I'm epileptic and I became very dizzy and I got a horrible headache after watching that footage. I don't think it's a good idea. My epilepsy is under control and has been for 2 years. I'm worried about the epileptics who haven't seen this video yet. It needs to be pulled from the air.
- Gaby, Nashville, USA
Nothing surprises me about this country anymore. At least it's a fitting salvo of Blair's departure from British politics.
- John George, London, England
Absolutely awful useless expensive logo. And how dare they say they will not alter this awful design or scrap it.
- Robert, Watford
Mike - no, it hasn't worked. It's caused England great embarrassment. It's akin to the unmade bed masquerading as art. Yes, it's talked about, but so would a big black dot planted on white background, but for all the wrong reasons. This logo was meant to appeal to the general public, not to those in the trade. However, this is nothing new. The government paid another firm £70K designing a replacement logo for the British Arts Council (obviously a bargain if the Olympics’ logo is anything to go by). The logo now is simply 'Arts Council England' written in a circle on a white background. There should be a cap on this sort of thing as it's obviously criminally abused by these so-called graphic designers.
- James, London, UK
It's a genuine trend-setter. In 5 years all logos will look like this!
- Michael Wilson, London
I like the logo but not for the Olympics. It is unsuccessful at conveying the flavour of the host country and most people struggle to see 2012. If the logo didn't have London written on it, would anyone know the 2012 Olympics will be hosted in London? Surely a logo design incorporating a visual element that is unique to London, (for example the London Eye wheel) would have more meaning to the British public and the world? The designers of this logo have missed the point completely. They have failed to convey the idea of London or the Olympics. I'm surprised this logo made it out of the designer's studio and into the public eye.
- Manuel, London, UK
Suddenly I fully understand why the Olympics are billions over budget and bound to go billions more.
- R M, London, UK
It gave me an epileptic fit without the moving images! It's a mess, but at least it correctly reflects today's Britain.
- Lorraine Landon, Weybridge, Surrey, UK
Never mind about scrapping the logo, we should scrap the games altogether. If you thought the dome was a complete waste of money, then the Olympics will make it look like small change in comparison.
- Graham, Harrow, UK
Frankly, it's utter rubbish!
They should have held a competition with (say) a £5000 prize. Someone out there would have done a lot better for a tiny fraction of the cost (and the immense kudos).
I rather liked the sarcastic logo I saw with the Olympic logo represented in pound coins, disappearing down a drain. Says it all, really.
- Nigel, London
I think everyone is aware that 1980's 'pop' design is trendy at the moment, but it is 2007, this logo is supposed to still look current in 2012.
This kind of trashy, flash-in-the-pan, pop design is completely inappropriate for an event in which London has invested its prestige as a city.
Compare this with the gorgeous logos produced for Tokyo '64, Montreal '76, Seoul '88 and especially Moscow '80 and it begins to look pretty pitiful.
- Allen Esp, London UK
Yet another example of a complete waste of money, why didnt they just ask everyone to submit an entry and we the people vote on it. Can't wait to see what the opening cermony will be like...NOT!
- Ben, London, UK
I guess this makes graffiti officially okay now!
- Barrie, Aldenham, Herts
If you judge peoples opinion according to your poll. We didn't want the Olympics and we don't want the logo.So who are these people who make the decisions on our behalf. Can we have our money and rights back please ?
- Douglas Hood, London
The logo is making us the laughing stock of the whole world. Is that really the best anyone in the UK can do? Oh dear...
- Becky, Birmingham
The logo is absurd looking and completely unintelligible. The apparent arrogance of Olympic officials in London parallels that of Olympic officials of those in Vancouver. They scoff at the hands that fund the bulk of their enterprises....the taxpayers!
- Richard Frizell, Vancouver Canada
As a graphic artist myself, I can appreciate the design, and I initially did not see the 2012, but I think that was the point. Each time an Olympic logo design is made, it reflects the hot and new style of those days. I feel this does tap into the hip print happening currently, with 1980s influence of colours and the jagged letters much that of a Duran Duran album circa 1982. The 1980's fashion is back, not only in graphic design, but music, clothes and even verbage. To deny it is to be in denial. I love the logo, and think if it is causing this much drama, it has worked.
- Mike, Chicago
Being an ex-patriot and still proud to be British, this logo does nothing for the country of England. We are a country of history and pagentry, this logo does not provided a good representation of the country. A waste of time and money.
- Geraldine Wainwright, Levittown, USA
