# Worst logos ever. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 11, 2009, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-logos-ever/520928 "2009-12-11T22:39:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2009, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-logos-ever/520928/81 "2009-12-17T16:28:43Z")
> [@Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](#): > > Okay, let’s play a little game! [This logo](http://www.flickr.com/photos/9426210@N05/4192302517/) can be found all over town (I live in Toronto). I mostly see it in the subway, but it’s scattered around the city. If you can guess what it is and what it’s promoting, I will do a little dance with bells on my shoes. GTA area Dopers may not participate, because this logo made the newspapers for being stupid. Gasoline? ---
**Author:** ![Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swallowed_My_Cellphone)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2009, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-logos-ever/520928/82 "2009-12-17T16:37:05Z")
> [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](#): > > Gasoline? Nope. I agree it looks like some kind of natural gas or public works logo (for water). The logo is specific to Toronto, Ontario, but the problem is its target audience is probably not going to recognize its meaning. (There a hint there.) ETA: This was a part of a major branding initiative: _" . . .culmination of a 13-month process with over 4,500 local survey responses and 230-plus in-depth interviews and roundtable discussions with key brand stakeholders . . . In addition, 14 focus groups were conducted in Canada, the U.S. and the U.K. . . . A total of $4 million was invested in the project to cover consumer research, brand development and the launch of marketing efforts."_ ---
**Author:** ![Trepa\_Mayfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/edb3f5/32.png) [@Trepa\_Mayfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trepa_Mayfield)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2009, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-logos-ever/520928/83 "2009-12-17T16:38:13Z")
> [@Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](#): > > Okay, let’s play a little game! [This logo](http://www.flickr.com/photos/9426210@N05/4192302517/) can be found all over town (I live in Toronto). I mostly see it in the subway, but it’s scattered around the city. If you can guess what it is and what it’s promoting, I will do a little dance with bells on my shoes. GTA area Dopers may not participate, because this logo made the newspapers for being stupid. Some sort of rail or metro system? ---
**Author:** ![Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swallowed_My_Cellphone)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2009, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-logos-ever/520928/84 "2009-12-17T16:48:52Z")
> [@pedescribe](#): > > Some sort of rail or metro system? No, but that would actually make a lot of sense, you have the T of “train” and a loop! Here are some of the ads that use it: [Example 1](http://www.flickr.com/photos/9426210@N05/4193172360/) and [Example 2](http://www.flickr.com/photos/9426210@N05/4192408625/) I have fuzzed out the text to keep it a mystery! ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2009, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-logos-ever/520928/85 "2009-12-17T16:55:57Z")
Something to do with promoting downtown/shopping district? ---
**Author:** ![Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swallowed_My_Cellphone)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2009, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-logos-ever/520928/86 "2009-12-17T17:04:03Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > Something to do with promoting downtown/shopping district? DIng ding ding! Winnah! ::dons shoes with bells:: You’re, very, very close. It is a tourism logo. The problem is this 4 million dollar logo assumes that foreigners visiting the country also happen to know what it means when someone from Orillia says: “My boss is sending me to TO on business.” People who _live_ here had a tough time figuring out what the logo was meant to be. TO is a nickname for Toronto, Ontario. Like calling the city “Hogtown”. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2009, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-logos-ever/520928/87 "2009-12-17T17:24:29Z")
It was the second set of pictures that gave it away. They look very much like signs I’ve seen in downtown areas to indicate what’s where. Didn’t think of the tourism aspect though. ---
**Author:** ![Katzwinkel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5daacb/32.png) [@Katzwinkel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Katzwinkel)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2009, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-logos-ever/520928/88 "2009-12-17T17:38:35Z")
> [@Scissorjack](#): > > Its logo is quite literal, and has everything to do with the company. _Mitsu_ means “three”, _bishi_ are diamonds: Mitsubishi is Japanese for “three diamonds”. And Subaru is Japanese for “Pleiades”, hence the seven stars. The Mitsubishi company was first established as a shipping firm by Yataro Iwasaki (1834–1885) in 1870. In 1873, its name was changed to Mitsubishi Shokai (三菱商会). The name Mitsubishi (三菱) consists of two parts: “mitsu” meaning “three” and “hishi” (which becomes “bishi” under rendaku) meaning “water caltrop” (also called “water chestnut”), and hence “rhombus”, which is reflected in the company’s famous logo. It is also translated as “three diamonds”. ---
**Author:** ![Kaio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c68b51/32.png) [@Kaio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaio)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2009, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-logos-ever/520928/89 "2009-12-17T17:52:46Z")
> [@Stink Fish Pot](#): > > The [California Golden Seals](http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/logos/nhl/calsea73.gif). That’s a _seal?_ > [@](#): > > The [Anaheim Mighty Ducks](http://www.babble.com/CS/blogs/famecrawler/2009/05/anaheim_ducks.gif) logo. Just embarrassing. I like it. It demonstrates they don’t take themselves too seriously. Nor should they, with a name like “Mighty Ducks.” > [@Philster](#): > > Montreal Expos is an **M** with an \*\* e\*\* plus **b** (for baseball). If ya gotta explain the joke, it ain’t clever. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![JerseyFrank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bcef8e/32.png) [@JerseyFrank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JerseyFrank)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2009, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-logos-ever/520928/90 "2009-12-17T17:53:36Z")
> [@Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](#): > > Okay, let’s play a little game! All turns from right lane? (a/k/a [The Jughandle](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jughandle)) ---
**Author:** ![Kaio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c68b51/32.png) [@Kaio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaio)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2009, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-logos-ever/520928/91 "2009-12-17T18:05:05Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > I can’t believe I’m the first in this thread to ask: " [How many tails does a mermaid have?"](http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.businessweek.com/the_thread/brandnewday/archives/starbucks-logo.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.businessweek.com/the_thread/brandnewday/archives/2008/04/starbucks_every.html&usg=__DB3ZZ7EbDVZfX-nSDenlfaNPQGs=&h=400&w=400&sz=21&hl=en&start=6&itbs=1&tbnid=h35xmlRDtT4WmM:&tbnh=124&tbnw=124&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dstarbucks%2Blogo%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den) " Mermaids were often depicted with [two tails](http://www.isidore-of-seville.com/viewer/viewer.html?http://monsters.monstrous.com/tow-tailed_siren.htmluxfiathttp://monsters.monstrous.com/Pictures/Siren10.jpgluxfiat391luxfiat500). The Starbucks logo was actually [cribbed from a 15th century Norse woodcut](http://www.dinesh.com/history_of_logos/worlds_best_brands_and_logos/starbucks_logo_-_design_and_history.html). ---
**Author:** ![KennerTheGreat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a8b319/32.png) [@KennerTheGreat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KennerTheGreat)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2009, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-logos-ever/520928/92 "2009-12-17T18:48:58Z")
I’m pretty sure that’s an igloo in the Nordiques logo. EDIT: What **Leaffan** said ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2009, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-logos-ever/520928/93 "2009-12-17T19:00:46Z")
> [@Kaio](#): > > Mermaids were often depicted with [two tails](http://www.isidore-of-seville.com/viewer/viewer.html?http://monsters.monstrous.com/tow-tailed_siren.htmluxfiathttp://monsters.monstrous.com/Pictures/Siren10.jpgluxfiat391luxfiat500). The Starbucks logo was actually [cribbed from a 15th century Norse woodcut](http://www.dinesh.com/history_of_logos/worlds_best_brands_and_logos/starbucks_logo_-_design_and_history.html). There’s a substantial difference between a mermaid and a siren, but yes, I see that. I still say it looks like they are selling a far more personal service. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2009, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-logos-ever/520928/94 "2009-12-17T20:11:46Z")
> [@Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](#): > > Okay, let’s play a little game! [This logo](http://www.flickr.com/photos/9426210@N05/4192302517/) can be found all over town (I live in Toronto). I mostly see it in the subway, but it’s scattered around the city. If you can guess what it is and what it’s promoting, I will do a little dance with bells on my shoes. GTA area Dopers may not participate, because this logo made the newspapers for being stupid. Toronto Natural Gas? Toronto municipal water? Edit: ah, guess it after seeing the additional photos. ---
**Author:** ![Kaio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c68b51/32.png) [@Kaio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaio)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2009, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-logos-ever/520928/95 "2009-12-17T20:13:53Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > There’s a substantial difference between a mermaid and a siren, but yes, I see that. I still say it looks like they are selling a far more personal service. Your average joe-on-the-street isn’t going to know that there’s a difference, however. And you made it sound like your complaint was that it was ridiculous to depict a fish-woman (whatever you call her) with two tails. My point was that it’s not ridiculous to do so, because it’s based on historical depictions of fish-women. What a fish-woman has to do with coffee, I’ll grant you I don’t see the connection either. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2009, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-logos-ever/520928/96 "2009-12-17T20:21:02Z")
London’s 2010 Olympics [logo](http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/artblog/2007/jun/05/howlisasimpsontooktheolym), aka “Lisa Simpson giving London a blowjob.” ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2009, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-logos-ever/520928/97 "2009-12-17T20:27:50Z")
> [@Kaio](#): > > Your average joe-on-the-street isn’t going to know that there’s a difference, however. And you made it sound like your complaint was that it was ridiculous to depict a fish-woman (whatever you call her) with two tails. My point was that it’s not ridiculous to do so, because it’s based on historical depictions of fish-women. > > **What a fish-woman has to do with coffee, I’ll grant you I don’t see the connection either. 🙂** Mermaids are known on the island of Java. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2009, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-logos-ever/520928/98 "2009-12-17T21:18:41Z")
> [@tvvat](#): > > Couldn’t agree more. I prefer it in a box. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2009, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-logos-ever/520928/99 "2009-12-17T21:45:02Z")
> [@Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](#): > > Okay, let’s play a little game! [This logo](http://www.flickr.com/photos/9426210@N05/4192302517/) can be found all over town (I live in Toronto). I mostly see it in the subway, but it’s scattered around the city. If you can guess what it is and what it’s promoting, I will do a little dance with bells on my shoes. GTA area Dopers may not participate, because this logo made the newspapers for being stupid. Great. I’d successfully managed to forget about that logo. I think it was done by the same people who spent $108,000 to discover what everyone in Ontario already knows: namely, that people in Ontario call The Beer Store “The Beer Store”. ---
**Author:** ![gonzoron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a6a055/32.png) [@gonzoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzoron)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-logos-ever/520928/100 "2009-12-18T03:30:21Z")
I work for a company that used to be the company whose logo inspired [This Dilbert strip](http://www.dilbert.com/dyn/str_strip/000000000/00000000/0000000/000000/10000/8000/200/18298/18298.strip.gif) We’re all glad to have a new logo now… though I do miss the old one a bit. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-logos-ever/520928.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-logos-ever/520928.md?page=6)