Following public outcry about the blandness, unoriginality, and general unsightliness of a newly introduced civic logo approved by city council members, Mayor Gregor Robertson has announced that he will be putting the dissemination of the wordmark on hold.

In a statement published yesterday (February 28) by the Vancouver mayor’s office, Robertson notes that there have been “compelling cases” raised about why a different design approach is required. He acknowledges the open letter penned by members of Vancouver’s design community last week that criticizes the City’s decision to forgo public consultation and, instead, task the lowest-bidding design firm with creating the wordmark.

“I take the concerns of Vancouver’s design community seriously about how a new wordmark reflects on the City's brand and image, and speaks to who we are,” Robertson wrote. “While there will never be a single design that satisfies everyone, over the last week, there have been some compelling cases raised about why a different approach is needed.”

He continued: “In response to these concerns, I have asked the City Manager not to put the wordmark on any permanent City assets while we engage with the design community and public in looking at ongoing improvements to the City brand.”

Robertson has asked Jonnathon Strebly, B.C. chapter president and national president of the Graphic Designers of Canada, to organize a meeting between the mayor and local designers in the hopes of moving forward with a refreshed logo. Robertson is also seeking ways in which City Hall can better work alongside Vancouver’s design community.

According to a report released last week, the much-condemned logo, which features the words “City of Vancouver” in plain Gotham font, cost the City $8,000 to produce. Civic bosses described the new design as a “simplified wordmark” that “presents an updated image of the City of Vancouver as a modern, innovative and highly desirable place to live and work”.