“Don’t go changing, to try to please me.” The familiar refrain comes to mind with a big announcement by The Metropolitan Museum of Art: their logo, the da Vinci-inspired M that adorned the tin admissions buttons of our youth, is no longer. The museum has unveiled a new logo that goes into effect March 1st and it already has the design world – and New Yorkers – at odds. The Met is defending the change as a symbol of their own evolution, noting that the design “reflects the scope of the Museum’s collection and the connections that exist within it.”
Change is necessary in a world where brands are striving to stay relevant, though its not always welcome. And regardless of whose side you’re on, the debate is sure to leave you entertained, garnering comments likening the logo to “a graphic misfire,” a “typographic bus crush,” and a favorite from GQ, whose appreciation of the female form has made a unique discovery: “Tilt your head to the right and look at the ‘E’s’. They look like butts”. We’d love to hear what you think. Read on below:
The new design has not failed to attract strong reactions as it starts to appear on the institution’s posters, mailings and the Met Breuer signs.