Up in arms over crest redesign

David Ottewell

February 11, 2009

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Peter Saville

MANCHESTER’S coat of arms could be set to get a facelift after 166 years.

Album cover designer Peter Saville is to suggest how he could bring the city’s historic badge up to date as part of a new ‘corporate identity’.

The existing coat of arms would continue to be used but the new design could be used on stationery and on council vehicles.

Mr Saville – who came up with the artwork for some of the most famous albums of the 1980s – is carrying out the work as part of his role as the council’s creative director.

Logo

He has previously designed a multi-coloured ‘M’ as a logo for high-class events in the city, as well as coining the expression ‘original-modern’.

Council chiefs stressthe historic version would not be completely abandoned and would still be used for ‘civic occasions’.

Mr Saville’s ‘modern interpretation’, if adopted, would be phased in over a number of months or years to give Manchester a single, distinctive and modern identity. Currently they use the existing coat of arms – granted to the city in 1842 – alongside the words Manchester City Council.

But Richard Harvey, former chairman of the Manchester Civic Society, said: “It is difficult to see what they are trying to achieve. The coat of arms is a piece of history that should not be lightly thrown away.”

Options

Vicky Rosin, the council’s assistant chief executive, said: “Peter Saville is working on some design options with a view to updating the council’s corporate identity as part of his on-going remit.”

Mr Saville came to prominence for his work at Factory Records. His designs included the covers for three Joy Division albums and four by New Order.

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andanotherthing, Mcr (11/02/2009 at 06:20)

Why waste taxpayers money on this pointless exercise .

Bury Pensioner., Bury. (11/02/2009 at 08:58)

Complete waste of taxpayers money, totally agree with 'andanotherthing'

Jay B, oldham (11/02/2009 at 09:03)

they do know how to waste money on nothing dont they!

oldham council did that last year! totally uneeded when they're up to their eyebayys in debt!

it doesnt improve anything!

Dave (11/02/2009 at 09:03)

What??! "Corporate Identity?" What complete tripe. Manchester isn't a corporate body, it's a city a long and famous history. The current crest represents the Citys heritage, we can't get rid of it.

The whole idea's probably been thought up by someone who spent a day on a course about corporate identity and they got giddy and have decided to do away with Manchester heritage. Please Manchester City Council, don't even think about getting rid of the crest.

fd, fffff (11/02/2009 at 09:16)

Council bosses:

Here's your agenda for next year.

1) Lower council tax.
2) Become real servents of the public or resign.

Asdablue (11/02/2009 at 09:18)

WHY WHY WHY - If it has been good enough for all these years why waste taxpayers money on this as well as B of the Bang.

fd, fffff (11/02/2009 at 09:23)

'Council’s creative director.' - This story gets worse.

These people spend our money on projects that would not make it in the real world, but they are shielded from failure because they can legally steal our money to fund such white elephants!!!

Chris Green, Chorlton-cum-Hardy (11/02/2009 at 09:26)

Change for the sake of change.

No doubt it'll be a success up there with Royal Mail’s rebranding to Consignia and British Airways dumping of the Union Flag in preference for weird random patterns. Both decisions soon reversed because of deep unpopularity and after running up costs of many millions of pounds.

Why do we need a corporate identity, a new coat of arms or a “creative director”? How much does it all cost?

irvtheswerv (11/02/2009 at 09:27)

"...Council's corporate identity...". What a load of cobblers. The council provides a service to the public, it is not a "corporate identity". I'm sick of the public sector, you just waste on taxes on hair-brained schemes. Why can't you for once do what you're paid for and do something useful for a change.

Mike S, Manchester (11/02/2009 at 09:31)

Original-modern? What on earth does that mean? And as for the multi-coloured "M" that you see around the city, if you put 5 or 6 different coloured crayons in your hand and draw an "M", that's what you end up with. I wouldn't be surprised if his child drew it at nursery.

I'm very disappointed the council is spending so much money on this, yet making people redundant at the same time. When's the next election?

Also, don't even think about saving the "Big Bang" for another £3M of taxpayers' money. Get it scrapped and at least then we can get some money back.

Deborah (11/02/2009 at 09:39)

"If it's not broke - don't fix it!"

Edina Clouds, GREAT Manchester (11/02/2009 at 09:54)

What a total waste of time and money.
Our crest is part of Manchesters heritage,showing the ship canal and the bee(for industry)
What could we expect from Peter Saville another outline in crayon perhaps? a nod to the outdated notion of "Madchester" and Tony Wilson.
let's keep our classic coat of arms.
Note to Manchester Councilors........ resign or stop wasting our money.

Tim1980 (11/02/2009 at 10:43)

I like Saville's styuff and I'd be interested to see his take on a modern coat of arms for the city, but they could have achieved this and a greater public acceptance of changing the crest if they had made it into a competition to design one. That way the design itself wouldn't cost a penny and would probably be better than the kind of thing they spent millions on for the Olympics for example.

As for people moaning about heritage, the old crest will be retained and it's not particularly spectacular, is it? The only things Unique to Manchester about it are the three stripes to represent the Irk, Irwell and Medlock rivers and the ship to represent the ship canal. Plus wasn't it changed as recently as the 50's when they brought in the eagle and crown?

Jay B, oldham (11/02/2009 at 11:11)

while they're still in office they'll waste our money! thats all they know how!
i think the time has come for something to be done to make these councils realise we pay them to do their jobs properly and not waste it on stupid idiotic ideas like this!

everyone should refuse to pay their council tax! then their ears might start working again and they start listening to the people!

Lawrence Glendinning (11/02/2009 at 11:22)

why not use the b of the bang as a design!

But then again why redesign it?!

Money to burn?

Joanne Card, manchester (11/02/2009 at 12:07)

probably try to keep the out dated hacienda style black and yellow thing going. maybe a best of madchester album release type exploit

Pippa, Manchester (11/02/2009 at 12:10)

Can't wait to see the Labour party's manifesto for Manchester - Spend Spend Spend - sod the fact we ain't got the money !

Mr Manchester (11/02/2009 at 12:39)

I like the current coat of arms, especially the stone sculpture of it behind the town hall near the tourist information office. I'd be interested to see what the new design looks like though. Keep the bees in, Peter!

Joanne Card, manchester (11/02/2009 at 13:04)

Davina McCall has let herself slip. JJJEEEEESSSSSSSS!!!!!!!

Princess_Pam, Crumpsall (11/02/2009 at 13:21)

Let's pull down the Alfred Waterhouse designed Town Hall and replace it with a new modern city hall. No? Then why change a coat of arms of the city. I'm sick of our history being destroyed all the time by this awful council. In the 60's they pulled down traditional terraced houses and destroyed whole communities. They replaced them with crime ridden estates which lacked community. They let the Free Trade Hall be destroyed by a property chain, and allowing the destruction of Cannon Street and Market Street meant that Manchester lost its individuality and became the dogs breakfast that other towns became. Leave us some traditions MCC and stop spending money on things we don't need.

Bean B4, manchester (11/02/2009 at 13:30)

street full of holes, parking a complete rip off, parks full of marauding idiots and awash with dog muck, council property falling apart and what do this lot do? That's right - redesign the city crest. Pathetic.

Pushkin (11/02/2009 at 13:56)

Whatever happened to heritage and pride?

Mark,Radcliffe. (11/02/2009 at 14:10)

The whole thing of changing a Corporate Identity is that clients no longer recognise the "brand",and more money gets wasted in reverting back to the old style.Pizza Hut/Pasta Hut a case in point..but if they are to change,make sure they rebrand as Manchester Moneywasters Inc. then we will all know its them.

Bean B4, manchester (11/02/2009 at 14:11)

Pushkin: pride in Manchester has gone. It's all part of the sneering, clever dick attitude displayed by so many people these days. Same mentality as the anti-royals. England's gone, all gone.

Rob Wilson (11/02/2009 at 14:28)

Another chance to 'create' nothing jobs that fill the pockets of council fat cats. Its all an excuse to access more money, thats all. It isnt needed. Who says a coat of arms has to be 'spectacular' anyway tim1980?
Lots of Manchesters history has already been destroyed to make way for 'temporary' cheap build structures, that will look dated in 10 years and need pulling down in 30! Still, they have made the building contractors quick millions but ruined the future of our city. Old buildings were made to last. Parts of the citys regeneration may look good now, but for how long? Its all cladding and framework. Nothing original or to be proud of. You can only do so much with glass and steel before it becomes boring and repetitive! The same goes for these 'modern original' designs. If theyre so bothered about retaining that 'madchester' image (as they now realise it generates cash) why did they replace the hacienda with yet more apartments?

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