Saulwick Art and Design. Graphic Design.

	A short critique of Australian Political Logos The logos used were taken from the Home Pages of the Political Parties registered with the Australian Government. My critique is presented under six categories that appear under the official title of each party. Concept The conceptual elements used in the design. Design The design describes the basic graphic form of the logo. Colours The colours describe the palette used. Comments The comments relating to the concept, design and execution are principally based on objective criteria. The comments relating to suitability and appropriateness are expressed solely in relationship with the overt aims of the party. Technical The technical category asseses the ability of the logo to cope with cross media, reduction in size and other technical factors. Rating For those of you who have some affinity with the Southern Cross and who like the 'bottom line', I have include a system of stars that gives a rating from one to five. * * * * * Federal Advance Australia Party (Unavailable) Australia First Party Australian Democrats Australian Greens Australian Labor Party Australian Reform Party Australian Womens Party Christian Democratic Party (Call to Australia Party) Family Law Reform Party Democratic Socialist Party Liberal Party of Australia Natural Law Party National Party of Australia New Labour Party (Australia) No Aircraft Noise Party (Unavailable) Pauline Hanson's One Nation Science Technology And Research (STAR) Party United Australia Party Others The Greens NT The Greens NZ The Greens Tas The Greens (WA) In
	Australia First Party Concept. A partial logo combined with various images. Design. A map, a flag, some people and a title arranged in a near square using colours associated with vitality, 'tradition' and the commonwealth. Colours. Red, white and royal blue on yellow background. Comments. Here we have an attempt at a literal interpretation of the political aspirations of the party. A kitsch and unimaginative graphic solution. This is an example of trying to include too many ideas in one image. It becomes diluted and looses its focus. There's a literal map of Australia (that's a new idea!), there's the Australian flag (novel!), there's an illustrational silhouette of the nuclear family, hey, two adults and two children and its white, and there's the party name in majuscule or capital letters, condensed and colour graded. That said, it has a certain old world charm. Technical. This image does not reduce in size well, and the word 'first' should have been ungraded and repositioned, as it becomes confusing as it layers over Bass Straight and the southern states. It would need to be completely redesigned to reproduce in single colour or in 'black and white'. Rating.* Go to the Federal list
	Australian Democrats Concept. A logo without an image. Design. The title of the party arranged on a rectangle using colours associated with vitality, nature and nurture, and by many with modern Australian achievements. Colours. Green and gold. Comments. This concept uses words rather than images.The use of a strong condensed sans serif typeface for the word 'Democrats' contrasts in size with the word 'Australian'. Both words are in majuscule or capital letters to engender attention, power and authority. The use of a larger cap 'D' lets the word 'Australian' nestle within the context of the Democrats rather than the other way around, and the use of a solid rule gives extra emphasis to the title of the party, especially the word 'Democrats'. The use of a sans serif typeface and green and gold for the colours achieves a contemporary atmosphere, in keeping, I would suggest, with their philosophy. A straight forward no nonsense approach, it is however rather stolid and uninspiring. Technical. Handles well in print and translates across media and reduces reasonably well, however the word 'Australian' tends to break up in the digital medium. Rating. * * * Go to the Federal list
	Australian Greens Concept. An image without words. Design. A vertically striated globe using a colour associated with purity, nature and nurture. Colours. Green (what else!) and white. Comments. The concept is the globe with the focus on Australia and South East Asia displayed in green, of course. The globe suggests an international approach and the positioning of the literal map of Australia suggests the national focus consistent with the Green's philosophy. In the print medium, in fact, the image is always used with the title, within a panel and in reverse color. The print version has a stronger graphic presence, however the design is too complex to be really effective. Technical. The logo does not translate well from the print into the electronic medium and does not reduce well in either medium. In print the vertical lines on the globe tend to clog, while in the digital medium they may be misinterpreted. Rating. * * Go to the Federal list
	Australian Labor Party Concept. An image incorporating the party's initials. Design. A stylised flag and the party's initials using using colours associated with 'tradition' and the commonwealth. Colours. Red, white and royal blue. Comments. The concept uses aspects of the Australian flag in traditional royal Colours. The logo uses the stars of the Southern Cross and cleverly combines the main star with the cross-bar of the 'A' in the title. A reference is made to the Union Flag by using an aspect of the white Cross of St. Andrews and a reference to the red crosses of St. George and St. Patrick. The curvilinear form of the base suggests that the flag has been raised in the breeze. A basic, open majuscule, or capitalised type face incorporating subtle serifs encompasses both the traditional and the contemporary. A sophisticated graphic and a subtle political solution. It is well designed to reproduce in single colour or in 'black and white'. Technical. The logo sits comfortably in many media such as print, fax, signage, screen print, fabric, etc. translates well between media and due to the open negative spaces, reduces well. Rating. * * * * Go to the Federal list
	Australian Reform Party Concept. Images without words. Design. A map and some stylised people using a colour associated with nature and nurture. Colours. Light green and white. Comments. This party combines two images. A literal linear contour map of Australia (how novel!) and a formalised representation of a nuclear family positioned over the north central eastern states. The protective man and woman stand behind the larger or older girl and the smaller or younger pin head boy. The image does not suggest 'reform' but rather a conservatism enhanced by the use of an insipid light green. The image is graphically unsophisticated with little regard given to the relationship between the positive and negative spaces. Technical. This logo would be equally comfortable in either print or digital form and would reduce reasonably well in either. As a single colour logo it is adequate to reproduce in one colour or 'black and white'. Rating. * * Go to the Federal list
	Australian Womens Party Concept. An image incorporating the party's title. Design. A map and a title using a colour associated with nature and nurture and a colour associated with strength. Colours. Bright green and black. Comments. The use of a solid literal map of Australia (again) with the name typographically placed over the image. The typeface used is sans serif set in upper and lower case, angled on the left and staggered on the right. A simplistic and graphically immature solution, it does however have a certain naive directness. The green suggests organic nurturing and the black is strong. Technical. This logo would reduce in size reasonably well, however the title should have been reduced or repositioned, as it becomes confusing in reduced sizes as it layers over the edges of the map. It would need to be modified to reproduce in single colour or 'black and white'. Rating. * * Go to the Federal list
	Call to Australia Party Concept. An image without words. Design. A 'traditional' flag. Colours. Red, white and blues. Comments. Since changing the Party's name to the 'Christian Democratic Party' this logo or image has less relevance. The fluttering Australian flag could equally be applicable to any Australian group. It would only make some sense when used with the name of the Party, and then of limited specific value. It does however, reinforce the traditional and conservative values espoused by the party. Technical. This icon, while technically not a logo, is comfortable across media, and while not reducing too well, is immediately recognisable. It would need to be modified to reproduce in single colour or 'black and white'. Rating. * Go to the Federal list
	Family Law Reform Party Concept. Initials. Design. Initials using black. Colours. Black on white. Comments. A plain and simple use of a majuscule serif typeface forming a monogram, with an emphasis on the larger 'L' focusing on the law, the graphic significance of which eludes me, unless it is that the 'family' and 'reform' are secondary and peripheral to the central dominance of the law. An uninspiring solution to a party espousing reform. Technical. This logo is comfortable across the media, reduces well, reproduces in single colour or 'black and white', but so what. Rating. * Go to the Federal list
	Democratic Socialist Party Concept. A composite image without words. Design. Hands and star using colours associated with energy and strength. Colours. Red and black on white. Comments. A clever image using five hands to create a star. Graphically strong and arresting, the logo suggests radical left-wing activism and is, I assume, consistent with the philosophy of the party. It is graphically sophisticated, great attention being paid to the relationship between the positive and negative areas. This is a good example of the graphic possibilities inherent in simple objects, the figure on ground image that sets up a resonance between the two thoughts. Added depth is achieved by the bottom right shadow.The use of red and black has long been associated with the radical movements of the far left and right. Technical. This logo is adequate and adaptable across any media and reduces well, and is well designed to reproduce in single colour or 'black and white'. Rating. * * * * Go to the Federal list
	Liberal Party of Australia Concept. Images and part of a title. Design. A flag, some shapes and partial title using colours associated with 'tradition' and the commonwealth. Colours. Red, white and royal blue. Comments. A logo that combines an image incorporated within a stylised majuscule or capital 'L', and the essential word of the party. The complete logo, including the title is italicised, or forward leading to the right, which is consistent with the aims and aspirations of the party. The typeface is a strong, sans serif, capitalised, slightly condensed form, suggesting a powerful and forceful dynamic, if somewhat ponderous energy. The use of the Australian flag and the traditional red, white and blue reference the southern cross and the British heritage. The overall effect is however, while quite unique, somewhat dated and a little old-fashioned. Technical. Quite adequate across media. Due to the tight letter spacing and fine spaces between some shapes, the logo tends to clog a little when reduced. It is well designed to reproduce in single colour or 'black and white'. Rating. * * * Go to the Federal list
	Natural Law Party Concept. Images and title. Design. A map, a flag, a portrait and title arranged in a rectangle using a full palette. Colours. Full colour on pale blue. Comments. This image is not so much a logo as a brochure cover, combining a literal map of Australia overlaid by the title of the party using a majuscule or capitalised serif typeface as the central motif, and the Australian flag and a portrait of a man whom I assume is the leader, as peripheral motifs. The image employs a bird's eye view incorpoating many of the images of other parties, however due to the long focus looses any particular focus or power. It is essentially conservative in its application which I assume is consistent with its philosophy. An unsophisticated pictorial approach that is more suited to the nineteenth century it does, however, posses an individual personality. It is an example of trying to 'say' too much in one image. Definitely a logo for the converted. Technical. As a logo to be used across media, it is unsuitable and inadequate and would not reduce well in the analogue or digital media. It would need to be redesigned to reproduce in single colour or in 'black and white'. Rating. * Go to the Federal list
	National Party of Australia Concept. Images without words. Design. A map, a flag arranged in a circle using both 'traditional' and 'modern' colour palettes. Colours. Green and gold. Red, white and royal blue on gold. Comments. A bob each way! These two images that I have placed adjacent are based on the same concept but express different foci. A stylised map of Australia is centered within a golden outlined circle. On the left the map is green and achieves a contemporary focus, while on the right the map becomes the Australian flag and achieves a traditional focus. Both logos were obtained from the party's home page, so I assume that both are current. While appealing to both the republicans and the monarchists respectively, the use of both images together does tend to dissipate the focus. The image relates well to the title of the party. Individually, a simple but strong image. Technical. Well constructed and suitable across all media and reduces well, the shapes being well designed except for the thin space above Tassie which could become clogged in reduction. The flag would also tend to fill in, but would still remain recognisable. It would need to be only slightly modified to reproduce in single colour or 'black and white'. Rating. * * * Go to the Federal list
	New Labour Party (Australia) Concept. Title. Design. Typography incorporating the title of the party using colours associated with purity and power. Colours. White on red. Comments. This is a simple unsophisticated logo that uses a traditional serif italic typeface reversed out of a red background. The red panel shown here is arbitrary, as I 'cut' it from the red background on the home page. The sole visual reference to the philosophy of the party is the use of the red background. While red, white and black is traditionally associated with radical parties, the restrained use of red and white creates a softer impression while still relating to the left. Technical. This simple logo works reasonably well across media but has a limited reduction due to being reversed colour. It is single colour and would reproduce adequately in 'black and white'. Rating. * * Go to the Federal list
	Pauline Hanson's One Nation Concept. Images and part of the title. Design. A map, some shapes and a partial title using colours associated with nature, nurture, 'earthiness' and strength. Colours. Green, brown and black on white. Comments. A logo that uses a literal map of Australia (of course!) overlaid on the eastern states by what appears to be a brown boomerang (strange, considering) pointing to and overlaying the first letter of the party's title. Within this 'O' is a motif that is too small to discern, such is the complexity of the design. It remains another example of trying to get across too many ideas in the one image. The typography is disjointed and uses two typefaces, one a sans serif with a large majuscule capital initial letter centered horizontally, and the second word a serif type unaligned with the first. This typographic style disparity and visual fracture within the title is strange and disconcerting, and appears to be inconsistent with the stated aims and philosophy of the party. One nation becomes two. Technical. A design that incorporates complex areas that do not reduce well across media and would need to be modified to reproduce in single colour or 'black and white'. Rating. * * Go to the Federal list
	Science Technology And Research (STAR) Party Concept. An image incorporating an acronym. Design. A star and some initials arranged on a colour field using colours associated with energy, strength, prestige and quality. Colours. Red, black and gold. Comments. A stylish rectangular design that employs a clever graphic device that expresses the aspirations of the party in an atmospheric rather than in a literal sense. The gold star reads as an 'A' to complete the title, and of course, we all remember what a gold star signifies. The typography is elegant and employs an inline, formal, expanded, serif typeface. The colours are strong and suggest high energy. The red panel shown here is arbitrary, as I 'cut' it from the red background on the home page. The graphic presents well and is equally comfotable in the print media. Technical.This logo is adequately designed to present across all media and enlarges and reduces well, however it would need to be modified to reproduce in single colour or 'black and white'. Rating. * * * * Go to the Federal list
	United Australia Party Concept. Some images and initials. Design. A map, a flag and some initials using colours associated with 'tradition' and the commonwealth, but neutralised by the grey. Colours. Red, white and blue on grey. Comments. A concept that incorporates the map of Australia (novel!), the initials of the party and the Australian flag. The logo tries to integrate the various elements in a fresh, bright atmosphere by using a lighter, more vibrant blue on a light grey. A drop shadow has been employed to raise the elements from the background. Some of the positive and negative shapes become confused especially where the 'P' integrates with the map. The typography used is a slab serif majuscule typeface that suggests power and authority. This is, however, another example of trying to do too much in the one image. Technical. This logo is reasonably adequate to be reproduced across media, however some of the detail would be lost, and would not reduce too well. It would need to be modified to reproduce in single colour or 'black and white'. Rating. * * Go to the Federal list
	The Greens NT Concept. An image incorporating a colloquial name. Design. An image on a triangle eccentrically placed witin a divided square and using a strong 'earthy' palette. Colours. Green, black, brown and yellow. Comments.The concept has a distinct 'territory' feel and incorporates an aboriginal style in the graphics. Technical. Rating. * * Go to the Others list
	The Greens NZ Concept. An image incorporating a partial name. Design. An organic stylised curled leaf incorporating a partial title in tones of green (obviously). Colours. Green tones and white. Comments.This logo is simple, fresh and strong. The title is well intergrated with the graphic and achieves a modern, quietly assertive presence. The rounded curved shapes of the leaf intergrate successfully with the open rounded serifed italic that follows the top curve of the graphic. The effect is one organic growth within nature. Technical.This logo is adequately designed to present across all media and enlarges well. It reduces reasonably well except for the smaller negative shapes in the leaf, and the graded tones would need to be slightly modified to reproduce in some 'black and white' print media. Rating. * * * Go to the Others list
	The Greens Tas Concept. Design. An image incorporating a partial name. Colours. Green, pale green and white. Comments. Technical. Rating. * * * Go to the Others list
	The Greens (WA) Inc. Concept. An image and the title of the party and other words. Design. A scene, a title and statements using colours associated with purity, nature and nurture. Colours. Green and white on white. Comments. This logo incorporates the party's title, a pastoral scene, a qualifying byline and an electioneering statement. These components are reasonably well integrated in an image that has the look and feel of a community or neighbourhood house logo rather than one of state authority. While the election directive is inappropriate within a logo, it is well integrated, the landscape is well designed and the word 'Greens' is srong. The typography used is a sans serif contemporary typeface, combining both majuscule and minuscule, or commonly caps and lower case, and the words 'Vote Green' would be better integrated using upper and lower case. The overall shape is unique, but some of the negative shapes are too small for comfort. The majuscule apendage WA appears as a pimple on the underbelly and uses the now dated convention of full points after the letters. Nice green, though. Technical. The logo is not well designed for reproduction across media and would not reduce well due to the small shapes and reverse colour typography. It would reproduce well in one colour and the distinctive shape would be recognisable. Rating.* * * Go to the Others list