Austin, Texas, unveiled a new logo on Thursday, but reactions to the $1.1 million redesign have been mixed, with some expressing dissatisfaction.
The logo features a large, stylized “A” in blue and green beneath the name Austin, as reported by Fox News on Friday.
“For the first time in Austin’s history, there is a logo that represents urban services and unites us as one organization,” Mayor TC Broadnax stated.
Mixed responses came in when Kxan sought public opinion on the branding, with several individuals voicing strong opposition to the redesign.
One critic remarked that the new logo lacks a distinct “Texan” feel, likening it to a festival logo rather than a representation of the city. He contrasted it with the original logo, suggesting the latter better embodies Austin as a city.
Another voice from traffic exclaimed, “The new logo sucks! Looks like a homeless tent.” It seems many online resonated with this sentiment.
Someone chimed in with images of a blue and green tent, commenting, “They love to erase history… The Massachusetts flag is facing similar branding issues. Perhaps this current depiction aligns better with the city council’s vision for Austin.”
Another individual pointed out the resemblance of the logo to a recent controversy involving Cracker Barrel, emphasizing that the new design feels anachronistic compared to its predecessors.
The city’s announcement about the logo states that the new brand was crafted from feedback gathered from various community members and city employees.
“The Austin City Council determined in 2018 that developing cohesive urban brands would be a strategic priority,” the announcement noted. “The updated brand will officially launch on October 1st, updating digital assets like the city’s website, departmental pages, social media profiles, and newsletters.”
Former Austin City Council member McKenzie Kelly is currently circulating a petition calling for the logo to be discarded and for residents to have a say in the matter, according to Kxan.
Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) also spoke on the issue, criticizing the $1 million expenditure on rebranding while highlighting concerns over public safety. He argued that city officials seem more focused on symbols than on issues like rising crime and public safety response times.
