Bryony and Armin were invited by Studio 360 — the beloved Public Radio International show hosted by Kurt Andersen — to tackle a rather interesting problem: Redesigning Valentine’s Day, everything from the hearts, to the roses, to the chocolates, to the expensive dinners, to Cupid. Everything we know about Valentine’s was due for a new approach.
See the results here. (And here’s a page where anyone can download the icon.)
I like the icon and color choices. But I’m not sold on the Carebear puppy, or the elimination of flowers. I’m glad they let chocolate stay, though! I think I’ll make a couple cards with the icon for friends since I’m without an actual valentine this year :)
Feb 12th, 2010 / 12:04 pm
I’m sorry but to me this represents two guys fighting over a woman. A pair of crossed phallic objects.
Feb 12th, 2010 / 2:46 pm
Interesting process. Unfortunately that icon looks like swords to me – or even the Meissen porcelain logo : http://bit.ly/9tGVE1
Feb 12th, 2010 / 7:25 pm
reminds me of the xbox 360 logo. anyone else?
Feb 13th, 2010 / 12:42 am
Look’s like two noses touching each other.
I see two persons in a middle of a kiss. And as the noses are the same, it’s a “gender free” illustration : could be two men, two women or a man and a woman. Nice.
Feb 13th, 2010 / 3:40 pm
I don’t see a heart at all, or anything that brings to mind love (whether it’s romantic or not). I see a bodice on a dress or blouse, or the profile of two nipples touching. If I recall correctly, the shape of the traditional heart is based on sexual human anatomy (breasts, buttocks, scrotum).
Feb 14th, 2010 / 1:06 pm
The cupid choices are not very subtle or appropriate. If you think about the symbolism of the current cupid — he’s a baby flying around in heaven waiting for a chance to come to earth. He’s trying to inspire two people to fall in love so they can make a baby. It goes way back to Greek and Roman religious beliefs. It’s religious, it’s become gender specific (was it gender specific in ancient Greece and Rome?).
A worm, a dog or a CVO don’t fit today’s romantic concerns (I wouldn’t want my boss involved in my romantic life or a dog for that matter). Heartworm is a disease that kills many dogs each year, so not a good choice for conveying love. I’m not sure the puppy works either. His pose brings to mind a male that’s ready to do his sexual deed. At least cupid is a little more subtle. The new heart icon can be used like a greater than/less than symbol. Interesting metaphor. But the same thing can be done with the current symbol.
I celebrate Valentine’s whether or not I’m romatically involved, so until something better arrives I’ll stick with what has been defined here as annoying, obnoxious, and stressful. For me they don’t convey those ideas they communicate love and friendship. The designs presented here don’t speak love or friendship to me.
Feb 14th, 2010 / 1:37 pm
Heart is a symbol itself. It is a symbol of love and therefore it is a symbol of valentines day. It is recognized, it has nothing to do with our internal organs. I like the new color schemes but the new symbol is missed. The “symmetries” they derive the X lines from do not exist.
Feb 14th, 2010 / 6:10 pm
the old icon wasn’t broken; its replacement, however, is. And horribly so.
Under Consideration is usually terrific, but that article was really sad. Are we going to replace the Christmas tree as a symbol of Christmas next? Or the menorah?
WHY? “Stop him before he designs again,” a favorite bit of design criticism; and so appropriate.
Feb 15th, 2010 / 11:31 am
Hi, do you know
http://www.meissen.com/
Meissener Porzellan is very famous in Germany and becomes 300 years in 2010. The sign remembered me to their logo.
Feb 17th, 2010 / 3:51 am