Comments for Hope: it's infectious

Hope: it's infectious

2009-01-20T01:38:54Z

When was the last time a president was cool? So cool he permeated the very fabric of pop culture? I certainly can not remember a time, but perhaps I am just not old enough.

To give you an idea of just how inspiring Obama's inauguration tomorrow actually is for this country, and indeed for the entire world, Pepsi just redesigned its core brand. And the source for its inspiration in unmistakable:

To accompany the rebranding it has released a number of new commercials as well, again echoing the core messages of our next president: "hope," "yes you can," "come together," "everyone" and the list goes on. It is a message of optimism and is evocative of the kinds of words and feelings I have not felt is representative of this country for quite some time.

Tomorrow is a great day, not to mention a historic day as well. And if Obama is even half as effective as president as he is in making leadership, community service, mindfulness and pluralism cool again, then I think we are in for a helluva four years. At least.

God Bless America.

Comment from Stuart on 2009-01-21

2009-01-21T18:12:07Z

When I first saw the new logo and can design, I thought - "Wow, they must have hired a Web 2.0 graphics designer".

My wife also pointed out the similarity to the Obama logo but I think it is a bit of a stretch. Yes, they are both circles with red, white, and blue stripes but the Pepsi logo has been a red, white, and blue circle for a long time. Since 1950? Perhaps the designer of the Obama log was drinking a lot of Pepsi at the time.

That commercial though, the influence is pretty blatant.

Comment from Byrne on 2009-01-21

2009-01-22T03:35:39Z

Stuart,

I have to concede, it is a bit of a stretch to say that Pepsi's logo was inspired by Obama's, when Pepsi's obviously predates the latter. But "branding" is much more than a logo - it is an entire identity, and that is what Pepsi is mimicking.