It can be easy for me to be critical of a logo. I have worked as a graphic designer for almost 30 years.
The original NYI logo — from a design quality point of view — kind of sucks. It's a map of Long Island, and a NY where the Y extends to be a hockey stick. The team name doesn't help create anything either. We are not connected to an animal such as Hawks, Ducks, Bears, Coyotes, Lions, etc., nor are we connected to anything menacing like a Hurricane, Avalanche or Storm. We are not something from history/military like the Admirals, Generals, Senators, etc. So creating that visual character is a challenge for a team named "The Islanders."
The Fisherman went to a place in time that I understand. Long Island at one time had a rich fishing tradition. The Baymen of Long Island were a "thing" for a very long time — but; that time ended such a long time ago, and way before the creation of the "Fisherman" logo. I would never have gone there if I were tasked with developing a logo for the NY Islanders.
Worse — it looked like it was the angry Gorton's Fisherman. Like everything else from that era, the NY Islanders were lower than a beer league organization. They epitomized unprofessional, and so too was the logo. The Uniform that went with that logo — was just as poor. The wavy lines made the uniform look like it was always in need of being adjusted, and the font was difficult and equally unprofessional.
That they are returning it as a "3rd jersey" is just an attempt to take the cash from your pocket, and place it into theres. Ugly be damned — it's as simple as that. Worse, is to drudge up memories of a terrible time for the franchise. Why?
The NYI original crest — no matter how I view it critically as a graphic designer — WORKS AS IS FOR WHAT IT IS. That crest is connected to decades of memories — and for someone like me, in his 50s — a lifetime of memories and happiness. My message to the New York Islanders — STOP F_cking with it! Leave it, and the colors alone.
My avatar here is my design for the Islanders — It is more "shoulder patch" as it would stand now then team logo. Keep in mind, I designed in many years ago, and in like 20 minutes. My goal with it was to create something that could be a symbol of "Long Island" without being a map, while tying in hockey, and the history of the team that anchored the franchise to Long Island even as new history comes each game and each season. The Montauk lighthouse is the obvious symbol, the 4 silver spokes are clear, as is the hockey element. Not going to win awards, but you can look at it and say — OK — it makes some sense. Long Island in 1995 — and today — is not looked at as a fishing community. The "Fisherman" would be more appropriate for a team from Gloucester, MA, then Long Island, NY.
nypost.com
