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SPREADING OBAMAISM.
A month ago, Andrew Romano of Newsweek wrote a fascinating examination of the design features of the Barack Obama campaign. “Obama’s marketing is much more cohesive and comprehensive than anything we’ve seen before,” Romano wrote, “involving fonts, logos and web design in a way that transcends the mere appropriation of commercial tactics to achieve the sort of seamless brand identity that the most up-to-date companies strive for.” A big part is the use of a sans-serif font called Gotham, which manages to be authoritative, strong, open, and comfortable all at the same time.
And now it seems that Obama’s design is spreading to candidates looking for a little of that mojo. Look at Obama’s web site, then compare that to this web site, for North Carolina Senate candidate Kay Hagan. Similar font, identical color scheme (although Hagan might just argue she’s using variations on Carolina blue). Even the way the headings go from dark blue to light blue is the same. So here’s a question: if you’re an Obama fan, and you go to Hagan’s web site, do you begin to feel that there’s just something Obama-ish about her? I have a feeling that if Obama is the nominee, she’s not the last Democrat we’ll see doing this.
--Paul Waldman
COMMENTS (10)
So Obama is the wisdom of all fonts?
Posted by: Joseph Davidson | April 2, 2008 4:53 PM
lol lol, kay hagan's site.
I loved the ruby red slippers line.
I wonder if she knows she misspelled Libby with d's vs. b's
Posted by: elrapierwit | April 2, 2008 5:08 PM
As an amateur designer, I have to say, I don't see much similarity between those two sites. Of course they're both using blue--they're both Dems. That's our color these days, innit? And as for the font, well, it's not as though Obama is the first person ever to use a sans serif. It does achieve his goals--looks fresh without looking amateur, conveys firmness and flexibility at the same time. That's typical of a well designed sans. So while Kay Hagan's using a different sans altogether, it's not surprising if she's achieving a similar result. Nor should it surprise anyone that she would WANT a similar result, regardless of Obama's presence. That fresh, modern appearance is simply very popular right now. For politicians as well as for lots of other people/companies/products.
Post hoc doesn't necessarily mean propter hoc.
Posted by: spoko | April 2, 2008 8:37 PM
Go to the blog for the developer (bullseyeinteractive.com) and you'll find this:
Bullseye just launched KayHagan.com – online headquarters for Senator Kay Hagan, a results-oriented Democrat who is challenging erstwhile North Carolinian Elizabeth Dole for her US Senate seat.
The campaign liked the way BarackObama.com kept “everything separate” but “not too crowded” – and had a feature video ready to go. We like the solution and so, they tell us, do they. The inner page template contains an overt homage to the Obama designers.
Posted by: Ed | April 2, 2008 11:43 PM
Also, Liddy Dole is correct. Libby is a common error.
Posted by: Ed | April 2, 2008 11:46 PM
Here's one that's even more blatant:
Greg Fischer (KY Sen)
Posted by: Drew | April 2, 2008 11:48 PM
From an Obama supporter with absolutely no designer background, I must say that Kay Hagan's site does not have an Obama feel to it. The lay out is different an the color scheme is different.
However, Drew is right that Greg Fischer's site looks like a rip off of Senator Obama's site, using the same button themes and even sharing the same cell phone graphic.
Posted by: Meng Bomin | April 3, 2008 1:00 AM
If you really want Obama-esque, check out this site:
http://joegarcia08.com/
Posted by: Jerry Medium | April 3, 2008 7:49 AM
Kay's site is a poor knock off - the design is very weak.
The Fischer site Drew linked to is much stronger and would be worth an update in the post.
2¢
Posted by: Nathan Clark | April 3, 2008 8:49 AM
Man, yeah, the Fischer and Garcia sites are much more Obama-esque. Eerily so, actually.
Posted by: spoko | April 4, 2008 11:29 AM