Comments on: New Ahli Bank Logo

By: James

James — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 18:55:22 +0000

As Shopa said in post 21. Origin Communications in Dubai did this rebrand.

(they also did the Salhia rebrand which you liked in another one of your posts).

I worked at Origin while this job was going through the studio. I won’t go into the ins and outs of the process, but like many jobs in the region it wasn’t approached by client or agency in a ‘traditional’ (read: professional) manner.

I like the new symbol, I think it has achieved a ’simplification’ of the existing marque in-line with many bank’s desires to appear approachable and easy to deal with. And it works well as a ’supergraphic’ which can be used interactively in TV commercials, signage, exhibition displays, etc.

The type marque… oh dear.

I agree this was an exercise in taking something bad and not making it much better.

By: h Naser

h Naser — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 11:12:21 +0000

Hey Mark, Great post,

But you didn’t mention the mix of 2 languages in one logo?
How about that? is it wise for a big brand like a bank? (generally speaking)
Personally I don’t like that, whither they use Arabic version alone or separate them in two versions… what do you think?

By: Alaa

Alaa — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 21:56:32 +0000

In Assessing a logo, we tend to ignore certain factors that has nothing to do with objectivity. The Ahli Bank’s bad reputation and outdated management methods, the rebranding job being done in Kuwait with the abundance of bad jobs executed, and the reluctance to the importance of executing the rebranding job and its appearance to the public, working as if they have all the time in the world.

Saying that, I have noticed that marketing and advertising profesionals disliked the logo, while ordinary people liked it. ALL agreed to how ugly the arabic typography is.

To najeeb: the dichotomy between core change and shell change is a part of the business culture that has developed in Kuwait. Whenever you see an intention of changing the core, you see the management ignoring it and directly changing the shell, thus reaching a satisfactory effect via the primitive reaction of witnessing change of looks and colors. you are right.

By: najeeb

najeeb — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 21:20:25 +0000

The new trend in Kuwait for changing the cooperates logos is because we are having new CEOs coming on top of those new cooperates. Burgan Bank (newly joined CEO), Ahli Bank (Newly joined CEO)… etc.
So, when you see a logo change, ask them and check who joined recently, you will discover why the logo is changed!
They are empty with new ideas, so they started with changing the image and wasting time and money here and there. This is my personal opinion. Who knows!

By: Louai Alasfahani

Louai Alasfahani — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 17:05:58 +0000

the old logo is a copy cat from the “New Canaan Community Foundation” which i published in Awraq, Communicate and Arab Ad :) the new logo is not a step forward.

By: Rejoys

Rejoys — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 12:43:38 +0000

Look at this logo

http://www.joomla.org/

By: shopa

shopa — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 05:59:33 +0000

Origin based in Dubai did the new logo

By: ZAINAB

ZAINAB — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 05:21:16 +0000

I really need more of your opinions, as i work in the Bank :)

By: Patrick Semaan

Patrick Semaan — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 21:06:34 +0000

I like the Logo (its way cleaner and more simple) and the English typo, but not the Arabic, it would look good for a news paper or an Egyptian soccer team, they use this type of typo in Egypt a lot. And i think it does not match with the English as you said.

I saw some of the BTL’s in a printing press when I was checking out some stuff for our company, I took snap shots but then I felt it would not be nice if I talk about it..

By: Equalizer

Equalizer — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 20:21:35 +0000

New Logo = Better Bank ? Pointless without a pivotal shift in their business strategy. Speaking of uncorrelated arabic / english logos look at mothercare’s logo in english / arabic.

By: mahi

mahi — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 05:54:22 +0000

Mark, check this Bank site, this re-branding done by Brand Union India, a month back. (post their logo here and see the rest:)
http://www.canbankindia.com/

By: logoman

logoman — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 03:36:04 +0000

the logo is fine. its much better

By: suspic

suspic — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 23:23:56 +0000

I’m with Hamitaf. Banks are “serious business”. The old one was very professional and classy looking.

The new one looks like an Alahali football club t-shirt with sponsors.

By: Lucky_Boy

Lucky_Boy — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 19:25:54 +0000

Its looks good compared to the ugly old one

By: jo

jo — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 18:19:24 +0000

hate it nothing good about it. simple mistakes for simple job.