If we're looking for a badge representing local identity, it should feature St Alban boarding a commuter train
Articles like that joe one earlier, stating ours as the worst badge in the league, can't help either. Its description of our hert as looking rather like a "sad moose" is accurate - if the animal had been rendered to look a bit more impressive then I also suspect there'd be less of a desire for the badge to be changed.
St. Albans was of course the dominant force in the area for hundreds of years, based on ecclesiastical power. However, it is easy to forget that with the coming of the railways in the 19th century until the end of the 20th century Watford eclipsed St. Albans. Industrialisation and substantial population growth made the difference. Watford was the UK's 'Print Town' - Sun printers, Odihams, Croxley Script, the ink companies, Scammell lorries became well known around the World. Of course it is all gone. And that's my point. Things change and sometimes it is not visible if you have only rocked up in Watford in the last 20 years.I can't see why we would base our away kit on St. Albans due to a history that long pre-dates association football. Otherwise why not call us 'The martyrs'!
You can now register your interest in being on the selection panel for narrowing down the badges. Please anyone from here with perhaps some semblance of taste put your name forward. https://www.watfordfc.com/club/club-crest-fan-panel-register-your-interest-now
Lights up the Carlos signal*. @CarlosKickaballs *Exactly like the Bat Signal but far more crudely drawn and really poorly coloured in.
I’m not sure why they are bothering with this. Carlos has already given the definitive answer. It’ll be some sort of more softened version of what we have looking a bit more Hart like with 1881 on it The camel is basically a horse race designed by committee
I’ve signed up for that panel Basically they are looking for diversity So if you are living in Asia or America I’m guessing they’ll pick you. Your 55 year old bloke from Watford has no chance
You peasant pleb! Don't you understand that any creation by an artiste is merely a 'work in progress'?
That's actually my point. No sense seeking out local identity clues you have not used before. The Hart is no more appropriate, than returning to blue and white or the Brewers nickname. Best to exploit your strongest brand elements (the colours and Hornet nickname) and ditch anything that does not fit in, (like the badge).
You reckon they'll conduct the panel via videochat, or? Can't imagine the club will fly people over for it.
Maybe we, the fans, should be called The Martyrs. Interesting. Who do you see moving into the W Herts power vacuum?
If the club are looking for diversity in the panel then we need that Bloke from the DR Congo with a goat fetish to have a say.
I believe the numeral '8' is deemed lucky in China and parts of Asia so the '1881' should go down well. Maybe we could flex it a bit to '1888'? After all, wasn't the centenary celebrated in 1992? (open to correction, not sure).
Hi, Owen here. Freelance designer and Swansea fan, living in London. My Colleague who's a season ticket holder told me about the club's competition and I thought I'd give it a go. I've whipped up a few ideas, and I thought this would be the best place for feedback from actual fans. Cheers!
I am sure something along these lines will get in the mix. The Hornet looks like a grab from the old 1968 badge, but enhanced with the football thorax and "Audentior" of course from the Borough council Coat of Arms. the Council has now replaced the Latin with the English "Be Bold". I think having 1881 in there is also likely to be in the mix as it is a link to the 1881 support group
Thank you, I wanted to keep the hornet simple, reminicent of the old design but modern in it's own way. A simple design that can be used as a stand-alone without the text. Including "Audentior" came from a suggestion from a fan on twitter. Thanks for the feedback!
I don't support any badge with a Hornet/Bee on it. Think that would be a most tragic & disastrous decision. Seriously hope the present badge is just subtly modernised/updated font etc.
No offense taken, I need feedback to be able to design something I'd feel comfortable submitting. What are your main issues with it? Thanks!
Sure, personally speaking I think there is something too 1970's about the overall feel. The insect image used is not very well defined & as such you can't distinguish it is an Hornet (seeing as that is the theme you are going for here) & there are similar bee designs used on other club badges (off top of my head look at Brentford FC who nickname are The Bees). Lastly if I recall correctly the brief says the club would prefer to stay away from round circle emblems, so you currently only have one badge that fits the official brief? I think people entering into the design competition could be missing a trick. I would try to cover both basis by submitting one of the ones you've mocked up thereby keeping to brief but also a mock up in terms of up to date modernisation of the current badge, with a stronger image of the Hart etc. You might have a better chance of winning that way. I am biased though as I have said in a previous post. Good luck.
Anything with a Hart/Moose wont get selected. the brief says "Time are changing for Watford FC. For years the fans have called the team 'The Hornets', but the official badge has included a red hart, a type of deer. Watford FC is now looking for you to: Design a new badge for Watford FC that reflects their nickname, 'The Hornets'." I would not bother with any rehash of the current unless you include a replacement of the Moose/Hart.
Thank you for that! I understand what would mean about the hornet icon, it could very well be a bee too. I'll have to have a look into way to define it. As for the shape, I know they want to avoid a circle but I was thinking about the versatility of it across different platforms, and I felt a circle would be the best in that respect. I'll probably submit a few variants, maybe something along the lines of what I'm attatching to this message. I thought the club wanted to avoid using the Hart as the brief states that they want it to strongly reflect the nickname "The Hornets". Maybe that's just a curveball and they'd be open to seeing a modern version of the current crest? Thanks for the feedback. Appreciate it! EDIT: Just looked through the comment section on the site, and there have been replies from hosts of the competition that the club doesn't want to see the red Hart anymore, that they are indeed looking for Hornet designs only.
Agree with Hornet4ever's feedback. Also, just a minor thing, but a hornet's stripes on its lower body are typically yellow and black - having them as red looks a bit odd. I appreciate the rest of the colour arrangement might need to adapt as a knock-on effect.