The 'W' - Hot or Not?

[Bulldog]

I voted : "I like it but needs enhancement"

I dont necessarily mean changing the basis of it, just getting a little creative with it.

I would like to see some variations that have a main color with an outline. Burgundy main color with a gold outline. Black Camo base with a Burgundy or Gold outline. Red Camo with a Gold Outline.

I have some renderings on my computer at home i can share when i get home from work (if i remember).

Agree. The concept of a single letter or symbol is well-established in league, Washington needs to embellish the current bland stenciled ‘W’ with more artistic form of the letter.

A couple of folks commented on all of this when Daniels was drafted - if the team enjoys success the name and basic colors and styling would not be changing.

After the best season in 30 years I think see are there.

 

[Hail Raiser]

They could jazz it up a little. Maybe leave the tacos in it or something. There's a lot of different styles if you google search "white people taco holder".

Just kidding. I think it sucks not just because it's bland and boring (which does fit the fanbase), but because it's militarized and I absolutely fucking hate that.

 

[Commander PK]

Up to this point only 5 want it changed.

I think if we are getting that kind of a result here they would likely get a similar result just about anywhere else. Our sample here shows over-whelming support for the logo either left alone or with enhancements.

Bottom line, if they didn’t change it at all most people still “like it”

 

[NickyJ]

Just got in front of my computer.....

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I've grown to be okay with the W logo, but the helmet having more than one stripe on it is something I would love. Add an extra white outline around the W like there's the white outline along the stripe and I would be sold.

 

[Faithful Fan]

I've grown to be okay with the W logo, but the helmet having more than one stripe on it is something I would love. Add an extra white outline around the W like there's the white outline along the stripe and I would be sold.

I like this idea. Doing that plus a gold face mask would be more like the iconic Gibbs-era look.

My only concern with adding the white stripes is if it would work with the numbers on the back of the helmet, which I like.

 

[ArtMonkWasMyHero]

I do think that they care about what the public/fans want in theory but not in any serious, practical application regarding the name or the ‘branding’. (So perhaps I slightly overplayed that hand.) Point being, they are now the Commanders and no amount of ‘discussion’ about that by the public is going to change that reality. There will be no feathers or any other thing reflective of the past branding incorporated in any meaningful way into the current branding. There just won’t. Any time and energy invested into hoping for such will only lead to continued disappointment.

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I think you are quite correct about the Redskins name coming back. Never thought that was going to happen.

I think the Commanders name could be ditched with ease IF the fanbase spoke loudly and with one voice. But we don't. Everybody wants a different name. The only name everyone agrees with is the one we cannot have. Harris- whom I am starting to realize is businessman first and a fan second- sees this and thus chooses the lazy way out.

 

[Spearfeather]

I dont have a problem with a " W " on the helmet. But, not this W.
" Hot or " Not " ?

Definitely, " Not ".

i understand the idea ... Looks like something you'd see on the side of an armoured vehicle, or some military equipment ... But I dont like it as our logo.

I'd like to see a solid gold " W " with a white outline on our burgundy helmet.
It might not look all " Commanderish ", but it would look better.

 

[Commander PK]

For the sake of conversation, see my profile pic of the Raise Hail flag. What about a W in that font?

By the way, the moment I can buy one of those flags I am going to buy one.

 

[burgold]

I like this idea. Doing that plus a gold face mask would be more like the iconic Gibbs-era look.

My only concern with adding the white stripes is if it would work with the numbers on the back of the helmet, which I like.

And I suspect a bigger part of the fanbase than we realize would not be happy if we returned to Redskins. Especially for the younger generations, Redskins has never been associated with anything good. It's all scandal, losing, and embarrassment. I was in a coffee shop a little time ago and somehow got into a conversation about football with some teenagers. They hated both Commanders and Redskins. The 'skins under Snyder never gave them a reason to root for them and they were pretty ambivalent about even supporting the local team. and ambivalence is probably worse than hate when it comes to fandom.

So for many Washington area sports fans, even Redskins wouldn't be a panacea. In fact, it would probably be more likely to drive them away.

There really isn't a way to please everybody/

 

[Commander PK]

I was in a coffee shop a little time ago and somehow got into a conversation about football with some teenagers. They hated both Commanders and Redskins. The 'skins under Snyder never gave them a reason to root for them and they were pretty ambivalent about even supporting the local team. and ambivalence is probably worse than hate when it comes to fandom.

So for many Washington area sports fans, even Redskins wouldn't be a panacea. In fact, it would probably be more likely to drive them away.

Quite often, this has been my experience as well. As has been stated elsewhere here an entire generation of fans in the DMV were lost to the Ravens or elsewhere thanks to Snyder's stupidity and mismanagement. I watched this happen in my own family. For the kids, it was why root for a loser organization when a winning one plays one hour up the road?

With a pretty cool brand if we are being completely honest. Just stating facts.

 

[Canadian Hog]

Given the nickname that was chosen, I think a W was probably the way to go logo-wise. Some cartoonish logo of military members would have been silly in my opinion. Honestly, Commanders doesn’t give you a lot of options. I can’t say I like the logo, but also can’t say with 100 percent confidence that there is a better route to go. I also don’t think that minor stylistic changes to the W can make me appreciate it more. At this point, I simply want Ws on our scoresheet on Sundays - and a lot of them.

 

[SkinsFTW]

I cant stand the W helmet but with a lame ass name like Commanders I don't see any other good options.

 

[Spearfeather]

I cant stand the W helmet but with a lame ass name like Commanders I don't see any other good options.

In a way I agree with this, and between a " W ", a " C ", and some picture logo of a commander ( I hate to even think about how bad that could look ), ...

I'll take the " W ".

 

[SkinsFTW]

In a way I agree with this, and between a " W ", a " C ", and some picture logo of a commander ( I hate to even think about how bad that could look ), ...

I'll take the " W ".

Well, there is always this:

 

[Faithful Fan]

Given the nickname that was chosen, I think a W was probably the way to go logo-wise. Some cartoonish logo of military members would have been silly in my opinion. Honestly, Commanders doesn’t give you a lot of options. I can’t say I like the logo, but also can’t say with 100 percent confidence that there is a better route to go. I also don’t think that minor stylistic changes to the W can make me appreciate it more. At this point, I simply want Ws on our scoresheet on Sundays - and a lot of them.

The fact that W means wins is a big plus.

This hit me when Jayden signed the camera with a W.

 

[AngryChuckT]

Since the chances of me ever getting back the most beautiful logo in the history of sports is as close to zero is it can can get, I prefer sticking with the W. They can tweak it or leave it as is and I am fine either way. Redskins, Football Team, or Commanders - they are still the Washington franchise founded i n 1932. I would rather focus on the Washington part. Yes it is generic, but it focusses on the Washington part which I can always connect in my head and heart with the Redskins rather than some weird logo tied to our goofy name that I accept but will never like.

"Touchdown WASHINGTON Redskins!"

- Frank Herzog

 

[HurQlez]

It has been my whole campaign to expand the Commanders brand because the W is not enough to identify this name or branding. We did not have this name since the beginning like the Packers or Giants or Browns so we can't claim it as city based or abstract ignorance. Also any talk to bring any Redskins imagery to the W is just out of the question.

So why not add something simple to it: a shape. A shape that strikes a visual identity that people can connect with immediately. Cowboys have the Lone Star. Chiefs have the arrowhead. Washington can have the soldier dog tag; a literal form of identity.

There IS a team connection. GM Adam Peters and his draft team says the top players they desired were given the "Commanders Tag". He said this last draft and this draft. And the top four players they drafted last year had that designated "Commanders Tag".

It doesn't have to REPLACE the W we have now, but add to the whole branding as a way to make the Commanders name and brand work on its own. We can use different color swaps for the W dog tag. But I can see us going for the one that reminds us of the Redskins.

So yes. The W, like the Commanders, is here to stay. But that doesn't mean we can't do more with it independent of Redskins imagery.
(There is also the K9 German Shepherd I include, but that is another topic)

"Remember who we were, Take Command of who we are!"

 

[Chris]

Hey HurQlez- do you have a pending copyright or trademark application in process for your IP?

 

[Boone]

I think the ‘idea’ of the dogtag is clever but I don’t necessarily like the look in terms of a helmet logo. Just individual taste. I think selling dog tags could be a cool idea.

The dog stuff is a cool idea. I just think it’s a stretch to link canines to a military theme (yes, I know there is a connection but people don’t think ‘dogs’ when you mention the military.

Your graphic work is very well done.

 

[HurQlez]

Hey HurQlez- do you have a pending copyright or trademark application in process for your IP?

No. I am using the Commanders' W. I would lose any protection. Besides, I show all my designs directly to Senior people in the Commanders front office. So if my design comes official, I would be happy for that than complain about getting paid for it.

I think the ‘idea’ of the dogtag is clever but I don’t necessarily like the look in terms of a helmet logo. Just individual taste. I think selling dog tags could be a cool idea.

The dog stuff is a cool idea. I just think it’s a stretch to link canines to a military theme (yes, I know there is a connection but people don’t think ‘dogs’ when you mention the military.

Your graphic work is very talented.

There ARE local connections to Commanders and the K9 German Shepherd. And I am not referring to the program Commanders do where they foster a dog for a veteran to adopt. Doc Walker has been doing his radio show and (the same time I have campaigned ExpandtheBrand apparently) he has called all of his listeners K9s. So the dog brings in legends.

Another connection is too good. In Q4 of 2021, when Washington internally selected the name Commanders, the Commander-in-Chief got a new German Shepherd and named him Commander. That is too good of a connection to pass up, no matter the politics.

FYI, K9s are not ordinary dogs. Dogs are pets. K9s are like our players: they are professionals.