This dog is hanging its head in shame and would like to apologise for its behaviour. Having indulged in one too many glasses of port over the festive season he briefly lost control and ate the Diabetes UK hummingbird. He is very sorry that a lot of hard work has had to go into producing a new logo for Diabetes UK and that they were so shocked by the sudden death of the hummingbird they have turned completely blue.
DUK are of course playing down the death of the hummingbird, but ShootUp readers deserve the truth. RIP hummingbird. For a full explanation of the changes which will take effect from February 2012 take a look at DUK’s website.
This dog would ask for reader opinions on the new look, but is honestly too busy trying to find another hummingbird snack, they’re surprisingly tasty.
Yet another waste of money on rebranding.
I’m largely ambivalent about the new look. It looks okay and I quite like the strapline and that its now a uniform “diabetes blue”. I don’t like the font – but then I never do.
More broadly, I don’t see what’s wrong with charities spending a bit of cash on re-branding though. Rebranding is not *that* expensive and it’s important for a charity give an impression of being with the times, attractive and standing out a little.
I think it’s generally a losing battle when you ask for opinions on a new logo, most people have negative things to say. I find it hard to care very much either way about logos. If I could summon up some interest I’d say that I do like the words – I think those are the three areas DUK should be focusing on and where they can potentially make most difference. And I’m very pleased they haven’t continued the c theme and stuck “cure” in there which always smacks of promising something you have little ability to deliver.
Here’s my alternative logo:

I give it pro bono to DUK!
Now that I can generate an opinion about – brilliant
haha love it! 🙂
I’m sure it will grow on me. I keep thinking it says “DA Betes”
I dread to think how much cash they have splashed on this!
Rebrands aren’t necessarily expensive y’know!
Agreed! Although some businesses and charities do seem to have a knack of doing it all wrong.
Given DUK’s recent track record or lack of track record, it seems many people have simply lost faith in said charity.
May it be possible they will be relegated to everyone’s 3rd Favorite UK Diabetes Charity?? *Gasp*
Fair enough, but I do think DUK are trying.
Mike,
Trustee elections are in June each year – go for it and make a difference.
Aside from Mike being in Spain, I agree @Brian – if you’re not happy with something go and change it yourself!
Always thought the hummingbird had the potential to become an international symbol for diabetes – but not to be.
I note the fashionable ‘i’ – but to be correct it should be iDiabetes.
The strapline is vital because Diabetes UK, as a title, is factually incorrect. It is people with diabetes that are important not diabetes itself.
@brian If you had the opportunity, what title would you plump for? What would you like to see DUK try to get across with it’s strapline etc..?
@mike I was around when British Diabetic Association (which legally it still is) moved to Diabetes UK – didn’t particularly like the new title, but it followed a fashion in charities of adding UK – largely because of the devolution of Wales and Scotland. Interesting to see what happens to the name if Scotland goes independent in 2014, perhaps they should have waited before changing.
The choice of names is very restrictive in that it needs to roll-off the tongue while describing what’s in the can. Preferably something with people/person in it – reminds medics, researchers etc that they are dealing with people and not to focus on the inanimate diabetes, which must be easier to deal with than the people. This was the intention of the strapline ‘the charity for people with diabetes’
I’m content with 3*C as has been said before it has more credibility for not including cure.
Scotland better bloody not vote for independence, otherwise I’ll be moving back to England! But I think this might be going a little off topic…!
Ha! had a notification about a conversation I wasn’t part of (I’m suopu’s *other* @mike dontchaknow).
Interesting @brian that you should consider the ‘i’ to be an Apple ref. The fact that is is a softened rounded shape within a block of sharp typography made it much more of a reference to people for my money. Added to which the person is linked by the colour split to the strapliney aspirations. The marque could be argued to literally revolve around the individuals involved.
Sorry… have you all nodded off?
Agree with other mike about the weakness of the ‘DABETES’ though, which always happens when you try to break a word.
Tch! We diabetics are never happy are we.
Yes, I thought it was a little person too – alone and surrounded by the intimidating “D” & “A” letters of DIABETES. Eek!
‘D’ and ‘A’ eh @Tim? What was the designers hidden message though? What are we caught between… Death and Afterlife perhaps? Dread and Agony? Despond and Abyss?
Ha ha ha! All of the above I think!
@mike I’ll buy that explanation, thanks. In which case my comments have been answered, hadn’t appreciated the subtleties.
Could put a smiley on the dot of the eye just to make the point LOL.
Of course I ment ‘ i ‘ not eye.
Ah! All those years spent trying to make up reasons why I’ve done logos the way I have were worth it after all 🙂
I obviously don’t drink enough, I saw no people in the i. Either that or I need my i’s testing.
I only wish they had taken your approach to this. I don’t mind rebranding in the slightest, but I distintly remember some mothers of diabetics getting the hummingbird tattooed on themselves in everlasting support of the battles their children face.
Bet they feel like twats now.
Oh God, yes! They’ll have to ink them over with the new logo…!
ha! that must be awful!! A bit like this family, where “Mum & Dad” have got themselves a tattoo of their young son’s pump which happens to be from ********c (don’t want to appear bias).
What happens if they decide to change to Animas/Roche or forced by insurers to change in the future.
http://medgadget.com/2011/12/insulin-pump-tattoos-make-a-perfect-christmas-gift-for-diabetic-kid.html
Oh. My. God.
They are going to be oh so outdated when the world officially goes tubless with the likes of O****** and C*** N*** (following suit with Mike). Almost like having a glass syringe tattooed on you.
But that is more a discussion about tattoeing than diabetes.
I just know that is they first thing I thought of. Perhaps that shows that the logo really had very little effect on me. Is that good or bad?
You are allowed to mention brand names on the blog you know! I’m not sure where this self-censorship came from!
Anyway, complete ambivalence about a logo is – I suspect – more of a bad thing than a good thing.
It’s much more *ntertaining to leave ver* obvious but still coded comment* about pharma companies.
Anyway everyone knows diabetics are fickle. If we are shown a sexy new pump, we get the DSN on speed dial faster than you can say ‘Cell Novo’ 😉
M******c drown puppies in Lake Geneva. Yes, I see what you mean – it *is* fun!
Don’t call me fick**
Who are Medtron*c?
They are Medtronyc – a new start up company from Wales
Why a hummingbird and not a Duck or D U K. In what way does a hummingbird have any relationship with diabetes other than the wonderful Wander chocolate that the Germans made in the 1970’s pre Thontons diabetic range and so called Boots.
I will show husband and let him review it as Oh wonderful man is a Graphic Designer!
Prefer the colour …pink to girlie!
Katharine – Hummingbirds survive by eating nectar.
@katherine from memory the connection between diabetes and the hummingbird was the fine degree of control that the hummingbird has and people with diabetes need. At least that’s what I was told.
Hummingbirds certainly have excellent flight control and can even fly backwards !!!
Ahhh – so that’s where it comes from; I did wonder.
They’re trying to swallow INPUT! Sorry out website doesn’t show our logo (how bad is that!) but you can see it on our home page from our Twitter feed…
They will not swallow us! We shall remain independent!
Anyone else noticed the similarity between Diabetes UK and JDRF logo? Same colours too. I can’t imagine any good reason for making them appear more similar to each other!
I wouldn’t so much care what their logo is, if they hadn’t rung me up asking for money as in a direct debit monthly. Obviously if they have to start ringing people (and no, I’m not a member – I just signed up to “Beat Diabeates”) then they spent too much on the re-brand!