Stimulus Logo

Recently, at a press conference, the Obama administration wheeled out this logo. The administration plans to put this on signs near all new work receiving funds from the Stimulus Package.

It doesn't take a whole lot to see this is very similar to our old school propaganda posters in the past.

However, lets dissect this logo, and figure out the passive controls, and potential intents behind it...

Lets start with the color scheme: Red, White, Blue and Green.

The red white and blue is obviously appealing to the target audience's sense of national pride and patriotism... (The stars in the blue further press this sense of patriotism on the viewer). Looking at the green section of the logo, we see that there is an image of a plant.

This plant, the target audience is meant to assume "agriculture". however, this is not just a normal plant... its an abstract modern "art-like" plant... Thus causing the reader to subconsciously link this logo to the vastly popular modern "green" movement.

Inside the gear in the lower right of the circle, is an innocuous "plus". Its very subtle, but is designed to give the viewer a positive impression, and a feeling of surplus.

Adding "recovery.gov" is a two-fold strategy. Not only is the artist showing the public where to go to view more propaganda, but is attaching the word "Recovery" to the logo as a whole.

Using the Word recovery is meant to make the target believe that anything with this logo, is assisting in the recovery of our country... thus, enforces a positive feeling. However, objectivity demands that you review the situation: We're not ready to start recovering yet... nor is Recovery a foregone conclusion, as the graphic would like you to subconsciously believe. Instead, this is an age-old tactic to make you feel as if the problem is handled, and we're going to "win". This remains to be seen.

This is where it gets interesting. I notice the Logo is in the shape of a circle. There are other shapes to use, why a circle.

A quick comparison with the "Obama Logo" shows that the artist is ensuring that this shape is familiar, and tied to "feel good" feelings and thus the Obama logo. Its a very subtle, and clever gimmick, but may be the first of many such messages to keep the people subconsciously familiar with the presidential logo for Obama's 2012 bid.

Next up (I think) Will be the sleight of hand and misdirection being exercised by the bi-partisan bickering in washington... We're watching the fight... and not much else...