The City of Austin spent a million bucks on a rebrand that everyone is laughing at

Not The Bee ^ | September 05, 2025 | Joel Abbott

[Red Badger]

Austin officials just told Cracker Barrel to hold their beer:

The city of Austin just spent $1.1 million on this rebrand pic.twitter.com/9hMXamDTPV— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) September 4, 2025

BRO 😂

The city's official seal was adopted in the early 20th century and features colors that mirror the Texas and American flags, reflecting Austin's heritage. The oil lamp is a symbol that reflects knowledge and learning. Behind a cross is the silhouette of the state's capitol, reminding people that Austin is the seat of Texan government.

The cross surrounded by angelic wings is a reminder of the city's historic Christian faith and is taken directly from the family coat of arms of Stephen Austin, the "Father of Texas."

Austin Family Coat Of Arms

As for the new logo, it was designed by a firm called "Pentagram" (no joke). A partner for the company says the backlash was "completely expected," but the city still wanted a redesign that is "both authoritative enough for the city government and representative of the average Austinite." It also wanted to express the familiar tagline "Keep Austin Weird."

So instead of a nod to Texas' founding and heritage, Pentagram ended up designing a generic A-shaped swoosh to remind people that the city has ... hills and bridges.

I think I get it now. The logo is a symbol of history, the rise and fall of Austin. pic.twitter.com/dsknGkZlbs— Bill Aleshire (@AleshireLaw) September 5, 2025

say it ain't so. 🥺

the city of austin revealed a new logo by pentagram.

there's so much rich history in austin. bummed none of that is being represented with this new visual id. pic.twitter.com/ZTrWvVyFAO— Phi Hoang (@apostraphi) September 4, 2025

Even more amazing is the fact that it took $1.1 million and 7 years for this redesign.

A few more reactions:

The old seal will continue to be used for formal occasions ... for now.

[FoxInSocks]

I think the right-hand option in Batu’s post is a much better foundation to start from.

[al_c]

[al_c]

The Pentagram team looks like a bunch of self-important weirdos. Figures.

New York, London, New York, New York, London, etc. With all of the incredible design firms in Austin, why one with all the NY and London folks? Do they even have an Austin branch?

[Cletus.D.Yokel]

My job description had me going up a 400’ tower once every 3 years.
Got to be pretty routine.

[al_c]

Nevermind ... looks like they do have a small Austin office.

[chrisser]

"The Pentagram team looks like a bunch of self-important weirdos. Figures.
https://www.pentagram.com/about"

Looks like a mix of fruits and nuts.

[catnipman]

since Austin starts with an "A", they probably shouldn't use the old standby stain a sloppy coffee cup makes when set down on a piece of paper ...

[1Old Pro]

X was taken

[philman_36]

It looks like a man under the sheets waking up and REALLY having to urinate.

[masadaman]

On the Pentagram link in the news section, the firm boasts about its new design for New Palestine Forward at Wembly. Apparently Austin city fathers ignored or chose to ignore Pentagram’s other clientele.

[crusty old prospector]

We didn’t have any safety gear. I was skeered.

[FamiliarFace]

To be fair to the Austin city fathers, they engaged this team 7 years ago.

This new design for Palestine Forward at Wembley is probably more recent. However, if it takes them 7 years to make a new city logo, perhaps they’ve been at this one for that long, too.

[SaxxonWoods]

Thanks, that looks different from the one I saw with a star. Maybe they changed it.

[higgmeister]

Simple Jack would be proud.

[chuckee]

Good to see Austin hired a graphic arts professional to confront the major problems and challenges of Austin. The problems will still exist when the governor steps in and fires him, just sporting a prettier name along with the graphics to depict them

[SunkenCiv]

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[ptsal]

Fools in Sustin

[ptsal]

Fools in Austin