While New York City health department employees are mostly mum on the topic of a city-branded condom, spokespersons have indicated that the city is considering whether to market a condom so city officials can better measure how effective their condom distribution program is. According to the Times, the city distributes one million condoms each month. A unique logo would help researchers spot discarded wrappers more easily.
Some graphic design experts suggest that a logo for the project should include classic icons of the city, such as the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, or the Brooklyn Bridge. Other firms competing for the graphic design job reject those ideas as cliches, opting instead for an edgier logo that would be attractive to local residents.
In addition to the graphic design challenges the project poses, competitors must also consider the project’s socio-political sensitivities. The Times reported that many religious and right-wing groups contend that slapping an official logo on condoms encourages promiscuity. Meanwhile, graphic design professionals working on their bids must balance the demands of working on a government project with the expectations of citizens that might actually use the logo-branded condoms.
Any professional that lands this graphic design job can expect lots of controversy and lively debate.