By Lily Bourne
When thinking of New York, one specific image always seems to come to mind. Not the Statue of Liberty or Central Park, but the iconic black font with a red heart spelling out “I <3 New York”. This design was developed by Milton Glaser in 1979 to promote tourism and represents the official state slogan of New York. Now. it can be found on almost any product imaginable, from shirts to stuffed animals to license plates. However, New York City officials recently unveiled a new logo with the motto “We <3 New York” as part of the mayor’s new campaign to find ways around political and social divides after the pandemic. The new logo features an emoji heart and sans-serif font as opposed to the original typewriter, which has enraged many residents. Critics of the new logo mention that the old was iconic because of its simplicity and that the 3D aspect of the heart is unnecessary. Others complain that the new font looks off-centered and can be read as “We NY <3”. The logo’s original purpose was to promote community and civic action, with its use of “we” instead of “I”. However, many New Yorkers feel as though the bland, corporate-like design disrespects the original creator and does nothing to preserve the uniqueness of the old logo. Some residents believe the old logo represents simplicity and nostalgia, and do not want it to change, while others believe the new logo could represent new steps toward inclusivity and innovation in New York. No matter what some opinions may be, the old “I <3 New York” logo is not disappearing anytime soon, and the new “We <3 New York” represents a step toward positive change in the face of rising crime rates and unemployment. In the future, both designs will hopefully be able to exist peacefully together and promote community and love for New York!