The 2014 fifa world cup logo

The silent vuvuzela’s mark the end of the 2010 World Cup, but the preparations for the 2014 games are well underway. The 2014 World Cup host, Brazil unveiled the official logo last Thursday inJohannesburg, South Africa. In a clever marketing campaign, both the Brazilian Soccer Delegation and FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) decided to strike while the momentum of the 2010games were still in play, and while it still garnered the attention of a worldwide audience. By revealing the logo now, rather than later, the Brazilian Soccer Delegation and FIFA began the processof building excitement and branding the 2014 World Cup games – four years before the start of the event.

The Sao Paulo, Brazil based agency, “Africa,” beat 25 other agencies to score the winninglogo design called, “Inspiration.” The logo illustrates intertwined hands that form the shape of the world cup trophy highlighted by the iconic Brazilian colors of green and yellow. A panel of sevendistinguished Brazilians including members from FIFA, writer Paulo Coelho, architect Oscar Niemeyer and supermodel Gisele Bundchen determined the winning logo. The chosen panel produced some controversywithin the Brazilian graphic design field.

The acclaimed Brazilian graphic designer Alexandre Wollner in an interview with Terra Magazine denounced the absence of graphic designers on the judge’spanel. The Brazilian Graphic Designers Association noted that they were excluded from the process by FIFA, even though they had a prior arrangement. Wollner, who has designed more than 180 logos said,“They don’t respect the professionals, or professionalism.”

Many soccerphiles on message boards questioned the accuracy of a pair of hands on a soccer ball, since goalies are the only players who canuse their hands in the game. Obviously, they were unaware that the illustration is based on a photo of several hands holding up the world cup trophy in victory. On Facebook, soccer fan Jennifer...