Here is the logo:
The new logo for Ilfracombe. Do you think it looks like a sperm?
Here is the reason behind it:
New brand says “Take another look at Ilfracombe and be surprised”
Representing Ilfracombe’s business community, Ron Ley, Director of Charterwell Homes said, “It is important that Ilfracombe looks at how it currently positions itself in the market and where it would like to position itself. Ilfracombe has not always been consistently presented as the quality destination it is and it is this lack of consistency and targeting of the lower-spend market that we aim to redress.”
A considerable amount of background work and collective thinking informed the process and development of the brand. Consultants Fresh Bread Marketing had a brainstorming session
in the summer with representatives from Ilfracombe’s tourism, retail and business
communities as well as Ilfracombe Town Council and North Devon Council. They were given the difficult task of encapsulating Ilfracombe’s fascinating and appealing attributes into one logo, strapline and brand that reflects and reinforces the distinctive essence of Ilfracombe.
Fresh Bread’s Tessa Martin said, “Ilfracombe is a fresh, intriguing place to visit with an
impressive landscape. It is steeped in and continues to offer a maritime experience and has a strong cultural theme with a fascinating Victorian heritage.” She continued, “The new
Ilfracombe logo, with its idiosyncratic ‘swirl’ above the ‘i’ indicates intrigue, mystery and
drama expressed with a spot of humour and fun too. It also reflects the twists and turns of
the landscape and can conjure up thoughts of the seaside, sea, an ice-cream, the harbour and fish.”
The logo incorporates the strapline “Curious Coastal Charm” – three words that evoke some of Ilfracombe’s best characteristics. Curious reflects the intriguing, edgy elements including
its arts and events; coastal communicates harbour, paths and dining and sports
opportunities; charm evokes Ilfracombe’s community spirit and individual appeal, fun for kids, couples and families.
Further devices to enhance the brand are included in the brand identity manual as well as a new image library that includes photographs specially commissioned and some submitted in Ilfracombe Town Council’s photograph competition. They have been selected to show fresh
angles and different perspectives compelling viewers to take a second look whilst always presenting Ilfracombe as a high quality contemporary seaside destination.
Access to the logos and images is through http://www.theilfracombecentre.co.uk under the
heading ‘About Ilfracombe’. The Brand Identity Manual explains how to get the most effective expression of the Ilfracombe brand and is free to use but the strict guidelines must be followed to ensure consistency, quality and continued brand recognition.
Brand guidelines should be found here:
Click to access Ilfracombe-Brand-Identity-Guidelines.pdf
AMENDED: It appears as if the £40,000 wasn’t for the logo (originally read in the south devon version of the journal website) it was £5000 including the photographs. That sounds a lot more like it.
Unfortunately it appears as if it was miss-quoted from Cllr Philip Webb: http://www.thisissouthdevon.co.uk/news/Ilfracombe-ferries-new-identity/article-1529371-detail/article.html
However the logo is still poor and a huge missed opportunity for Ilfracombe. The main problem we have with it is that there is actually a really good idea in there which has been missed. The strapline ‘Curious Costal Charm’ is nice. Really nice actually, mostly because at last someone has said something marketable about Ilfracombe that is actually true. The problem is that the logo doesn’t seem to relate to this in any way. I’d have been really honest about the town in a marmite/VW sort of way. Shabby around the edges, faded glories, but a real heart and beautiful if look hard enough.
As stated on various blogs, we think the logo looks a lot like a sperm on the i (or is it just us?). In a town with a high rate of teenage pregnancy were not so sure it was that wise.
What if Ilfracombe 
I would just like to say that your site is an inspiration!! It’s about time I’ve read some positive feedback on such a wonderful place. I’m tired of hearing quotes that depict Ilfracombe as being dead and buried…this saddens me greatly. I love your optimism and Ilfracombe greatly needs more people like you.
My Nan lives there. When I was a child (I’m now 33) most of my family would stay with my Nan and holiday in the great place that was Ilfracombe. I have magical memories of the place, with the colourful flowered sea-front and all the holiday makers everywhere and fine shops. Also the sounds of the sea-gulls, visiting ‘The Tunnels’ and walking the famous Torrs walk. Ilfracombe has so much to offer and I do believe that Ilfracombe will once again be a thieving sea-side town sometime in the future. If only I was rich, I would buy a lovely Victorian home there and just sit and wait for the Ilfracombe boom! I do believe the place will be desirable again.
Another thing that INFURIATES me, are the Facebook hate groups who want to tarnish Ilfracombe. An example is a group who want to banish the Victorian parade. What’s wrong with people, do they not want to embrace the era that was great and magical and the era in which Ilfracombe was born and thrived on. Historic knowledge is a valuable thing and it’s needed to appreciate how great England once was. There was no drunk and disorderly behaviour, no drug problems, people were sincere and dressed smartly and held their head up high. What do we have now in Ilfracombe apart from a asbo’s, major drug issues and high unemployment!! If people want to run Ilfracombe down verbally and physically then in my opinion they are not welcome and should ship out and let the place thrives again. I do believe that there are more inhabitants in Ilfracombe who want the old Ilfracombe back, compared to the citizens who are determined to destroy the image of the place. The positive people should stand strong against those and fight for your great Devonshire town as you have a place that’s enviable for many around the UK, so hold your head high. I wish the police and local council would act more, but until then, let the good folk take hold!
Rant over! Keep up the good work!
Miss Lee
Hi Claire,
thanks for your comment and your kind words. What groups are there on facebook? We will have to have a look.
I agree that history is something that should be built on, appreciated, nurtured, preserved for people to learn from.
It is that history that gives Ilfracombe it’s beauty and many people their memories. Best to build on what you have rather than destroy it. That’s how ilfracombe got the loathed Landmark Centre (which I don’t mind) instead of the Ilfracombe Hotel that used to sit on the site (which I remember and loved, it was beautiful).
W.I.I.
£40,000? Are you serious?
The brand guidelines aren’t available through the website, but my only guess is they’re a work of art.
It’s clearly a corporate logo, and Ilfracombe should never be promoted like this. It’s terrible. A total waste of #40,000.