Press Association
Saturday 11th February 2012
The new logo for the 2014 Commonwealth Games resembles a design produced for an arts organisation several years ago, it has emerged.
Brand consultants Marque Creative is behind both symbols, which feature the letter G bound by circular lines.
The Commonwealth Games design was unveiled at Glasgow's Clyde Auditorium earlier this week.
Organisers spent about £95,000 on launching the brand, which will be used to attract sponsorship for the 11-day sporting event taking place in four years' time.
The logo is similar to that produced for The Common Guild, an arts group based in the city. Although grey in colour, unlike the colourful Games design, it uses the same-shaped letter G encircled by curved lines that represent a C and T.
The selection panel were aware of The Common Guild logo before choosing the design by Marque from more than 60 entries.
Organisers said the brand went through "rigorous" testing before it was agreed upon.
But design expert Neil Baxter said he was disappointed a more original design had not been produced.
Mr Baxter, secretary of The Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland, said: "It's colourful, it's lively but it's derivative.
"The skill of the designer is to come up with an innovative and original design to fit the brief and that should not be 'one we made earlier'."
