Bengaluru Designer Criticizes GBA Logo Contest Over Lack of Transparency

Bengaluru's New Civic Body Logo Contest Sparks Debate on Transparency

The transition of Bengaluru's civic body from theBruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) has led to a surge in public participation, with citizens invited to submit logo designs for the newly formed entity. However, the contest has sparked controversy after a UX designer's experience went viral, highlighting the need for greater transparency in public design competitions.

Shardul, a UX designer, took to the social media platform X to share his experience after participating in the GBA logo contest. According to Shardul, his team made it to the final stages of the competition but was ultimately not selected. Shardul's team had developed a comprehensive visual identity system that reflected Bengaluru's evolving character as a modern metropolis.

The team's design concept, which Shardul shared online, aimed to portray Bengaluru as a "blooming metropolis." Each zone of the city was given a distinct identity through a combination of symbols, cultural elements, and Kannada letterforms. For instance, the north was represented by an elephant symbolising strength and entry points, the east by lakes and sunrise reflecting technology and renewal, the south by a tiger highlighting heritage, the central zone by Vidhana Soudha to denote governance, and the west by temple gopuras representing industry and structure.

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Shardul expressed his disappointment with the lack of transparency in the design process, arguing that such competitions should not turn into large-scale speculative work without clarity. He wrote, "Design contests shouldn't be about unpaid spec work with no transparency." Despite not being selected, Shardul remains proud of what his team created and plans to share more details about the concept.

The post resonated with many online, with several users praising the depth and thought behind Shardul's design. Others suggested that institutions often hesitate to adopt unconventional or bold ideas, instead opting for safer, more traditional designs.