Design Plagiarism in the Presidential Campaign

[sarcasticdesign]

Isn't it funny how the US Presidential Candidate with originality is actually defining a set of graphic standards for both himself and the DNC as well as the RNC? Is it really that difficult to not rip off his look, and do something original?

I know it's only a graphic, but they phoned it in--even the donate today is almost a complete rip of Obama's donate now.

Not to mention co-opting the "change' message, basically plagiarizing their signs. And don't forget the pilfering of songs with no permission on the McCain campaign. Sad. Unoriginal.

Artists who care about their intellectual property for Obama 08!!

[wordmunger]

Well, there's only so much you can do with red, white, and blue....

[sarcasticdesign]

Well, there's only so much you can do with red, white, and blue....

and Gill Sans Bold and a red glass gradient. there's a million ways to handle that type of button and McCain chose to just take Obama's, put a white outline around it, and change "NOW" to "TODAY"

I know there's only so much you can do with Red White & Blue, but I expect MORE from someone who's SUCH A MAVERICK.

[a456]

and Gill Sans Bold and a red glass gradient. there's a million ways to handle that type of button and McCain chose to just take Obama's, put a white outline around it, and change "NOW" to "TODAY"

I know there's only so much you can do with Red White & Blue, but I expect MORE from someone who's SUCH A MAVERICK.

The button looks to me like a lazy piece of design echoing current webtrends - maybe the same design firm did both. Also, in terms of intellectual property, I think that it could be argued that the button design is in such widespread use on the Internet that no-one owns the IP - certainly not the Obama campaign.

[sarcasticdesign]

The button looks to me like a lazy piece of design echoing current webtrends - maybe the same design firm did both. Also, in terms of intellectual property, I think that it could be argued that the button design is in such widespread use on the Internet that no-one owns the IP - certainly not the Obama campaign.

Well, by intellectual property I'm referring more to McCain's blatant disregard for the musicians who's music he's using. This is just another example of his laziness/unoriginality.

As far as web trends, you're absolutely right. But they couldn't have used a different font? they're using Optima for almost everything else. Why switch now? Maybe made the design theme red with a blue button? (as opposed to O's blue with a red button)

Look at the bevels of this too--the shape of the reflection inside of the button is the same (angles downward, goes straight across, angles back upward)

What about trying a different reflection style for the button? Maybe a "wave" design inside of it? How about the fact that "DONATE" is pretty much kerned EXACTLY the same way? (Check the overlay attached)

It's lazy to be sure, and also likely picked from the O site, and effectively traced.


maybe the same design firm did both.

Holy mother of all conflict of interests Batman!!!!

[sarcasticdesign]

Actually, I stand somewhat corrected. It's the GOP's website that is keen on cherrypicking design elements from BO's site.

I've attached a couple more examples.

Granted, these aren't as obvious as the others, but man, gotta love the italicized "the" and "and" and the general font-soup that is all of these designs.

I also think this would bother me less if I could figure out how to a) get the McCain bi-hourly robocalls that happen from 7am until 9pm to stop and b) how to get GOP.COM to actually remove my email from their email list via the unsubscribe. It seems that the more I unsubscribe the more emails I get from the lipsticked pitbull--about 1 every 45 minutes.

[zephyrnoid]

It's good to know I support the ORIGINAL and not the wannabe:D

[Stampyhead]

The RNC still isn't going to hire you to redesign John McCain's website, so stop hinting around about it.

[Antares]

Talk about reading into something that isn't there. You're really reaching for this aren't you? The McCain Campaign and the GOP has been using the Donate Now button for well over a year. I think I even remember that from the Bush Campaign. And that has been a common color scheme. You know, red, white and blue....the colors of the American flag.

You neglect to talk about the Obama Campaign's design arrogence....what with their co-opting the presidential seal to psychologically imply in people that Obama is already president. This only reenforces the arrogant image of that candidate.

And don't get me started on that change message. Both candidates are and have always been about change. The McCain Campaign had to bring the word "change" to the forefront because of the Obama Campaign's false message and smears that McCain would be more of the same. They had to show that this is not true. In the end, with Obama, you get someone who talks about change. With McCain, you get someone who can actually achieve that change.

[WildCowboy]

There is a distinct political bent to the original post and the thread in general. This means that it belongs in the Politics, Religion, Social Issues forum, but the thread starter is not yet eligible to participate there. So we'll move it here for your viewing pleasure instead of deleting it outright. :)