Who Designs These Things, Anyway?
In the land of the automobile, there are many differing ways in which our beloved vehicles sometimes stand out from one another. Of course, there are the fanatic bumper sticker stickers who blatantly show their cause and opinion on everything and also those who repaint or glue "things" on their auto - everything from army men and plastic flowers to mirrors and marble tile. There is one standard location on our mode of transport where the same item must be placed - the license plate. But, just who designs these things?
I know that we have certain, limited options in which we can "design" our own license plate number, and many states have a multitude of vanity options. I also suppose that the old story of convicts in prison who hammer-out the final products is no longer true, but, who designs the actual concept, message, and the look-and-feel of those things?
After poking around the internet, I found the obvious answer which is that individual states are responsible for designing and creating the standard, 6 X 12 inch plate. Some states contract design firms or other artists to present them with options from which to choose. Others just let the companies that make license plate sheeting, like 3M, do it. Whatever the case, I think there is an opportunity for some beautiful and dynamic license plate design out there - just as we see in U.S. Postage stamps, for example. I know that the Postal Service has quite a process and procedure for stamp design, and we all know that Michael Osborne has designed quite a few. Unfortunately, there is not a U.S. License Plate Service and I don't think the DMV could handle it - at least from what I see in California.
I also found an interesting article on the "best and worst of license plate design" on the Web by Mark Roth, of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The P-G gathered some graphic designers and art educators together to choose the best and worst of license plate design in the U.S. The best and worst plates, according to their votes, are Colorado and Kentucky, respectively. (You must go to this article to see the others on their list, like Illinois and Texas - UGH!)
I see a big campaign brewing here consisting of a national Call for Entries for state license plate design. It is a tall order, but I think we, as designers, could spruce up our vehicles a bit with some good public art and further the importance of design in our communities. Maybe this effort would stop some folks from defacing their cars who place "Dog is my Copilot" bumper stickers on them. I doubt it, but you never know.
Holy Toledo. That's pretty tacky! Glad I'm not a Kentucky Resident.
As someone who was born and grew up in Illinois, I must agree that we have a very ugly license plate. My family took lots of road trips across the country as a kid, and I always thought there were so many more interesting license plates out there and that Illinois was so lame.
By the way, the new Illinois license plate they judge is bad, but the one I am referring to in my above comment is the one from the 80s:
http://www.lazersmach.com/about_lazers_files/plate_best2.jpg
So boring, but in a bad, 80s way, not a clean and easy to read way like Vermont.
I live in Lexington KY - fortunately I have a truck and so never had to have the smiley face license plate - but just wanted to mention that many, many people hated this and it has been replaced.
Regarding calls for entries: Michigan recently had such a contest for new license plates, open to anyone who cared to submit a design. I, like many others -- I forget the exact number -- offered our designs.
Those who were in charge of making a selection decided to then hire a designer who, according to the "Thank You for Submitting" letter, then incorporated elements common to the entries.
I didn't go into the competition expecting to win, or preparing to have a hissy-fit if someone else's design was selected. I was disappointed that, in essence, no one's design was selected.
Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.
I personally like the Kentucky license plate.