loweman2 Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 It took 250 hours of hard thinking, through more than 40 sketches, to transform the cuddly old Ram mascot of yesterday in to a snorting, head up, horns-aquivering Ram emblem which leads Derby County in to the new season. Explains director Michael Keeling , who with club secretary Stuart Webb, spearheaded the campaign for a club emblem which projects the 1971 image of an attacking progressive Derby County: "The old Ram was part of the clubs' history. Our problem was how to replace it, and by what?" The Ram incorporated in the arms of the County Borough of Derby and has been used by the club too, from it's earliest days. They have always been nicknamed the Rams. "Clearly", Stuart Webb told us, "we had to go to a local firm to see if they could update the Ram figure for us ." They went to Product Support (Graphics) Ltd , in Slack Lane, whose Commercial Manager Brian Coxon told them : "It's a tough one but we'll tackle it." The firms creative Manager, Jim Lewis, admits that the creator who worked with him on the new Ram, is a L**ds United fan. "But that only made him more determined to conjure up a little fella who would endear himself to all Rams fanatics around him." In the end after more than 40 tries artist Tony Hoyle produced the emblem you see higher up the page ...the emblem which pleased himself, Jim Lewis, Brian Coxon ,Brian Clough, Mr Keeling, Stuart Webb and the Board of Directors. Tony Hoyle ,at work above, outlined his problems, "The Ram as an animal is a curved curly and wooly chap ,apart from the two pronged effect of his horns .This cuddly image is opposite to the character of a Ram which is pugnacious and aggressive." "We decided to use the character for our caricature, rather than project the animal itself. Bit by bit, through those 40 drawings , we changed the Ram in to what we finally produced. We believe the final product exactly typifies the Derby County of Brian Clough." We agree , we think you will too! This article taken from the 'Ram' newspaper issue No1 v Manchester United 14th August 1971 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Srg Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 Good story Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forgot my username again Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 Product Support (Graphics) was part of Rolls Royce - I worked there for six months in 1969 as part of my finance training. I'm sure they had something to do with the design of the Ley Stand as well but that may be my old brain playing tricks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carl Sagan Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 One of the great badges in British football. Brilliant they've removed the circle from around it; can't believe a dirty L**ds fan came up with the design! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Srg Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 It's just fantastic now they're got rid of the text and everything. The minimalist approach is brilliant. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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