Is GAP Gaffe Just a Hoax?

Is this newly launched then rejected logo for apparel merchant for real, or a hoax? Not that the current Gap logo is a thing of beauty, but why would a company that says it offers
iconic American style to customers of all ages come out with a new logo that looks like any sixth grader could design on a PC? True, Gap Inc.’s
Old Navy brand just redesigned stores and had a minor facelift of its own. But that logo at least looks like it was seen by a focus group.

It looks like Gap was looking to get customer input and came up with this Helvetica Hell as a hoax. Either that, or anyone with a computer is now allowed to post to The Huffington Post (Come on, Gap president Marka Hansen has posted twice: Once to announce it’s opening up dialog, and once to announce the old logo is staying!). It did do a nice job handling the “crisis” on Facebook… keep in mind I put crisis in quotes because I think this whole thing was set up.

And based on the response on Facebook, Gap proved it can listen to its customers… even if it already knows how it’s going to react. Too bad Gap Inc. didn’t try this stunt with Old Navy, because I could claim the merchant tried to pull the performance fleece over the public’s eyes.

Then again, I am probably wrong… Gap Inc. actually registered the logo with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.