Vote For Your Favorite POPS Logo Design

Earlier this year, the city announced an international design competition seeking a new logo for more than 550 POPS—Privately Owned Public Spaces—across New York City. Starting Wednesday, March 20, the public is invited to check out the 607 submissions received and vote for a favorite.

Entries came in from more than 58 countries around the world and vary in design, from simple and minimal to more elaborate and detailed. Some feature the POPS acronym while others fully spell out “Privately Owned Public Spaces.” Popular imagery in the entries include apples, leaves, trees, flowers, benches, pigeons, the NYC skyline, and the Statue of Liberty. Take a look at the logo designs and a description of each at popslogo.nyc.

Voting is open to the public until 12pm, Tuesday, April 2, 2019 (one vote per person). The NYC Department of City Planning (DCP) asks that voters select the logo they feel “best captures the essence” of NYC POPS. “We’re looking for a logo that’s instantly recognizable and clearly identifies these delightful indoor and outdoor spaces as open to the public. POPS are created for the public, so we’re asking you to help us pick a logo,” DCP Chair Marisa Lago said in a release announcing the voting period.

Along with the public vote, a panel of seven judges will select up to three finalists, each of whom will receive $2,000 and be honored at a public event. DCP Chair Lago will pick the winning logo, awarding the designer with an additional $2,000 prize. The new official POPS logo will be displayed at the 550+ POPS locations across NYC along with visitor information including hours of access, required amenities, and how to report complaints.

The winning NYC POPS logo will be announced online on Monday, May 20.

POPS are indoor and outdoor spaces (e.g., street-level plazas, arcades, atriums) next to privately owned office or residential buildings. The spaces are dedicated to public use and are owned and maintained by private property owners. Check out DCP’s interactive map which shows POPS across the city. Brooklyn has eight privately owned public spaces in the Downtown and Fort Greene neighborhoods.

Learn more about the NYC POPS program at the Department of City Planning’s website and visit popslogo.nyc to see the design submissions and vote.