New Tennessee website launches featuring state's $46,000 logo

New TN.gov website

NASHVILLE -- Tennessee government's revamped website is up and running and, yes, the site features the state's controversial new TN logo.

The improved website was launched Saturday morning after a glitch delayed the roll out two weeks earlier.

The logo is a modest presence in the upper left hand portion of the tn.gov webpage. Beside it are the words "Tennessee State Government."

Gov. Bill Haslam said in a statement that "TN.gov is an important resource for Tennesseans and, for a lot of people, the main way they interact with state government. We are always working to serve Tennessee taxpayers more efficiently and effectively by making that experience as customer-focused as possible."

Critics have assailed the $46,000 logo for weeks, which features the letters TN in white on a field of red with a navy blue border at the bottom. It resembles in some respects Tennessee's state flag.

Among other things, critics have called the emblem too simplistic, questioned the cost and bemoaned the fact that it doesn't feature the state flag's familiar "Tri-Stars," which are three stars in a blue circle that represent Tennessee's three grand divisions.

Gov. Bill Haslam and administration officials have defended the design, saying they couldn't trademark the "Tri-Stars." The governor has also pointed out the logo doesn't replace either the state flag or the state's official seal.

Another flap has been over the new logo replacing an estimated dozens of logos developed over the years by various state departments and agencies. Haslam has defended the move, saying the one standards logo will provide a consistent brand and save costs with departments no longer developing new logos every few years.

Visitors to individual agencies such as the Department of Transportation and the Department of Safety and Homeland Security now see the TN logo instead of the departments' customary logos.

Last week, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office rejected the administration's application for a trademark on the new emblem. Administration officials say they plan to appeal the decision.

The administration says a key element of the redesign is the implementation of a content management system (CMS). The CMS provides a consistent look throughout the site, while allowing state agencies to develop and update their own information and to cross reference other departments. That allows users to navigate the site more easily.