The Battle Over the Pollença Logo

A fresh debate has ignited in Pollença as the local association “La Nostra Llengua” calls for a significant redesign of the town’s official logo. The emblem, a familiar sight for decades, is now at the center of a discussion regarding identity, linguistics, and the town’s cultural heritage.

A Designer’s Legacy and Political Symbolism

The current logo was created in 1989 by London-based graphic designer Simon Smith. For over thirty years, it has stood as the official face of the townhall, featuring the characteristic highlighting of the letter “ç”.

However, “La Nostra Llengua” argues that this design choice carries unintended political weight. According to the association, the focus on the “ç” is seen as a gesture toward “foreigner Catalans” rather than a reflection of the local community. They are proposing a shift in focus: moving the highlight from the “ç” to the “e”.

The reasoning is rooted in phonetics. The association claims that highlighting the “E” would better represent the unique, local pronunciation used by Pollensins when they speak the name of their town.

A History of Resistance

This is not the first time the logo has been under fire. Since its inception, it has weathered numerous protests and critiques. One of its most notable detractors was the late writer Martí Colom, who in 2006 famously described the logo as a “symbol of parochial fear.” Colom viewed the design as a “fearful blotch” that failed to capture the true strength and resilience of the Pollensin character.

Despite such high-profile opposition, the logo has remained remarkably resilient, becoming deeply entrenched as a primary symbol of the town’s brand.

The Townhall Reflects

What makes this new protest different is the reaction from local authorities. This “fresh perspective” has prompted the townhall to enter a period of reflection regarding its own identity politics.

As Pollença continues to grow as a hub for both the local population and the international expat community, the question of how the town represents itself—and which linguistic nuances it chooses to celebrate—has never been more relevant. For now, the “ç” remains, but the conversation sparked by “La Nostra Llengua” suggests that Pollença’s visual identity may yet evolve to reflect the “E” of its people.