Why do disc golf company use ugly, boring, or generic stamps?

[theabacus]

Disc golf discs can be beautiful in flight and in form. Under the form category, there are two distinct categories: plastic and stamp. Traditionally, low-end plastic is less aesthetically pleasing. I imagine that the premium plastic with unique patterns and effects (transparent, color-shift, sparkle, etc) are more expensive to produce. However, I would assume that more complex stamps do not cost more to produce than less complex stamps. For example, Innova’s dx budget line has far more complex stamps (images of animals or characters) than it’s premium star line.

Innova is a prime example of unmemorable stamps. Their pro, r-pro, champion, blizzard, and star lines all use very similar, type-based stamps. They do produce stock discs with beautiful stamps such as the Condor and Zephyr. Frequently the proshop produces champion discs with DX-style stamps or specialty stamps. Recently, they produce several runs of totem stamp Teebirds. Would it really cost more to produce all Teebirds with totem stamps?

On the flip side (pun intended), are Latitude 64 and Westside. Latitude 64 has unique, memorable stamps for their durability line leveraging intricate line art and typography. They have a number of unique designs including the vision, trident, XXX, pain, river, and flow. Some of their designs definitely fall short (generic) such as sinus, spike, primitus, and mirus. Their premium gold line stamp is generic, however, the plastic is so beautiful, a stamp almost seems degrading. Each of Westside’s discs are linked to a character or object in the Finnish epic tale “Kalevala.” Each character is quite intricate and elegant. The other major disc manufactures fall in between Innova and Latitude 64.

I believe that the average consumer would choose a unique, memorable stamp design over a generic stamp design. If a well-designed stamp costs the same to produce (minus the minimal designer cost), why do some discs have poor stamp designs? Wouldn’t the additional cost of a graphic designer be overall worth it? Do complex stamps cost more to reproduce? Are you more likely to purchase a disc if it has a stamp you enjoy? Does this really boil down to marketing department that prefers ubiquitous designs (for brand consistency) to unique designs?

I recognize that stamp designs and aesthetics in general are subject. However, I see threads on beautiful Latitude and Innova CE discs, but not threads on recent beautiful Innova or Discraft stamps. I believe there are old school stamp threads, but they tended to be more unique in my experience and are no longer produced.

[Allurex]

Sometimes a simple look is better.

There's something to be said for complex, artistically appreciable stamps like on Innova DX Discs and many discs of other companies; but I prefer a simple, minimal style.

[BigSky]

To each his own my friend. One of the greatest things about DG is that the discs are like an artist's canvas. The variety of stamps to be made is never ending.

[smarkquart]

I think for the most part you hit it with your comment about latitude. I would rather see a beautiful disc in its full glory than have it covered by a stamp. Plus, what if I want to dye it? Heavily stamped discs even after being acetone are not as easy to dye as a cleaner disc. I know that is not the top priority of a disc manufacturer to think about dyers, but at the same time you really have to pull some strings to get a manufacturer to send you blank discs.

In the end I bet you will find that more people who purchase high end plastics are willing to settle for a bland disc than to purchase one with a design they do not want. There is not going to be a single design that pleases everything, so it is a matter of maximizing profits by upsetting the least amount of people. I have purposely steered clear of Discmania's monster line stamps because I think they are horrendous. I even passed on some beautiful black Icon Ghosts because of the Halloween stamp. I prefer the small classic looking shield of Latitude and Discmania. I know not everyone agrees that it is a great stamp, but how many people have refused to buy a disc because of that classic design? I have seen plenty of people in my shop pass on discs because they look too grotesque or evil.

Obviously on DX, because of the low cost involved they can gamble more on stamps. If anything, in that case it may drive up sales because for the most part those who spend the most money on discs would already be looking at the higher end plastics. There is a lower risk to a higher reward there where conversely the manufacturing cost of the higher end plastics make it a higher risk sale.

In the end it is the matter of simpler pleases (or scares away less) people, much like how a simple black dress on a woman will never go out of style and can be perfect for almost any occasion.

[theabacus]

Just some clarification. I'm not implying that complex is better. I would say that a simple, unique design could be done on mold. I just find the Champion, Pro, Star, Z, and ESP molds to very repetitive and boring.

[Stankyjahnke]

That's why they put out the crazy tie dyes to grab your eyes

[Jax11]

I agree well thought out stamps are nice, but at the same time, from an advertising stand point, their stamps almost become a logo or a brand name. You see a way a stamp is laid out even with different type characters and the style is instantly recognizable with the brand or manufacturer its tied to.

If you add complexity the simple recognizable shapes and styles don't carry the same weight.

[Qbert]

Ugly, boring, or generic are all subjective. Some like more detailed stamps, some like very minimal stamps. Each would regard the other's preference as ugly, generic, etc... Ultimately I think people are more worried about the performance they get out of their discs rather than the asthetics. If you don't like the stamp, like has already been stated you can always dye the disc.

[BZoods]

I'd rather have no stamp on Innova or Discraft than their stock stamps (which is why almost all of the Innova/Discraft in my bag is wiped clean).

[kaiser flippin]

More complex and artistic design = More reasons a person may not like it.
It's fairly simple marketing really, keep it simple, just throw that star symbol on there with the block letters. Might as well be the Nike swoosh.

That said, special edition discs would be really cool, and would drive all the collectors crazy.