The new Nebraska license plate
I don’t want to complain about the new Nebraska license plate design. I just want to comment.
Here is the new design:
It looks rather pretty in this illustration.
In-person from a normal (non-tailgating) distance away, however, the nice graphics of the western meadowlark and goldenrod (state bird and state flower) devolve into two indistinct yellow blobs. (Or maybe that’s just me. I do need new contact lenses.)
I guess I am a little disappointed by the design concept. The state bird and state flower, which are also endemic to many other middle-western states, doesn’t say a whole lot about Nebraska.
I very much agree with a portion of the rant this blog poster shared.
The State of Nebraska is missing a huge opportunity. The license plate is more than just a functional sheet of metal, it’s a branding opportunity. As the state tries to grow its tourism and change the perception of being a boring piece of flat land, it should think about all its touch points.
Wow. Yeah. Thousands of Nebraska cars will be driving around advertising . . . a bird and (weedy, IMHO) flower that could be found in a bunch of other states.
I posted a picture of a portion of my Nebraska license plate in this blog post. (Which, ironically, feeds the photo of my old Iowa license plate into a Google image search for “Nebraska license plate.”)
It at least has the iconic Oregon Trail covered wagon and the outline of the state and a little Husker font.
Perusing some images of old plates on this website, I think my favorite past Nebraska plate is the one of the sandhill cranes flying over a marsh at sunset.
That design makes me go “ahhhh . . . I’d like to be there.”
True, the sandhill crane also lives in many other states. But the Platte River Basin in Nebraska is the main stopover point on the spring migration route of hundreds of thousands of birds. That’s unique.
In fact, it’s “one of the most amazing wildlife experiences you’ll ever have.”
Yes, the western meadowlark has a beautiful call. But it’s hardly unique enough to draw people to the state.
I agree that tourism dollars should be spent on a professional design the next time Nebraska designs a plate (in six years – ugh!), rather than relying on a public contest in which Nebraska gets pwned and once again portrayed as a bumbling backwater. (FYE For Your Entertainment)
Happy trails to you, and may you give that Nebraska vehicle in front of you a following distance that devolves the license plate design into two indistinct yellow blobs.
Copyright 2010 by Katie Bradshaw
It’s better than the plates for pickups – they are white and say “Commercial Truck”. Like my Tacoma is a “commercial truck”….
Another idea for the plates would be something red that says “Huskers” since we don’t get to see much of that elsewhere. :-O
Now I can see more clearly what folks are talking about!
I have to disagree on just one point. In my experience, the meadowlark and goldenrod look like two very indistinct yellow blobs even from a tailgating distance…a close one at that. At a red light, I found myself inching closer and closer to try and determine what the yellow blobs were.
Aaah! See? Now the Nebraska license plates are a traffic hazard. They ENCOURAGE people to tailgate!
License plates should be like they are in California, Virginia and Massachusetts. Plain and simple, no web URL or to much graphic. If someone want more graphic they can buy a specialty plate. The plates are not suppose to be a billboard for the states web page. There is also no need in changing the plates so frequently.