Spoilers Ah, the NEW uniforms...!

[Ryan Thomas Riddle]

Besides the ranks being so damn hard to read, what really gets me about this badges is that the delta (or Flying A as Roddenberry called it) is barely visible.

How can you design a badge that obscures the franchise's iconic emblem?

 

[CorporalClegg]

Besides the ranks being so damn hard to read, what really gets me about this badges is that the delta (or Flying A as Roddenberry called it) is barely visible.

How can you design a badge that obscures the franchise's iconic emblem?

Yes!

It's hard to make out the outline even in high-res photos. I can't imagine it's much better in person -- especially from anything more than a few feet away. From an in-universe standpoints, it's really impractical.

Emblems and insignia (especially military emblems and insignia) need to be instantly identifiable.

 

[Nerys Myk]

Most likely. I think not changing the uniforms and not changing the intro too much were their ways of letting the audience know, "This is still the same show! It's the third season of Discovery, not the first season of Discovery II. The Next Generation"

FTFY

 

[XCV330]

Since the cast hasn't changed much, and those Disco uniforms are expensive (plus Gersha Phillips has been extremely busy this year) I could see why they'd want to get another year out of the blue costumes if they can. Thinking back on TNG, they managed to still get a little use out of those season 1-2 uniforms in the background, where they could.

As far as the new badges: I don't think they must have screen tested them adequately. They just don't look good on screen as you can't see any detail. It just looks like they have some old antique store beetle brooch on their uniforms for no reason. They'll need to fix that. There have been other problems in the past like sleeve stripes issues with Pike's Enterprise crew uniforms. They'll sort it out.

 

[ITDUDE]

Besides the ranks being so damn hard to read, what really gets me about this badges is that the delta (or Flying A as Roddenberry called it) is barely visible.

How can you design a badge that obscures the franchise's iconic emblem?

$$
It’s always about the $$
First they sell you “new” badge. Then they’ll sell you “new and improved” badge.
Remember all those 32nd century personal transporters are still funded by good old hard earned 21st century Ca$h

 

[Lord Garth]

Aside from the cost issue or showing this is still the same series, it could be symbolic. With the old uniforms, Discovery is still adjusting to being part of the new Starfleet. With the new uniforms, it'll symbolize that adjustment is over.

That's my unbiased take. My biased take is that the gray uniforms look horrible on Discovery's bronze-colored bridge. It's a visual mismatch.

The color-scheme of Discovery's bridge reminds me of the Enterprise-E and it has the added bonus of tonally fitting this crew a lot better than it did the TNG crew. So I wouldn't want to lose that.

 

[Dukhat]

weren’t they just building a new Constitution a couple of episodes ago?

I didn’t see any ships under construction. And the ships I did see were the same ships that were destroyed in the Burn in the flashback from 140 years before. So not only do I not think that Starfleet has built any new ships in 140 years, but that the ships they do have are at least that old if not older. If the Enterprise-L was destroyed in the Burn, the Enterprise-M with a spore drive will probably be the first new ship they build.

 

[Blue Squadron]

Yes, there’s definitely a specific palette that goes with the original look of the Discovery sets and the darker blue uniforms. Similarly, there’s a really specific (and very different) palette for the much brighter sets of 3189 SF HQ and the lighter grey uniforms.

Gersha Phillips has made a point of describing how she works with the production design team to create a coordinated look and feel for sets and wardrobe. They’re obviously not quite ready to move away from the original visual style they established for the Discovery and her crew. I’m sure it will have occurred to them though. It’ll happen when they’re good and ready.

 

[Blue Squadron]

I didn’t see any ships under construction. And the ships I did see were the same ships that were destroyed in the Burn in the flashback from 140 years before. So not only do I not think that Starfleet has built any new ships in 140 years, but that the ships they do have are at least that old if not older. If the Enterprise-L was destroyed in the Burn, the Enterprise-M with a spore drive will probably be the first new ship they build.

That seems reasonable. If everything suddenly went pear-shaped, building new ships is a time-consuming and energy-intensive process and they probably had little of either. Based on Vance’s comments so far, I can well imagine that they would be doing as much as possible to maintain the capital ships they had, salvaging what they could and cannibalising when they had to. If there are any new ships being built at all, perhaps they are more likely to go with having a greater number of smaller and lighter ships (if they can even manage that). Which makes deep-space FTL capital ships a very precious resource and would somewhat elevate the status of their captains and crews too!

Reverse engineering Discovery and either building more, or at least developing a new class based around her tech, would seem like it should be something of a priority for them — as long as the continuous firefighting isn’t so bad that they can’t spare the resources!

 

[Agony_Boothb]

Yes, there’s definitely a specific palette that goes with the original look of the Discovery sets and the darker blue uniforms. Similarly, there’s a really specific (and very different) palette for the much brighter sets of 3189 SF HQ and the lighter grey uniforms.

Gersha Phillips has made a point of describing how she works with the production design team to create a coordinated look and feel for sets and wardrobe. They’re obviously not quite ready to move away from the original visual style they established for the Discovery and her crew. I’m sure it will have occurred to them though. It’ll happen when they’re good and ready.

I think the uniforms are being used to symbolically represent the alienation the Discovery crew feel regarding being thrust into a new century and becoming part of a starfleet they don't quite relate to. There is also element of holding onto the past, which Saru has actually addressed directly by explaining his rationale for making Burnham first officer. I also think there are subtle hints that 32nd century starfleet haven't accepted the Discovery crew yet, there is a wariness and scepticism.

The crew will be in the 32nd century uniforms by the end of the season and it will be symbolic of the rebuilding of the federation and the acceptance of the discovery crew by starfleet.

 

[Agony_Boothb]

I didn’t see any ships under construction. And the ships I did see were the same ships that were destroyed in the Burn in the flashback from 140 years before. So not only do I not think that Starfleet has built any new ships in 140 years, but that the ships they do have are at least that old if not older.

I think another hint towards this is the repeated statements about the boldness of the emerald chain, there unwillingness to negotiate and their implied encroachments on federation territory. I think The chain know starfleet are severely limited in terms of ships and that they probably can't go toe to toe with the chain if the cold conflict suddenly went hot.

 

[XCV330]

I think the uniforms are being used to symbolically represent the alienation the Discovery crew feel regarding being thrust into a new century and becoming part of a starfleet they don't quite relate to. There is also element of holding onto the past, which Saru has actually addressed directly by explaining his rationale for making Burnham first officer. I also think there are subtle hints that 32nd century starfleet haven't accepted the Discovery crew yet, there is a wariness and scepticism.

The crew will be in the 32nd century uniforms by the end of the season and it will be symbolic of the rebuilding of the federation and the acceptance of the discovery crew by starfleet.

last few minutes of final episode

Commander and Chief Admiral and Grand Poobah Vance: "Over the last few months your crew has inspired us, worked with us, and become part of our family. Captain Saru, we've been wearing these cumbersome uniforms to appease your 23rd century cultural mores. Now, we would like you all to be one of us. Everyone, please change to your Starfleet codpieces. " (cue the Courage theme)

 

[Agony_Boothb]

last few minutes of final episode

Commander and Chief Admiral and Grand Poobah Vance: "Over the last few months your crew has inspired us, worked with us, and become part of our family. Captain Saru, we've been wearing these cumbersome uniforms to appease your 23rd century cultural mores. Now, we would like you all to be one of us. Everyone, please change to your Starfleet codpieces. " (cue the Courage theme)

Gene roddenberry's spirit smiles benevolently down on the nude starfleet officers from his floating space urn. His REAL vision having finally come to pass.

 

[TimeIsAPredator]

last few minutes of final episode

Commander and Chief Admiral and Grand Poobah Vance: "Over the last few months your crew has inspired us, worked with us, and become part of our family. Captain Saru, we've been wearing these cumbersome uniforms to appease your 23rd century cultural mores. Now, we would like you all to be one of us. Everyone, please change to your Starfleet codpieces. " (cue the Courage theme)

New red shirt outfit

 

[Blue Squadron]

Starfleet codpieces...!!!


Oh how my brain hurts...!

It makes the TNG male skant seem entirely benign and uncontroversial by comparison!

Now I understand the new elliptical badge:
no pointy edges!!

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Starfleet codpieces will be made of actual cod.

 

[TimeIsAPredator]

Starfleet codpieces will be made of actual cod.

Programmable cod

 

[137th Gebirg]

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

Aside from the cost issue or showing this is still the same series, it could be symbolic. With the old uniforms, Discovery is still adjusting to being part of the new Starfleet. With the new uniforms, it'll symbolize that adjustment is over.

That's my unbiased take. My biased take is that the gray uniforms look horrible on Discovery's bronze-colored bridge. It's a visual mismatch.

The color-scheme of Discovery's bridge reminds me of the Enterprise-E and it has the added bonus of tonally fitting this crew a lot better than it did the TNG crew. So I wouldn't want to lose that.

They could get a different bridge color, but it does mean changing the bulbs

 

[fireproof78]

They could get a different bridge color, but it does mean changing the bulbs

Well, the amount of paperwork to change bulbs these days is horrendous.