Zoinks!!

Ok so I admit I have been slacking on blogging regularly. I feel like I go in major spurts! Then again I have also not been all that visually inspired by recent brands! So maybe it isnt just me and it is more that companies have gone on a slight re-brand hiatus? Anywho…here is what we have missed since last time!

Proctor and Gamble got a slight face-lift and have complicated their minimalist ID! Not that it was a change for the worse, but I also dont think that it was necessary! P&G is one of the largest consumer product distribution company and has been a household name for over 100 years! Well you be the judge on this one. I just dont feel like it was a needed addition to their identity! The only positive about it is that the mark works great within their new marketing campaign. Clearly the mark has inspired some new stuff for P&G, but there is still a major disconnect between the two!

I have always been a fan of wordmarks. So going with that theme like the P&G brand, Instagram has recently made some slight modifications to their identity. You probably didn’t even notice, but I think they are moving in a good direction. They have actually put some time into converting their generic script typface to something that is actually just for Instagram! They have been around for about 3 years now and are just now taking ownership of their brand! Have a look! You can see that they have cleaned things up a bit and connected the letters in a true script fashion. They have modified the “I” slightly and converted the “s” to an actual script “s”. All in all I like it! Well done Instagram! Well done indeed!

Continuing with the ever expanding and time swallowing world of social media, look out because Facebook has released a new mark. Let me tell you they went radical with this one! Note the tone of sarcasm that should be read in that! just a few simple modifications to finally simplify their identity to just an “f” on a blue box. Their logo has been changing consistently with the many changes that have taken place with the social network giant. Removing gradients and shadows and all depth to the basic vector image seems to be the exact opposite of what is actually happening at Facebook. As the site gets more and more complex and the mobile app changes almost daily the mark has moved to its most basic form.  Oh and take note of the Brand Guidelines that they have also released!

So there you have it. Three major companies and their updates. 

So I love when I tell people that I am a graphic designer they kind of shrug their shoulders and say “oh cool” Thinking to themselves yah I have Photoshop on my computer I could be a graphic designer too. Well here is what I just spent all day working on. If you think being a graphic designer is all fun and easy try to recreate this mess!

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With it being award season and all, it only makes sense that one of the most iconic music magazines would step up their game. We also have a little convenience coming your way with one of our favorite Slurpee dispensing convenient store rebranding in Sweden.

Ok so Billboard has been around for much longer than I have been alive. It has established itself as the industry standard for charts and even has their own awards show for musicians. First published in 1894 the weekly magazine has since converted to entirely just a music publication (1961).  Not that their new image is all that much different, but it does stand out as a bit more “bold” of a look. Yes I’m ridiculous I know! Though you cannot read a physical magazine the new mark definitely works well on the web!

You will not be seeing the next brand update, unless you will be visiting Sweden some time soon. 7-Eleven has rolled out a new look that will be featured on coffee cups, sugar packages, and bags, but only in the first European country to have a 7-Eleven. The new look definitely takes me back to my childhood when seeing the 7-Eleven signs with a retro-chic look. Though it is being called a blast from the past look it is strangely modern in appearance. Have a look for yourself!

I cant say that I’m a huge fan of the look as it is very challenging to actually see the 7 inside all of the lines, but I do greatly appreciate the design for being a totally different look yet strangely similar!