{"id":6058,"date":"2015-06-09T08:00:50","date_gmt":"2015-06-09T12:00:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.companyfolders.com\/blog\/?p=6058"},"modified":"2024-07-02T09:50:37","modified_gmt":"2024-07-02T13:50:37","slug":"best-worst-logo-redesigns-ever","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.companyfolders.com\/blog\/best-worst-logo-redesigns-ever","title":{"rendered":"The 10 Best (and Absolute Worst) Logo Redesigns"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Top<\/p>\n

When big name brands redesign their logos, the world takes notice because it means that something about our shared culture has changed\u2014it reminds us that the world is changing around us. That can be a scary thing for people, so when popular brands successfully create a great new logo<\/a>, we sit up and take notice \u2026 and when they fail, we notice it even more.<\/p>\n

We rounded up examples of the worst logo redesign failures and the best \u201cwins\u201d from the last couple years to show you the how to handle a logo redesign project with grace and skill (or, alternatively, how to completely run it into the ground).<\/p>\n

10 Worst Logo Redesign FAILS<\/h2>\n
\n

Giving a logo a makeover can go horribly wrong in any number of ways. Here are some recent ill-advised redesign disasters that totally missed the mark.<\/p>\n

DeviantArt<\/h5>\n

\"DeviantArt<\/p>\n

If you’re going to change your logo and your target demographic is one of the largest online communities of designers and artists, you better be prepared to bring your \u201cA\u201d game.<\/p>\n

The new DeviantArt logo does bring an \u201cA\u201d to the game, but the \u201cD\u201d is kind of hard to see, which has been a point of contention with the design community. Many users claim they can\u2019t even see the \u201cD\u201d<\/a>.<\/p>\n

But the worst offense is that the new DeviantArt logo looks strikingly similar to the logo for Russian design studio platzkart.ru<\/a>. Whether they plagiarized the logo or not is up to you to decide. Either way, it\u2019s clear that the concept looks much better suited to platzkart.ru than DeviantArt.<\/p>\n

Reebok<\/h5>\n

\"Reebok<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not like the old Reebok logo was all that special\u2014it always sort of looked like a weird combination of the Nike Swoosh and the three lines in the Adidas logo. So it makes sense that Reebok would want to redesign their logo to stand out from the competition.<\/p>\n

But instead, they swapped out one generic-looking logo for another. The new Reebok logo would look more at home on a bank teller\u2019s polo shirt than it does on a pair of tennis shoes. Somewhere along the way, Reebok forgot to ask themselves one crucial question: \u201cWould anybody actually want to wear this on a t-shirt?\u201d<\/p>\n

The answers is a resounding, \u201cEh, not really.\u201d<\/p>\n

Black and Decker<\/h5>\n

\"Black<\/p>\n

That old familiar Black and Decker \u201cbolt\u201d logo has been with the company for decades and has always been a symbol of the brand\u2019s dedication to quality\u2014appearing on all of their power tools as a sort of stamp of approval. That is, until recently, when the business decided to modernize and threw out the baby with the bathwater.<\/p>\n

It makes sense why Black and Decker would want to upgrade, now that the company is known for home and kitchen appliances in addition to power tools. But the new look is so generic that if you didn\u2019t already know the company by name, you\u2019d never know what they actually make or why you should care.<\/p>\n

Not to mention trading in the ampersand for a plus sign is a bit awkward\u2014it makes you want to read it as \u201cBlack plus Decker.\u201d<\/p>\n

JCPenney<\/h5>\n

\"JCPenney<\/p>\n

Back in 2012 (under the helm of CEO Ron Johnson), JCPenney’s logo was changed to a simplified square design that rebranded the company as \u201cjcp.\u201d The response was lackluster, so when Johnson stepped down as CEO, the unsuccessful logo was redesigned once again and the name was once again changed back to JCPenney.<\/p>\n

The old-new logo wasn\u2019t all that bad\u2014a bold change, but a bit refreshing. And this new-old logo does a good enough job of bringing the company\u2019s established identity into the modern age. The problem here is the constant flip-flopping between different logos. The confusion left in the aftermath<\/a> has damaged the brand\u2019s identity, and it couldn\u2019t have been cheap to rebrand so many times over such a short period.<\/p>\n

AirBnB<\/h5>\n

\"AirBnB<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t worry if your initial reaction to this logo redesign for AirBnB was to giggle like a 13-year-old boy who just discovered he could write dirty words on a calculator. It doesn\u2019t matter who you are, what your background is or where you come from, we can all agree on one thing\u2014the new logo for AirBnB looks kinda dirty.<\/p>\n

We don\u2019t want to be rude, but if you look at it a certain way, it looks like a such-and-such. Look at it a different way, and it resembles a pair of you-knows-whats. To make matters worse, the logo actually has a name and origin story. It\u2019s called the \u201cB\u00e9lo\u201d and it\u2019s supposed to represent \u201cthe universal symbol of belonging.\u201d<\/p>\n

To us, this sounds like a coded message that says, \u201cWe wanted our logo to be provocative so that everyone will talk about it.\u201d Well, mission accomplished. But when people stop talking about it (and they will stop talking about it), then AirBnB is going to be stuck with a logo that looks like a\u2014you know.<\/p>\n

WWE<\/h5>\n

\"WWE<\/p>\n

The old, messy, scribbled logo has put in a lot of years at the helm of the WWE brand, so it was about time to put it into retirement. However, the updated look takes away the raw, rebellious energy that the old logo carried for something a bit more sleek and corporate\u2014and a lot less fun.<\/p>\n

What we really hate about this awful logo is that it looks so dated. The polished chrome look is so last decade that it\u2019s more of a lateral move than an actual evolution of the brand.<\/p>\n

Monster<\/h5>\n

\"Monster<\/p>\n

When you think of Monster, you think of resumes, jobs, employment\u2014or at the very least, from the name, you might think of an actual monster or creature of some kind. Is there any person out there who thinks \u201cwaving flag\u201d when they think of Monster?<\/p>\n

In a world of flat logo design, the new Monster logo is anything but. It\u2019s practically unprintable and while it\u2019s supposed to imply motion, it just looks kind of melted and warped.<\/p>\n

There is an animated version<\/a> of the logo, but if you\u2019re not viewing it in motion, then you\u2019re only viewing a single frame. There\u2019s not even any consistency regarding which frame you\u2019re going to be viewing, so there are multiple versions of this inferior logo floating around\u2014and each one of them looks like a weird, distorted, crumpled piece of paper.<\/p>\n

Oxford Dictionary<\/h5>\n

\"Oxford<\/p>\n

In an effort to be hip and modern, the Oxford Dictionary completely destroyed all of their credibility and prestige with this updated logo that completely misses the mark. Our main issue with the redesign is that it looks like a mix between the Beats by Dre and Target logos, with Twitter\u2019s color branding thrown in for good measure.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s one thing to shamelessly pander to a younger demographic (and let\u2019s be frank, targeting the youth market can only go so far for a dictionary company). But if you\u2019re going to go for the younger audience, at least give them something new. Don\u2019t just try to repackage the brands they\u2019re already into.<\/p>\n

Yahoo!<\/h5>\n

\"Yahoo!<\/p>\n

When Marissa Mayer took over as the new CEO of Yahoo, she made a big stink over changing the logo\u2014going as far as to unveil 30 different logo designs over the course of 30 days, with the final design being released on the last day.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, the hype train crashed as soon it pulled into the station and the logo was met with yawns from the design community, who liked some of the scrapped logo designs better. Even worse, Mayer incised the design community even further by making a big deal about how the logo was put together in-house over the course of a weekend.<\/p>\n

It shows. While the new logo isn\u2019t terrible, it isn\u2019t very exciting either\u2014definitely not worth the hype it was given.<\/p>\n

Cleveland Browns<\/h5>\n

\"Cleveland<\/p>\n

The Cleveland Browns recently changed their logo design to\u2014basically the exact same logo design, just a little more orange. We get the need to upgrade your brand colors, but the Browns missed a perfect opportunity to create a more exciting logo than the one they had before.<\/p>\n

The team is represented by an orange football helmet\u2014it is quite possibly the most boring logo design in the entire NFL, maybe even all of professional sports. Instead of injecting new life into the franchise, the team\u2019s owners decided to go from an orange football helmet to a different colored orange football helmet.<\/p>\n

Want to make sure your logo redesign doesn’t end up on this list of all-time worsts? Use our logo design services<\/a> to make sure your new logo is a crowd pleaser, like the ones below.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

10 Best Logo Redesign WINS<\/h2>\n
\n

Now that you’ve seen what not<\/em> to do when redesigning a logo, here are some famous companies that got it right.<\/p>\n

Netflix<\/h5>\n

\"Netflix<\/p>\n

Remember when Netflix used to be primarily a mail subscription service? Those seem like such antiquated times now that Netflix is the reigning king of streaming media technology and original content. And so, a logo update was long overdue to match the company\u2019s new high-tech direction.<\/p>\n

The old drop shadow design evoked the feeling of movie theaters and was designed to pop out at the audience when placed over Netflix\u2019s signature red envelopes. The new logo flattens things out and brings the red color branding to the forefront, injecting new life into the brand\u2019s identity.<\/p>\n

Pizza Hut<\/h5>\n

\"Pizza<\/p>\n

What makes the new Pizza Hut logo work is that it holds onto the past while still keeping with modern design trends. Pizza Hut has always been known for its signature slanted roof (both on their buildings and in their logo design), so it was a smart idea to hang onto that identity for this redesign.<\/p>\n

It was also smart to cut down on the amount of colors while keeping the emphasis on red to evoke feelings of hunger<\/a>. The logo maintains the flat design look that\u2019s all the rage these days while still being fun and playful.<\/p>\n

Olive Garden<\/h5>\n

\"Olive<\/p>\n

The new Olive Garden logo is a bit controversial, with some camps hating it and others loving it. But we think it\u2019s a good move for the brand for one big reason\u2014their old logo wasn\u2019t much of a logo at all. It was more of an elaborate outdoor sign that somehow became the restaurant chain\u2019s go-to marketing image.<\/p>\n

The new logo might have gotten off to a rocky start, but we think it\u2019s fitting with the brand\u2019s new direction towards healthier fare options; it\u2019s not far away from any other brand you might find in your home kitchen these days. But what we like the most is that there\u2019s an actual olive branch incorporated into the design, replacing the grapes as a more name-appropriate option.<\/p>\n

MailChimp<\/h5>\n

\"MailChimp
\nAt first glance, MailChimp’s logo redesign might not appear to be a redesign at all; the old and new logos look almost exactly alike. But on closer examination, designer Jessica Hische has made several subtle but effective improvements. The new logo is lighter and more legible, but keeps the same personable energy of the original.<\/p>\n

This is a good example of how redesigning a logo doesn’t have to mean completely overhauling your business’s identity. It can also involve making minor changes that maximize the potential of what you’ve already built.<\/p>\n

Bacardi<\/h5>\n

\"Bacardi<\/p>\n

We can admit that a few of us around the Company Folders office were shocked to discover that the Bacardi logo had actually been a bat the entire time. The old logo didn\u2019t make that especially noticeable, but the new logo redesign is like the kind of sketches Darwin made in his journals.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s a reason it looks a little vintage\u2014because it\u2019s actually an older logo design brought back to life. It\u2019s a bold move by Bacardi, but one that certainly pays off, especially when you consider the brand has to compete with craft beers and artisan liquors these days. This new-old look makes Bacardi look a little more sophisticated and quirky, which is the right combination for selling alcohol in today\u2019s market.<\/p>\n

Marriott Hotels<\/h5>\n

\"Marriott<\/p>\n

It\u2019s understandable why Marriott Hotels would want to redesign their logo to represent one unified image, since that\u2019s commonplace in the hotel industry. Having a single signature symbol makes it easy for customers to find your hotel chain when they\u2019re driving on the highway; plus, it looks good on a pillow or an ice bucket.<\/p>\n

The redesigned logo cuts down everything from the old logo except for the letter \u201cM,\u201d which is much more effective on its own. As part of the word Marriott, you never really notice how fancy the \u201cM\u201d is, but when it\u2019s isolated, it makes for a strong monogram.<\/p>\n

TGI Fridays<\/h5>\n

\"TGI<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re one of those people who cringes at bad grammar, then the redesigned TGI Fridays logo will probably drive you insane; the company has dropped the apostrophe and periods from the logo entirely. It might be incorrect in terms of punctuation, but it does make for a cleaner design. It also complements a fun brand like TGI Fridays by showing that they don\u2019t \u201cplay by the rules.\u201d<\/p>\n

Besides updating the logo\u2019s shape to something a little more sleek and modern, this redesign has streamlined the font into something more cohesive and simple. The old font face was feeling a bit of date with its varying letter sizes. The new logo is still friendly and accessible, but also more modern and legible.<\/p>\n

Tampa Bay Buccaneers<\/h5>\n

\"Tampa<\/p>\n

Now this is how you handle an NFL logo redesign. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers recently traded in their old illustrated logo for something a little more vectorized and polished. The skull is more realistic and menacing, the colors are noticeably brighter, and the sword that makes up the handle of the flag now matches the twin swords on the flag itself.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s essentially the same logo as before, just a better-looking version of itself\u2014which honestly, sometimes makes for the best kind of redesign. It manages to evolve the brand while sticking to its roots and without alienating the fan base.<\/p>\n

Morton Salt<\/h5>\n

\"Morton<\/p>\n

Morton Salt has the kind of logo that\u2019s hard to redesign because it\u2019s such an American classic. Throw out too much of what makes it special and you lose those feelings of nostalgia associated with the brand. Morton Salt’s branding has evolved over the years<\/a>, and their newest logo is a perfect streamlining of their previous one, bringing the company into the 21st century while still keeping those nostalgic feelings of the past.<\/p>\n

The designer of the new logo added a hint of modern flair while also cleaning up the image of the Morton Salt Girl ever so slightly. The previous version had a lot of blue line detail, which darkened the illustration and gave it an old-timey feeling. This new version removes most of the lines, letting her pop out from the dark blue packaging like a ray of sunshine<\/p>\n

Fandango<\/h5>\n

\"Fandango<\/p>\n

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