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Famous Brand Redesigns: Reinventing Identity for Success
15 July
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5 min.
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In the world of branding, evolution is inevitable. As companies grow and consumer preferences shift, even the most recognizable brands must adapt to stay relevant. A successful brand redesign goes beyond just a new logo—it’s about refining a company’s identity while maintaining the core essence that people know and trust. Let’s take a look at some of the most famous brand redesigns and what made them work.
Burberry: Blending Heritage with Modernity
Burberry’s 2018 rebrand was a bold move for a legacy fashion house. The brand replaced its elegant serif logo with a clean, sans-serif typeface and introduced a bold new monogram pattern inspired by founder Thomas Burberry. This redesign aimed to modernize Burberry while staying true to its British luxury roots. The result? A fresh, contemporary aesthetic that resonated with younger audiences while maintaining its premium appeal.
Key Takeaway: A modern update doesn’t mean abandoning tradition—it’s about evolving in a way that aligns with your audience’s expectations.
Mastercard: Minimalism at Its Best
In 2016, Mastercard removed its wordmark from its logo, leaving only the iconic overlapping red and yellow circles. This shift to a symbol-only identity was a confident move, proving that a well-established brand can be recognized without words. By embracing simplicity, Mastercard reinforced its status as a globally trusted financial brand while optimizing its logo for the digital age.
Key Takeaway: Strong visual elements can make a brand instantly recognizable, even without text.
Instagram: From Skeuomorphic to Simplified
Instagram’s 2016 redesign sparked controversy, replacing its detailed camera icon with a vibrant gradient logo. While the shift was drastic, it aligned with the platform’s evolution from a photo-sharing app to a dynamic social network. Over time, users embraced the new look, which better reflected Instagram’s modern and youthful energy.
Key Takeaway: Sometimes, bold moves lead to initial backlash—but when a redesign aligns with a brand’s future vision, it pays off.
In the world of branding, evolution is inevitable. As companies grow and consumer preferences shift, even the most recognizable brands must adapt to stay relevant. A successful brand redesign goes beyond just a new logo—it’s about refining a company’s identity while maintaining the core essence that people know and trust. Let’s take a look at some of the most famous brand redesigns and what made them work.
Burberry: Blending Heritage with Modernity
Burberry’s 2018 rebrand was a bold move for a legacy fashion house. The brand replaced its elegant serif logo with a clean, sans-serif typeface and introduced a bold new monogram pattern inspired by founder Thomas Burberry. This redesign aimed to modernize Burberry while staying true to its British luxury roots. The result? A fresh, contemporary aesthetic that resonated with younger audiences while maintaining its premium appeal.
Key Takeaway: A modern update doesn’t mean abandoning tradition—it’s about evolving in a way that aligns with your audience’s expectations.
Mastercard: Minimalism at Its Best
In 2016, Mastercard removed its wordmark from its logo, leaving only the iconic overlapping red and yellow circles. This shift to a symbol-only identity was a confident move, proving that a well-established brand can be recognized without words. By embracing simplicity, Mastercard reinforced its status as a globally trusted financial brand while optimizing its logo for the digital age.
Key Takeaway: Strong visual elements can make a brand instantly recognizable, even without text.
Instagram: From Skeuomorphic to Simplified
Instagram’s 2016 redesign sparked controversy, replacing its detailed camera icon with a vibrant gradient logo. While the shift was drastic, it aligned with the platform’s evolution from a photo-sharing app to a dynamic social network. Over time, users embraced the new look, which better reflected Instagram’s modern and youthful energy.
Key Takeaway: Sometimes, bold moves lead to initial backlash—but when a redesign aligns with a brand’s future vision, it pays off.
In the world of branding, evolution is inevitable. As companies grow and consumer preferences shift, even the most recognizable brands must adapt to stay relevant. A successful brand redesign goes beyond just a new logo—it’s about refining a company’s identity while maintaining the core essence that people know and trust. Let’s take a look at some of the most famous brand redesigns and what made them work.
Burberry: Blending Heritage with Modernity
Burberry’s 2018 rebrand was a bold move for a legacy fashion house. The brand replaced its elegant serif logo with a clean, sans-serif typeface and introduced a bold new monogram pattern inspired by founder Thomas Burberry. This redesign aimed to modernize Burberry while staying true to its British luxury roots. The result? A fresh, contemporary aesthetic that resonated with younger audiences while maintaining its premium appeal.
Key Takeaway: A modern update doesn’t mean abandoning tradition—it’s about evolving in a way that aligns with your audience’s expectations.
Mastercard: Minimalism at Its Best
In 2016, Mastercard removed its wordmark from its logo, leaving only the iconic overlapping red and yellow circles. This shift to a symbol-only identity was a confident move, proving that a well-established brand can be recognized without words. By embracing simplicity, Mastercard reinforced its status as a globally trusted financial brand while optimizing its logo for the digital age.
Key Takeaway: Strong visual elements can make a brand instantly recognizable, even without text.
Instagram: From Skeuomorphic to Simplified
Instagram’s 2016 redesign sparked controversy, replacing its detailed camera icon with a vibrant gradient logo. While the shift was drastic, it aligned with the platform’s evolution from a photo-sharing app to a dynamic social network. Over time, users embraced the new look, which better reflected Instagram’s modern and youthful energy.
Key Takeaway: Sometimes, bold moves lead to initial backlash—but when a redesign aligns with a brand’s future vision, it pays off.
Airbnb: More Than Just a Logo Change
Airbnb’s 2014 rebrand introduced the “Bélo” symbol, representing belonging, travel, and community. This redesign wasn’t just about aesthetics—it was a strategic move to reinforce Airbnb’s mission of creating a sense of home anywhere in the world. By shifting the focus from lodging to experiences and human connections, Airbnb solidified its position as more than just a rental service.
Key Takeaway: A successful rebrand tells a story and reinforces a company’s deeper mission.
Pepsi: A Nod to the Past with a Vision for the Future
In 2023, Pepsi unveiled a new logo that reintroduced the bold typography and striking contrast reminiscent of its 1980s branding. This redesign balanced nostalgia with a modern edge, showing that sometimes, looking back can be the key to moving forward. By embracing a design that felt both familiar and fresh, Pepsi reinvigorated its brand identity for a new generation.
Key Takeaway: The past can inspire the future—brands don’t always need to reinvent themselves completely to stay relevant.
The Secret to a Successful Redesign
A great brand redesign isn’t just about changing the logo—it’s about realigning with the company’s values, audience, and market position. The best redesigns:
Maintain brand recognition while feeling fresh and modern.
Reflect where the brand is headed, not just where it’s been.
Resonate with both loyal customers and new audiences.
Whether it’s a subtle refinement or a complete overhaul, a brand redesign has the power to breathe new life into a business. By understanding what works (and what doesn’t), companies can ensure their visual identity evolves in a way that strengthens their connection with customers for years to come.
Airbnb: More Than Just a Logo Change
Airbnb’s 2014 rebrand introduced the “Bélo” symbol, representing belonging, travel, and community. This redesign wasn’t just about aesthetics—it was a strategic move to reinforce Airbnb’s mission of creating a sense of home anywhere in the world. By shifting the focus from lodging to experiences and human connections, Airbnb solidified its position as more than just a rental service.
Key Takeaway: A successful rebrand tells a story and reinforces a company’s deeper mission.
Pepsi: A Nod to the Past with a Vision for the Future
In 2023, Pepsi unveiled a new logo that reintroduced the bold typography and striking contrast reminiscent of its 1980s branding. This redesign balanced nostalgia with a modern edge, showing that sometimes, looking back can be the key to moving forward. By embracing a design that felt both familiar and fresh, Pepsi reinvigorated its brand identity for a new generation.
Key Takeaway: The past can inspire the future—brands don’t always need to reinvent themselves completely to stay relevant.
The Secret to a Successful Redesign
A great brand redesign isn’t just about changing the logo—it’s about realigning with the company’s values, audience, and market position. The best redesigns:
Maintain brand recognition while feeling fresh and modern.
Reflect where the brand is headed, not just where it’s been.
Resonate with both loyal customers and new audiences.
Whether it’s a subtle refinement or a complete overhaul, a brand redesign has the power to breathe new life into a business. By understanding what works (and what doesn’t), companies can ensure their visual identity evolves in a way that strengthens their connection with customers for years to come.
Airbnb: More Than Just a Logo Change
Airbnb’s 2014 rebrand introduced the “Bélo” symbol, representing belonging, travel, and community. This redesign wasn’t just about aesthetics—it was a strategic move to reinforce Airbnb’s mission of creating a sense of home anywhere in the world. By shifting the focus from lodging to experiences and human connections, Airbnb solidified its position as more than just a rental service.
Key Takeaway: A successful rebrand tells a story and reinforces a company’s deeper mission.
Pepsi: A Nod to the Past with a Vision for the Future
In 2023, Pepsi unveiled a new logo that reintroduced the bold typography and striking contrast reminiscent of its 1980s branding. This redesign balanced nostalgia with a modern edge, showing that sometimes, looking back can be the key to moving forward. By embracing a design that felt both familiar and fresh, Pepsi reinvigorated its brand identity for a new generation.
Key Takeaway: The past can inspire the future—brands don’t always need to reinvent themselves completely to stay relevant.
The Secret to a Successful Redesign
A great brand redesign isn’t just about changing the logo—it’s about realigning with the company’s values, audience, and market position. The best redesigns:
Maintain brand recognition while feeling fresh and modern.
Reflect where the brand is headed, not just where it’s been.
Resonate with both loyal customers and new audiences.
Whether it’s a subtle refinement or a complete overhaul, a brand redesign has the power to breathe new life into a business. By understanding what works (and what doesn’t), companies can ensure their visual identity evolves in a way that strengthens their connection with customers for years to come.
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