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Ask DN: Why can't we have brands that last?

almost 8 years ago from Henrique Alves, UX & prototyping

  • Ollie BarkerOllie Barker, almost 8 years ago

    I think aside from how our industry is moving faster and faster, it's just a lot harder to create a brand that really stands the test of time. I feel like the old Medium brand could have. Trends are far more popular and inviting. It's a lot easier for designers to simply follow them than break out and create something truly powerful.

    Brands like Coca-Cola were conceived decades before Illustrator was even a thing. In a time when creating a new logo would take many months. Now everybody has easy access to tools they can use. Meaning it's a lot easier to play around and push new ideas even when perhaps you shouldn't.

    I'm not sure Medium realised just how powerful and recognisable their old logo was. It would last for many years. Now they've fallen into a trend cycle that they'll have to refresh in another couple of years.

    1 point
    • Henrique Alves, almost 8 years ago (edited almost 8 years ago )

      Good point Ollie! I understand today we can move faster but doesn't mean we should move faster always and for everything :)

      I love design in all forms but I feel in someway we're creating bad habits every time we change something just because we can plus all today is either solid/flat or gradient OSXish

      True the old one was powerful. I don't have know how many designers they have but I really struggle to see all of them in a room staring at the logo and saying "Oh man this looks so awesome!"

      1 point
    • Bryant HughesBryant Hughes, almost 8 years ago

      True, however Coca-Cola and Nike stand in a class of their own. There are definitely brands established before the 90's that constantly update their identity to stay current and with the times.

      I agree, being able to withstand updating is great, but probably something that's a bit idealistic for most companies.

      0 points
      • Ollie BarkerOllie Barker, almost 8 years ago

        That's true but Coca-Cola and Nike don't actually change their logo do they? Only the supporting brand material.

        0 points