We’re looking over logo news stories from last month that involve logo designs and redesigns to keep our logo designers informed about what’s happening in logo and brand design industry.
November officially kicked us into the holiday season, but it also brought us some great new logo designs. I want to make sure you don’t miss them, so I’ve gathered together what I think are the top five news stories about logos from this past month. Let’s take a look at what’s been done, and I’ll share with you why I think it’s important for you to be aware of it.
Pizza Hut
Launching a whole new business plan that includes pizza crusts, sauces, and toppings, Pizza Hut launched a completely new redesign of their brand. Gone is the shine and gloss to their staple red rooftop. Now the new Pizza restaurant logo design is encompassed in round, stylized pizza. Rather, the random kind of shape you get from adding the sauce to the open crust.
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Why is this so important? It’s a major restaurant chain switching from a polished look to a more lived-in look. There’s a roughness to it. From the employee dress code (retro tees and jeans), to the prominently black and red website, to the bold pizza boxes, they are all changing to attract a younger generation. Even the new commercials feature “old world Italy” with seniors rejecting the variety of the new pizzas. Pizza Hut’s brand overhaul shows a great example of adjusting your brand to attract the target demographic.
I actually went to a local Pizza Hut last week after seeing this just to try the new pizza sauces. They hadn’t completely changed over to the new look, that will take time. I will say that I had the alfredo and buffalo sauces on two pizzas, and I would gladly get them again.
World Rugby
To close out the 2014 World Rugby Conference and Exhibition, the International Rugby Board announced it’s brand redesign. Now known as World Rugby, they introduced a new logo to compliment it.
“Today’s launch embodies our mission statement to grow the global Rugby family beyond our traditional family and fan base and reflects the federation’s evolution from Rugby regulator to Rugby inspire.”
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Why is this so important? The IRB needed it badly. Their previous logo was dated and amateur looking, at best. While this new identity by FutureBrand doesn’t revolutionize the design industry, it is a much welcome update. The logo is a rugby ball on the bottom and becomes a stylized shield at the top. This creates an interesting and unique shape. I’m not sold yet on the gradients inside, but I do think the silver outline gives it strength. The font itself is slightly modern, slightly edgy, but easy to read and a safe choice.
International rugby has been on the rise in the past few years. This redesign will give it a credible look as a professional sport worth following.
Fred Hutch
The Fred Hutch Cancer Research Center is located in Seattle Washington. Last month they revealed a new identity developed by Hornall Anderson. Not only shortening the name to just “Fred Hutch,” they introduced a colorful new logo to represent the brand.
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Why is this so important? Many times logo designs in the medical field fall into the same block cross or initials in a box design. I’m sure you’ve seen them. This new logo, however, excitedly runs in the opposite direction of those pitfalls. The abstract icon give the impression of peering into a microscope. Their formation alludes to seeing the building blocks of our anatomy. The “H” is easy to spot, but it blends well with its surroundings, creating an interesting shape. The bright colors are calming yet optimistic.
I think this new identity for Fred Hutch is beautifully successful. It avoids all the expected archetypes, and instead delivers a visually unique and meaningful brand.
Pelican Books
After being discontinued in 1984, Pelican Books have been brought back this year with an updated logo design. Their focus is to publish short, accessible paperback books on a variety of topics that anyone can get into. Now engaging a digital medium, their new logo was created in-house by Richard Green.
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Why is this so important? I love seeing an update from an obviously older logo, in this case the 1980’s. I believe this is worth noting because it successfully captures the spirit of the original pelican in flight, while brining it up to speed with today’s standard. If your small business has an older logo that you’re known by, an update can be made that refreshes your brand while keeping the familiarity of the original look. This logo design does it beautifully.
Like any other nerd, I’m a nerd about many things. A Batman-nerd. A Typography-nerd. A movie-nerd. But I am most certainly, a vector-nerd. I love how the new pelican is black and white, minimal with beautiful curves, and few details. This is what I like to see and what I like to create.
Dribbble
Something a little close to home for us designers, dribbble allows artists of all kinds to showcase their work online in a creative and professional manner. In November their co-creator Dan Cedarholm cleaned up their script logo a bit. You will see a more consistent stroke weight throughout the letters, making it easier to see at smaller sizes.
Why is this so important? I think I’ll quote Dan on this one: “the nice thing about refining as opposed to redesigning is that the old and new can easily coexist.” Now he’s referring to the ease of transition when you introduce a new logo, but I’d like to extend his thought. By cleaning it up, you show growth and improvement of your business reflected in your logo identity. You also get to maintain the reputation you’ve built around your existing brand.
You like your logo and it’s well known in your area, don’t destroy that with a new design. If you notice it’s looking outdated though, our designers can easily take your existing logo design and put a new twist on it. Don’t be afraid to start a logo contest to bring it up to date.