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Your opinions on the New Microsoft Logo?
what do you think ??…….
Microsoft unveiled a brand-new company logo Thursday morning, and graphic designers have given it a split vote.
While some believe the company has a winner with the new logo’s simple, square design, others say it’s too boring. (You can have your say in the poll at the end of this article.)
Sagi Haviv, who designed logos for the Library of Congress and Armani Exchange, thinks the logo simply isn’t distinctive enough. By opting for a simple array of four colored squares, Haviv says Microsoft missed a big opportunity.
“Because they’re so big they’re in a position to do something great,” he says. “And this unfortunately is not something great. And it’s because it’s a bit too generic.”
Simple vs. Distinctive
As Haviv explains, logo designers constantly struggle to create imagery that’s both simple and distinctive. Too much of one often means not enough of the other. In Microsoft’s case, he says it veers that while the new logo is definitely simple, it fails the distinctiveness test.
“It needs to be unusual enough to persist in the mind. Those four squares — it’s very inert. It just sits there. It has no motion, no tension — it’s not dynamic in any way.”
Although Haviv thinks Microsoft missed the mark with its new company logo, he has much more praise for the Windows 8 logo, which still has the standard “four panes” that are common in Microsoft logos, but has them skewed to imply perspective.
“That is fabulous. Because that is distinctive. It’s still just as simple, but it burns in the mind. It doesn’t look familiar. It will stay with you.”
Thinking Somewhat Different
James Coulson, a designer who helped design the logo for the Syfy network with Proud Creative, has a different take (disclosure: I worked with Coulson at Syfy’s DVICE). He thinks Microsoft nailed it.
“I think it’s really good,” Coulson says, “It’s a very logical progression. It’s more friendly.”
Coulson thinks the new logo embodies the “new” Microsoft, especially with how the company’s rivalry with Apple — the traditional “design leader” among tech companies — is perceived.
“For a long time I felt Microsoft is the evildoer and Apple could do no [wrong], but I actually think the tables are turning. I was blown away by the Windows Phone interface. Microsoft looks like it’s becoming the innovator.
“High technology should be invisible, its the information that matters. I think Microsoft is getting closer to this, and I think thats what the new logo embodies.”
Windows Baggage
Andrew Kim is a graphic designer who actually worked up an complete update in Microsoft’s branding and messaging for his site, Minimally Minimal. He has mixed feelings about the new logo.
“I think the simplification is a step in the right direction, but the big problem is that it has the Windows logo in it. I don’t think that’s forward-looking because the Windows brand has baggage.”
Ultimately, the logo is a just a detail in Microsoft’s bid to re-invent itself with Windows 8, which is due to hit store shelves on Oct. 26. The company is large, influential and known to almost everyone. The logo doesn’t necessarily have to be that distinctive, because the brand already is.
“The rules are a little different for a huge entity like this,” says Haviv. “Look at Google — they change their logo every day and it works for them.”
http://mashable.com/2012/08/23/microsoft-new-logo-commentary/
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13 Replies
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I cant add to what’s already been said about it really… but i am not a fan of it.
I get the approach of what they have done but agree with the comments of it not being creative looking or dynamic in any way.
where it could be looked on as being "unique" is because it "is boring" and will stand out amongst a group of creative exciting logos. if that makes sense?what gripes me about allot of brands like this that will claim to be clever world famous logos in a few years to come when in fact its simple because its seen so often in everyday life, that we relate to it in an instant.
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quote Robert Lambie:what gripes me about allot of brands like this that will claim to be clever world famous logos in a few years to come when in fact its simple because its seen so often in everyday life, that we relate to it in an instant.I’d agree wholeheartedly – the shear power of exposure will make it instantly recognisable – could probably be anything and still become the face of the organisation.
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That’s not ‘design’ surely? As bad as the London 2012 Olympics logo was, at least it was ‘designed’ & unlike anything else.
That Microsoft logo is just off the peg items shuffled together. By that definition, I could buy various items of clothing from different shops, put them together & claim I’ve ‘designed’ a new suit.
I don’t think so! :lol1:
Still, eleventy hundred thousand dollars please Mr. Gates & once again proves bullshit really dose pay 🙄
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quote :That’s not ‘design’ surely? As bad as the London 2012 Olympics logo was, at least it was ‘designed’ & unlike anything else.That Microsoft logo is just off the peg items shuffled together. By that definition, I could buy various items of clothing from different shops, put them together & claim I’ve ‘designed’ a new suit
Graphic / logo design is an art and is not easy to achieve a ‘catch all’ finished
result doesn’t matter how much money you throw at it.John
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The most memorable logo would just be a blue square.
Now where have I seen that before….?
Oh yes, 3.1, Win 95, Win 98, Win 98 SE, Win XP, Win Vista,
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quote Peter Dee:The most memorable logo would just be a blue square.
Now where have I seen that before….?
Oh yes, 3.1, Win 95, Win 98, Win 98 SE, Win XP, Win Vista,
😀 😀 😀
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what we see here is metro style… the new windows 8 look to take on android/google/apple etc… they need to do something so cool
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quote Dave Rowland:what we see here is metro style… the new windows 8 look to take on android/google/apple etc… they need to do something so cool
and this is the answer to cool dave?
sooty and sweep are cooler than that logo! 😉
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quote Cheryl Smith:How to update your logo…..http://9to5mac.com/2012/08/24/is-this-h … ith-apple/
enough said
😮😀 😀
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quote Cheryl Smith:How to update your logo…..
http://9to5mac.com/2012/08/24/is-this-h … ith-apple/
enough said
😮😀 I think it was back in the 80s BP went through a comprehensive redesign of their corporate image. I remember reading about how much it cost (in millions!). They said at the time the only change was that the ‘BP’ on the shield was sloped I think something like 13 degrees. I don’t know if some if that is urban myth or not but it didn’t look very much different at the time from the old image.
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quote :😀 I think it was back in the 80s BP went through a comprehensive redesign of their corporate image. I remember reading about how much it cost (in millions!). They said at the time the only change was that the ‘BP’ on the shield was sloped I think something like 13 degrees. I don’t know if some if that is urban myth or not but it didn’t look very much different at the time from the old image.Wasn’t BP just a blatant tax dodge? I remember reading something about that in Design Week at the time?
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Well if u got Win7, look for the font Segoe UI… it is the style of Windows 8 and windows mobile 7 pushing 8
The font was designed by Steve Matteson, notice he also got fonts on Android systems
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Matteson
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