Did you ever see a logo of something you are familiar with and think that something went wrong with its design? The colors seem softer. The design looks cleaner. Maybe the tagline is also no longer there. This is what debranding actually is.

Debranding is the strategic process where companies simplify, reduce, or remove elements from their brand identity, especially their logo, to create a cleaner, more modern, and more adaptable look.

The famous companies that have already adopted debranding.

• Volkswagen

The logo of Volkswagen has been made much lighter. The most evident alteration is that the 3D effects and silver gradients are totally eliminated and replaced by the two-dimensional silhouette which is clean. Also, the W no longer touches the bottom of the circle, but rather it floats on the circle which creates a sense of lightness and openness in the emblem. In general, the new logo seems to be more modern and not only looks better on real items but also is flawless on smartphone display and digital interfaces.

• Foursquare

The old Foursquare logo had a bright pink icon and heavy blue lettering, which gave the logo a playful and energetic look. The design was massive and visually powerful, and its bright colors made it prominent. Conversely, the pink icon has been eliminated in the new logo. It has now changed to thin, black uppercase letters instead of bold blue ones. This makes the new logo look   cleaner and more minimal, and it feels lighter and more professional.

• Airbnb

Airbnb has completely redesigned its logo by removing all unnecessary details and replacing it with a simpler, shorter form. The script has been previously written in blue and pink, but it is currently written in red only, which makes it more versatile and applicable to all products and materials.

• GoDaddy

The GoDaddy brand logo was also changed in the same way that Airbnb logo changed. The picture of the man in glasses is gone, and the text is now printed in plain clean fonts. The letters were curved in the past; however, the new model is done in a simpler style. Also, the color difference is observed. The new logo is purely blue thus enhancing its readability and making it appear more modern.

• Toyota 

The old logo had been described using a structured red square that had white emblem within it, bold and black text of TOYOTA that ensured that brand names were visible. Now, the new logo eliminates the background and text and is left with the iconic overlapping ellipses, to exist as a pure monochromatic symbol. Such transition to flat design erases its 3D effect and rigid lines and provides a cleaner look, which can be scaled to perfection on the contemporary smartphone screen and the digital interface.  

Now, the main question is why companies are actually doing this? Here are the main reasons behind debranding.

•   Logos Need to Work in a Digital World

In the past, the majority of logos were created to occupy large areas like hoardings, banners and product packaging. Designers were preoccupied with their images in print and on large screens.

Nowadays, logos are found most commonly on mobile phones, applications, and web pages. Due to this change, the contemporary logos have to be functional and straightforward. They are supposed to appear well on small screens, should be able to work in different sizes and be digitally friendly.

•  The Human Brain Prefers Simplicity

Our brain perceives images more quickly than words. Basic forms such as circles, straight lines, and simple designs are easier to identify compared to complex forms and elaborate designs. Due to this, a major number of brands are making changes in their logos and designs. They are eliminating shadows, 3D effects and decorative gradients and are replacing them with plain, simple and flat designs that enable the instant recognition of brands.

•  Functionality Over Decoration

The simplicity in a logo does not only mean to look good, but to make it work anywhere. Modern logos should load fast, be simple to animate and remain clear at any size because they have to work on different platforms, such as websites, social media, applications and print. Logos that are more elaborate and old tend to fail in this since they may become blurred or disorienting with details. That is why nowadays brands are inclined to clean and simple forms which are functional and memorable.

•  Building Trust & Staying Modern

Rebranding can make a company look new, modern and more sophisticated. It helps businesses remain competitive, particularly in cases where other brands are revising their image to maintain the trends. Rebranding also has the effect of increasing the reach of a company, as in the case of Starbucks that was not only a brand of coffee, but it reached many more people. It demonstrates that the company is elastic, real, and flexible. Minimal and clean branding is a way to make a company look professional, confident, and customer-centered, which will make people trust it and establish a better bond.

In conclusion 

The rebranding has never been an accidental decision, but it has been a well-thought-out strategic move. Most companies have made their logos simple not because they lacked ideas, but because they know how the world has evolved. The use of modern branding requires flexible logos to ensure that it can be used in various platforms, backgrounds and sizes. 

If you are thinking of debranding your brand logo to make it versatile, contact Pexelogy. We will assist you in transforming your brand identity into something powerful, adaptable, and truly unforgettable.