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A New Look for Facebook
November 4th, 2019 marked the grand unveiling of the new Facebook logo and rebrand, and surprising, it’s pretty bland. That doesn’t go to say that it won’t serve its purpose. In fact, the new custom-made, generic-looking font is simple enough to integrate into their other platforms, such as Instagram and WhatsApp. The logo is solely intended to represent the parent company that owns all of the apps. In other words, the current Facebook logo itself will remain the same.
Simple logos are what more and more companies are gearing toward in 2019. The more simple the logo, the better it will be for scalability. So although we didn’t quite expect it to be so plain Jane, we’re certainly in agreeance to its uncomplex nature.
The wordmark animation above showcases various colors of their three most popular apps. The blue is for Facebook proper. The orange and pink gradient is for Instagram. Finally, the green represents WhatsApp. This tame logo is intended to create a sense of unity between brands without overpowering them.
Why The Parent Company Rebranded
Facebook has been under public scrutiny for some time now. In 2018, Founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg was placed in the hot seat to address the security issues the platform faces. Although the trial was more of a sham than anything, the pressure is on for Zuckerberg. Facebook has previously exposed more than 87 million people’s data. Along with enabling foreign propaganda and perpetuated discrimination, Facebook needed a serious crackdown with transparency.
Facebook hopes their new brand and logo will help users understand who owns the platforms they use. Considering that their various platforms share infrastructure and team members, it’s important for users to stay informed. The goal is for each app to still stand as a separate entity while allowing transparency. According to Facebook’s Newsroom:
Millennials, Gen Z Demand Transparency
An interview with Facebook’s Chief Marketing Officer Antonio Lucio helped deliver more clarity to the rebrand. “All the research that we’ve had from Generation Z and Millennials was all very emphatic,” he said. “They need to know where their brands come from. We needed to be more transparent with our users in showcasing that everything is coming from the same company.” Although transparency is a concern to all ages, Millenials and Gen Z are most troubled by the issue.
In an interview with Bloomberg, Lucio also mentioned that changing the name of the parent company was considered. In the end, they concluded that doing so would only raise eyebrows. Ultimately, it would seem as if Facebook was running away from the problems they’ve been facing. Facebook hopes the rebrand will create a halo effect. They hope that goodwill from apps like Instagram and WhatsApp will boost their likeability.
Images via Facebook Newsroom Press Release
Next Foot Forward for Facebook?
Facebook states that they plan to integrate their new logo into their products and marketing materials in the coming weeks. Facebook released screenshots of what can be expected with their rebranding. Their new integrations are more aesthetically pleasing. Not only that but they are bold and attention-grabbing. Users will now be able to immediately identify what company owns the apps they are using. Facebook feels that this is a big leap in the right direction. However, controversy ensues as 47 U.S. attorney generals are now investigating Facebook for antitrust violations. Concerns move beyond simply putting consumer data at risk though. Investigations are brewing that they have reduced the quality of consumers’ choices while increasing the price of advertising. That’s a lot of drama, so we’ll just stick to the “art side” of Facebook for now.
What do you think of Facebook’s parent rebranded logo? Sound off in the comments below!
Interested in reading more about corporate rebrands? Check out our previous blog article about NASA’s Artemis Program rebrand today!