The latest revision of the Mastercard logo has taken the graphic design world by storm. Everyone has an opinion, but this time, it seems just about everyone likes this logo makeover.
Michael Bierut and his Pentagram team had the rare opportunity to simplify simple and took it. They stripped the existing logo down to the essentials—basic, flat shapes, the already iconic colors, and straight-forward, lower case, sans serif type.
As Lynda.com author John McWade tweeted: “MasterCard logo redesign is killer. Simple. Familiar. Attractive. INSTANT identification. THAT’S WHAT A MARK IS FOR.”
From Brand New: Coming Full Circle(s)…
From Co.Design: MasterCard Gets Its First New Logo In 20 Years…
We have entered a world where creativity and imagination have gone by the wayside. In today’s world, anyone can call themselves a graphic designer, and this is a perfect example.
I’m not saying that these good folks are not graphic designers, but certainly, this “revised” logo demonstrates my point.
So sad…
@Stephen Martin, you seem to either have a pretty narrow view of “creativity and imagination”. We also live in a world of over-the-top showy spectacle, so oftentimes simplicity is a creative solution. Plus, you fail to acknowledge whether or not this updated design actually delivers for its client, and I’d love to hear how you think it hasn’t.
In this case, the logo simplification really only works because it is an established brand, with a mark that is recognized worldwide even when broken down to its basic elements. If just “anyone” threw together a couple of colored circles as a logo for a startup company, with no obvious connection to what that company’s mission is, it wouldn’t get lauded in the least. Sure they can call themselves a graphic designer, but they’ll win no awards for it and you don’t have to hire them.
Whats more surprising is that you’d be able to TM that.
The client accepted the end product, so I did not think it necessary to speak to whether or not the design delivers. That is obvious. And I never said it didn’t work. I said it was unimaginative and lacked in creativity. I believe the simplicity of the design speaks to why I think that way.
You seem to believe I have a narrow view of “imagination and creativity.” I can live with that.