
A social networking movement all by itself, it’s no longer tied to other networks like Facebook or Twitter – although it is owned by Facebook.
Instagram has been adopted by the young, the creative and the expressive as a means to capture and share moments, and in some cases has even provided its users with a business model. Joe Wicks, The Body Coach, started his now stratospheric career by posting 15-second Instagram videos of his healthy meals and workouts.Joe Wicks: The sprint from personal trainer to business sensation The Body Coach
The meteoric rise of Instagram is indisputable. But how credible is it that this can be linked to the dramatic change to the logo? Moving completely away from the retro nod to the polaroid camera, the new design is minimal and vibrant, in line with other app logos such as Whatsapp and Google.Read more on Instagram:
- Why Instagram’s algorithm changes are great news for marketers
- How Instagram enabled small UK businesses to recruit, grow sales and boost brands
- Five years in: Instagram is the epitome of line-of-sight marketing for the digital age
Like most things, if something stays true and single-minded over time, it has as a feeling of integrity – a bit like vinyl. But the moment a brand decides to abandon that defiant stance and follow the trends set by others, it begins to compromise its sense of self, therefore making the design less impactful.
There’s no doubt that Instagram’s new look will not stop people from using the app, and to give the brand credit, its position as a social phenomenon means that the brand is bigger than the design, and will continue to thrive regardless. But is that the point? When a brand is strong and successful, it deserves to have a design and visual identity that matches that level of success. It seems a shame to sacrifice something as powerful as design purely to fit in with the crowd. John-Paul Hunter is creative director at strategic brand design firm Webb deVlamWhile Instagram may have fallen short with its new look, when it comes to branding (and customer satisfaction), Domino’s delivers
Share this story