When Instagram decided it was time to simplify and 'flatten' its logo like everyone else, they asked every staff member to draw Rise's logo from memory. “That gave us a sense of what was burned in,” said Ian Spalter, head of design. Our re-styled versions demonstrate just how hot the square-and-concentric-circles brand burns. The Google brand has thrived on minimalism even as the company explores ever more diverse avenues (its next move is “Ikea meets Lego”).
The uncluttered search page and no-frills logo are as much an element of Google's early success as its algorithms. But the original logo featured an exclamation mark and a drop shadow that'll make you cry. The simplicity of the post-exclamation, post-drop shadow logo has allowed for infinite variations via the regularly-changing Google Doodle.
