Yeh I have no idea what you've researched that's why I posted it.
I appreciate your effort in tackling this logo redesign project. Redesigning a logo for such a well-established brand like IKEA is no small feat.
Here are my thoughts on your designs and an expansion of my earlier thoughts.
Consideration: I believe there’s a lot of room for improvement:
Starting point - and my initial reaction was that you haven't done this - but you say you have, I'm saying you have to try harder
- Dive deeper into what makes IKEA’s current logo effective. It’s simple, recognisable, and carries a legacy.
- Think about the emotions and messages you want the logo to convey. Sketch out a few more ideas and get feedback on each iteration.
- Remember that rebranding doesn’t mean completely overhauling the original identity. It’s about evolving it while staying true to the brand’s core values.
Keep pushing forward and experimenting. Every iteration will bring you closer to a stronger design.
Representation:
Positive: The use of blue and yellow stays true to IKEA’s original colour scheme, which helps in maintaining brand recognition.
Improvement: Consider how the new elements you’ve introduced represent IKEA’s core values of affordability,
simplicity, and
functionality.
(in essence what I'm saying here is it's too busy and where on paper it might try to be simple, but it's not, it's too complex and less functional.)
Legibility:
Positive: Is the text clear and legible? (I don't think it is really - take a closer look yourself)
Improvement: Visual hierarchy needs to be enhanced. The logo has to be easily read and recognised even at smaller sizes or from a distance.
(in essence, I'm saying it's not as legible as the original and loses its effectiveness).
Core Product/Service:
Question: Does the design communicate IKEA’s focus on home furnishings and self-assembly furniture? Think about how you can visually represent this in the logo.
First Impressions:
Positive: The colour choice connects with IKEA.
Improvement: What does the design make you feel? Does it communicate IKEA’s ethos of good quality at low prices?
Try to evoke more emotion or connection through the design. (here I'm saying that your versions don't invoke emotion or a connection to IKEA).
Visual Impact:
Positive: The logo does catch the eye with its bold colours.
Improvement: Consider simplifying the design to make it more iconic and memorable. Sometimes less is more, especially with logos.
Genuineness:
Positive: The attempt to stay within IKEA’s brand identity is clear.
Improvement: Ensure the logo feels authentic to IKEA’s brand story and values. It should resonate with the same honesty and straightforwardness IKEA is known for.
(all this is repetitive of what I have said before. But I want to be clear and concise and give you feedback you can work with).
Here's the good and the bad
Colour and Contrast:
- The blue and yellow are strong brand colours for IKEA. However, your current combination are overwhelming.
- Consider using a more balanced approach, perhaps by keeping the text or background solid and simplifying the colour blocks.
- Typography:
- The bold, geometric font is a good choice, but the 3D effect makes it harder to read quickly.
- Simplifying the font style could enhance legibility and maintain a clean look, especially in smaller sizes.
- Logo Shape:
- The oval shape is unique, but it deviates significantly from IKEA's recognisable rectangular logo.
- Simplifying the shape to a more traditional form might help retain brand familiarity and improve scalability.
- Tagline Visibility:
- The tagline needs more prominence.
- Increasing the font size and ensuring it contrasts well with the background can make it more readable and impactful.
- Simplicity and Clarity:
- IKEA’s current logo is effective because of its simplicity and clarity.
- Aim to strip down the elements to the essentials. A more minimalist approach will likely resonate better with the brand’s identity and be more versatile across different media.
While the attempt to innovate is appreciated, focusing on simplicity, legibility, and brand consistency will strengthen your design. Keep iterating, and don't hesitate to test various versions to see what works best in different contexts.
