There were really some changes, well, just a darker shade and more curves perhaps?
Meta is in the process of updating Facebook’s “identity system,” which includes a notably refreshed logo. To clarify, it’s essentially the same as the previous one, with the exception of a darker shade of blue and some subtle adjustments to the lowercase “f.” You can view the new logo alongside the most recent version in the image provided at the top of this post.
Meta has explained the rationale behind these changes in a blog post from Wednesday as follows:
“Our intention was to create a rejuvenated design for the Facebook logo, one that exudes boldness, vibrancy, and timelessness. These distinct refinements contribute to a more cohesive overall design, which is a fundamental aspect of the app’s identity. We achieved this by enhancing the expression of Facebook’s core blue color, making it more visually accessible within our app and ensuring a stronger contrast that makes the ‘f’ stand out.”
The phrase “a more confident expression of Facebook’s core blue color” is quite elaborate for simply stating that the logo is now a darker shade of blue.
Jokes aside, it’s understandable that Meta is making only minor adjustments to the Facebook logo instead of a complete redesign. Given that the platform boasts an astonishing 2 billion daily active users, any visual changes will be noticed by a significant audience. It’s clear why Meta has opted for relatively minor alterations to what is already one of the most recognizable logos in the tech industry.
If you’re interested in a trip down memory lane, Meta’s blog post includes a short video tracing the history of the logo, which has been transformed into a GIF.
According to the blog post, the Facebook wordmark has also received an update: “Using our custom typeface, Facebook Sans, we redesigned the wordmark and logo to create a consistent treatment and improve overall legibility across Facebook.” Meta further explains, “Similar to the changes to the logo symbol, these refinements allowed us to build upon the heritage of our identity while creating a stronger relationship between how the wordmark complements the rest of the typeface.”
Furthermore, there’s a new color palette, primarily featuring the color blue, and Meta has made adjustments to the appearance of Reactions as well. Meta states, “Through our expanded color palette, we were able to convey more depth and emotion in Reactions. We adjusted colors to ensure compliance with color accessibility guidelines, ensuring that our iconography remains legible at any size, versatile enough for various needs, and easy for people to interact with.”
Meta has additional changes in the pipeline for the appearance of Facebook. The company describes the updates outlined in Wednesday’s blog as “the initial phase of a revamped identity system” for the app, so be on the lookout for more design tweaks in the future.