Instagram’s logo makeover has come at a time when the company is undergoing many changes. Aside from cosmetic updates, the platform’s algorithmic update has got to be the biggest one for so far for the app. So what did we make of the redesign, and does this signal a widespread overhaul for the company?

Many reacted to Instagram’s logo change by poking fun at its new colour scheme, and slightly uninspired flat design. Memes appeared likening the look to PowerPoint’s gradient colour effect, and one Twitter user altered the design in place of the face in Edvard Munch’s iconic piece, The Scream. Apart from humorous mocking, the online community also exploded in rage at the change,   questioning the company’s need for the redesign when the old logo was perfectly fine. Sister apps Hyperlapse and Layout were also affected, taking on the same colour scheme. Instagram’s head of design, Ian Spalter, argued that the change was due to the fact that the current skeuomorphic logo was starting to feel “not reflective of the community.” He went on to state; “After a lot of refinement, we landed on a glyph that still suggests a camera, but also sets the groundwork for years to come.” It’s justified that Instagram felt the need to modernise its company image, but we can’t help feel that the redesign could have been executed better!

More suspect though, was the fact that the logo change seemed to coincide with algorithmic adjustments. At the time, a large number of users reported receiving the app’s new algorithmic feed soon after the logo update went live, showing perhaps Instagram was using the redesign in order to divert attention away from the fact that it had begun testing the new feed. The company denied these allegations though, stating that tests were ongoing, meaning select groups of users might see the changes at different points.

It seems as though Instagram’s logo change was just another annoying update, coming at a time when users are already showing resentment towards the platform. Content creators, influencers and brands in particular are concerned the adjustment will cause followers to miss out on a number of posts, and subsequently, business. A change.org petition campaigning for Instagram to retain its chronological feed has already garnered over 300,000 sign ups, with a target aim of 500,000. The petition particularly draws attention to small brands who rely on Instagram’s free and engaging platform to convert- these are the companies who may not have a large marketing budget. This means many will have to start planning for paid ads in the same way that Facebook has sadly forced them to do already. And the algorithm update might also have negative implications for Instagram itself, causing top content creators and small brands to focus more energy on Snapchat for instance, which is quickly eating into Instagram’s user base.

As far as the logo redesign is concerned, there is good news for users who particularly can’t stand the look. Today it was announced that UX designer Juan Ramirez has created a hack allowing iOS users to reinstate the old design. The first step is to hide the app by moving it off the home screen and into a folder containing multiple apps. There’s then a designated link the user must click, before tapping on the Share icon, and then an “Add to Home screen” call to action when prompted. This results in the old icon reappearing, although notifications will still show the new one, and if the user then updates Instagram at a later date, the logo will also change back. While we’re indifferent to the icon on our displays, we can imagine the demand for the old icon is high- and now users have a way to get their beloved logo back.

What do you think about Instagram’s new logo? And do you think it was simply used as a diversionary tactic while the app experimented with other updates? We’d love to hear your thoughts, so please tweet to us @PracticeDigital and share your comments on our Facebook page.