Remember that bluebird, our little tweet messenger, who had been with us for over a decade? Well, it’s taken flight, leaving behind an entirely different logo in its place. That bluebird was more than just a logo – it was Twitter, instantly recognizable and as familiar to us as the app on our phones. It had grown to become a symbol of the platform itself.
On July 24, 2023, Twitter unveiled a new logo. The iconic blue bird logo was replaced with a white X on a black background. Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX and Tesla announced the change.
History
The Wordmark Era (2006 – 2010)
The Twitter logo was a blue wordmark with “Twitter” written in bubbly letters. This wordmark was designed by Linda Gavin and was used from 2006 to 2010. The bubbly letters symbolized the light, conversational nature of tweets.
Introduction of Larry the Bird (2010 – 2012)
In 2010, a cute little bird icon debuted alongside the wordmark. Named “Larry the Bird,” this icon was a tribute to Larry Bird, the famous basketball player from the Boston Celtics. The bird was drawn with a few simple strokes and was colored blue. The word “Twitter” was still included in the logo, but it was smaller and placed below the bird.
Larry Gets a Makeover (2012 – 2023)
Two years later, in 2012, Larry the Bird was revamped. This simplified, sleek bird was drawn with a few strokes and was colored white. The bird was flying high, and the text was dropped altogether, making Larry the sole symbol of Twitter. This logo was used until 2023 when the current logo replaced it.
The ‘Doge’ Detour (April 4, 2023 – April 7, 2023): An unexpected but memorable change came in 2023 when Elon Musk, the new owner of Twitter, briefly altered the logo to represent the Shiba Inu dog from Dogecoin, a popular cryptocurrency. This whimsical twist only lasted for three days, from April 4th to April 7th, but it certainly left a mark, creating quite a buzz in the Twitter community and beyond.
Arrival of the ‘X’ (2023 – present)
Fast forward to 2023; we have seen the most significant shift yet. Under the ownership of Elon Musk, Twitter swapped out the familiar bird for a bold, new logo – a white ‘X’ against a black background. A stark contrast to the friendly bird we’d grown to associate with Twitter, this logo signifies a new era for the platform.
Reactions
A bold change is bound to stir up quite a few opinions. Some loved it, some missed the old times, and some had a thing or two to critique.
Let’s just say, most didn’t like it.
Impacts of Changing Logo
Psychological effects:
A familiar logo can evoke feelings of trust, familiarity, and comfort. When a logo is changed, it can disrupt these feelings and lead to confusion or even anxiety. For example, when Twitter changed its logo in 2023, some users felt nostalgic for the old logo and uncertain about the new one.
This is because logos are often associated with memories and experiences. When a logo changes, it can feel like those memories and experiences are being erased. This can be a jarring experience for some people, and it can lead to feelings of anxiety or even fear.
Marketing impacts:
A familiar logo can also help to build brand recognition and awareness. When a logo is changed, it can take time for consumers to become familiar with the new logo. This can lead to decreased brand recognition and awareness, hurting sales. For example, when Twitter changed its logo in 2023, some users reported being less likely to use the platform because they were unfamiliar with the new logo.
This is because logos are often used as a visual cue to help consumers remember a brand. When a logo changes, it can take time for consumers to associate the new logo with the brand. This can lead to consumers forgetting about the brand, hurting sales.
