HP may rebrand to avoid stiff image
updated 10:40 am EST, Wed December 14, 2011
HP considers fresh device logos in new strategy
HP contractor Moving Brands has proposed a remake of the company's signature logo that would be as much a change of philosophy as image. Its remake would go to four angled lines that imply the logo and would be more modern than the current design, which is still closer to the icon from the company's early days. The angle would not only dictate the theme of promo material but even integrate into products, such as the capacity on inkjet printers.
Whether or not the company goes ahead isn't clear. The pitch to HP was produced roughly two months ago and still makes references to webOS hardware along with recently exited webOS lead Phil McKinney involved. It remains on the table but is solely under HP's discretion as to how or if it arrives.
A logo change would come just as HP is gradually taking design more seriously. While the company's new Envy design is clearly derived from Apple's MacBook Pro, it shows the company focusing more on recognizable, clear design traits. Much of its aesthetic in the past decade has been decried for being too generic and often focused on cost.
The swap could also help overcome memories of its PC division uncertainty from between August and November. [via Brand New]
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Mar 2009
nonsense
The bottom photo tells it all, HP has no idea what they're doing. I majored in Graphic Design and the four lines tell me nothing. Adidas' three stripes and Nike's swoosh are recognizable because they gained customer acceptance over the long term. When I see the four lines from HP, I see gaps in their printer output not ink levels. I also see a lack of cohesion (nothing connected, no symmetry). If I was shown this logo without knowing it was from HP, I would never have figured that out. The bottom photo appears to show slightly rounded edges, which would help complete the logo but the displayed logo does not give any help in identifying what it represents. I'm all for simplicity but there still needs to be structure and four angled lines just don't do it for me.