Redesigning the MySpace Logo
Another day, another redesigned logo. MySpace is attempting to stage a comeback having fallen behind the times compared with sites like Facebook and Twitter.
In 2010, the site announced a revamp (which includes the new logo) and also that it would no longer try to compete with the aforementioned social networks but that it will work to become a “social entertainment destination for Gen Y.”
Myspace has been successful in recent years in promoting bands on video- and audio-heavy pages, but in terms of design it has always been a shambles. In the future there will be an emphasis on its strengths and an abandonment of some of the social network aspects of the site.
In a this video, we can see the My_ logo (it’s actually more akin to a sideways bracket than an underscore) in a variety of poses with cartoon characters, dancers and helicopters interacting with the “space.”
The new My_ logo as animated in yesterday’s video release
The old logo
So it’s goodbye to the three round-headed people and hello to the square bracket. I have to admit at first look I did think to myself “Dear God, what is that thing?” but in a strange way I’m warming to it. Maybe it’s because of the video, which I enjoyed, or maybe it’s because of the simplicity of the new look. It’s quite a dramatic change and a fairly bold move by Myspace. It makes you think there’s something missing, and that’s space. Presumably it’s easier to pull something like this off if your audience is already familiar with the name.
The bracket in the logo represents a space where people can express themselves, enabling users to personalize the logo and make it their own — just as they can throughout Myspace.
In a statement from the company’s CEO Mike Jones, he said, “Myspace is unique in that it is powered by the passions of our users, who program the site by expressing interests, sharing tastes and knowledge around particular topics, and scouting out up-and-coming subcultures,” Jones said in the statement. “This is just the first step and there will be many more features, programs and improvements to come.”
The redesign of the site is being rolled out now and should be available worldwide by the end of November and will give users personal entertainment-focused homepages, which are updated based on their interests.
From the screenshots I’ve seen it looks like a much cleaner design, although still holding quite a bit of information and the new logo fits in well.
What do you think of the new logo? Are you a Myspace user or do you think it’s irrelevant now?
