If a card with a sappy four-line poem, a cellophane-wrapped dozen roses, a box of not-so-heart-healthy chocolates, a clutch of pink balloons, or a pink oversize teddy bear fail to make you feel romantic, well, we understand. As Alissa Walker, writing in Fast Company says, “it’s chintzy, it’s commercialized, it’s childish.”
She recently helped launch a Redesign Valentine’s Day Challenge to graphic designers, and the show enlisted design firm UnderConsideration to create an entire branding package which built on the iconic heart shape, the color red, and they developed this logo idea:
But some complained that it at first glance it communicates an “X” and its negative connotations rather than a heart and its positive connotations. And I agree, but I think they’re on a good design path, so I suggested a slight modification to make the notion of “heart” more recognizable:
It shows the two halves “intertwined,” suggests holding hands, a bow on a gift, or even two swans, etc. “Minor” details make a big difference in what a symbol design communicates.
Or, here’s another version where the two halves are just “kissing:”
Both of these options seem to communicate “heart” as well as the associated positive feelings of love.
Of course to those who have had their heart broken beyond repair by love, the “X” may well be the preferred image. What do you think?
More on the significance of a logo redesign. And more of our logo designs.
Tags: brand, Branding, company symbol, evaluating brand value, logo redesign, rebranding, Valentine's Day