I don’t like this about the design industry…

If you haven’t seen already, the skincare brand ‘Facetheory’ recently had a rebrand.

Before:

After:

And… it got a lot of hate on social media. *negativity on social media…pretends to be shocked*

This is something about the design industry that annoys me. People are so quick to criticise or have an opinion on someone else’s work, making Instagram feel like a cesspit of negativity.

Social media is weird because it makes you feel like you have to have an opinion on everything. But if you’re not fully informed on every detail, you risk being unfairly biased.

The feedback Facetheory received when they revealed their new brand identity is a prime example of this:

But there’s something all the negative comments forgot to think about: behind every rebrand is a designer doing their best to deliver on the brief within a set of restrictive guidelines.

Plus, they might have proposed several concepts, but the final decision isn’t up to them. Instead, it’s a complex process involving different decision-makers, each with their own perspectives, goals, and limitations.

From what I’ve researched about Facetheory’s rebrand, they’re aiming to be recognised as the number one sustainable skincare brand in the world and the shift in their visuals needed to align with their core message.

But when I saw all the comments about the rebrand it got me thinking about something else… my own work.

I can recall several projects where the final product didn’t fully align with my original vision due to the client’s preferences. Sometimes the design turns out even better than I though other times it doesn’t.

I’ve come to realise that the final design is often a reflection of a collaborative effort, not just my individual creativity.

So before passing judgment on new rebrands, ask yourself:

1. Do I understand the context?

2. Have I considered the constraints?

3. How would I feel if someone publicly scrutinised a rebrand I designed?

4. Do I know the full story behind the rebrand?

I know it’s easy to judge based on visuals alone, but just remember there are unseen factors at play.

Next time you see a new rebrand, be eager to understand and slower to judge.

I’d love to know your thoughts on this topic? Hit reply and share them with me.

Chat next week,

Abi 😊

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