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real topic: why the nick logo change

               The MTV-owned cable channel, Nickelodeon has come a long way to be on the list of world famous brands, with big fan following from territories including Europe, the Middle-East, Russia and Asia. The channel aims to entertain children of ages 6 to 20 and is an important part of the golden memories of our childhood and teenage. Since its launch December 1, 1977 the Nickelodeon team thinks it’s high time that 30-year-old identity should be changed.

Last week, in one of my posts I mentioned you that top corporate brands are seeking minimalism while redesigning their logos. The new “Nick” logo is another example of this logo trend. The new logo is a plain display of Bazooka rounded letterforms in orange and white. 
 

 
1) The memorable old “Nickelodeon Logo":

Around three years back, the Nickelodeon team started believing that the “splat” logo was not well-defining the vastness of their growing enterprise (as it is not only a “Cute Children Channel” anymore.) For the first time in 30 years, they decided to make some major changes to their logo, something more innovative and expressive. Although, the old logo did not follow any traditional logo trends but it has gained big viewership with its exclusiveness. The widely loved, “Nick Splat” was designed in 1984 by Scott Nash and Tom Corey for Fred/Alan (the company behind the famous MTV logo). However, the perkiness and unfussy appeal of the traditional logo has been replaced with a sleek and chic image. The designers behind the new logo have yet to be identified.
 
2) The New “Nickelodeon” Logo:

The familiar ‘splat’ of the old logo has been replaced with rounded lowercase typeface and a stylized dot on the lowercase ‘i’—somewhat resembling the outline of a child. These round Bazooka letterforms seem to be an outcome of some other latest redesigns like the Latin American version of Discovery Kids, the Science channel, and WGN.
 
The network’s soon-to-be-rebranded sister identities:

3) Why “Nick” wanted a new Corporate Identity?
Armin (from under consideration) inquired the reason of this change from Russell Hicks (executive vice president and creative director of Nickelodeon), who explained that internet has made kids very fast. They enjoy innovative and trendy stuff. Therefore, the 30-year-old identity had to change.

Nickelodeon today is a media enterprise that consists of multiple channels that air in 175 countries, a motion picture production company, an ever-growing online presence, and outlets of numerous consumer products. Therefore, the team working on the redesign was briefed how the new logo should compliment different upcoming projects (channels and divisions.)

Well, September 28 was the day when Nickelodeon flipped on their identity and said good-bye to the iconic identity established in 1984 after Tom Corey. As Cyma Zarghami, the president says…
 
"In asking ourselves if everything could live under the splat, we decided that the splat was dated. It just couldn’t be done in a streamlined way."

 
4) Will you miss the old logo:( ?
Before I conclude, I want to confess that I don’t like the new logo mark and will badly miss my childhood favorite. It seems we have been deprived of all the Nick fun and lively experience or maybe, I am growing old and not approving of this bold step.  So, I leave it to you all….how do you find the new version of “Nick”?
 
 

Posted in Corporate Brands, Designing Corporate Logos, Redesigned Corporate Logos, Tips for Corporate Logo Designers