Small changes, big difference
22.04.08Filed Under: Art & Design
Sometimes a small little changes can make a lot difference. Today I want to talk about the small design change of one of Malaysia bank call Bank Islam. Established in 1983, Bank Islam primarily to assist the financial needs of the country’s Muslims and to further extend its services to the whole population at large. Not long ago, they revealed their whole new corporate identity to this maroon and gray color scheme with a more globalise kind of logo design. But when I saw the logo, I feel not right about the logo.
Please look at the picture shown above. Originally the logo design was presented like the one on the left. Can you see something was not quite right in that logo? Well, from the logo rationale I read from the Bank Islam site it says that
The Bank Islam logo incorporates a “crescent” embracing the word “Islam”.
So in the initial design, the crescent which is in maroon color was incorporated into the character “K” of Bank. But when the “K” was being modified as part of the crescent graphic until it does not look like a readable “K” anymore, will you think that it looks and sounds like BANK ISLAM rather than BANK ISLAM?
That’s really causing a big confusion there (at least for me). However, about a month back when I walking to work where I will pass Bank Islam, immediately I spotted a little changes on the logo. Now it looks the one on the right. The crescent has become a graphic on its own and the “K” become the regular “K” and having the same color as other character. It must be some people having same opinion as me and propose for design amendment. The new version looks and sounds far better than the previous design, and it won’t cause confusion to viewers too.
Conclusion
Designers loves to play with typography when comes to logo design. But, we still need to take into consideration on the logo clarity and whether it will cause confusion to the viewers or not. In the end, kudos to the design team that made necessary changes. Small changes, big difference.
You know what. This is awesome!
Out of curiosity, which ethnicity are you?
April 23rd, 2008 at 12:27 amHeh, I never actually thought. Your conclusion was spot on
I walk pass it (probably the same one as you do) everyday and yet I did not realise it.
April 23rd, 2008 at 4:42 pm@Eunice: I’m a Chinese
@Chong: Maybe I am just an busy body lolz. I’m working in Plaza Sentral so everyday I will say hello to the bank twice a day (go and back). I told my friend about this issue, but they never realize it… maybe they are not care about this but I just loves to observe stuffs hahaha.
April 23rd, 2008 at 6:30 pmJayhan has a pair of sharp eyes.
Never realized it too but you posted a good post. Glad that they changed the logo.
April 23rd, 2008 at 10:52 pmYeah I thought the same too when I first saw the original logo.. glad they changed it
April 24th, 2008 at 2:06 pmToday I went to Plaza Sentral and notice the logo difference too…
I’m not designer. And I don’t know much about these…
April 24th, 2008 at 11:39 pmHowever in my opinion, the previous design looks better… but the design now is more suitable for Bank Islam since that there is a “moon” between the word Bank and Islam… But maybe they should change it to green colour??
Well, actually i think that the previous design is more unique, but above this it causes some confusion, so in the end they changed it. Before changing the identity, their corporate color was blue and green.
April 25th, 2008 at 11:16 pmwow~
April 26th, 2008 at 1:07 pmthanks for the information!!
no problem, tan_pang
April 28th, 2008 at 10:10 pmyes, i agree with ur opinion the new version isnt make confuse to viewer, but the design isnt look better than before. The previous design is more unique and creative,
June 26th, 2008 at 11:33 pmthe present design is look boring now.
true, the crescent looks like taking apart from the identity makes it does not as blend as the previous design.
June 27th, 2008 at 11:03 pmI agree that the change was a good one. I can definitely see why the designers tried to incorporate the crescent into the lettering, but it was definitely confusing. When I first saw it I thought it was Bani Islam. I think both logos are effective, but the newer one is more effective just because it’s clear. You definitely have a sharp eye Jayhan!
September 5th, 2008 at 5:10 amWow..I really doesn’t realised that they changed the design which supposed to be obvious..long time nvr saw it’s advertisement i guess…Lol..
August 26th, 2009 at 2:52 pmagreeing with the uniqueness of logo doesn’t being seen, however i still think that the previous logo not confusing..ermm…different people…
n.n
Love your blog as i can learn little little things here…thx~