1851

International fast-food giant Burger King started 2021 right with its <a href="https://1851franchise.com/whats-in-bidens-economic-stimulus-plan-2714726#editorials">first brand refresh in 20 years</a>, and early reviews indicate its new look could set the tone for the coming decade of bold, simple brandings for a digital-obsessed generation.&nbsp;First of all, Burger King isn’t known for its design prowess. Prior to the brand’s refresh on January 7, nobody expected much from Burger King in terms of visual presentation.&nbsp;Without a horse to back in the <a href="https://1851franchise.com/mcdonalds-reignites-chicken-sandwich-wars-with-challenge-to-popeyes-and-chick-fil-a-2714647">chicken sandwich wars</a> and a history of <a href="https://www.thrillist.com/news/nation/wendys-savage-twitter-burger-king-january-2020?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=burger-king-nailed-its-new-logo-and-its-an-important-lesson-for-all-brands-2714737" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">getting owned on social media</a> by snappier brands, Burger King entered the decade flat on its feet.But the brand refresh has brought a welcome wave of <a href="https://kottke.org/21/01/the-cute-new-burger-king-logo?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=burger-king-nailed-its-new-logo-and-its-an-important-lesson-for-all-brands-2714737" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">warm feedback</a> to the brand. <a href="https://1851franchise.com/whats-in-bidens-economic-stimulus-plan-2714726#editorials">1851 previously wrote</a> about how the brand’s new look comports with its diversity and inclusion and sustainability efforts, but now let’s find out exactly what makes its new logo so good<h4>Burger King’s “Flat” Logo</h4>Take a look at Burger King’s old logo, and then their new one.&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://1851-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/story/editor/1611005451_burger-king-rebrand-QT-1200x800.jpg"><figcaption>Gone are any highlights, shadowing or attempt sto make the image look 3D.&nbsp;</figcaption></figure>Burger King’s new logo capitalizes on the new trend towards “flat” logos. Look at the top phone apps in the App Store or Google Play Store. Facebook, Instagram, Whatsapp, Uber and Google apps all have one thing in common: They’re flat.Burger King’s rebrand “fully embraces a recent design trend called flat design, which prioritizes two-dimension illustrations and bright colors and limits the noise created by too many visual details and textures,” Marker, a pop business publication wrote of the logo.&nbsp;“Buns don’t shine,” Burger King’s global chief marketing officer Fernando Machado <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/burger-king-redesigned-logo-and-signs-with-whopper-2021-1?r=US&amp%3BIR=T&utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=burger-king-nailed-its-new-logo-and-its-an-important-lesson-for-all-brands-2714737#for-the-rebrand-burger-king-removed-the-blue-from-the-logo-because-theres-no-blue-food-global-chief-marketing-officer-fernando-machado-told-insider-buns-dont-shine-he-said-so-that-had-to-go-too-2" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">told Business Insider</a> of the rebrand.&nbsp;<h4>Not Just Colors, But Values</h4><figure class="image"><img src="https://1851-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/story/editor/1611005539_burger king packaging.png"><figcaption>It's more than just a logo. The retro font and bold colors extend across all sinage and packaging.&nbsp;</figcaption></figure>Burger King’s new look harkens back to the brand’s 1990s look, but in a refreshed way that speaks to the company’s values.&nbsp;Today’s consumer cares about ethics, sustainability and corporate citizenship more than ever. Burger King has been at the forefront of bringing “plant-based” meat alternatives into fast food and pioneering new ways to make beef burgers pollute the environment less.&nbsp;The new look subtly winks at these initiatives without beating the customer over the head with it. The brown bag and plain background speak to an uncluttered design with a smaller printing footprint. The simple brown of the new paper bags shows a more unprocessed look, which the brand hopes will translate.“There’s no blue in food,” said Machado, explaining why the brand’s previous blue stripe has disappeared from the packaging.&nbsp;"Our choice to remove the color blue was somewhat symbolic of Burger King's recent removal of colors, flavors, and preservatives from artificial sources," Lisa Smith, executive creative director at Jones Knowles Ritchie, the firm that designed the brand’s new look <a href="https://www.dezeen.com/2021/01/12/burger-king-rebrand-retro-logo/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=burger-king-nailed-its-new-logo-and-its-an-important-lesson-for-all-brands-2714737" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">told De Zeen</a>.&nbsp;<h4>The Lesson For Brands</h4>Burger King’s new look mixes retro nostalgia with a forward-looking, tech-savvy design by sticking to a bold, legible look that’s still colorful and fun.&nbsp;With major brands competing for eyeballs on smartphone screens, look for brands to heavily simplify logos to fit into app icons.&nbsp;But beware, smart brands have already begun moving in this direction. If a brand adopts an updated look too late, it may look like a copy cat rather than an innovator.&nbsp;

Burger King Nailed Its New Logo, and It's an Important Lesson for All Brands 

1851 Franchise

Burger King’s new logo and look have the design world buzzing for all the right reasons. Here’s what makes the brand’s refresh work so well. 

burger-king-nailed-its-new-logo-and-its-an-important-lesson-for-all-brands

Benjamin Franklin Plumbing

image of a benjamin franklin plumber employee franchise

Top 5 Reasons To Invest in Benjamin Franklin Plumbing Right Now

benjamin-franklin-plumbing-franchise-5-reasons-to-buy

Mister Sparky Electric

image of mister sparky cars franchise authority brands

Wired for Success: 5 Powerful Reasons To Invest in a Mister Sparky Franchise Now

mister-sparky-franchise-5-reasons-to-invest

image of Mister sparky electric employee working with customer

On-Time, Every Time: How Mister Sparky Delivers the Electrical Service Homeowners Can Count On

mister-sparky-electric-service-franchise

image of mister sparky electric on time elctricians from franchise mister sparky

The Electrician You Can Count On: How Mister Sparky Delivers Power, Punctuality and Profitability

mister-sparky-franchise-power-punctuality-profitiability

image of a benjamin franklin plumber employee helping a customer

The Punctual Plumber That Wins: How Benjamin Franklin Plumbing Redefines Home-Service Reliability

benjamin-franklin-plumbing-home-service-reliability

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Development Website Builder

Franchise Resources

What ALEC-Laffer's Report Means for Franchising

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

Planet Fitness Franchisees Donate $100K to Support Texas Flood Relief - 1851 Franchise

Planet Fitness Franchisees Donate $100K To Support Texas Flood Relief

planet-fitness-texas-flood-relief

McDonald’s Is the Latest Franchise To Bet Big on Beverages with 500-Store Premium Drink Test

mcdonalds-is-the-latest-franchise-to-bet-big-on-beverages-with-500-store-premium-drink-test

Friendly’s Parent Company Acquired by Multi-Unit Franchisee as More Owners Take the Lead in Brand Acquisitions 

friendlys-parent-company-acquired-by-multi-unit-franchisee-as-more-owners-take-the-lead-in-brand-acquisitions

Subway - John Fitzpatrick Named CEO - Breaking News - 1851 Franchise

Subway Names Jonathan Fitzpatrick as New CEO, Effective July 28

jonathan-fitzpatrick-subway-ceo-leadership-change

AI Is Reshaping Franchising: $100 Billion Valuations and Hyper-Localized Advertising

ai-is-reshaping-franchising-100-billion-valuations-and-hyper-localized-advertising

Hooters Leans Into Franchising With Closure of 30 Company-Owned Stores - Agg - 1851 Franchise

Hooters Leans Into Franchising With Closure of 30 Company-Owned Stores

hooters-franchise-model-company-owned-closures

Rising Jobless Claims Could Signal Challenges — and Opportunities — for Franchising

rising-jobless-claims-affect-franchising

"Come in, We're OPEN" sign against abstract background

Small Business Optimism Dips, Raising Concerns for Franchise Owners

small-business-optimism-dips-raising-concerns-for-franchise-owners

Hely and Hiral Patel Bring Their Longtime Dream to Life With The Brass Tap

brass-tap-franchise-pasadena-maryland-hely-hiral-patel

DevHub - Meet the Supplier - 1851 Franchise

DevHub: Scalable Digital Marketing for Franchises and Multi-Location Brands

devhub-meet-the-supplier

1851 Keyword - The Secret To Succeeding With a Part-Time Franchise Is Picking the Right Model

The Secret To Succeeding With a Part-Time Franchise Is Picking the Right Model

part-time-franchises-picking-the-right-model

Navy Veteran and Professional Artist Couple Open Caring Transitions in Texas

Navy Veteran and Professional Artist Couple Set Out to Build a Purpose-Driven Business With Caring Transitions in Texas

navy-veteran-and-professional-artist-couple-set-out-to-build-a-purpose-driven-business-with-caring-transitions-in-texas

Why This Real Estate Broker Decided To Bring Caring Transitions to Central Texas

Burger King Nailed Its New Logo, and It's an Important Lesson for All Brands

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS