Extra Credit: Changes for MSN

MSN has recently changed both its logo and the entire layout of its website.

The new logo still plays on the idea of the butterfly, but in a more abstract form. The body of the butterfly is missing, but they expect you to make out the shape of the butterfly by the four wings. I was able to recognize that the new logo was still a butterfly because it has been the MSN logo for a long time. However, I don’t think it would have been as easily recognizable to someone not aware of the original MSN logo. They kept the original colors, although in slightly different shades, which I thought was a good call because those colors are also very representative of MSN. The typeface of “MSN” changed as well, into a thinner, more modern typeface. Although I liked the old typeface for the old logo, I think the new typeface matches the new logo well. The new logo is also very modern and abstract, similar to the feel of the new typeface. I like the old MSN logo a lot better, but I think the new one used wise combinations of typeface and design to make it work.

The new layout of the website is definitely an improvement. The old layout was cluttered and bombarded the reader with too much – and sometimes unnecessary – information. The new layout is a lot cleaner, and although the white background can look plain, there is a nice balance and play with colors with the headings. There is less information on the page, which makes it seem more inviting than the old layout. It is not completely different from the old layout, and MSN decided to keep parts of the layout the same (such as the placement of the advertisement), which tells the audience that they have not changed completely – they are still what they once were, but better and more improved.

Overall, I do not think the new MSN logo was a necessary move because there was nothing wrong with the old logo. However, the decision to change the layout of the website was definitely smart.