Walmart Unveils Refreshed Logo and Visual Identity
A New Era for the Retail Giant
When a brand like Walmart refreshes its logo, the design world sits up and notices. It’s one of the most recognizable logos on the planet, thanks to the chain’s dominance in retail – and the logo itself is an example of simplicity done exquisitely (as with many of the best logos). The brand has refreshed its identity for the first time in almost 20 years, and the result is the truest definition of a glow up.
A Bolder, Thicker, and Rounded Design
The iconic logo design has retained the same essence but has been given a makeover in the form of bolder, thicker, and more rounded shapes. Added to that, the whole identity has been treated to a color upgrade. This means a brighter, warmer yellow and a deeper blue, known as "True Blue," leading a range of new blues. And there’s even a new typeface.
A New Typeface Inspired by the Founder’s Hat
The new sans-serif typeface, which draws on the brand’s roots, was inspired by a hat worn by the founder in a photo from 1980. The typeface on the hat was Antique Olive, and the JKR team worked to make it bolder to suit a new era for Walmart – replacing the version of Myriad Pro that has been in action since 2008.
A Smart Move for Digital
The logo and wordmark are to be separated, which is a smart move for digital, and the new, thicker design on both will allow them to carry more weight when standing alone on screen.
What Inspired the New Look?
According to a statement from CMO William White, the new look aims to cement the brand as "an inspirational, digital retailer," while celebrating the brand’s heritage.
A Refreshed Brand Identity
"While the look and feel of our brand is more modern, our refreshed brand identity reflects Walmart’s enduring commitment to both [founder] Sam’s principles and serving our customers however they need us," he says.
Conclusion
The new logo design looks equally as meant-to-be, leaving the old version paling in comparison to those luscious new shapes. That thought of "wow, why hasn’t it always been like that?" is symbolic of a job well done, and especially brilliant when the new design is a tweak rather than a total redesign.
FAQs
Q: What is the inspiration behind the new Walmart logo design?
A: The new design is inspired by the brand’s heritage and its commitment to serving its customers.
Q: What is the new typeface used in the refreshed logo?
A: The new sans-serif typeface was inspired by a hat worn by the founder in a photo from 1980 and is a bolder version of the Antique Olive typeface.
Q: Why is the logo and wordmark being separated?
A: This is a smart move for digital, allowing the logo and wordmark to carry more weight when standing alone on screen.
Q: What is the new color palette used in the refreshed logo?
A: The new color palette features a brighter, warmer yellow and a deeper blue, known as "True Blue," leading a range of new blues.
