To me, I'm confused about why there has been so much discussion around the euphemistic nature of the logo and not how it looks exactly like Automated Anywhere's logo. In the huge comment threads about this on HN, reddit, and DN you're lucky if one person comments on something other than that it looks like a butt or vagina. Even this article just gives a passing parenthetical mention to the likeness of AA's logo.
I suppose, though, that I shouldn't be surprised that they didn't realize their logo looks like a rip off of another company given that they didn't realize it also looked like an ass.
Here's a bit more insight into the process. http://www.wearedesignstudio.com/works/airbnb-process/ And here's a whole butt-ton of Airbnb sketches
This is why you designs to everyone and anyone. Sometimes you completely miss things but that is what feedback is for. I swill can't believe Weight Watchers stuck with this redesign. It could be fixed by simply using caps. Yes. Redesigns and rebranding are massive undertakings. There is an absolute fuckton of work that goes in to it and it's a really long, tedious, and expensive process. Which is why it's mind boggling that of all the choices you made throughout this year long process, you still ended up here. Wow. Pull your head out of your ass. No one should ever compare their logo to the Nike swoosh or redesign a logo expecting it to some day be as iconic as the swoosh. You're counting your chickens way before they hatch. The Nike logo is one of the most highly praised and iconic logos out there. You're not Nike. You will never be Nike. I'm all for dreaming big, but you are delusional.
This was a yearlong undertaking for dozens of people, it’s something meaningful, and no one pauses to really understand that.”
“If you looked at the Nike swoosh, you might say it’s a check mark, but once you understand the context, it means something else,
I don't hate the logo, although I agree with forwardslash that it's way too close to AA's. My mind is in the gutter, and permanently so, and I wouldn't have thought vagina if not prodded to do so. But now I can't unsee it. Edit: There's still no way Weight Watchers beats Yahoo! for worst redesign ever.
Those quotes are hilarious, thanks for sharing them. It happens all too frequently.