Twitter Rebranding: Bird’s the Word, But No Words Allowed

Twitter’s rebranding is complete: the social network logo has gone to the birds. Just one bird, really, known affectionately to many as “Larry”... no words, no special fonts, no border. Don’t play with it, add the name “Twitter,” or otherwise defile the simplistic new logo.

In the blog post announcing the change, Creative Director Doug Bowman explains:

Our new bird grows out of love for ornithology, design within creative constraints, and simple geometry. This bird is crafted purely from three sets of overlapping circles — similar to how your networks, interests and ideas connect and intersect with peers and friends. Whether soaring high above the earth to take in a broad view, or flocking with other birds to achieve a common purpose, a bird in flight is the ultimate representation of freedom, hope and limitless possibility.

As illustrated in the above handy image from Twitter’s trademark and logo policy, the Twitter bird shall not:

    * Speak, or appear to speak, as indicated by cartoon speech bubbles.
    * Change color. Not even a little.
    * Reproduce. Only one Twitter bird may appear in the logo.
    * Move. Do not animate the bird.
    * Change direction. The bird is on a predestined path, who are you to cause him to deviate off course?

Clearly, Twitter has become a dictatorship, at least where their adorable #7EB3CD blue friend is concerned. The little fella must be facing right and float within a buffer space of no less than 150 percent. He’s also not allowed out past 10 p.m. and can’t date until he’s 30. And just to be safe, never feed him after midnight.

Already, those rabblerousers in the Twitterverse are flagrantly violating the wee bird and pushing the limits of acceptable behavior: