WEEK 3.3.1: RESEARCH REVIEW

DESIGN STUDIO AIRBNB

by Dan Howarth

DesignStudio creates new logo for Airbnb

This article showed that London branding agency Design Studio has created a new identity for home-rental website Airbnb, including a logo "that can be drawn by anyone." Airbnb asked to modify its identity, website and mobile interface and create a consistent visual signature for the company. Throughout the project, DesignStudio decamped to Airbnb's San Francisco headquarters for extended periods of time to learn more about the company and share ideas with employees.Members of the DesignStudio team also travelled around the world and stayed in Airbnb-listed accommodation to gain user perspectives from both listers and guests.Using the brand principle of "belong anywhere", the designers came up with a symbol - called the "Bélo" - which they thought would become likely be internationally.

The symbol is designed to represent three things: a person with their arms above their head, a location marker, an upside-down heart – people, places and love – as well as resemble the letter A. The logo can be customised by anyone using an online tool. The company hopes that listers will create their own versions, label possessions that guests can borrow and brand their properties. In this way, he can inspire people to create simple and meaningful innovative designs. I learned that it takes effort to have an unexpected gain and good design as long as you work hard.

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Citations:

1. DesignStudio creates new logo for Airbnb. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.google.com.my/amp/s/www.dezeen.com/2014/07/16/airbnb-rebrand-designstudio-logo-belo/amp/

2. Airbnb - Belong anywhere. (2020, April 24). Retrieved from https://design.studio/work/airbnb