2012 in review

To end a great year, here's a summary of the noteworthy and the memorable in brand design during 2012.

Technology

Easily the most high-profile corporate rebrand of the year, both in terms of public impact and monetary value, was that of Microsoft. The roll-out of a new design program was already progressing when a new Windows logo, designed by Paula Scher at Pentagram, surfaced in February. It continued throughout the year with new logos for many programmes and services, including Microsoft Office, and culminated in the reveal of a new corporate Microsoft logo on August 23.

Microsoft Revealed and launched: August 23, 2012 The Branding Source

Windows Created by: Paula Scher Revealed: Around February 13 (leaked) February 17 (confirmed) Co.Design Brand New The Branding Source

Telecom

The launch of EE to replace both T-Mobile and Orange on the British market was probably the most talked about telecom rebrand this year. This year also saw new looks for other mobile telcos like M-Tel in Bulgaria and Au in Japan.

EE Created by: Wolff Olins Revealed: September 11, 2012 The Branding Source Brand New

M-Tel Created by: Saffron Brand Consultants Revealed and launched: September 24, 2012 The Branding Source Brand New

Au Launched: January 16, 2012 The Branding Source

Shaw Communications Launched: November 5, 2012 Brand New Press release (archive)

Comviq Created by: Kurppa Hosk Revealed and launched: November 7, 2012 The Branding Source

QNBN Created by: Wolff Olins Revealed: October 10, 2012 The Branding Source

Finance and insurance

A review of recent bank and insurance logos is usually a review of what is considered trustworthy yet contemporary.

AIG Revealed: October 2, 2012 The Branding Source

Aetna Created by: Siegel+Gale Revealed and launched: January 18, 2012 Aetna - Our Brand Story Siegel+Gale (archive) Business Wire Brand New

KfW Created by: MetaDesign The Branding Source

NYSE Euronext Created by: Interbrand Revealed and launched: May 14, 2012 The Branding Source Brand New

MFS Investment Management Created by: Lippincott Identityworks Lippincott Press release June 18 Press release October 9

PZU Revealed: May 10, 2012 Launched: May 12, 2012 The Branding Source Brand New

Gjensidige Created by: Dinamo Design Revealed: October 24, 2012 Launched: December 2012 The Branding Source

Direct Line Group The Branding Source

Belfius Created by: Hoet & Hoet Revealed: March 1, 2012 The Branding Source

There were also some smaller or less well-known companies and endeavours in this field that introduced noteworthy corporate identities during the year.

ITG Created by: Landor Associates Revealed and launched: January 23, 2012 Branding Source

Coinc Created by: Saffron Brand Consultants Launched: July 24, 2012 The Branding source

Leto Bank Created by: The Brand Union The Branding Source

EVO Created by: Saffron Brand Consultants Revealed: March 12, 2012 Saffron (archive) The Branding Source

Paraf Created by: Saffron Brand Consultants The Branding Source

Life Financial Group Created by: AIC The Branding Source

Airlines

Many of the major airlines are still fighting for survival, and 2012 wasn't a big year for airline rebrands. Malaysia Airlines appears to have been the only flag carrier from a large country to introduce a new corporate identity this year. Still, there were several medium-sized airlines who introduced interesting new looks during 2012.

Fiji Airways Revealed: August 17, 2012 Launched: 2013 (scheduled) The Branding Source

Air Malta Created by: Futurebrand Revealed: July 31, 2012 The Branding Source

Malaysia Airlines The Branding Source

Royal Brunei Created by: Interbrand Revealed: October 30, 2012 The Branding Source Simpliflying

Volotea Created by: Saffron Brand Consultants Saffron (archive) Pienso Logo Existo

Xiamen Airlines Revealed: July 2012 Rologo

FastJet Created by: SomeOne Launched: November 5, 2012 The Branding Source

Germanwings Created by: KW43 Revealed: December 6, 2012 Design Tagebuch Germanwings (archive)

Corsair International Created by: Dream On The Branding Source

Automotive

If it's a shiny badge, it has to be a car logo.

SEAT The Branding Source

Jaguar Press release (archive) Brand New

Datsun Revealed: March 20, 2012 The Branding Source

Energy

Two major American electricity utilities introduced new corporate identities this year. They may be humdrum businesses that with identities that are a bit conservative, but they are also ranked quite high on the Fortune list.

Exelon Created by: Futurebrand Revealed: May 24, 2012 The Branding Source Brand New

Duke Energy Revealed: September 17, 2012 Launched: 2013 (scheduled) The Branding Source

Direct Energie Created by: Dragon Rouge Launched: December 5, 2012 The Branding Source

EnergyAustralia The Branding Source

The year also saw a new look for a few major petroleum corporations, including Spanish Repsol.

Repsol Revealed and launched: May 29, 2012 The Branding Source

Terpel Created by: CBX Launched: December 2012 The Branding Source

Unión Fenosa Gas Created by: Morillas Corporate identity portal Pienso Logo Existo

Butagaz Launched: September 20, 2012 The Branding Source

Destinations

Country branding seemed to move in a colourful direction this year. With the exception of the Czech Republic, which went all in for a social media pun.

Tourism Australia Created by: Interbrand Sydney Revealed: December 6, 2012 The Branding Source

Czech Republic Created by: Marvil Revealed: June 28, 2012 Launched: 2013 (scheduled) The Branding Source Press release (archive)

Colombia Vimeo Brand New

Some examples of other noteworthy destination and location branding from 2012.

Düsseldorf Created by: BBDO Proximity Revealed: November 26, 2012 Design Tagebuch The Branding Source

Sonoma County Created by: Landor Associates Revealed: August 15, 2012 Press release (archive) Identity guideline (archive) Brand New

Shrewsbury Created by: & Smith and We All Need Words Creative Review Brand New

Brussels Capital Region Created by: Base Design Revealed: July 2012 Base Design Creative Review Design Tagebuch

Media

For logos TV and internet-related logos, see separate sections below.

Associated Press Created by: Objective Subject Revealed: February 23, 2012 The Branding Source Objective Subject (archive 1, archive 2)

USA Today Created by: Wolff Olins Revealed: September 13, 2012 The Branding Source Brand New

Comcast Revealed and launched: December 10, 2012 The Branding Source

Universal Studios Revealed: January 10, 2012 Branding Source

Eurovision Created by: Studio Dumbar The Branding Source

DC Comics Created by: Landor Associates Revealed: January 2012 DC Comics The Source (archive) BP&O Brand New 1 Co.Create

Hibu Created by: Landor Associates Revealed: May 2012 Launched: July 26 (scheduled) Yell Group (archive) DesignWeek The Branding Source

DTG Created by: VBAT Revealed: October 2012 Launched: October 15, 2012 The Branding Source

Australian Associated Press Created by: Charles Elena Design Revealed: May 24, 2012 The Branding Source

Internet

Easily the biggest source of traffic for the blog this year has been the post about the redesigned Twitter bird. Twitter recognised the equity built into its bird icon and allowed a refreshed version of it replace its wordmark. Ebay is a somewhat older and more profitable Internet company that went in a similar direction.

Twitter Launched: June 6, 2012 The Branding Source AdWeek

Ebay Created by: Lippincott Revealed: September 13, 2012 The Branding Source Brand New

Google Play Revealed: March 6, 2012 The Branding Source

Rutube Created by: Cuban Council The Branding Source

Myspace Revealed: September 2012 Brand New

Shutterstock Created by: Lippincott Revealed: May 2, 2012 Launched: May 2, 2012 The Branding Source Brand New

Hotels.com Created by: Lambie-Nairn Revealed: February 14, 2012 The Branding Source Lambie-Nairn (archive) Lambie-Nairn pdf (archive)

TV

This year saw new logos from several leading private TV networks, including ITV in the UK and Univision in the US. There were also new corporate identities launched by the public broadcasters in several European countries, includingbthe Czech Republic, Hungary and Switzerland.

ITV Created by: In-house Revealed: November 15, 2012 Launched: January 2013 The Branding Source

TVA Revealed: November 29, 2012 The Branding Source

?eská televize Created by: Studio Najbrt Revealed: April 19, 2012 Launched: September The Branding Source

Univision Created by: Wolff Olins Revealed: October 17, 2012 Launched: January 1, 2013 (scheduled) The Branding Source Brand New Univision press release (archive)

Telemundo Revealed: May 14, 2012 Launched: December 2012 Press release (archive) Brand New

Rede Record Launched: February 26, 2012 The Branding Source

CTC Launched: September 15, 2012 The Branding Source

D8 Revealed: September 2012 Launched: October 7, 2012 The Branding Source Blog.Lenodal.com

Lifetime Created by: Leroy + Clarkson Revealed: May 2, 2012 The Branding Source Brand New

TV Land Created by: Trollbäck + Company Revealed: May 9, 2012 The Branding Source Brand New

Style Network Created by: Gretel Revealed: June 20, 2012 Launched: June 25, 2012 The Branding Source Gretel (archive) Vimeo Brand New

UniMás Created by: Troika Revealed: December 3, 2012 Launched: January 2013 The Branding Source

MTVA Revealed: July 2012 Launched: July 2012 The Branding Source

C More Created by: Ohlsonsmith Revealed: June 7, 2012 Launched: September 4 (scheduled) The Branding Source

Vier Created by: Why Not Associates Revealed: June 14, 2012 Launched: September (scheduled) The Branding Source Creative Review

Retail

Rebrands in the retail sector seemed to introduce simple and elegant solutions to communicate brand values, from JCPenney's American square to Rebel's competitive Es.

JCPenney Revealed: January 25, 2012 Branding Source Brand New

Rebel Created by: Hulsbosch Australian Creative Brand New Marketing The Branding Source

Penny Markt Created by: Peter Schmidt Group The Branding Source

Carulla Created by: Smartbrands The Branding Source

Jaju Created by: Wolff Olins Wolff Olins (archive) Korea JoongAng Daily

General Optica Created by: Summa Brandemia Summa (archive)

Eram The Branding Source

E. Leclerc Created by: Saguez & Partners The Branding Source

Coopmart Created by: Landor Associates (Hong Kong) Revealed: June 27, 2012 The Branding Source

Restaurants

Two major fast food chains went for a cleaner, simplified and more contemporary look. Another went in a completely different direction.

Wendy's Created by: Tesser, Inc Revealed: October 11, 2012 Launched: Scheduled for March 2013 Press release (archive) Brand New AP

Domino's Revealed: August 6, 2012 (New Zealand) August 14, 2012 (corporate) Corporate press release (archive) Scoop.co.nz AdAge

Arby's Launched: September 2012 Brand New

Long John Silver's Brand New

Food

The division of Kraft Foods into two companies brought one ridiculous name and two decent logo designs. This also seemed to be the year when just about every American maker of breakfast cereal introduced refreshed visual identities.

Mondelez International Revealed: May 23, 2012 The Branding Source

Kraft Foods Launched: October 1, 2012 The Branding Source

Kellogg's Created by: Interbrand The Branding Source

Quaker Oats Created by: Hornall Anderson Brand New ABC News

MOM Brands Created by: Duffy & Partners Revealed and launched: February 21 The Branding Source Brand New

Post Brand New

Hillshire Brands Created by: Duffy & Partners Revealed: June 5, 2012 The Branding Source

Here's a selections of new designs for consumer brands in the food and drink category that stood out this year.

Senseo Created by: Pearlfisher The Branding Source

Campbell's Go Created by: Deutsch Design Works Deutsch Design Works The Dieline

Lyons cakes Created by: JKR JKR (archive)

Fratelli Orsero Created by: FutureBrand

Pripps Blå Created by: Nine The Branding Source

Sour Patch Kids Created by: Landor Associates Launched: April (or late March) 2012 BP&O Behance Network (archive) The Branding Source

Museums

Moving on to the more elegant, stylish and minimalist visual identities of cultural institutions. That includes museums, theatres and orchestras.

New Theatre Created by: Interbrand Sydney The Branding Source

Stedelijk Museum Brand New

QAGOMA Created by: Interbrand Sydney Stand Apart (archive) Brand New

Film Commission Chile Created by: Hey Hey (archive) Pienso Logo Existo

Rijksmuseum Amsterdam Created by: Irma Boom Revealed: August 22, 2012 The Branding Source Imprint Brand New Bold Monday

Moscow Design Museum Created by: Lava Lava (archive) Fontanel Brand New

Orchestre Symphonique Genevois Created by: KW43 Corporate identity portal

Australian Youth Orchestra Created by: Landor Associates (Sydney) Launched: May 2012 The Branding Source Desktop

Philbrook Museum of Art Created by: Michael Bierut, Pentragram Pentagram (archive) Philbrook Museum (archive) Brand New

Riksteatret Created by: Bleed Bleed (archive) BP&O

Komische Oper Berlin Created by: Blotto Design Design Tagebuch Blotto (archive)

Fins Cultureel Instituut voor de Benelux Created by: Kokoro & Moi BP&O

Konzerthaus Berlin Created by: MetaDesign The Branding Source

Luxembourg Philharmonic Orchestra Created by: Pentagram (Berlin) Launched: April 2012 Pentagram (archive) The Branding Source

Perot Museum of Nature and Science Created by: Pentagram Revealed: May 31, 2012 Press release (archive)

National Museum in Warsaw Created by: MesmerCenter Revealed: March 2012 The Branding Source

Universities

The University of the Arts London played it safe this year, adopting a simple Helvetica logo. Similar institutions in other countries were willing to try out bolder ideas.

University of the Arts London Created by: Pentagram Creative Review

University of the Arts Helsinki Created by: Bold Revealed: November 27, 2012 The Branding Source

Utrecht School of the Arts Created by: Thonik Revealed: December 2012 Launched: 2013 (scheduled) Vimeo Creative Review Corporate identity portal

Conventional universities tend to have more traditional visual identities.The new monogram for the University of California stood out not because of its design, but because of the ridiculous response it got from the school's alumni, who rejected it and ultimately forced it to be withdrawn.

University of California Brand New Co.Design

Vlerick Business School Created by: Landor Associates DesignWeek

Stanford University Launched: November 2012 Brand New The Stanford Daily

Non-profit

Pro-bono work for charities and other non-profit groups tends to be good platform for major agencies to show off their creative skills.

Alzheimer Nederland Created by: Studio Dumbar Studio Dumbar (archive) Creative Review

Cancer Research UK Created by: Interbrand DesignWeek

American Red Cross Created by: Turner Duckworth Red Cross (archive) Brand Standards (archive) PRNewswire Brand New

New Visions for Public Schools Created by: Chermayeff & Geismar Launched: November 2012 Logo Design Love

Other

Finally, here's a selection of other identity design work introduced in the past year that deserves attention.

Belkin Created by: Wolff Olins Revealed and launched: January 10, 2012 Branding Source

Adani Created by: Wolff Olins The Branding Source Wolff Olins (archive)

MoneyGram Created by: Landor Associates The Branding Source

iD from Stride Created by: Landor Associates The Branding Source

Cloak & Dagger Created by: Interbrand Sydney Stand Apart (archive) Desktop

Bookworld Created by: Interbrand Australia Brand New Stand Apart (archive)

Melbourne Theatre Company Created by: Interbrand Stand Apart (archive) BP&O

VanguardInc Created by: Interbrand Design Tagebuch ePHOTOzine

JA Resorts & Hotels Created by: Interbrand Launched: October 1, 2012 The Branding Source

Deutsche Digitale Bibliothek Created by: Interbrand Corporate identity portal

Igloo (TV) Created by: Interbrand Sydney Stand Apart (archive) Brand New

Malabar Gold & Diamonds Created by: The Brand Union (Middle East) Revealed: March 25, 2012 Launched: March 2012 The Brand union pdf (archive)

Daniel Jouvance Created by: The Brand Union Actulogo Stratégies Categorynet

Bahri Created by: The Brand Union Launched: April 2012 The Brand Union

Virgin Pure Created by: FutureBrand Launched: May 30, 2012 FutureBrand blog (archive) The Drum

Deluxe Entertainment Created by: Futurebrand Brand New

Andbank Created by: FutureBrand (Madrid) Brandemia

Velatia Created by: Futurebrand Launched: September 17, 2012 The Branding Source

Music Choice Created by: Siegel+Gale Launched: January 2012 The Branding Source

Total Rewards Created by: Siegel+Gale Launched: March 2012 Siegel+Gale case study (archive) Siegel+Gale press release (archive) Brand New

Mindtree Created by: Siegel+Gale Launched: September 28, 2012 The Branding Source

Mount Sinai Hospital Created by: Siegel+Gale Launched: December 2012 Brand New Mount Sinai Hospital (archive)

Actavis Created by: Lippincott Revealed: October 31, 2012 The Branding Source

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Created by: Lippincott Brand New

Nuts.com Created by: Michael Bierut, Pentagram Pentagram (archive) Brand New BP&O Co.Design

Mohawk Created by: Pentagram Launched: April 16, 2012 Brand New Pentagram (archive) Mohawk 1 (archive) Mohawk 2 (archive)

Global Design Forum Created by: Pentagram Pentagram (archive)

Cohen Media Group Created by: Pentagram Pentagram (archive)

World Chess Championship Created by: John Rushworth, Pentagram Pentagram (archive) Design Week Co. Design

Republic Records Created by: Pentagram Pentagram (archive)

Here Created by: Pentagram Revealed: November 13, 2012 The Branding Source

Weight Watchers Created by: Paula Scher, Pentagram Launched: December 3, 2012 The Branding Source

Prague Zoo Created by: Chermayeff & Geismar Revealed: March 2012 Chermayeff & Geismar (archive) The Branding Source

CFA Institute Created by: Chermayeff & Geismar Chermayeff & Geismar (archive)

Arcadia Created by: Moving Brands Moving Brands (archive)

Madefire Created by: Moving Brands Moving Brands (archive) BP&O

7digital Created by: Moving Brands Moving Brands (archive) Corporate Identity Portal

Weve Created by: SomeOne Revealed: October 25, 2012 Design Week MarketingWeek Brand New

Saint Laurent Paris Revealed: July 2012 Facebook

Senac Created by: Packaging Brands Launched: August 5, 2012 The Branding Source

Móra Created by: Zwoelf Zwoelf (archive) Identity Designed YouTube Brand New

Bloomsbury Institute for Pathogen Research Created by: Igloo Igloo (archive) Brand New

Avis Launched: August 2012 Brand New

Ving Created by: Happy F&B Revealed: December 13, 2012 Launched: December 19, 2012

Metsä Revealed: February 9, 2012 Launched: February 2012 The Branding Source

Evry Created by: Scandinavian Design Group Revealed and launched: March 17, 2012 The Branding Source

Folkekirken Created by: Jacob Jensen Design Revealed: November 30, 2012 The Branding Source

KODA Created by: Kontrapunkt Launched: April 12, 2012 The Branding Source

Adveo Created by: Summa The Branding Source Summa (archive)