Design's Dark Side
When Aesthetics Backfire By Manasvi Pote
When Aesthetics Backfire By Manasvi Pote
Sometimes, designs just flop. they don’t connect with the people they’re supposed to. Imagine wearing a fancy outfit to a casual BBQ, you surely look great, but it leaves everyone wondering where are your jeans and sneaker?.
01
Jaguar’s Branding Backlash
Jaguar’s recent redesign was a classic case of this. They rolled out a cleaner, more modern logo, hoping it would vibe with a younger crowd. Instead, longtime fans felt like Jaguar traded in its roaring personality for a quiet purr. They loved that leaping cat—it symbolized power, heritage, and excitement. The new look? To them, it just didn’t roar. It left people scratching their heads and asking, “Why fix what wasn’t broken?”
02
Tropicana’s Packaging Problem
Remember when Tropicana tried to refresh their OJ cartons back in 2009? They ditched their classic orange-with-a-straw image for something sleeker. And guess what? People couldn’t find it on the shelves anymore. Sales dropped 20% in just one month. That old design wasn’t just “familiar”—it was how shoppers instantly spotted their juice. Once it was gone, they moved on to other brands. Tropicana had to backtrack fast, realizing that what looked cool in a design studio didn’t fly in the supermarket.
03
Gap’s Logo Fail
Then there’s Gap’s infamous logo switch-up in 2010. They swapped out their iconic blue box for a plain Helvetica font and a small gradient square. It was meant to look modern, but customers hated it. The backlash online was so bad that Gap scrapped the new logo in less than a week. It’s a perfect example of how even a big, successful company can lose touch with its audience by changing something that didn’t need fixing.
Branding slip-ups remind us that design is not just limited to good looks; it’s about making a meaningful connection. When your visuals tell the story right, they grab attention but also earn’s your customers trust and loyalty.
That’s why at Kabir Kashyap Design Company, we approach every project with a deep understanding of what makes a brand relatable, helping businesses create designs that leave a lasting impression.
That’s why at Kabir Kashyap Design Company, we approach every project with a deep understanding of what makes a brand relatable, helping businesses create designs that leave a lasting impression.
