Duolingo's owl mascot, Duo, has undergone a controversial redesign. The owl appears sick with a runny nose, drooping eyes, and sweaty face. This change is a marketing strategy intended to boost user engagement by grabbing attention. Despite the alarming new look, the app and Duo's in-app appearance remain unaffected. Users have had mixed reactions - some find the latest look creative, while others are disturbed or confused by the sickly appearance.

Duolingo's 2022 app redesign initially sparked significant outrage, but the CEO maintained that the changes were science-based and aimed at improving the experience for new learners. A year later, the app experienced a 63% increase in daily active users and a 44% revenue boost. Brands should ensure that major changes align with their core values rather than chasing trends. To prepare for such changes, gradual rollouts, self-help resources, and incentives for early adopters are essential. Feedback loops should be implemented, along with metrics to monitor performance.

In a recent article, Rosie Hoggmascall explores the emotional dynamics of user engagement with Duolingo, particularly focusing on the app's aggressive reactivation strategies. Despite the fact that many users maintain a streak of seven days or more, Hoggmascall finds herself among those who receive frequent reminders to return to the app. The messaging from Duolingo oscillates between being overly clingy and oddly authoritative, leading to a perception of the app as erratic and even abusive. This characterization has been echoed by various media outlets, with Business Insider labeling Duolingo as the "meanest app in the app store." Duolingo's marketing tactics have proven effective, particularly among younger users, with a significant portion of their growth attributed to organic channels like TikTok. The app's quirky and sometimes chaotic branding, represented by its mascot, Duo the Owl, has resonated with many, contributing to impressive user engagement and revenue growth. Hoggmascall delves into the specifics of Duolingo's email strategy, analyzing the language, imagery, and emotional triggers used to entice users back into the app. The article highlights a shift in Duolingo's messaging over time. Initially, the emails conveyed a sense of disappointment, urging users to "keep the owl happy." However, this tone has evolved into a more playful and varied approach, focusing on themes like maintaining streaks, quick lesson durations, and the idea of "mouldy" skills that need refreshing. The emails are designed to elicit emotional responses while minimizing cognitive load, making it easy for users to jump back into learning. Hoggmascall notes the cadence of emails, which typically does not exceed two per day, allowing for a manageable user experience. The initial barrage of emails aims to capitalize on early user motivation, gradually tapering off to avoid overwhelming recipients. The simplicity of the email design, featuring a consistent call-to-action and engaging animations of Duo, further enhances the effectiveness of the communication. Ultimately, Hoggmascall finds herself more amused than emotionally damaged by the experience. The evolution of Duolingo's messaging from a threatening tone to a more entertaining and relatable approach reflects a strategic understanding of user psychology. The article concludes with insights into the effectiveness of Duolingo's tactics, emphasizing the importance of emotional engagement, simplicity in communication, and the value of pacing in user outreach.

OpenAI has proposed a new logo, a simple circle, which received negative feedback at a company meeting. It has been described as "uninspiring" and "ominous." Employees seem attached to the current design, which symbolizes precision, potential, and optimism. Whether OpenAI will revise the logo before a public debut remains uncertain.

Among the first measures of Portugal's new prime minister, Luís Montenegro, is a rollback of the government's supposedly "woke" logo redesign. There was nothing particularly 'woke' about it, even though it was intended to be "inclusive, plural, and secular," which led to a highly simplistic logo. Eduardo Aires, the designer behind the redesigned logo, thinks the backlash is more about politics becoming polarized, as the logo was used as a "projectile weapon" before last month's general election.

The recent rebranding of Aeroméxico, the country's largest airline, has sparked intense criticism among designers and the public alike. The airline's new logo, which marks its first significant redesign since 1998, aims to modernize its identity as it celebrates its 90th anniversary. However, the reception has been overwhelmingly negative, with many comparing the new design unfavorably to its predecessor, which featured a traditional Aztec eagle warrior symbol. The rebranding effort seeks to infuse the airline's image with dynamism, warmth, and a contemporary feel that reflects modern Mexico. The updated color palette includes a darker shade of blue and a switch from red to fuchsia, which is intended to set Aeroméxico apart from other airlines that utilize similar color schemes. Despite these changes, the redesign of the logo itself has been criticized for losing the distinctiveness of the original emblem, which was rooted in traditional Mexican art. Critics have pointed out that the new logo's attempt to create a more realistic representation of the eagle has resulted in a design that is less recognizable and has led to unfortunate comparisons. Some have likened the new logo to various pop culture references, including characters from popular television shows and movies, suggesting that it resembles a cowboy or even a cartoon character rather than an eagle warrior. This shift has left many feeling that the redesign has strayed too far from the airline's heritage and cultural significance. In-depth critiques have emerged, particularly from graphic design commentators who have highlighted technical flaws in the typography of the new logotype, such as poor kerning and a lack of optical adjustments. These critiques emphasize that while the new design may aim for a warmer and more contemporary look, it risks losing the timeless quality that made the original logo iconic. Overall, the rebranding of Aeroméxico has ignited a debate about the balance between modernity and tradition in logo design, with many arguing that the new identity fails to honor the airline's legacy and its place in Mexican culture.

Mozilla's latest logo features a design that seems to resemble a dinosaur, potentially a nod to its old mascot. The update to the "Moz://a" logo was shared in a blog post, and a new symbol with an eye-like dot was found in some Github code commits, hinting at a possible flag representation. Initially designed by Shepard Fairey and retired in 2012, the original red dinosaur logo seems to have inspired this new homage.

Duolingo has acquired the Detroit-based animation and motion design studio Hobbes and its 12 designers and animators to form its first dedicated motion design team. The acquisition, which aims to enhance the app's animation and make learning fun and engaging, follows Duolingo's 2022 purchase of another Detroit-based studio, Gunner. The new team, which will remain in Detroit, will strengthen Duolingo's motion design capabilities and improve user experience, fueling better learning outcomes.

Previously seen as “cold and authoritarian,” RSPCA's new look bets big on bright, bold blues and portrayals of happy, healthy animals. Its outdated octagonal logo has been replaced with a more open and inclusive shape, allowing branches to customize the logo with animals.

The Boston Athletic Association's redesign of the Boston Marathon logo, which features a forward-facing, more muscular unicorn mascot and corporate branding from Bank of America, has sparked controversy among runners. The mixed response, with 55% of poll respondents disliking the new logo, underscores the challenge of balancing tradition and progress.

The City of Visalia is embroiled in a logo design controversy after replacing its 20-year-old design with a minimalist one, much to residents' displeasure. In response to the backlash, the old logo was reinstated temporarily, only for the city to open a public competition for a new design later. Now, with a third logo under consideration and feedback being sought, the debate appears far from over.