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Graphic Designer Reimagines Iconic Logos in the Age of Coronavirus

By Sara Barnes on April 1, 2020

Starbucks

The coronavirus has impacted our daily lives in a profound way. For the time being, we can't look at large group settings or sitting in a restaurant in the same way. Graphic designer Jure Tovrljan has highlighted this colossal shift by making small tweaks to the logos of some of the world’s most famous brands. Through his subtle and clever redesigns, he reflects the ways in which COVID-19 has altered both everyday activities and monumental events.

Many of the changes made by Tovrljan have to do with the physical distancing measures that are vital in slowing the spread of the pandemic. Perhaps best illustrating this fact is Mastercard’s logo—normally two semi-overlapping circles that make a Venn diagram—that now have the two shapes spread far apart. There’s a similar treatment to the separated rings of the Olympic Games logo, which is a poignant choice considering the event was recently postponed until 2021 because of the outbreak.

In some of Tovrljan’s other digital drawings, he demonstrates the lifestyle changes that have come from COVID-19 and are bound to stick around for a while. He placed a face mask on the Starbucks emblem and shifted the NBA logo so that it is no longer a figure dribbling a basketball, but instead laying down and on their computer.

Tovrljan's designs are a reminder that while we know that the pandemic will eventually pass, these changes are necessary for now. We all need to do our part—including massive brands and their messaging—to help slow the spread.