Instagram's Head of Design Sheds Light on That Colorful New App Icon
Ian Spalter talks inspiration, challenges, the icon’s evolution and more.
By now you’re no doubt familiar with Instagram’s major overhaul yesterday. And while the clean black-and-white makeover for the user interface has been met with nearly universal approval, the same can’t be said for the colorful new app icon. Some love it while others have bashed it or wondered why it’s seemingly the complete antithesis of the simpler interface.
Perhaps anticipating the reactions, Instagram Head of Design Ian Spalter penned a piece on Medium yesterday addressing the new look. In it, Spalter sheds light on the inspiration behind the look and talks about the challenges of honoring Instagram’s identity while reflecting its growth, go so far as to say that “the Instagram icon and design was beginning to feel, well… not reflective of the community, and we thought we could make it better.”
Head on over to Medium to check out the piece in its entirety and take a look at the evolution of the Instagram app icon below.
