I kind of feel bad for Airbnb.
In a lengthy blog post, you can read about the company’s major redesign. This is a site-wide redesign that touches both web and mobile. Airbnb says that this is all about belonging. I believe them.
Unfortunately, this massive overhaul is being overshadowed by the simple, but undeniable fact that the company’s new logo looks like balls.
Not like balls as in bad. I mean actual balls…or a vagina…or a butt…or a butthole…or some hybrid of genitalia.
If you’re not seeing it, well, I don’t really understand. But here are some other opinions that prove I’m not making a vagina out of a logo here:
“So I guess the ‘BnB’ actually stands for balls and butthole.” – Our office’s take on @Airbnb’s new logo
— M as in Mancy (@chocobohomo) July 16, 2014
#Airbnb meeting: "Guys, we need a new logo, but I'm all out of ideas."
"Well, balls."
"Yes! Yes that's it!"
— Morgan Braaten (@MBraat) July 16, 2014
I think the new AirBnb logo is a rorschach test to see if you prefer balls, boobs or a vagina pic.twitter.com/d1fvQIcwkK
— Chris Meisner (@chrismeisner) July 16, 2014
@khoi Nike has the Swoosh, Airbnb has the Clitballs.
— Adam Lisagor (@lonelysandwich) July 16, 2014
A redesigned website makes you a "new" company as much as a haircut makes me a "new" person. Also, Airbnb's new logo looks like a vagina.
— Danny Hertz (@dannyhertz) July 16, 2014
Airbnb's new logo is a vagina http://t.co/ZTo8u6haQA
— Gawker (@Gawker) July 16, 2014
Wrong. According to Airbnb, it’s actually a “Bélo” – short for belong.
“It’s a symbol for people who want to try a new tea they’ve never heard of from a village they couldn’t find on the map. It’s a symbol for going where the locals go—the cafe that doesn’t bother with a menu, the dance club hidden down a long alleyway, the art galleries that don’t show up in the guidebooks. It’s a symbol for people who want to welcome into their home new experiences, new cultures, and new conversations. We’re proud to introduce the Bélo: the universal symbol of belonging,” says the company.
And I repeat – I feel so bad for these people right now.
Airbnb also wants you to create your own version of the Bélo. They even made a fun little tool for it. I just made my own version!
Oh my god, guys. How many levels of review did this go through?
The genital nature of their new logo may not even be the biggest issue for Airbnb…
Looks like @airbnb's new logo is a copy of http://t.co/NIcVtmk1oZ pic.twitter.com/bSMcBjVXar
— Jad Limcaco (@jadlimcaco) July 16, 2014
Oh ok, fine. I don’t feel sorry for anyone. You brought this on yourself, Airbnb. THIS IS ON YOU.
Image via Airbnb
