Logos Before and After: How to Evaluate a Redesign
Practical steps to compare logos before and after a redesign, spot real improvements, and avoid changes that only look different.
Before you start
A before-and-after logo comparison works best when both versions are available as clean image files or exported previews. You can use the Logo Lab comparison tools in your browser; for the tools on this site, uploaded files are processed locally unless the interface clearly states otherwise. If you are reviewing a redesign proposal delivered by a studio, keep the original file, the revised file, and notes about the intended change together so every check refers to the same material.
Step-by-step instructions
Load the before and after images into a side-by-side comparison or before-and-after slider. Align both versions at a similar visible size, not necessarily at the same pixel dimensions, because scaling can change the apparent weight of thin lines and small details.
Check the redesign against the stated goal. If the purpose was stronger recognition, ask whether the new symbol is easier to identify at a reduced size. If the purpose was cleaner reproduction, compare edges, spacing, and how solid areas or gradients behave on light and dark backgrounds.
Evaluate only visible, reproducible qualities rather than personal taste alone. Look for changes in silhouette, color contrast, type legibility, spacing, and the relationship between the symbol and wordmark. A useful redesign usually improves at least one of those qualities without introducing a new reproduction problem.
Check the output
Confirm that the after version is compared from the same reproduction method as the before version. Do not judge a crisp vector redraw against a low-resolution screenshot, compression artifact, or a mockup where lighting and perspective alter the result. If you are testing contrast, use pairs of colors sampled from equivalent areas of both logos and compare the resulting ratios, not the overall impression alone.
A reliable quick check is to shrink both versions to a small browser or print size and look at what remains identifiable. If thin gaps close, small type disappears, or the central shape becomes confusing, the redesign may trade presence at full size for weakness where the logo is commonly seen.
Common problems and next steps
A common issue is comparing files that use different color spaces or transparency settings, which can make the same hue look inconsistent. Export both versions to the same format when a direct color or edge comparison is needed. Another issue is judging a logo against an artistic rendering instead of the flat production artwork; keep separate checks for creative presentation and for the actual logo file.
If the after version looks only different rather than clearly better in the chosen context, define which measurable target changed: recognition, contrast, file size, legibility, or reproduction range. Then compare the relevant pair again with that single target in mind. If the redesign was intended for a new placement such as a dark interface or a small favicon, test that placement directly instead of relying on the full-size comparison.