Contents
  1. Direct answer
  2. What a before-and-after comparison should isolate
  3. Checklist for evaluating the old and new marks
  4. Distinguishing vector artwork from raster previews
  5. What the supplied evidence does not establish
  6. Practical implication for preparing vector files
  7. Summary

Direct answer

The new Safaricom logo is a revised identity update rather than a complete replacement. A practical evaluation should treat the old and new marks as separate artwork versions: compare their color use, symbol structure, wordmark, clear space and file delivery before deciding which version to use. The supplied brief does not include the actual vector files, exact color values, typeface details or official brand guidelines, so this assessment focuses on what can be checked without inventing measurements or sources.

What a before-and-after comparison should isolate

For a logo-design audience, a before-and-after evaluation is most useful when it separates visual shape from technical artwork. A new color may look different in a preview but may be created either as an editable vector fill or as an embedded raster image. Those are not the same thing.

Checklist for evaluating the old and new marks

  • Symbol shape: Has the mark been simplified, redrawn or only recolored?
  • Wordmark: Has the name been reset in a new typeface, or is the change limited to spacing and weight?
  • Color system: Are the old and new palettes documented, including spot-color and digital RGB equivalents?
  • Construction: Is the logo supplied as editable vector paths, an embedded raster image, or a raster preview wrapped in a vector container?
  • Clear space and minimum size: Do the two versions retain the same reproduction limits?
  • File delivery: Are the delivered formats actual vector artwork, and does the license cover modification or only use?

Distinguishing vector artwork from raster previews

A vector logo should contain editable curves, fills and strokes that stay sharp when scaled. A raster preview is a pixel image that may be placed inside a vector format. A file extension such as AI, EPS, SVG or PDF does not by itself prove that every element inside is vector. The same caution applies to a downloaded "vector logo": a file offered for download may be a flattened preview, a poorly rebuilt path or artwork with fonts converted inconsistently.

What the supplied evidence does not establish

No official source, asset, measurement or guideline is supplied here. As a result, the following points remain unverified and should not be presented as facts: the exact revision date, official Pantone or CMYK values, the typeface used in the wordmark, the number of path nodes, whether the official delivery is fully vector, and whether the update changed only the symbol or also the typography.

Without those sources, a before-and-after evaluation is editorial rather than technical. The most honest conclusion is that the change should be assessed against official artwork, not against screenshots, watermarked previews or recolored copies.

Practical implication for preparing vector files

If you are preparing either version, treat permission to download as separate from permission to modify. A logo may be available for viewing or approved reproduction while its fonts and trademarked artwork remain protected. Redrawing the new mark or converting its text to outlines does not automatically create a licensed asset. Before delivery, confirm that the file is genuine vector artwork, that the selected color space matches the production need, and that the intended use is covered by the supplied license.

Summary

A usable before-and-after evaluation depends on comparing official vector artwork, documented color values and clear reproduction rules. The supplied brief establishes that the new Safaricom logo is the subject, but it does not provide the evidence required to confirm what changed or whether a specific file is editable vector artwork. Until official assets are available, treat comparisons as provisional and avoid claiming vector quality from a filename or preview alone.