Pentagram’s Slack Redesign: A Before-and-After Logo Evaluation

Direct answer

The essential answer is that the widely discussed Pentagram redesign of the Slack logo did not replace Slack’s primary logo with an entirely new symbol. Pentagram developed a refreshed identity system around the existing four-color octothorpe mark, tightening its construction, standardizing its color relationships, and building a more consistent set of logo variants. For vector artwork, the practical implication is that a usable Slack logo file should contain the four lozenge or rounded-diamond shapes arranged in the familiar hash configuration, not a rebuilt approximation assembled from screenshots or raster previews.

What the before-and-after evaluation shows

A before-and-after comparison centers on refinement rather than replacement. Before the redesign, Slack’s mark could appear slightly uneven in spacing and color balance across different layouts. The updated system simplifies the four elements, aligns them on a clearer grid, and makes the negative space between the shapes more consistent. The wordmark also receives tighter spacing and a more orderly relationship to the symbol.

Vector logo details that matter in practice

For anyone preparing or evaluating vector versions of this logo, the four shapes should be separate, editable vector objects rather than a single embedded image. The colors are typically the four Slack palette colors applied to individual shapes. The negative space between the shapes is part of the mark, so scaling should preserve both the shape proportions and the gaps. If an SVG or other vector file places a raster image inside it, that is not the same as true editable vector artwork.

Raster previews versus editable vector paths

A file can have an SVG or EPS extension and still contain an embedded raster preview or placed image. The presence of that extension does not prove the logo is composed of editable vector paths. The reliable test is to open the artwork in a vector editor and confirm that each colored element exists as a distinct shape with editable anchor points. If the logo appears as a single clipped image or cannot be broken into its four component shapes, it should not be treated as clean vector source artwork.

Practical preparation notes

• Confirm that all four lozenge shapes are present as individual vector objects.\nCheck that the negative space between the shapes survives scaling without distortion.\nVerify that color fills are flat and match the official Slack palette consistently.\nSeparate the symbol from the wordmark when the layout requires a standalone mark.\nDo not assume a downloadable logo file permits modification of the artwork, fonts, or trademarked mark.

Evidence gaps

No supplied evidence includes Pantone values, precise grid measurements, official file names, conversion histories, or documented tests of specific SVG files. Those details are not inferred here. The evaluation above is based on the visible design logic of the redesign, not on access to Pentagram’s internal working files or Slack’s delivery assets.