People are getting burned by the Tinder logo curse

It's pretty hard to reinvent the wheel when it comes to app icon design. When scalability is a priority, there are only a handful of shapes that really work, but there's one design that you might want to avoid (for the sake of your users, at least).

Those of you who have fought in the trenches of the online dating scene will likely be familiar with the humble Tinder logo – a pink background with that unmistakable white flame. While it might be one of the best logos in terms of recognition, it turns out that other apps opting for the flame are getting their users burned.

The curse of the flame logo has been raging for years – most recently when an X user aired his frustrations, writing "Merry Christmas to everyone except the person who designed incidentio logo so my gf thinks I have tinder in my dock". While the colour palette is completely different, the flame was enough to raise suspicions, proving just how notorious the Tinder logo has become.

A similar complaint was made about the HotStock app icon, which, unlike Incident.io, shockingly resembles the Tinder logo. "Big thanks to @HotStock_io for almost ending my relationship this weekend. Fancy changing the logo up a bit guys? She almost killed me," one irked X user wrote.

It's not just boyfriends getting into hot water – over on TikTok, a female user complained that her period tracking app Flo caused similar relationship tension. I'm sad to reveal there isn't a flame to be found. I guess even the pink and white colour palette is off the table now.

While there's no solution to the great flame phenomenon (besides a ban on all app icons using flame logos or pink and white palettes), there's a lot to be learned from the controversy. Tinder has proved that a strong, prevailing visual identity is essential for building a brand, allowing it to carry the flame for over a decade.

For more creative inspiration, check out our pro tips for logo design or take a look at why all AI logos look the same.