We've seen plenty of controversial rebrands over the years, but none have got people talking quite as much as the current Airbnb logo, first revealed in 2014. The design was derided for resembling, among other things, female genitalia. And it seems the logo is still surprising people seven years later.
A TikTok video has gone viral, revealing the three "hidden meanings" of the Airbnb logo (spoiler alert: none of them are the resemblance mentioned above). Like many of the best logos, it turns out there's a lot going on within this apparently simple design.
The video by brand identity designer Borys Skowron (above) reveals that the design is more than simply a rounded 'A' - it also represents people, places and, of course, love. Flip the logo upside-down and it looks like a heart. That middle cone resembles a location pin. And this last one's a bit of a stretch, but the shape (which Airbnb calls the 'Belo', naturally), also looks like a person with their arms in the air. Don't believe us? Check out this illustration from Design Studio, the team behind the 2014 rebrand:
The Airbnb equation (Image credit: Design Studio)
It might have been one of the most hated rebrands of 2014, but we reckon time has been kind to the Airbnb logo. Indeed, TikTok users are appreciating those hidden messages, with one user calling it "one of the most creative logos for sure" and "utter genius" in the comments on Skowron's video.
From Toblerone's secret bear to the 7 letters hiding in the Toyoto logo, some of the most famous icons are more complicated than you might think. For a bunch of the best examples in one place, check out this astonishing infographic revealing 50 logo secrets. And if you fancy creating a logo of your own, take a look at today's best Adobe Creative Cloud deals below.
Daniel John is Senior News Editor at Creative Bloq. He reports on the worlds of art, design, branding and lifestyle tech (which often translates to tech made by Apple). He joined in 2020 after working in copywriting and digital marketing with brands including ITV, NBC, Channel 4 and more.
