Some of the world’s biggest brands are temporarily reinventing their logos in a bid to encourage consumers to practice social distancing amid the coronavirus pandemic.
In Brazil, McDonald’s has released ads showing the franchise’s famous golden arches cut in half, while a new billboard in Times Square has Coca-Cola’s famous cursive logo spaced out above a banner that reads: ‘Staying apart is the best way to stay united’.
While many have praised the corporations for helping to raise awareness about measures to stop the spread of COVID-19, others have been left confused by the advertisements, particularly as social distancing is causing profits to plummet for many big brands.
‘Understanding the situation, shutting up and doing something helpful is really the only way to go here. When you see brands like McDonald’s or Coca-Cola spacing out their logos in ‘solidarity,’ it strikes a sour note,’ Ad Age editor Brian Braiker told CNN Business Thursday.
Democratic presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders has even criticized the McDonald’s ad as a cynical attempt to cash in on the ‘trend’ of social distancing.
He responded to a news article about the separation of the brand’s golden arches on Twitter, by bluntly stating: ‘@McDonalds give your workers paid sick leave’.
Some of the world’s biggest brands are temporarily reinventing their logos in a bid to encourage consumers to practice social distancing amid the coronavirus pandemic. Nike has separated the letters of its famous cursive logo in a new billboard displayed in Times Square
In Brazil, McDonald’s has released ads showing the franchise’s famous golden arches cut in half,
However, the backlash hasn’t stopped other brands from releasing similar advertisements with their logos rejigged in a bid to promote social distancing.
German car company Audi, known for its logo that features four overlapping circles, released a new ad showing those circles now spaced out.
‘Stay together/ Keep Distance,’ read a catchphrase beneath the ad.
Meanwhile, Volkswagen also got in on the trend, separating the V from the W inside its famous circular emblem.
‘Thanks for keeping your social distance,’ the automobile manufacturer wrote beneath the emblem.
German car company Audi, known for its logo that features four overlapping circles, released a new ad showing the circles spaced out
Meanwhile, Volkswagen also got in on the trend, separating the V from the W inside its famous circular emblem
While Nike hasn’t yet reinvented its ‘swoosh’ logo, they have also appealed for fans to stay inside and self-isolate.
An ad by the sports giant released last week reads: ‘If you ever dreamed of playing for millions around the world, now is your chance. Play inside, play for the world’.
Ad executive Douglas Sellers has praised the companies for their combination of innovation and commitment to a greater social good.
‘Our current global situation is no joke. It’s a serious matter,’ the executive creative director for firm Siegel+Gale told CNN Business.
While Nike hasn’t yet reinvented its ‘swoosh’ logo, they have also appealed for fans to stay inside and self-isolate
‘And brands designing social distancing logos have the potential to diminish the severity of what we are going through. The creativity, passion, and thought that goes into wanting to help, educate and be part of the physical distancing movement is a worthy note’.
Doctors have stated that social distancing is crucial in order to stop the spread of the highly-contagious COVID-19.
Many states have imposed partial lockdowns in a bid for people to practice distancing as much as possible.
Earlier this week, Dr Emily Landon stressed the importance of social distancing by stating: A successful shelter-in-place means that you’re going to feel like it was all for nothing. And you’d be right because ‘nothing’ means that nothing happened to your family.’
More than half a million people have been infected with COVID-19 across the world, including over 70,000 Americans.
More than 23,000 people have died worldwide.