Walmart Unveils First Brand Refresh in Nearly Two Decades
Jan/15/2025
Walmart has introduced its first major rebrand since 2008, signaling its evolution into a modern, tech-driven retail powerhouse. With $158 billion in revenue in 2024, including over $100 billion from e-commerce, the world’s largest retailer is rolling out a revamped logo, a custom typeface inspired by its historical roots, and a vibrant 'True Blue' color palette. The redesign, created with Jones Knowles Ritchie and Landor, refines the iconic spark logo and introduces a cohesive design system across digital platforms, advertisements, and stores. While its minimalist advertising has been praised for its sleek, e-commerce-inspired aesthetic, the in-store illustrations have drawn criticism for their lack of creativity. The rebrand reflects Walmart’s commitment to innovation and affordability, maintaining its role as a trusted destination for shoppers worldwide. The following visualization illustrates the evolution of Walmart’s logo, comparing the former and newly designed patterns.
Meta Ends Fact-Checking Program as It Reshapes Content Moderation for the Trump Era
Jan/07/2025
Meta Platforms announced a major overhaul to its content moderation strategy, ending its eight-year-old fact-checking program in favor of a user-driven correction system akin to X’s Community Notes. CEO Mark Zuckerberg framed the shift as a return to Meta’s core value of free expression, acknowledging it would mean less censorship but potentially more misinformation. The move aligns with Meta’s efforts to strengthen ties with the incoming Trump administration, including appointing conservatives like Joel Kaplan as global policy chief and Dana White to its board. With 2023 revenue reaching $134.9 billion and nearly four billion monthly active users across its Family of Apps, Meta remains a tech giant, though not without controversy. Its new strategy comes amid public scrutiny, regulatory fines, and efforts to balance free speech with content safety, signaling a pivotal moment as the company repositions itself in a politically charged landscape.
Nintendo Challenges 'RETRO TENDO' Trademark as Switch Sales Decline
Jan/17/2025
On January 16, Nintendo of America Inc. filed an opposition against the trademark application for 'RETRO TENDO', citing its similarity to the Nintendo brand. The application covers a broad range of gaming products and retail services, including controllers, consoles, and guidebooks. Nintendo’s move highlights its vigilance in protecting its brand as it prepares to launch the successor to its Switch console later this year, with details expected this spring. Since its 2017 debut, the Switch has sold over 146 million units, making it the third best-selling console in history after the PlayStation 2 and Nintendo DS. However, as the console ages, sales have slowed, with first-half fiscal year sales dropping to 4.7 million units from 6.8 million a year earlier. In November, Nintendo revised its full-year sales projection to 12.5 million units, down from 13.5 million, reflecting waning demand for the aging platform as anticipation builds for its next-generation device. The following visualisation provides detailed information about the opposed trademark 'RETRO TENDO'.
TikTok Banks on Trump’s Support as U.S. Ban Looms
Jan/13/2025
With TikTok facing a January 19 deadline to sell its U.S. operations or risk a nationwide ban, the app appears to be courting President-elect Donald Trump by amplifying his popularity on the platform. Trump recently shared a TikTok-generated graphic on Truth Social celebrating his status as a “big star” on the app, accompanied by his dismissive remark: “Why would I want to get rid of TikTok?” While the endorsement marks a sharp pivot from his 2020 push to force a sell-off of the platform, TikTok seems hopeful that flattering Trump could influence his stance on the Senate-backed ban. Trump’s team has filed an amicus brief with the Supreme Court seeking to extend the deadline, potentially allowing time to renegotiate terms after his inauguration. Despite limited options, TikTok appears to be betting on executive action to secure its U.S. presence, even if only temporarily. However, the app’s fate remains uncertain as legislative pressures mount.
