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Rebranding vs. redesign: What does your brand really need?

Rebranding vs. redesign: What does your brand really need?

Rebranding vs. redesign – what's the difference?

Hey Brand fan,

Are you considering revamping your branding?
Then this question usually comes up right away:
Does everything need to be redone, or is an update enough?

The answer lies in a difference that many people underestimate:
Redesign ≠ Rebranding.

Comparison between redesigning and rebranding a brand

🔁 Redesign means: Your brand stays the same—it just looks fresher.

A little bit of new color. A more modern font. New layouts.
Maybe new packaging or UX optimization.
But what you want to say remains the same.

Typical reasons for a redesign:
– You want to appear more modern
– Your look no longer suits your target audience
– Your brand looks old, but you are actually in a great position

💡 Example:

Spotify redesigns every few years.
New typography. New colors. Different layout elements.
But the feeling remains: music, freedom, flow.
No change of identity—just a visual style update.

Example of a successful brand redesign

🚀 Rebranding means changing who you are—not just how you look.

This isn't just a new coat of paint. It's a new core.
New positioning, new tone, sometimes a new name.
And a design that makes this new brand identity visible.

Typical reasons for rebranding:
– New target group
– New products or business model
– You are no longer understood
– Your branding no longer fits with who you are today

💡 Example:
Opel – yes, the car manufacturer.
A few years ago: seemingly only present among the over-60s.
Then came the rebranding:
– New colors, edgy look
– Clear focus on electric mobility
– Suddenly present on Insta, TikTok, and other social media platforms

➡️ New target group. New feeling. New energy.
And: a brand that people are talking about again.

Example of successful rebranding with new brand positioning

✨ What you can take away with you

– If you simply want to appear more modern: redesign.
– If you are no longer what you used to be: rebranding.
– And if you are unsure what your brand is actually supposed to say – then perhaps that is precisely where the problem lies: at the core of your brand identity.

🏁 Conclusion

Sometimes a fresh coat of paint is enough.
But sometimes you need new walls.

Check: Does your branding still feel like you—or is it just a facade?

If you feel like you've outgrown your brand, write to me.
Maybe all you need is a slight adjustment—or the courage to start over. ✉️ chantalle@boredbrands.studio

See you next week—stay brave, stay real, stay you.
Chantalle

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