Looks like Google's icons are still baffling users

Google logos
Help (Image credit: Google)

It's been over two years since Google released a slew of new logos and icons for its various Workspace apps, but it seems the initially cold reception is showing no signs of thawing. Even today, Twitter users are continuing to bemoan the confusing nature of these bafflingly indistinguishable designs.

The icons for Gmail, Google Photos, Google Maps and many more were transformed in 2020 into much more minimalist versions, all featuring the same four colours: blue, green, red and yellow. One of the key qualities of the best logos of all time is how unmistakeable they are, and as anyone who repeatedly opens Calendar instead of Mail will attest, the same doesn't apply to these.

Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription

Join now for unlimited access

Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

Daniel John
Design Editor

Daniel John is Design Editor at Creative Bloq. He reports on the worlds of design, branding and lifestyle tech, and has covered several industry events including Milan Design Week, OFFF Barcelona and Adobe Max in Los Angeles.

Read more
Logos for Microsoft Office, Microsoft 365 and Microsoft Copilot 365
The new Microsoft Office logo could be the most confusing rebrand of the year (yes, already)
Old and new Facebook Messenger logos
Meta's changed the Facebook Messenger logo at the worst possible time
Capital One logo design
Capital One’s controversial new logo faces out of this world design comparisons
Jaguar logo
The year in logos: 2024 was both pivotal and controversial
Five of the best logos of the 2010s
The best logos of the 2010s
YouTube logo
The YouTube logo: a history
Latest in Logos & Icons
Microsoft To Do
People have some Very Strong Opinions on the Microsoft To Do icons
Clippers logos old vs new
New LA Clippers logo is an instant classic
WLCO logo design
This hip neighbourhood's logo is totally loopy, but I love it
The superman logo as based on a potential design from Superman: Legacy
Possible new Superman logo divides fans
Lyle's Golden Syrup and Lyles Black Treacle tins showing the lion logo
Lyle's apologises for its Golden Syrup logo redesign as even the church expresses dismay
Steve Jobs and the Google logo
Apparently Steve Jobs hated the Google logo on his iPhone
Latest in News
GIMP logo on a gradient background
After 20 years, GIMP could finally be the free Photoshop alternative I hoped for
MacBook deals
Save $600 on a MacBook Pro with my pick of the best 3 Mac deals right now
Yahoo billboard
Yahoo's tsunami billboard is all kinds of horrifying
A screenshot from a video presenting Mythica Open Source Library
Mythica's open-source platform allows anyone to use these two studios' assets for game development
Images from the making of Ubisoft Brazil Assassin's Creed Shadows advert
This hilarious Assassin’s Creed Shadows ad is giving me Power Rangers vibes
A screenshot from a Unity sizzle reel
Unity 6 goes all-in on AI for future updates - and extends platform support