Technology and Science · 13 August, 2026 · 2 min read
Instagram Unveils Redesigned Wordmark After A Decade, Replacing Cursive Typeface
Instagram unveiled a new wordmark replacing the decade-old cursive logo. Mosseri announced the change, aiming for a cleaner, more modern look.
Tone shifts from neutral brand housekeeping to scathing critique of messaging.
7 of 8 outlets skipped it: meta explored hundreds of designs (all-caps, handwriting) before choosing script.
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Ars Technica mocks the refresh as 'AI slop', while USA Today treats it as routine branding news.
Instagram refreshes wordmark
Instagram unveiled a redesigned wordmark on Thursday, updating the text-only logo that displays the company’s name after a decade in use.
“"The wordmark at the top of the app hasn’t changed in 10 years, so it was time for a refresh,"”
USA TodayInstagram head Adam Mosseri said, "The wordmark at the top of the app hasn’t changed in 10 years, so it was time for a refresh," describing it as "Cleaner and more modern, with references to the original and the simplicity and craft that’s always made it Instagram."
Ars TechnicaThe new design replaces the recognizable cursive typeface with a half-cursive, half-print look, and multiple outlets tied the change to the idea that the older version felt dated after a decade.
The update is focused on the wordmark rather than the app’s iconic pink-gradient camera icon, which the BBC and others described as unchanged for now.
Jokes, criticism, and reactions
Reactions to the new wordmark spread quickly, with commenters saying the stylized letters could be read as "Instagzam" instead of Instagram.
Variety quoted a commenter responding to Mosseri’s reveal: "Is it just me or It reads : instagzam ❓," while other users complained the design was "It’s barely readable. Does it even pass accessibility checks? Booo. I might be the outspoken minority, but do not like."
ClubicThe Verge similarly framed the update as less legible than before, saying the new wordmark is "somehow less legible than its predecessor" and that it "totally says “Instagzam,” right?"
In parallel, the Economic Times described the refresh as eliciting mixed reactions online, including a recurring joke that the redesigned lettering makes "Instagram" look like "Instagzam".
Design choices and next steps
Beyond the wordmark, USA Today reported that Meta’s news release said Instagram users will also see an updated Instagram Sans, a new handwriting typeface, Instagram Pen, and new Instagram mono font.U
“"Script reflects individuality, so referencing that felt right,"”
USA TodayUSA Today also quoted Instagram director of product design Jasmine Probst, who said in a news release, "Script reflects individuality, so referencing that felt right," and described the new wordmark as "bolder and simpler, with touches of unexpectedness."U
The Economic Times added that the refresh focuses solely on the wordmark, not the app’s iconic gradient icon, and noted that Meta had not yet commented on whether the redesign would be followed by other changes to Instagram’s visual identity.
Ars Technica took a harsher tone, calling the announcement "the perfect embodiment of AI slop" while referencing Mosseri’s claim about "simplicity and craft" in the context of the wordmark update.A