January 13, 2009 | Category: Logo Designing | Tags: Logo Design News

We mentioned last year about the cleverness of Obama’s logo and its flexibility to adapt with other logos during its campaign last year. It comes as no surprise then that different companies, big and small, will find a way to make the most of this powerful logo and profit from its success.

First in the batch is Pepsi with the launch of its new logo that is strikingly similar with Obama’s. And the beverage giant is blatantly connecting its image with the President-elect. The new slogans include “Yes You Can”, “Choose Change”, and “Optimism”.

The connection seems logical since Pepsi has been positioning itself as the face of the new generation against the old time favorite, Coca Cola. After all, these have been the logo colors of Pepsi long before Obama became a public figure. When asked about the reason behind its new design, executives denied that they copied it from Obama. They are simply aligning their brand with the current disposition of the country. Dare to believe it?

Ikea is also riding the popularity of Obama with the launch of its out-of-home ad campaign called “Embrace Change ‘09″. Here, the home retailer has created a replica of the Oval Office inside Union Station in Washington, D.C. designed from desk to carpet. Moreover, Ikea fans will the power the design their own version of the Oval Office in the company’s special website, http://www.embracechange09.com.

At the heart of this Obama craze, here’s the big question: is it worth the effort and money? I like to believe that the power of this campaign will not prosper over the long haul. For one, consumers are very fickle. What’s popular today may not be popular tomorrow. Better focus on creating your own brand rather than piggybacking on other’s popularity.