Sets of overlapping circles – Unsung

This is a design joke that always makes me laugh:

= 2x) and (width >= 700px)" srcset="_media/sets-of-overlapping-circles/1.2096w.avif" type="image/avif"><br>= 3x) or (width >= 700px)" srcset="_media/sets-of-overlapping-circles/1.1600w.avif" type="image/avif">

This was made by… someone, a while back, I believe in response to the Twitter logo redesign of 2012, which showed the new logomark as composed of exclusively circles:

= 2x) and (width >= 700px)" srcset="_media/sets-of-overlapping-circles/2.2096w.avif" type="image/avif"><br>= 3x) or (width >= 700px)" srcset="_media/sets-of-overlapping-circles/2.1600w.avif" type="image/avif">

Now, to be clear: that Twitter logo redesign was gorgeous, and I do not particularly care if it was designed out of circles or whatever else. I don’t even think its announcement was presented in a overly pretentious way – it was nowhere near the 2008 bloviating Pepsi redesign or the rank amateurism of Yahoo’s new 2013 logo.

It’s just… design can be so pretentious and up its own golden-ratioed ass, and I can’t help but love anything piercing that bubble. (In my perfect, naïve world, Doug Bowman – the designer behind the logo – also finds the joke hilarious!)

Also, I feel like design is just not… funny, all that often. Quick, think of any product design joke.

See what I mean?

I can’t, either. My favourite graphic design joke is “if it’s big and ugly, it’s not big enough.” (You know, it’s funny because it’s sad.)

Jul 14, 2026humor 13

Subscribe via<br>RSS feed or

© Marcin Wichary / Mastodon / Bluesky / Email