One redesign garnered a ton of unfair scorn this past summer, even if it was perhaps AI bot-driven. But while Cracker Barrel sucked so much air out of the room, there were plenty of other brand updates that deserved more attention.

It’s nice to see that the minimalist, sleek, “Applefy all the things” trend seems to be waning. But as is often the case, we’re witnessing a rubberband effect towards hardcore maximalism. Maybe the design pendulum will eventually swing to a happy stasis soon enough.

Getting visually spicier is a running thread in the five refreshes below.  Big Hug Brewing’s new identity clearly communicates the brewery’s mission, with branding going full tilt into 90s-00s maximalism. Flaum’s color palette and new logo are full of energy and in-your-face, demanding attention on shelf. Venerdi’s illustrations are full of character that is likely unachievable through soft pastel blocks of color. Steam Whistle’s previous identity was energetic enough, but it’s visually tightened and cleaned up to make elements like the signature sound maker stand out even more. Finally, Street Legal’s update is a delightful mix of illustrations centered around a playful, hat-wearing thief.