Instagram is rolling out new brand identity materials for users and influencers to use as part of a “visual upgrade” that it hopes will spark creativity across the platform’s various communities.
The update is divided into three parts: a new font for the app called Instagram Sans, a new design and layout system, and a new logo with moving gradient colors. Admittedly, it’s a bit confusing how users and creators should use the moving gradient logo, but it seems to be a kind of beacon to bring more attention to the content.
eye-catching content
Speaking of attractive, Instagram Sans was created for precisely that purpose. It’s the platform’s new global font, which was inspired by the Instagram logo itself. Instagram said it worked with experts to make sure the font works with all kinds of languages, including those that don’t use letters like Japanese and Arabic. Instagram Sans sports a circular motif that is supposed to invoke friendship. You can play around with Instagram Sans on the platform’s website, where you can check out the various subfonts like Sans Script and Medium.
The new layouts appear to break Instagram’s current layout limits, creating borderless collages in both portrait and landscape formats. There are four layout options (1:1, 4:5, 9:16 and 16:9) that you can experiment with and fit whatever you want into them. And you’re not restricted to images, as you’ll be able to include videos and stories from Reels. Creators can also add product links to these designs.
Instagram has a layouts page where you can take a closer look at the feature. We asked Instagram how users can share these images and if they can post them to their own accounts. Unfortunately, they never responded to us.
The moving gradient, as stated above, is simply a beacon that you can find in various parts of Instagram. It can be found in Create mode, the rings around an Instagram story, and as a sticker in stories.
Growing your audience
We also asked Instagram when people can expect these features to roll out, but were met with silence. What can be said with some confidence is that this is all probably part of Instagram’s plan to go after TikTok’s audience.
The layout feature will be full screen, and in early May, the platform announced that it is testing a new vertical font that takes up the entire screen. Whether chasing TikTok is the way to go in the long term remains to be seen. Instagram’s new fonts and layouts are certainly interesting, but it’s up to users to decide if they’re worth keeping.