Mozilla Firefox is getting a brand refresh, complete with a (seriously) cute new mascot called Kit.
“Kit’s our new [Firefox] mascot and your new companion through an internet that’s private, open and actually yours”, Mozilla say on a landing page introducing the agile, flame-coloured fox.
To celebrate Kit’s unveiling official merchandise emblazoned with the new mascot is available to buy in the USA and Europe, including t-shirts, stickers and a travel mug. For desktops, a browser new tab page background featuring the vulpine’s visage.
This is Mozilla’s latest ride at the rebranding rodeo. Last year the company logo, wordmark, font, website and marketing materials was overhauled. Mozilla’s classic dinosaur mascot also saw its long-awaited revival, albeit in a pixelated rather than tomato red form.
Might this new mascot also mean a new Firefox logo and app icon is inbound? Firefox last updated its logo in 2019, and was more of a modern refinement than a major revamp.
It’s certainly the case that the shape of Kit’s ears, the fluffy cheeks and eyes make it different to the fox that’s used in the official logo and app icons. But Kit may just be a mascot, and not intended to be the same fox in the Firefox logo.
The fact the official merch with Kit still bears the current Firefox logo and word mark would suggest if there is a logo revamp to come, it’s… Well, to come.
With Mozilla under (now not-so) new leadership, the bods at the top may be keen to give the “legacy product” (as it has referred to its desktop browser) a more lively, spirited presence — more than can be said for the grim decline of its marketshare.
Is Kit a hit with you?
Thanks Dominic