When a technology-based company changes its logo... is that a sure sign they've become irrellevent and/or on a trajectory towards bankruptcy?

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Aesthetics change over time. Everything else that consumers see gets updated all the time, whether it’s the product itself, packaging, commercials, or websites. So why not update the logo?

Not necessarily, the Apple logo springs to mind as a good counter example.

Here are a few more: http://www.neatorama.com/2008/02/07/the-evolution-of-tech-companies-logos/

Like @Haleth and @nisse said, aesthetics do change over time. However, I think that in some cases, a logo change can signify a need to “start anew” with a company and possibly avoid any previous recognition.

Also, nisse, thanks for the link, some of those old logos are cool!

Oh oh….sales must be way down. What can we do? Hey, I know…let’s come up with a new logo!! Yeah, that’s it! It’ll look like we’ve been doing real good and everybody will start spending their money with us! Yeah!

Not usually. More often it’s a sign that they have hired a new, forward looking marketing agent and are not so married to the old one that they can’t embrace the future. Sometimes the changes are very subtle, but if you do any research on corporate symbols through the ages, you will be amused to see the ‘growth’ factor of some of your favorites.

No not usually it just means they are trying to change with the times ive seen it happen to many companies and it is nothing to worry about

I’d say no, not necessarily. Cisco went from this to this when it started going after the home market and wanted something that would show up and be recognizable even when it appeared very small, such as on a little box.

@Jeruba, that’s a good example.