This week, Instagram updated their logo, and right on cue, the Internet exploded about it. This is not a post about that. Rather, this is a post about how we all critique design in public.

For example, this tweet got a lot of traction, especially from designy people:

And rightfully so…it’s a funny GIF. Anything with that thumbs up kid is gold!

There’s just one problem. Jokes like this spread the misconception that design is an easy and shallow aesthetic exercise. This seems to happen every time a major brand redesigns.