I don't believe an update was necessary. Sure there is a touch of nineties Gridnik in the r but I have to force this into a criticism of the original. The new version is slicker and cleaner but I think it does this at the expense of distinction and personality.

The original r attracted the treatment it was given because rs are tricky. The new r emphasises this fact and offers a poor substitute. Although the overall mark is treated competently the new r is weak and brings attention to the happenstance join-up. It's a passable affectation but it is an affectation and doesn't add any conceptual value to the Corbis brand.

I enjoy the rythmns of the original. The pace of the letterforms provide just enough traction to say 'I'm a design-led brand and I care about what designers think'.