The asterisk trend "****"

Have you noticed how recently the asterisk has become a huge sensation sweeping the logo/ design world? What makes this little mark so fashionable at the time being?

Google research recently showed me that an original star has gone out of date and is no longer in vouge. Logos of recent past (starbucks, walmart) prominently featured a 5 poin

ted star as a main component. I believe the asterick is a derivative of this star fixation, but is the progressive web 2.0, 21rst century version. After all, when you push the button on a phone with an asterisk on it, it is call the "star key". Walmart is the most obvious article of evidence to site. Their old logo was a traditional 5 point star - in 2008 they changed their look to include an asterisk in place it's place.

But this still doesn't solve the mistery of why it is so prominent. The asterisk is quite visually pleasing, with it's equal sides and visually expanding nature. * - it also appears to be a star at a small size, which means it can grab attention fairly easily.

The most fascinating part of this asterisk mystery is how the meaning of the actual symbol has changed. An asterisk was originally intended to show where a piece of information has a linked piece of information else where on a page. The dictionary defines it as: "a small starlike symbol used in writing and printing as a reference mark to indicate omission, doubtful matter, etc. This meaning has been completely shed, as the the starlike form has come to mean, LOOK AT ME! Or in reality, nothing at all.

How long will the trend last? Will we give in to it? Stay tuned