Microsoft reveals new company logo

Microsoft sheds its stalwart logo of the past 25 years, and introduces the new guard

James Etherington-SmithAugust 23, 2012

“In advance of one of the most significant waves of product launches in Microsoft’s history, today we are unveiling a new logo for the company,” said Jeff Hansen, general manager of brand strategy at Microsoft, posting in an update on the Microsoft blog.

“It’s been 25 years since we’ve updated the Microsoft logo and now is the perfect time for a change,” continued Hansen.

“This is an incredibly exciting year for Microsoft as we prepare to release new versions of nearly all of our products. From Windows 8 to Windows Phone 8 to Xbox services to the next version of Office, you will see a common look and feel across these products providing a familiar and seamless experience on PCs, phones, tablets and TVs.”

“This wave of new releases is not only a reimagining of our most popular products, but also represents a new era for Microsoft, so our logo should evolve to visually accentuate this new beginning.”

New Microsoft logo – revealed 23 August 2012

According to Hansen, the new Microsoft logo takes its inspiration from their product design principles, while drawing upon “the heritage of our brand values, fonts and colors.”

“The logo has two components: the logotype and the symbol. For the logotype, we are using the Segoe font which is the same font we use in our products as well as our marketing communications,” explained Hansen. “The symbol is important in a world of digital motion. The symbol’s squares of color are intended to express the company’s diverse portfolio of products.”

The company has released a video to accompany the logo.