Microsoft Unveils First New Company Logo In 25 Years

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Microsoft Unveils First New Company Logo In 25 Years

Posted by timothy on Thursday August 23, 2012 @06:23AM from the thought-that-was-the-foursquare-logo dept.

Barence writes "For the first time in 25 years, Microsoft has issued a new company logo to usher in the Windows 8 era. Made up of a newly square Windows symbol alongside grey Microsoft logo type, it's been designed to closely match the logos for other products in Microsoft's portfolio, including Office and Xbox. The logo takes pride of place on Microsoft.com from today, and will be used in Microsoft's retail stores and on all future TV ads."

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poor by Anonymous Coward · 2012-08-23 06:24 · Score: 5, Funny

there is no dollar sign in there.
1. Re:poor by Anonymous Coward · 2012-08-23 07:08 · Score: 3, Informative
  
  Well I would think AVG would since it is ripping them off. Same colors, same square design, just placed in different corners. http://aa-download.avg.com/filedir/promo/press/press_logo_avg.png
2. Re:poor by jhoegl · 2012-08-23 07:14 · Score: 4, Informative
  
  It does seem pretty lazy. I mean I could put 4 squares in front of a 4 year old and get better results.
3. Re:poor by xevioso · 2012-08-23 07:29 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  One of the interesting things about this is the amount of money spent to create this logo. It probably runs into the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Internally, they probably went through multiple design revisions, followed by multiple meetings on how the logo should look and what the brand "evokes", followed by multiple meetings at the very top of the company to confirm these findings. And that's if it was done internally; if they hired an agency to do this it could easily have cost them millions.
  All for something I could have done with Powerpoint.
4. Re:poor by sapgau · 2012-08-23 08:23 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  Or done in Paint.
5. Re:poor by rolfwind · 2012-08-23 08:36 · Score: 5, Interesting
  
  Good simple logos are hard to do. Look at FedEx. That needed an all new font just to get the subtle symbolism.
  And simple is the right direction. If you look at art or old magazines, the designs of illustrations go from a type of baroque, all curvy and overdetailed to ever more simplified.
  The problem with the new logo isn't that it's simple, it's that it's generic. The four colors always were. Google and eBay has similiar colors by now (although they incorporate it into the name itself). I think Microsft has the most generic logo out there for a major corporation and without the "Microsoft" next to it, most people wouldn't be able to place it -- unlike, say, a Mercedes Star or some such.
6. Re:poor by Tough+Love · 2012-08-23 08:43 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  Good simple logos are hard to do.
  Bad simple logos are easy to do. Like this one. Or do you see something good about it?
  Once again, major props to Steve Ballmer for keeping that impressively steady hand on the tiller, straight towards the rocks.
  
  --
  When all you have is a hammer, every problem starts to look like a thumb.
7. Re:poor by arth1 · 2012-08-23 08:55 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  My thoughts go to Ludo, which also uses less vibrant versions of RGBY, just like Microsoft does.
  But what I thought the most funny was how the logo doesn't work well with jpeg. Look at the two version of the logo on the pcpro page linked to, and there's horribly visible jpeg artifacts on the logo. This is a well-known problem when trying to use right angles between differently colored fields.
  Of course, png would work better, but so many web sites still use jpg even for logos that Microsoft might face a small problem here.
8. Re:poor by Jeng · 2012-08-23 08:58 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  All for something I could have done with Powerpoint.
  
  Piece of chalk $0.05
  Knowing where to make the mark $5000
  The tools used does not determine the difficulty of the project.
  
  --
  Don't know something? Look it up. Still don't know? Then ask.
9. Re:poor by Anonymous Coward · 2012-08-23 09:02 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  Actually, there was a glitch in the organization: developers ended up designing the logo and designers ended up developing Windows 8.
Looks like Metro tiles by GameboyRMH · 2012-08-23 06:24 · Score: 5, Funny

Next best thing to putting Clippy in there, I guess.

--
"When information is power, privacy is freedom" - Jah-Wren Ryel
1. Re:Looks like Metro tiles by overmoderated · 2012-08-23 06:25 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  Paint is such a nice program.
2. Re:Looks like Metro tiles by Vanderhoth · 2012-08-23 06:37 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  You're right, and it's obviously not a coincidence. I for one, welcome our new Windows 8 Style UI Overlords!
  FTFY
3. Re:Looks like Metro tiles by infodragon · 2012-08-23 06:40 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  “People liked NASCAR because the constant crashes made it exciting, and this gave me an idea...”
  -- Bill Gates on Microsoft Windows
  Another brilliant idea, change the look of your brand as the exciting crash of the company begins.
  For those of you not able to tell, this is my terrible attempt at humor.
  
  --
  If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you.
4. Re:Looks like Metro tiles by GameboyRMH · 2012-08-23 06:41 · Score: 3, Interesting
  
  My local telecom came out with new branding with pastel colors and sharp squarish logos right before it was sold off.
  
  --
  "When information is power, privacy is freedom" - Jah-Wren Ryel
5. Re:Looks like Metro tiles by Anonymous Coward · 2012-08-23 06:46 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  Next best thing to putting Clippy in there, I guess.
  
  "No, wait, this one goes to the mouth..."
  - some Win8 UX designer who thinks Win8 is an upgrayedd.
  (Personally, I'm not sure.)
6. Re:Looks like Metro tiles by Anonymous Coward · 2012-08-23 06:53 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  They had to change because Apply has the property rights for round corners...
7. Re:Looks like Metro tiles by Grishnakh · 2012-08-23 07:02 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  Either that or they could get rid of Ballmer!
  Hey, shut up! Don't give them any ideas! I'm personally enjoying watching this trainwreck unfold.
8. Re:Looks like Metro tiles by Anonymous Coward · 2012-08-23 07:26 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  "People liked NASCAR because the constant crashes made it exciting, and this gave me an idea..."
  -- Bill Gates on Microsoft Windows
  "You Can't Believe Most of the Quotes You Read On the Internet"
  -- Abraham Lincoln
9. Re:Looks like Metro tiles by UnknownSoldier · 2012-08-23 07:28 · Score: 4, Interesting
  
  This guy would agree with you ;-)
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uk2sPl_Z7ZU
  How to paint the MONA LISA with MS PAINT
  The artist also "draws" with Cheetos ... no joke. He is *good*
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IoqpXQ_dpA
10. Re:Looks like Metro tiles by omnichad · 2012-08-23 07:36 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  I prefer "The UI formerly known as Metro"
Better Article by Bill+Dimm · 2012-08-23 06:29 · Score: 5, Informative

This article shows a history of Microsoft's logos.
1. Re:Better Article by girlintraining · 2012-08-23 06:46 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  Yeah, and let me be the first to say, I think they went backwards.
  That logo belongs in the 80s. I'm saying this as a graphic designer too; The colors are flat, solid. It uses simple geometric shapes. The only thing that tells me that this isn't vintage is the kerning on the text at the end (they overlapped the crossbar on the 'f' and 't'), which wasn't terribly common in that day. And yes, I am saying this knowing the design house that created the logo (very disappointed, Pentagram... you're supposed to be the best here. Da fuq happened?).
  I know it was designed to evoke feelings of openness and friendliness, but to me it just comes off as dated. But maybe I'm jaded because I know that Microsoft OS' follow the same rule as Star Trek movies: Every other one sucks. And maybe I am being harsh on Pentagram; I mean, it's hard to design a logo for something you know is going to explode on the launchpad.
  But still guys, it's pretty 80s. You could have at least... I don't know... tilted the squares a little? Something. Anything. It's very boring.
  
  --
  #fuckbeta #iamslashdot #dicemustdie
2. Re:Better Article by sam_paris · 2012-08-23 07:09 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  Call me crazy but I think this is really a case of "different strokes for different folks." And in general it seems that anything Microsoft does gets criticized at Slashdot. I mean. I've been a member here since 2006 and lurked long before then and I don't recall many instances of people praising anything they've done, so this comment is very unsurprising.
  
  That said, I actually like this logo (yes, feel free to mod me +funny). I think that simple and flat shading evokes modernity and that trying to be fancy and use gradients or otherwise trying to make things pop-out or use 3D-ish looking elements is on its way out.
  
  As far as boring goes, we are talking about a large software company that makes most it's money of licensing software for big business, it's not a games studio or a high-octane energy drink company, the logo was never going to be neon green with a lightning flash. I wouldn't call Apple, Google, or Facebook's logos exciting either, they are functional. These companies live or die based on their products, not their logos.
3. Re:Better Article by girlintraining · 2012-08-23 07:21 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  Bah. Pentagram made a Windows 8 logo. Look at the one on their own homepage by Paula Scher, their lead designer and goddess in the design world -- monochrome, baby blue, sans serif font, angled rectangles. That looked modern.
  Logos are supposed to look simple, they're symbols; and should be easily recognizable and (ideally) capable of being used in black and white. Anyone who's taken a semester of graphic design classes could tell you that much.
  And don't say companies don't live or die based on their logos: Brand identity is what separates Pepsi from Coke. I won't get into the research and market data that says how important this is, but it is and you're making a huge mistake to think otherwise.
  
  --
  #fuckbeta #iamslashdot #dicemustdie
4. Re:Better Article by A+Friendly+Troll · 2012-08-23 07:49 · Score: 5, Informative
  
  I'm saying this as a graphic designer too ... kerning on the text at the end (they overlapped the crossbar on the 'f' and 't')
  
  I don't want to be a dick, but that's not kerning, that's a ligature, and it's been present in various scripts for about five thousand years (seriously). Furthermore, neither 'f' nor 't' have crossbars; they have cross strokes.
5. Re:Better Article by sam_paris · 2012-08-23 08:38 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  I'm not saying you are wrong about the logo, it's a matter of opinion of course. However, I think it's somewhat specious to compare the logos of drinks companies and software companies. When it comes to drinks companies, let's be fair, there's basically no difference between any of the 100 different types Coke, so, in this this case branding is hugely important. In the end, all the drinks have the same "functionality" which is to quench your thirst, taste sugary, and provide you with caffeine. So all Coke can really do is push their name and history and "secret" formula and it's famous logo.
  
  However, when it comes to Microsoft Server software and say Linux server software, these are two very different products with a vast array of differences and relative positives and negatives. The people in charge of choosing whether a database server gets Windows Server 2008 and SQL Server or Linux and MySQL is going to be looking at up-times, security, compatibility, and so on. The point I'm trying to make is that the branding of a company is definitely more important for some companies than others and soda especially is an example of where branding is hugely important, business software, not so much.
Either Microsoft stole it from this guy by Spy+Handler · 2012-08-23 06:30 · Score: 5, Funny

http://www.bestlookinglogos.com/2009/07/four-square-logo/
or they paid him $50 for it
1. Re:Either Microsoft stole it from this guy by Bill+Dimm · 2012-08-23 06:32 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  Hey, rounded corners make all the difference. You should know that by now.
2. Re:Either Microsoft stole it from this guy by GameboyRMH · 2012-08-23 06:34 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  Maybe they rolled out this new logo because the old Windows logo had rectangles with curved sides in it. And curved sides are just rounded corners for the straight parts!
  
  --
  "When information is power, privacy is freedom" - Jah-Wren Ryel
3. Re:Either Microsoft stole it from this guy by Zordak · 2012-08-23 08:29 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  And curved sides are just rounded corners for the straight parts!
  What's really screwed up is that this is not the most nonsensical statement on Slashdot. It's probably not even the most nonsensical thing I've personally seen on Slashdot today.
  
  --
  
  Today's Sesame Street was brought to you by the number e.
One of the linked story's comments was right by 93+Escort+Wagon · 2012-08-23 06:30 · Score: 4, Funny

It really does look like the image used on a Quatro can: http://www.canmuseum.com/Staging/Images/Cans/22681.jpg

--
#DeleteChrome
What I see... by Gertlex · 2012-08-23 06:32 · Score: 4, Funny

So is the average user going to think that the logo is the app for the game Simon? Artistic brilliance, aye! Should make that playable while computer boots...
Yeah, it's a crap logo by jollyreaper · 2012-08-23 06:33 · Score: 5, Interesting

To be expected. What I want to know is:
a) How much time did they spend on this?
b) How much money did they spend on it?
Anything north of 12 months and $50 mil, I'll be suitably disgusted and impressed. 24 months and $100 mil, they deserve some kind of fail award.

--
Kwisatz Haderach
Sell the spice to CHOAM
This Mahdi took Shaddam's Throne
already leaked, perhaps? by Urza9814 · 2012-08-23 06:34 · Score: 3, Informative

Interesting...a few weeks ago I recall seeing an article somewhere about supposedly leaked designs for new Microsoft devices -- I think it was a portable mouse and some other things, can't remember where I saw it. But one of the comments pointed out that it was probably fake, because the Microsoft logo on the devices didn't have their usual slant, didn't have the notch in the o.....it basically looked like this one. Perhaps they weren't fake after all?
Ligature by nxcho · 2012-08-23 06:36 · Score: 3, Funny

The ft ligature looks a bit like its standing out. Like they want their name to be stressed MicrosoFT and you get spit all over your screen.

--
When asked why, the answer is almost always: "It's 2014".
Unimaginative by ReptileQc · 2012-08-23 06:36 · Score: 5, Insightful

Apparently this is the "less is more" philosophy... but at the same time, it is plain and unimaginative. Isn't it bad for a company that aims to prove that they can reinvent themselves?
Love the current comments on that page by BorgAssimilator · 2012-08-23 06:36 · Score: 4, Funny

"It must have took around 5 minutes in paint to come up with that design..."

"I can't help but think of windows 3.11 for some reason."

"Does my monitor need calibrating again, or do those four colours in the panes look curiously sickly?"

--
"Intelligence has nothing to do with politics!"
-Londo Mollari
... and made with MS Paint by schwep · 2012-08-23 06:38 · Score: 5, Funny

Really? This looks like the last thing you drew before you thought, "I should try out the circle brush."
How much did that actually cost? by MonkeyPaw · 2012-08-23 06:39 · Score: 3, Funny

Four squares and some basic typeset.
I can't even imagine how much they actually paid for this with all the different designs submitted, numerous meetings going over designs, tweaks to it.
I can imagine the comments in the meeting though.
"Yeah Bob. What we're looking for is something that says simple and not over thought. Go back and try AGAIN."

--
My studio - www.graylands.ca
Another fugly design from the marketing droids by Anomalyst · 2012-08-23 06:41 · Score: 4, Insightful

Looks very Metro. (Tha'ts not a compliment)

--
There is no right to feel safe thru security vaudeville at the expense of everyone's freedom, privacy and tax money.
Re:Stop laughing by tiberus · 2012-08-23 06:48 · Score: 3, Insightful

The designer must of taken a whole lunch break to create it.
Mayhaps but, you know it went something like..
Hey we need a new logo
Send out the RFP
Receive hundreds if not thousand of submissions, most of them decidedly silly
Spend hours upon days upon weeks of LSERs (Logo Submission Evaluation Reviews) to narrow the field
Toss that into the pot and go with an Execs 5yo did in crayon
25 years worth of work... by Cyko_01 · 2012-08-23 06:53 · Score: 3, Insightful

...and, much like vista, it is a huge disappointment
Re:Stop laughing by Jeng · 2012-08-23 06:55 · Score: 5, Funny

This is Microsoft you are talking about here.
This was designed by multiple committees each of which would only support their own design.
After 3 months of deliberations Balmer sat in on a committee meeting and determined the winner by lining up the different executives that ran each committee and then started throwing chairs at them. The last one standing won.

--
Don't know something? Look it up. Still don't know? Then ask.
Logo is fine, font is wrong. by Erikderzweite · 2012-08-23 06:55 · Score: 4, Funny

Given the latest developments, the font should've been MS Comic Sans.
Logo for Microsoft, not MS by tepples · 2012-08-23 06:58 · Score: 5, Funny

there is no dollar sign in there.
Of course there isn't. The logotype part is "Microsoft", not "MS". The dollar sign, an homage to Microsoft's roots as a BASIC interpreter publisher, comes in only when you abbreviate it as M$.

10 M$ = "Microsoft" 20 PRINT M$;" is a monopolist"
1. Re:Logo for Microsoft, not MS by operagost · 2012-08-23 09:14 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  No, no! You have to save that change for later. You change the GOTO 10 to GOTO 20 and release it in the new version as a "performance enhancement".
  
  --
  
  Gamingmuseum.com: Give your 3D accelerator a rest.
Re:Stop laughing by mooingyak · 2012-08-23 07:00 · Score: 4, Funny

have. It's "must HAVE". "of" makes no sense.
The best response of that nature that I've seen read something like "Do you of any idea how annoying that is?"

--
William of Ockham had no beard. The most likely explanation is that it was chewed off by squirrels every morning.
Spin-outs by tepples · 2012-08-23 07:00 · Score: 3, Interesting

M$ has too much cash on hand to be sold off.
How much cash would Microsoft have to hemorrhage before having to spin out pieces of itself? Would Xbox be the first to go?
Sweet Jesus by Quiet_Desperation · 2012-08-23 07:03 · Score: 4, Funny

That thing is so bad the f is molesting the t out of sheer despair.
Re:Oh my God! by Jeng · 2012-08-23 07:12 · Score: 3

I figured the new logo would be a stylized graphic of Balmer bending a customer over a table and shoving an apple up the customers ass. Of course, I did poorly at marketing.

The apple goes in the mouth, Balmer is shoving something else up the customers ass.
Squeal!

--
Don't know something? Look it up. Still don't know? Then ask.
Re:Launched? Unveiled? by nschubach · 2012-08-23 07:29 · Score: 4, Insightful

Damn, there's some awful optical illusions going on there... Gray dot in the middle, faint lines of off colors equidistant from the white separator bars in each of the color boxes.
Maybe it's just the poor quality of JPG?

--
Every time I start to have faith in humanity, I ruin it by driving to work between 7 and 8 am.
Re:Oh my God! by mellyra · 2012-08-23 07:30 · Score: 3, Informative

Wow, oh wow! Whoa! A square rainbow! WHAT DOES IT MEAN!?!? T_T
The video linked in the Technet announcement is interesting:
blue: Windows
red: Office
green: XBOX
yellow: ???
Maybe Microsoft is planning a new product line ... (if yellow was Server or dev tools there would be no reason not to include it in the video)
Re:Launched? Unveiled? by omnichad · 2012-08-23 07:39 · Score: 3, Informative

That's definitely overcompressed.
Re:Oh my God! by LoP_XTC · 2012-08-23 08:34 · Score: 3, Funny

The video linked in the Technet announcement is interesting:
blue: Windows
red: Office
green: XBOX
yellow: ???
Maybe Microsoft is planning a new product line ... (if yellow was Server or dev tools there would be no reason not to include it in the video)
Hmm I would have thought ...
Blue - Windows (For BSOD)
Red - XBox (For RROD)
Yellow - ASP/.NET (Yellow screen of death)
Green - ... Okay stuck on this one.
Aaron

--
"Curiouser and Curiouser...." -Alice
Yes there is... by SuperKendall · 2012-08-23 10:13 · Score: 5, Funny

there is no dollar sign in there.
If you watch the video introducing the logo, you'll note that three of the colors represent broad categories of Microsoft - Blue is Windows, Red is Office, and Green is XBox.
So what's the color remaining they didn't provide an explicit mapping for in the video?
Gold.
Well played, Microsoft.

--
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley