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2012

Microsoft Unfurls First New Logo For Company And Windows 8 In 25 Years

August 27, 2012 0

Redmond, Washington — In a surprising turn of events for the first time in over two decades, Redmond software maker has given its company logo a makeover, raised the curtain on its new corporate insignia over the weekend as well as a new look for its upcoming Windows 8 operating system, which is due out in October.

The new Microsoft logo is the first update to it in 25 years, wrote Jeff Meisner, general manager for brand strategy at Microsoft, in a blog post Aug. 23.

The Redmond Vole unveiled its first new logo as it looks to unify its branding ahead of a clutch of new product releases this year, introducing a dash of color in its first logo redesign since 1987, using a new multi-colored square next to a plain rendering of its name, replacing its well-worn italic style logo.

The new logo, sporting the familiar four color squares of its four-color window image set-up in a two-by-two matrix embedded in earlier versions of its logo and the word Microsoft in a lightweight, sans serif font called Segoe, replacing its well-worn italic style logo.

“There are a couple of things going on here, and Windows 8 provides a good opportunity for them to embark on this change,” said Pund-IT’s Charles King.

In addition to the new computer and smartphone OSes, the Office update as well as new Xbox services “you will see a common look and feel across these products providing a familiar and seamless experience on PCs, phones, tablets and TVs,” Meisner wrote.

In fact, the corporate logo has two components, Meisner explained, the logotype and the symbol. If you are someone who cherishes about brands and logos, however, you might be interested to know that ‘the new Microsoft logo derives its inspiration from our product design principles while drawing upon the heritage of our brand values, fonts and colors,’ as the Softies explained it in an August 23 blog post.

The company explained on the move behind its recent update said, “It has been 25 years since we have updated the Microsoft logo and now is the perfect time for a change,” said Jeff Hansen, General Manager of Microsoft’s Brand Strategy, in a blog on Microsoft’s website. “This wave of new releases is not just a re-imagining of our most popular products, but also represents a new era for Microsoft, so our logo should evolve to visually accentuate this new beginning.”

Microsoft’s Logo’s since 1975… Image Credit: (PCWorld.com)

The logotype is the word “Microsoft,” which Meisner said is written in the Segoe font, the same font that Microsoft uses on its products as well as in all of its marketing communications; the intention is meant to imply “digital motion.” Segoe and motion are both key to the Microsoft’s Metro interface/design philosophy, which has been a key component in a number of recent Microsoft products, services and Web sites.

As a matter of fact, the new logos are meant to “signal the legacy of Microsoft but also indicates the future–a newness and freshness,” said Hansen in an interview with the Seattle Times.

Finally, Microsoft officials said they are rolling out the new corporate logo on the occasion of the upcoming wave of releases of “new versions of nearly all of our products.” Windows 8, Windows Server 2012, Visual Studio 2012, Windows Phone 8, Office 2013 and a variety of other products are slated to be launched in the coming months.

Images: Microsoft’s new logo — new image?

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