Microsoft Bing, aka Bing, is a search engine that was officially launched in June 2009. It emerged from a series of earlier search engines developed by Microsoft, including MSN Search and Live Search. The Bing logo has undergone several transformations since its inception, which reflect the evolution of Microsoft’s search engine and its branding strategies.
In fact, Bing represents a significant rebranding effort from the previous search engines of Microsoft, including Live Search and MSN Search. The article delves into the various timelines of the Bing’s logo evolution and highlights key design changes.
The Genesis of the Microsoft Bing Logo (1998 – 2000)
Before Bing, the search engine was called msn search and the logo consisted of two parts. The upper part of the logo had a red and white diagonal oval-shaped emblem containing the wordmark “msn.’ On the bottom right corner of the emblem was the small red wordmark “Microsoft” in a sans-serif typeface. Beneath the wordmark was the wordmark “Search” in black italics and placed against a white background.
(2000 – 2001)
In the subsequent iteration of the msn logo, the redesigned emblem and the wordmarks were placed in a single line. Here, the left part of the logo featured the wordmark “msn” in bold lowercase and in a blue colour scheme. On its top corner appeared a beautiful butterfly donning the colours of the Windows emblem. On the right but at a distance was placed the wordmark “Search” in blue and in a Windows font.
(2001 – 2006)
In 2001, the redesigned logo saw the colour shade of the butterfly emblem and the wordmarks softened a little. The wordmarks were made smaller as well to make the logo look more elegant.
(2006 – 2007)
In 2006, the search engine was renamed Microsoft Live Search and featured the Windows emblem inside a grey circle. On the right was placed the wordmark “Windows Live Search” in a black sans-serif typeface.
(2007 – 2009)
In 2007, the logo saw the grey circle on the left removed and the Windows emblem increased in size. On the right was placed just the wordmark “Live Search” in a Windows font.
(2009 – 2013)
In 2009, the search engine was renamed “Bing, and the logo featured a simple yet rounded bold name, “bing,” in a custom typeface and in wide lowercase letters. The initial design was characterised by a clean, sans-serif font and a bright blue colour scheme that conveyed a sense of modernity and accessibility. Also, there was a yellow dot above the letter “i” with an uppercut. This logo aimed to create a memorable identity distinct from its predecessors. It established Bing as a fresh entry in the search engine market.
(2013) (Unused)
In yet another logo update of Bing, the brand name was represented in yellow using a Segoe typeface. On the left of the logo featured a yellow-coloured emblem in the shape of an arrowhead pointing right.
(2013 – 2016)
The logo was updated again in September 2013 to enhance its visual appeal and align it more closely with the overall Microsoft branding. This redesign included a slight adjustment in the font style to make it more contemporary. In the emblem, the previous arrowhead image was replaced with a flying boomerang image in a different shade of yellow. The initial letter of the wordmark was changed into lowercase.
(2016 – 2020)
The 2016 redesign saw the colour yellow giving way to intense green and the first letter of the wordmark being capitalised again. The flying boomerang emblem was refined, and the separating triangle at the bottom was done away with. The green colour of the logo added a sense of success and growth to the brand. It made the overall logo look more serious and stronger.
(2020)
In 2020, the redesigned logo featured a gradient three-dimensional emblem and the wordmark in a light-silver and white colour palette. The wordmark was shown in a flat grey colour scheme.
(2020 – Present)
In October 2020, Microsoft rebranded Bing as “Microsoft Bing,” which was accompanied by another logo update. This version showcased a refined typeface that aligned with other Microsoft products to promote brand unity. The colour palette became more vibrant and incorporated the Windows shades of blue, green, yellow, and red. This design aimed to convey innovation and accessibility. It reinforced Bing’s identity as part of the broader Microsoft family.
(2020 – Present) (Secondary)
In addition to the previous logo, another version that made the cut features the flying boomerang emblem in various shades of gradient blue. The wordmark “Bing” in title case is shown to the right of the emblem in grey.
The Elements of the Bing Logo
Font
The Bing logo features a customised version of Microsoft’s corporate typeface, Segoe, to highlight the logo’s connection to the Microsoft brand. Notably, the “i” and “n” are consistent with their design in the Windows logo. Also, the top cut of the letter “b” is similar to the style of the letter “t” in the primary Microsoft logo.
Colour
Since its debut in 2009, the logo has undergone several colour changes. Initially, it used a blue and yellow palette, which transitioned to a solely yellow design in 2013. Thereafter, the logo embraced the Windows colour palette of red, green, blue, and yellow.
Finally
The Bing logo and its various variants reflect Microsoft’s broader branding strategy and its commitment to creating a cohesive identity across its services. Each redesign not only aimed to modernise the appearance but also to communicate the functionality and reliability that users expect from Microsoft’s search engine. As technology continues to evolve, it is likely that the Bing logo will adapt further to meet changing consumer expectations and design trends.