Microsoft is arguably a global leader in information technology and is one of the largest tech corporations in the world. Founded in 1975, it offers a range of software products and services. Its iconic logo has undergone a remarkable transformation over the years. It reflects the growth of the company and its evolution from a fledgling startup to becoming a global tech giant. This article explores the journey of the Microsoft logo and how it evolved through the years.
The Genesis of the Microsoft Logo (1972-1975)
Microsoft was founded in 1975 by Bill Gates and Paul Allen. The first logo of the company was for the original name, Traf-O-Data. It had a stylized monogram comprising three black figures. In fact, the letter “D” in the logo had two parts and a black circle at the centre. The circle symbolised the letter “O,” and the left side of the letter “D” appeared like “T.”. The whole emblem, thus, looked like “TOD,” the abbreviation of the name of the company. The black logotype was placed on the right of the logo and showed the words “Traf-O-Data” in a rounded serif font.
The Disco-Inspired Logo (1975–1980)
In 1975, Microsoft introduced its first official logo, designed by Simon Daniels. The design featured the company’s name in a groovy, disco-inspired font. The monochrome logotype in capital letters had extra bold lines, which were formed by several thin lines. This logo aimed to capture the spirit of the times and helped establish Microsoft’s brand identity.
The “Blibbet” Era (1980–1982)
In 1980, Microsoft unveiled the “Blibbet” logo designed by Simon Daniels again. With monochrome being kept as the main theme, the black letters in the logo were written in a New Zelek font. And despite initial resistance from employees who had grown fond of the previous logo, “Blibbet” gained popularity and became a recognisable symbol for the company.
(1982–1987)
In 1982, the logo was revamped by writing the company name in a sans-serif font. The letter “O” was accentuated with striped patterns, and had split the word “MICROSOFT” into two parts.
(1987-2011)
In 1987, Microsoft introduced another iteration of its logo, designed by Scott Baker. This logo featured a bold, italic font with a stylized “O” that resembled the famous Pac-Man character. The wordmark was written in a Helvetica black font with the letter “O” showing a triangular white cut. This change marked a significant milestone in Microsoft’s history and signalled the company’s transition into a major player in the tech industry.
(2011-2012)
In 2011, the logo was modified a little but the differences were barely visible. For instance, the size of the letters was made smaller and the letter “M” depicted more space between its vertical bars. Besides, the slant of the letters was reduced as well.
The Modern Logo (2012-Present)
In 2012, Microsoft unveiled its current logo, designed by Jason Wells. It has a sleek and minimalist design and features a modern Segoe semibold sans-serif font and a simplified and colourful four-square icon. This logo reflects Microsoft’s evolution into a diverse and innovative company. It caters to a wide range of products and services beyond the company’s traditional software offerings.
The Elements of the Microsoft Logo
The wordmark used in the logo was updated using the Segoe font. Design experts noted this choice to align with Microsoft’s visual identity. It also matched the typography style that is used in their operating systems. The refreshed logo features six colours, which, apart from the grey wordmark, are blue, yellow, green, and red. These colours are set against a white background.
The History of Microsoft
Have you used a Windows computer? There are billions of them worldwide. Have you played Xbox or Minecraft? Have you used Skype or LinkedIn? If so, you have experienced the Microsoft ecosystem. The company’s products and services are deeply integrated into the digital lives of people around the world. The Microsoft ecosystem spans a wide range of digital touchpoints. These include personal computing, gaming, communication, and professional networking. It goes without saying that avoiding Microsoft’s presence in today’s tech landscape is really difficult.
Today, Microsoft stands tall as a brand in the field of Information Technology. However, it had a modest journey that began in 1975, when Bill Gates and Paul Allen founded the company. They were fuelled by their passion for microprocessors and software. The initial project of the duo was to develop software for the Altair 8800, where the latter was a pioneering microcomputer designed by MITS that utilised the Intel 8080 CPU. In 1980, the company achieved a significant milestone when it entered into a partnership with IBM. This collaboration allowed Microsoft to provide software for IBM PCs.
Since then, Microsoft has never looked back. It has grown to become the world’s leading software company, known for a host of software products such as the Windows operating system, Office suite, and Internet Explorer browser. As an American multinational corporation, Microsoft is the third company after Apple and Amazon to achieve a market capitalization of a trillion dollars.
Interesting Facts About Microsoft
- Microsoft was founded by Bill Gates and Paul Allen in 1975.
- Bill Gates, one of the founders of Microsoft, was the youngest billionaire in the world at 31. He achieved this feat in 1987.
- Microsoft made its first major business deal with IBM when it provided the operating systems to the computers built by IBM in 1980 at a cost of $50,000.
- The first version of Windows 1.0 was released in November 1985. It was a 16-bit system.
- Microsoft had saved Apple from bankruptcy in 1997 by investing $150 million. This turned beneficial for both companies, as Apple took back the lawsuit against Microsoft by accusing the latter of copying its operating system. Also, Apple made the Internet Explorer its default browser. More importantly, with the investment, Microsoft escaped an antitrust lawsuit against it by the Dept. of Justice, which accused Microsoft of having an illegal monopoly in the PC market.
- The Windows jingle was created for Windows 95 by musician Brian Eno.
- Microsoft workers bring 1 pound of M&M chocolates to celebrate their work anniversary each year. So, if someone has worked for 10 years, he is supposed to bring 10 pounds of chocolate.
- Microsoft made the first smartwatch in 1994 in collaboration with Timex. It was water-resistant up to 100 meters and needed a PC running Windows 3.1.
- In Xbox, the letter “X” is taken from Windows DirectX software, which is used by the operating system to process graphics.
- The Microsoft headquarters has 35 cafeterias where drinks and candy are served for its employees.
- Microsoft used to be known as Micro-soft. The name was given by Paul Allen, its co-founder, and was a combination of microcomputer and software. However, the “- “sign was removed in 1981.
- Microsoft Office was released on the Mac in 1989 before Windows. This was done as Apple’s Mac was considered more flexible than Windows at that time. In other words, it was easier to test any new product on Mac.
- The famous game Solitaire was introduced for an interesting reason. In the game, users need to drag the cards to the relevant match, which, in turn, educates the user on how to “drag and drop.”
- In 2014, the Microsoft search engine Bing accurately predicted the result of the World Cup Final between Argentina and Germany.
- Steve Balmer, former CEO, did not like Android devices much.
- Microsoft employees are called softies. There are more than 180, 000 Microsoft employees who are spread over 100 countries.
- Microsoft and a man called Bob came to an agreement after they held internet domains. For instance, Microsoft owned Bob.com and Bob owned windows2000.com.
- One of the most famous backgrounds for Windows is Sonoma County, California. It shows a field and a blue sky, and the picture was taken in 1996.
- Microsoft has acquired over 190 companies in its lifespan, which includes Nokia and LinkedIn.
- Microsoft has more than 70, 000 patents, out of which 50, 000 are still active. Among the patents is a see-through fog AR glass.
- Microsoft often asks odd questions to hire the best talents. It is rumoured to have asked, “Why are manhole covers round?”
- YouTube was first offered to Microsoft for $500 million, but Google snapped it up with double the amount.
- The first tablet computer was invented by Microsoft and not Apple.
- Microsoft used codenames to refer to projects under development. This was done to ensure the secrecy of the projects. For instance, Chicago (Windows 95), Longhorn (Windows Vista), Yukon (SQL Server 2005), Whistler (Windows XP), and Milan (Surface), among others.
- Microsoft is known to acquire pieces of art from contemporary artists. So far, the company has acquired over 5000 art pieces from great artists, such as Cindy Sherman, Takashi Murakami, and Chuck Close. The artwork is spread around Microsoft campuses worldwide.
- Like the tablet computer, Microsoft is the inventor of the first smartphone.
Finally
The evolution of the Microsoft logo is a fascinating journey that reflects the company’s growth and transformation over the years. Its logo has been a constant symbol of the company’s identity and values and has undergone transformation a few times. Each iteration of the logo reflects the changing times and Microsoft’s ability to adapt and innovate. This ensured the continued success of Microsoft in the ever-evolving tech landscape.