“To see what is in front of one’s nose needs a constant struggle.”
— GEORGE ORWELL
That’s how Sam Moreau, principal director of user experience for Windows, felt when Paula Scher of Pentagram showed him her sketches for the new Windows logo.
Windows 8 logo designed by Pentagram
“Paula asked us a simple question, ‘Your name is Windows. Why are you a flag?’”
A few previous Windows logos
“We approached the logo redesign with a few key goals in mind.
“We wanted the new logo to be both modern and classic by echoing the International Typographic Style (or Swiss design) that has been a great influence on our Metro style design philosophy. Using bold flat colors and clean lines and shapes, the new logo has the characteristics of way-finding design systems seen in airports and subways.
“It was important that the new logo carries our Metro principle of being ‘Authentically Digital’. By that, we mean it does not try to emulate faux-industrial design characteristics such as materiality (glass, wood, plastic, etc.). It has motion — aligning with the fast and fluid style you’ll find throughout Windows 8.
“Our final goal was for the new logo to be humble, yet confident. Welcoming you in with a slight tilt in perspective and when you change your color, the logo changes to reflect you. It is a ‘Personal’ Computer after all.”
— SAM MOREAU
More from Sam Moreau here: Redesigning the Windows logo.
My thoughts? For consistency’s sake I’d like to see a TM beside the 8.
Thanks to Sam Withey for the tip.
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Update: 18 February 2012
Read more from the designers on the Pentagram website.
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