News

Windows 8 Logo Gets a Metro-Style Revamp

Microsoft unveiled a new logo for Windows 8, it's forthcoming desktop operating system, on Friday.

The new design eschews the multicolored panes and flag-like attributes of earlier logos, said Sam Moreau, Microsoft's principal director of user experience for Windows, in a blog post.

The revamped logo is meant to reflect Windows 8's Metro-style UI while staying within logo traditions used for past Windows products, ranging from Windows 1.0 to Windows 7.

New Windows 8 logo
The new Windows 8 logo.

The new logo is squarer and flatter than recent iterations, much like the Windows 8 UI itself. Microsoft has previously explained that the Metro UI used in Windows 8 was designed to make it easier to access to programs that were getting buried in the start-screen menu system. Microsoft made the access more direct through its tile-like UI in Windows 8, while also facilitating touch interactions.

With regard to the font used in the logo, Moreau said that Microsoft is using "the International Typographic Style (or Swiss design) that has been a great influence on our Metro style design philosophy." He said the font is typically used to indicate directions in subways and airport terminals.

See Also:

About the Author

Kurt Mackie is senior news producer for 1105 Media's Converge360 group.

Featured

  • An image of planes flying around a globe

    2025 Microsoft Conference Calendar: For Partners, IT Pros and Developers

    Here's your guide to all the IT training sessions, partner meet-ups and annual Microsoft conferences you won't want to miss.

  • Google To Acquire Cloud Startup Wiz for $32 Billion

    Google has announced a pending agreement to acquire Wiz Inc., a cloud security platform, in an all-cash deal worth $32 billion.

  • FTC Expands Microsoft Antitrust Investigation Under Trump Administration

    The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is pressing ahead with a broad investigation into Microsoft's business practices, an inquiry that began in the final weeks of the Biden administration.

  • Microsoft to Shut Down Skype Services

    Microsoft will discontinue its Skype telecommunications and video calling services on May 5, 2025, marking the end of the platform's decades-long run.

Most   Popular