Linkedin logo: deciphering the platform's evolution and history

by our Digital Agency Optimize 360

Logo LinkedIn

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LinkedIn has made a name for itself on the social networking scene, becoming a must-have for professionals around the world.

Since its creation in 2002, this platform now has more than 774 million members in over 200 countries. But what about the LinkedIn logo?

What are its origins and how has it evolved over the years?

Let's revisit this visual icon that contributes to the identity of the largest online professional community.

The origin of the LinkedIn logo

The birth of a professional social network

LinkedIn was born in 2002, in the garage of a house in Mountain View, California. Its co-founders, Reid Hoffman and some of his former colleagues from PayPal and SocialNet.com, had an innovative idea: to create a social network aimed exclusively at professionals.

To symbolise their company, they chose a name that combines two key concepts: "Linked and In. These terms underline the desire to connect professionals within a single virtual space conducive to exchanges and business opportunities.

The first LinkedIn logo: simplicity and classicism

The very first LinkedIn logo was launched in 2003 when the platform was officially opened.

This is a typography simple and classic, with the name "LinkedIn" written in black characters on white background. At the time, the social network was primarily seeking to make itself known to professionals, without seeking to compete visually with the already well-established web giants such as Facebook or Twitter.

The Linkedin logo is sober and serious, two values shared by its main target group: professionals.

The evolution of the LinkedIn logo over the years

As LinkedIn grew, so did its reputation, prompting the company to rethink its visual identity to better reflect its international ambitions. A number of changes were made to the logo, to improve its look and feel.efficiency and make it more recognisable to users.

2005: a touch of modernity

In 2005, when LinkedIn exceeded three million usersA new version of the logo has been unveiled. It adopts a more modern typography, while retaining its initial simplicity. The black colour has been replaced by a dark blue, giving the logo a softer, more contemporary appearance. This is a wise choice, as it allows LinkedIn to start differentiating itself from its competitors and asserting its professional positioning.

2011: introduction of the blue square and the "in" icon

The LinkedIn logo is undergoing a new metamorphosis in 2011. In addition to the typography, it now incorporates a blue square with the word "in" in white at the left-hand end.

This iconography represents a real revolution for the logo, making it much more easily identifiable and affirming its affiliation to the professional world. The choice of blue, a colour associated with trustIt also demonstrates the company's desire to establish lasting and sincere relationships between members of the platform.

LinkedIn's current visual identity and its symbolic significance

The logo we know today was unveiled in 2018. Although it retains the main features of the previous version, a few changes have been made to create a harmonious whole and bring it even closer to the world of professionals:

• Blue: The shade of blue used in the current logo is slightly lighter, which contributes to a more dynamic and modern image.
• Typography : The characters are now written in capitals, reflecting an assertive stance while retaining a certain elegance.
• The square : The emblematic "in" inscribed in a blue square has been modernised with slightly rounded corners and a smaller size than the text.

The current LinkedIn logo successfully expresses the popularity and the :trust that the platform enjoys in the professional world.

It helps to create a sense of belonging for users of the social network, many of whom display it on their company pages or personal profiles.

This is further proof of the enormous success achieved by LinkedIn since its creation.