Barnes and Noble Logo

Barnes & Noble Logo PNG

The Barnes and Noble logo is simple in design and easily memorable. The emblem evokes associations with a visit to a 19th-century vintage bookstore, where the enchanting world of paper books unites different generations.

Meaning and History

Over more than 100 years of its existence, the company’s logo has remained constant, with minor changes in fonts and color schemes. The emblem reflects the company’s dedication to books as its main product. The logo is moderately conservative, referring to the company’s past. Just as a small emblem preserves the store’s history, books convey stories and tales of the past throughout the centuries.

Barnes and Noble actively develop its online platforms and audiobooks to meet modern needs and trends in the book industry. This allows the company to maintain a connection with traditions while adapting to the changing world of reading.

What is Barnes and Noble?

Barnes and Noble is the largest bookstore chain in the United States, with the highest number of branches in each state and revenue of $38 million. The Riggio family played a key role in the company’s formation and development, managing it from 1971 to 2010. In addition to printed books, the stores offer e-books, audiobooks, stationery, and toys. The company’s headquarters are located in New York City.

Barnes and Noble actively participate in social life and organize events such as author meetings, literary clubs, and children’s programs, supporting and promoting reading as a valuable activity and cultural heritage.

1873 – 1992

Unsurprisingly, the bookstore chose a wordmark logo for its identity. The emblem contains the company’s name and an explanation: “bookstore.” As a result, the logo turned out to be quite long, and the letters had to be placed close to each other.

The name Barnes & Noble is associated with the founders’ last names, although they were not actually the founders of the business. The store was originally opened by Arthur Hinds. Gilbert Noble joined Hinds in 1886 and later, in 1917, managed to buy the store. That’s when William Barnes, who takes first place in the logo, came into the picture. The beginning of their collaboration marked the renaming of the store to Barnes & Noble, a name that has been preserved to this day and is present on all logos.

It’s interesting to note that the 1873 founding year cited by the company isn’t entirely accurate. That year, a book printing firm owned by Barnes’ father was established, which had no direct connection to Barnes & Noble. The initial placement of the Barnes name on the emblem is related to the fact that Noble eventually sold his share to William’s son, and the store fully transitioned to the Barnes family’s ownership.

By the time Barnes & Noble merged, despite the store’s nearly 30-year history, the retailer was not yet widely known or popular, so the logo needed to specify what they sold. Hence the word “bookstore” in the emblem. The black letters in the name associated the company with the printed font of books.

The black color of the logo also underlines the seriousness and stability of the company, proclaiming its reliability and dedication to literature over the decades. This reflects respect for books and their authors, as well as readers and their preferences.

1992 – 1997

1997 – 1999

1999 – 2019

2019 – 2020

2020 – today

The 2020 update is related to the retail revival, which was on the verge of bankruptcy just a few years ago. However, no significant changes occurred to the emblem – it still represents a wordmark logo.

Noble sold his share in 1930, and the Barnes family ceased ownership of the company in 1964, but the founders’ names remained in the logo. The “bookstore” explanation was removed since the company’s name had become generic and well-known throughout America.

The new emblem features strict, even capital letters without serifs in gray color. Each of them resembles a separate book on a shelf. There is sufficient space between the elements, symbolizing the variety of book categories.

The logo displays elegance and order, indicating a well-organized online store. The golden “&” symbol has several meanings:

• Reflects the birth of the popular retailer through the union of two partners. Initially, Noble only traded in academic literature, but in partnership with Barnes, they created a store with diverse offerings.
• Symbolizes renewal and transformation. Due to the COVID pandemic, 2/3 of the company’s stores were closed, which were then updated and renovated.
• Embodies the “golden vein.” Between 2020 and 2022, sales of illustrated books increased by 500%.
• Marks the development of a new version of the Nook 10″ HD e-book, released in 2021.

The golden symbol also emphasizes the enduring value of printed books, preserved over the centuries. This highlights the company’s respect for literature and its commitment to preserving reading traditions in the modern world, overcoming the challenges of time.

Font and Colors

The logo’s color palette includes gray and gold, symbolizing bestsellers and the company’s rich history.

• Gray – represents consistency, persistence, and diligence. In the logo, it is associated with book bindings and covers, loyalty to traditions, and the continuous process of reading.
• Gold – underlines value, significance, and rarity. Compares books to precious metals, emphasizing that the knowledge extracted from books is as valuable as gold.

The logo uses the Organetto Bold font. Its smooth glyphs reflect devotion to the simple pleasure – of reading.

Barnes & Noble color codes