Exxon Logo PNG
The world-famous Exxon logo characterizes this company as a leader in the energy market. It embodies hidden aggression, an aspiration for dominance, and inner strength. The emblem’s visual dynamics perfectly convey the idea of fuel-powered vehicles.
Exxon’s history began with Standard Oil, which John D. Rockefeller founded in Ohio in 1870. The company grew through production, refining, transportation, and retail sales, creating a fully integrated oil business. In 1882, Rockefeller reorganized his holdings into the Standard Oil Trust, placing several companies under a single management structure. One key part was Standard Oil Company of New Jersey, which later became Exxon.
In 1911, the US Supreme Court ruled that Standard Oil violated antitrust law and ordered the trust to be split into 34 independent companies. Standard Oil of New Jersey inherited many of the trust’s former assets and grew into a separate oil company. During the 1920s, it expanded abroad, explored oil opportunities in the Middle East, partnered with Imperial Oil in Canada, and used the Esso name for service stations, based on the initials “SO.”
The company continued investing during the 1930s, including research in New Jersey for refining and lubricants. After World War II, it expanded internationally and became active in Saudi Arabian oil fields in the 1950s. Its retail network also grew across Europe and the United States. In the 1960s, limits on using the Esso name in parts of the US pushed the company to adopt a new brand. In 1972, it officially became Exxon Corporation.
The 1973 oil crisis forced Exxon to seek additional crude sources and adapt to a changed energy market. It invested in exploration projects, including the North Sea, then expanded into chemicals, deepwater drilling, and advanced production technology in the 1980s. In the 1990s, Exxon continued global projects in Russia and the Asia-Pacific region. In late 1998, it announced a merger with Mobil, completed in 1999, forming ExxonMobil and ending Exxon’s period as a separate company.
Meaning and History
The brand’s logo, created by designer Raymond Loewy for the corporation, changed twice, but only slightly. The master’s proposed twist, a double X, was retained in all variants.
What is Exxon?
This American oil corporation is renowned for its extensive network of gas stations and high-quality fuel products. The brand is known for reliable fuel and lubricants, with stations that stand out for thoughtful design and exceptional customer service. The company has set its standards for fuel and lubricant quality, introducing products such as the Supreme series of motor oils and additive-enhanced gasoline. Its network of gas stations spans numerous regions and offers fuel, related services, and products.
1972 – 1985
Jersey Standard was forced to adopt the Exxon brand and its logo. After acquiring the large Humble brand, it renamed Esso and Enco’s gas stations. However, most states did not allow the Esso brand because the name was formed by pronouncing the letters S and O (an acronym for Standard Oil’s parent company). And Jersey was one of SO’s 34 successors.
As a result, it was necessary to constantly maneuver between brands. To unify, it was decided to rename Exxon Corporation and call all gas stations Exxon. Brand designer Loewy proposed a wordmark logo. The main point was the similarity between the double X and the double S in the former name. This was meant to help users connect with the brand more quickly.
The word Exxon can be broken down into “ex” (past) and “on.” Thus, Exxon stands for replacing the past.
At the same time, the logo retained similarities to previous emblems. Jersey Standard and its two brands were designed in red and blue: an oval shape, red lettering, and a blue border.
Exxon changed its shape to a rectangle with rounded corners. This signaled the brand’s expansion compared to its predecessors (it had long held top positions in the Fortune 500). The red lettering brought it closer to Esso and Enco.
The blue bar at the bottom shows the parent company’s foundation on which Exxon is building its future.
Unlike many other brands, history has preserved not only the master’s original sketch but also all the variations he designed. The sketch shows that Lowy long considered connecting the two Xs. He made them look like an S and a W, but ultimately settled on placing one letter above the other.
Placing the XX lettering one above the other created an elongated, common element. It resembled the arrow on a fuel gauge, indicating that fuel was running low and it was time to fill up. This was a great psychological move: seeing the logo reminded drivers to fill up.
The design resembled a slanted letter H, linking the logo to the Humble brand. This made the Exxon decipherment even easier to understand. Some saw the composition as a Templar cross, suggesting Freemasonry. However, no direct evidence shows the owner was involved in this order.
In general, the designer never revealed his reason and claimed he used the double X to make everyone think about it.
Testing of the new Exxon name began in September 1971 in cities such as Manchester (New Hampshire), Nacogdoches (Texas), Athens (Georgia), San Luis Obispo (California), and Zanesville (Ohio). By 1972, the brand had fully replaced previous names such as Esso, Humble, and Enco, except in states within the Great Lakes region.
The 1972 Exxon logo reflects the company’s balance between its heritage and modern challenges. Its unique letter design, refined shape, and color palette made it on
1985 – 2016
The company expanded, opening several refineries. In 1985, it acquired a 48% stake in Yemen’s Hunt Oil Company. Today, it is recognized as the world’s second-largest industrial giant and owns 10% of the oil market.
The logo retains the traditional color scheme of bright red letters on a white background, highlighted by a broad blue stripe.
The new emblem’s most distinctive feature is the rectangular background, which replaces the previously rounded shapes. This element symbolizes the company’s maturity, demonstrating that the brand no longer needs to soften its edges to appeal to its audience. The design remains true to the company’s heritage: the double “X” with its distinctive crossing is a hallmark of the logo.
The logo was used on signage and promotional materials until 2016, when a modern, updated version was introduced. Nevertheless, this design remains an important symbol of Exxon’s era of solidifying its position in the energy industry.
2016 – today
In 1999, Exxon merged with Mobil, creating one of the world’s largest oil and gas companies. However, even after the merger, both brands continued to operate independently, retaining their logos to reflect their historical roots and serving their respective territories and markets. The Exxon emblem changed significantly to align with the updated corporate identity.
The new logo retains only one visual element from previous versions: red. The distinctive double “X” remains a key feature.
The font was updated to a modern, minimalist style. It lacked additional elements, such as outlines or backgrounds, focusing on the design’s purity and simplicity. The single uppercase “E” emphasized that the brand was now part of a larger structure but retained its individuality and significance.
In 2014, the company further modernized the visual mark, making it even more streamlined. This design began appearing on gas station signage and pumps to standardize ExxonMobil’s visual appearance. Starting in 2016, it became the official corporate mark.
Some question why the Exxon logo was updated in 2016, given that ExxonMobil already had its corporate emblem. The answer is simple: Exxon and Mobil continued to exist as separate brands after the merger to designate different gas station networks in various regions. This allowed them to maintain local customer loyalty without disrupting each brand’s established identity.
2018 – today
The Exxon logo, introduced in 2018, combines classic elements with modern minimalism. The design’s central feature is the blue line at the bottom, which references earlier versions of the logo and emphasizes continuity and the brand’s long history. The line can be seen as reflecting the company’s traditions and stability.
The logo’s usage remains unclear. It may have been used in advertising campaigns, promotional merchandise, or other specific contexts. However, public sources provide no definitive information about how it is used.
Font and Colors
The logo’s colors are quite patriotic. Red, blue, and white are the American flag’s primary colors. The logo shows that Exxon operates throughout the United States. The first Standard Oil firm had 40 corporations nationwide and controlled 95% of the oil industry.
The last visual sign is monochrome. The color red symbolizes dominance, active development, first-class service, and a love for their business.
The font is unique. It is created based on Cocogoose Pro Text Bold.