The Fresh Prince logo is designed in the spirit of the 1990s. Stylish typography, bright colors, and geometric shapes emphasize the complexity and multifaceted nature of the plot. The contrasting design reflects the clash of two worlds: West Philadelphia, where the street-smart teenager grew up, and Bel Air, where he later moved.
Fresh Prince: Brand overview
Meaning and History
The creators of Fresh Prince took care not only of its plot but also of its visual identity, as it should reflect the essence of the sitcom. The logo highlights the main character’s mismatch with the prestigious area he finds himself in. Bright, informal, provocative graffiti is unimaginable on the walls of luxurious homes worth several billion dollars. Similarly, the young and fiery Will Smith doesn’t fit into the rich surroundings of Bel-Air. Essentially, the emblem conveys the character of a rebellious teenager who dislikes strict rules. Its design is in the spirit of the 1990s, as the series was released in this period.
What is Fresh Prince?
Fresh Prince is a comedic TV series created by the Borowitz couple, Andy and Susan. Its first episode aired in 1990, marking the start of Will Smith’s acting career. The artist played a fictional version of himself in the sitcom: a complicated teenager named Will Smith, who, due to unfortunate circumstances, came to live with his wealthy relatives. The plot addresses issues of class inequality and prejudices among African Americans. The story is based on the life experience of music manager Benny Medina.
1990 – 1996
The “Fresh Prince” inscription is stylized as street graffiti. The phrase is divided into two lines and colored green with a yellow gradient. The letters are uneven, illegible, jumping, and of distorted shape. They are placed very closely, overlapping and merging with each other. Black outlines save the situation, highlighting the glyphs and creating a three-dimensional effect. A scattered pink halo surrounds the image. Above it is the article “The,” and at the bottom is the second part of the sitcom’s name: “of Bel-Air.” These words, in contrast, are written in elegant italics with delicate serifs and colored in blue.
That is, the logo contrasts two characters. The first is a rebellious teenager who spent most of his life in a not-so-affluent neighborhood with graffiti-covered walls. Yet, he still enjoys life, so the graffiti representing him looks bright and positive. The second character is a bit pompous and ambitious. He belongs to the luxurious Bel-Air district and is conveyed through a refined inscription.
Font and Colors
The phrase “Fresh Prince” is not written but hand-drawn, so it doesn’t have a font. However, based on this design, the individual typefaces Jacatra and FTF Indonesiana Go Graffitiana were developed. They are inspired by the rebellious aesthetic and reflect the character of the sitcom’s main hero. An italic antique similar to Times New Roman is used for the rest of the words in the logo.
The color palette is very diverse. It includes different shades of green and yellow in the form of a linear gradient, as well as pink, black, and blue. The bright and rich colors are inspired by the art of street graffiti.