Medium Logo PNG
The Medium logo shows the website’s connection with writers and readers. The typography underlying text publications inspired it. The emblem symbolizes the search for new ideas to be discussed on the global platform for exchanging opinions.
Meaning and History
The Medium platform is not standing still: it is constantly evolving and thus needs to update its visual identity. Initially, its concept was based on a blank page, encouraging users to record thoughts and ideas. Therefore, a logo in the form of a single letter – the “building material” of language – was quite appropriate. Since then, the site’s mission has remained unchanged but has become more sophisticated.
In 2015, the emblem took on a friendly appearance: a green “M,” reminiscent of quirky origami, embodied the flexibility of ideas. However, two years later, the decision was made to return to the restrained black-and-white design associated with prestige and traditional print publications. In 2020, austerity was tempered by a new visual element: a stylized ellipsis. Designers presented it as a circle and two ellipses of different widths as if receding into the distance. This is a symbol of self-expression and creative pursuits.
What is Medium?
Medium is an online platform designed for both publishing articles by professional journalists and maintaining personal blogs by ordinary users. It was established in 2012 and quickly became a place where readers can find quality content on any topic from literature and art to technology and science. Authors, in turn, can earn through a paid subscription.
2012 – 2015
A beta version of the site was launched in 2012. Even then, a logo with a large white letter “M” in a black square was used. Next to it was the inscription “Medium,” executed in the Stag font, distinguished by large rectangular serifs. This bold, recognizable sign emphasized the online platform’s connection to journalism and typography. Moreover, it fits perfectly into its minimalist design, where nothing is superfluous: no ads, no top panel, and no colored background.
2015 – 2017
The Medium became disillusioned with its emblem, considering it needed to be more flexible. As the site evolved, it became clear that nothing could be done with a simple black “M,” as it did not reflect the brand’s new possibilities. Designer Rod Cavazos from PSY/OPS helped fix this problem, proposing a replacement – a stylized “M” made of green color blocks. Segments of different shades represented a series of interconnected ideas. The figure they formed was innovative. This part of the logo looked like a puzzle and hinted at the paper the text carrier. Next to it was the name of the platform, typed in a black sans-serif font, roughly similar to Pria Ravichandran’s Palanquin SemiBold.
2017 – 2020
In 2017, the site changed its business model, offering users a paid subscription to exclusive content. As a result, a rebranding was carried out, allowing a return to the strict black-and-white design. Like the 2012 emblem, the new logo contained a white “M” in a black square. Only now did the letter have triangular serifs and lines of varying thicknesses, from very thin to excessively wide. This symbol was created by the Manual studio in New York.
The word “Medium,” written in a contrasting font, resonated with the headers of prestigious newspapers such as The Washington Post and The New York Times. These associations subconsciously elicited trust from readers. The only thing that seemed out of place was the distance between the glyphs. A certain imbalance was created due to the long, sharp serifs.
2020 – today
Like all previous ones, the modern Medium logo has a graphic symbol and a wordmark. However, instead of the “M,” an original combination of a black circle and two ellipses of different widths is now used. It appears neutral and does not interfere with the self-expression of the authors who publish their texts on the platform. It is a stylized ellipsis, a punctuation mark indicating an unfinished thought. It is often used to hint at an unspoken continuation of the story.
The word “Medium” font is similar to the one used before 2020. However, the designers slightly adjusted its form, reducing the serifs, adding slants, and stretching the letters vertically, improving the inscription’s readability. The logo was created in collaboration with the COLLINS company, which also worked with brands such as Twitch and Spotify.
Font and Colors
The contrasting font with sharp serifs looks like a modified version of Toledo Serial Bold from SoftMaker, but it isn’t. It is an individual set of glyphs developed for the wordmark.
The emblem’s black-and-white color scheme symbolizes that Medium is a blank canvas for expressing ideas. It is also associated with white-page newspapers and black-text books.
