Patreon Logo PNG
The Patreon logo is as creative as the content hosted on the online platform. The emblem represents the site’s name, uniting fans and their idols. However, the emblem reflects minimalism, which became fashionable several years ago.
Patreon: Brand overview
The Patreon service allows users to fund the developers of their favorite digital content: music, photos, videos, podcasts, and webcomics. In return, fans receive special privileges like ad-free viewing or exclusive access to new products. Thanks to the crowdfunding platform, people can purchase certain privileges, and creators, in turn, receive additional income.
Developer Sam Yam and musician Jack Conte launched a creator-support platform in 2013 to help artists earn a consistent income from their fan base. Conte was inspired by his experiences as a musician when he struggled to make money from his art.
The platform officially launched in May 2013, initially focusing on YouTube creators and musicians. The idea was simple: fans could regularly contribute small amounts to support their favorite creators for each piece of content produced.
Within a year, the service saw significant growth. By the end of 2013, it had over 30,000 active patrons.
2014, the platform completed its first major fundraising round, securing $15 million from venture capital investors. This allowed the company to expand its team and enhance the platform’s features.
A notable milestone occurred in 2015 when the company acquired Subbable, a competing crowdfunding site founded by brothers John and Hank Green. This acquisition brought major new creators to the service.
2016, the platform introduced new creator options, including offering multiple supporter reward tiers. This gave creators more flexibility in monetizing their work.
The service experienced substantial growth in 2017. The company raised $60 million in a Series C funding round, which enabled it to expand its operations significantly. By the end of the year, the platform had over a million active patrons and more than 50,000 active creators.
In 2018, the company faced its first major challenge when changes to its pricing structure sparked backlash from users, forcing a reversal of those changes.
In 2019, the platform continued to expand and improve, adding new features like better analytics for creators and polling options for patrons.
Despite global challenges in 2020, the platform continued to grow. With $90 million in new funding, the company’s valuation rose to $1.2 billion.
2021 was a record year for the service. The company raised $155 million, increasing its valuation to $4 billion. The funds were aimed at developing new products and expanding globally.
In 2022, the platform introduced additional tools for creators, including enhanced video content options, as part of its ongoing efforts to improve the service.
The company has remained committed to helping creative individuals earn a living. The platform continues to evolve in response to the changing needs of audiences and creators.
Meaning and History
The commercial site Patreon was launched in 2013 and is popular among musicians, writers, artists, video bloggers, and other internet content creators. It is also well-known to “patrons” who financially support their idols. Therefore, millions of users have seen the recognizable logo with the inscription “PATREON.” However, many were dissatisfied with the latest redesign: the new logo version seems boring and non-conceptual, as it was executed in the spirit of minimalism.
What is Patreon?
It is an online platform for creative individuals. It allows the distribution of personal works based on a paid subscription or providing them to their patrons in exchange for money.
2013 – 2017
The first logo of the crowdfunding platform looked unconventional. Developers depicted a stylized white letter “p” inside an orange teardrop representing Patreon in cyberspace. To the right, with a small indent, was the service’s name – “Patreon.” Each letter had something special: “p,” “a,” and “o” were the same shape, “e” “rolled back,” and the left part of the horizontal dash “t” was disproportionately short. Moreover, all symbols were in lowercase.
2017 – 2020
In 2017, the site changed its logo and went beyond a minimal redesign – it completely updated the font and abandoned the familiar teardrop element. This was because the old logo looked outdated, especially the font with strange geometry. In the new version, “PATREON” is written in uppercase letters and placed to the left of a thick vertical line.
Patreon uses red in the shade of Fiery Coral (#FF424D). The same color is used for the circle depicted on the small icon. The main logo is black-blue—both the inscription and the vertical stripe. This is a good choice because neither color is associated with other popular brands.
2020 – 2023
The current logo represents a shift towards modern trends in icon graphics. There are three main factors: simplicity, absence of volume, and clear clarity of everything depicted in the logo. At the same time, each element is veiled and symbolizes its concept. In this case, the first letter of the name “Patreon” is conveyed. The letter “P” is split. It consists of round and rectangular fragments spaced some distance from each other. It’s an emblem in the cubism style, with only one vertical rectangle and one circle. Despite the criticism, the management of the crowdfunding platform retained the concise image that meets modern requirements.
2023 – today
Patreon opted for minimalism, abandoning futurism, which did not please many users. Critics’ main argument was that the updated design does not correspond to the crowdfunding platform. The combined sign turned out to be too generic: it could equally belong to any company associated with financial services. The icon, consisting of a black rectangle and a red circle, seems too abstract—it’s impossible to understand what the site specializes in.
The Patreon logo is a prime example of a modern branding approach that adapts to the digital environment and meets the creative community’s needs. This logo, designed with an emphasis on movement and flexibility, captures the essence of a platform that supports a wide range of creative projects.
The main element of the emblem is an abstract figure resembling the letter “P.” It is crafted in a minimalist style with smooth lines and organic shapes, symbolizing creativity, continuous development, and adaptability to change. The shape of the symbol highlights the dynamism and constant renewal inherent in the world of modern technology and creativity.
The font used for the “PATREON” text is rounded with soft edges, making it easy to read and friendly. Simple and clear typography reflects the company’s commitment to being accessible and inclusive for all users, regardless of their experience in content creation.
The color scheme aligns with current trends. The primary colors—black and white—are universal, allowing the logo to be easily integrated into various environments, whether on a website, mobile app, or printed materials. The simplicity of the color choice draws attention to the content rather than the design, which is in line with Patreon’s mission to support creators and their work.
The emblem demonstrates flexibility in its use: it can change depending on the context, allowing it to adapt to different situations and needs. This underscores the company’s modern approach to branding, where the focus is not on static imagery but on the ability to change and evolve.
Patreon: Interesting Facts
Patreon, started in 2013 by musician Jack Conte and developer Sam Yam, has changed how people who make things like music, videos, or art can profit from their work. Instead of just hoping for ad money, creators can get paid directly by their fans, called “patrons,” through a subscription.
- Why It Started: Jack Conte struggled to make enough money from his YouTube videos, so he helped start the platform. It lets fans support their favorite creators with some money every month, which helps creators spend more time making creative content.
- Who Uses It: The service is not limited to YouTubers or podcasters. Writers, artists, musicians, teachers, and many other creative people use it to share their work and receive support.
- How It Works: Creators on the platform can set up different levels of support for fans, each with its perks, like seeing exclusive content or chatting with the creator.
- Money Matters: Since its launch, the service has paid billions of dollars to creators, which shows that fans are willing to pay for the things they love.
- Worldwide Community: People from over 200 countries use the platform, meaning creators can reach fans worldwide and find people who love what they do, no matter how unique.
- Growing Fast: More and more people are joining the platform, especially when things like the COVID-19 pandemic have made it harder for creators to make money in other ways.
- Standing Up for Creators: The platform fights to keep creators’ work theirs, helping with copyright issues and ensuring they control their creations.
- Freedom to Create: Unlike places that depend on ads where you might have to change what you make to get more views, this platform lets creators make what they want, the way they want.
- Building a Community: The service gives creators tools to talk with their fans, like live chats and special updates, strengthening the fan-creator connection.
- Always Getting Better: The platform updates and adds new features based on what creators and fans say they want, making it easier and better to use.
Font and Colors
The minimalist inscription is made with the GT Walsheim Bold font, which is characterized by the absence of serifs. Otto Baumberger, a Swiss poster designer of the 1930s, inspired it. Until 2013, the logo featured the modified font Opificio, vaguely reminiscent of SF New Republic.
Although the logo is textual, it does not contain a single word, as the letter “P” has become a graphic detail. The brand palette now contains two colors: coral (used for the circle) and black (used for the rectangle).
The new Patreon logo features a clean, easily readable font with a rounded, inviting appearance and soft corners. Its sleek and approachable design emphasizes the brand’s focus on connecting with a digital audience. The black-and-white color scheme adds versatility, blending seamlessly into various visual contexts. This minimalistic approach focuses on the content while maintaining a simple, elegant aesthetic.
FAQ
Why did Patreon change its logo?
The radical change in the logo occurred in 2017 because the previous version had become outdated and outlived its usefulness. As a result, the service completely abandoned the “teardrop” element and updated the font.
Can you use the Patreon logo?
The crowdfunding platform allows the icon to promote one’s page within the site, for which a license is required. In any other case, using the logo without Patreon’s permission is prohibited.
What is a Patreon patron?
Patreon is the support of artists by “patrons” who sponsor them and thus earn on their talent.
What is Patreon for artists?
Patreon for artists is a direct opportunity to receive money for their works. It supports not a single-user project but the artist himself.