SharePoint Logo PNG
Each SharePoint access plan has different features, but all editions share the same SharePoint logo: a white “S” in a dark teal square, surrounded by three circles. Microsoft introduced this version of the icon in 2019, coinciding with notable changes to its software products.
SharePoint’s history began in the late 1990s at Microsoft, when the company developed tools for corporate document management and web portals. At the time, the market included IBM’s Lotus Notes and Documentum, so Microsoft developed an Office-integrated alternative for business users.
The platform grew out of two internal projects. “Tahoe” focused on document storage, search, and corporate content, while Office Server was built to extend Office in enterprise environments. During Office XP development, these projects were combined. In January 2001, Microsoft released SharePoint Portal Server 2001, with Team Sites for storing documents, sharing files, and organizing group work through a web interface.
In 2003, Microsoft rebuilt SharePoint Portal Server 2003 almost from scratch. Microsoft also released Windows SharePoint Services as a free component of Windows Server 2003, providing companies with a basic entry point to the platform. In 2007, Microsoft released Office SharePoint Server 2007 (MOSS 2007), which added enterprise content management, workflows, My Sites, and corporate search. This version helped SharePoint become a common intranet platform in large organizations.
SharePoint 2010 introduced the Office-style Ribbon interface, stronger social tools, and a new service architecture for large deployments. SharePoint 2013 added an app model and closer links with Office 365. In 2011, SharePoint Online launched as part of Office 365, moving the product toward cloud subscriptions and faster updates. SharePoint 2016 and 2019 kept the server line for organizations using local deployments, while Microsoft shifted its development focus to the cloud version.
Meaning and History
As features expanded, the platform evolved. It went through improved versions, and each time Microsoft rebranded to draw potential customers’ attention to the product. As a result, the SharePoint logo changed frequently. Interestingly, the very first version of the icon has nothing to do with the one currently used. The identity transitions from the standard design common to all Microsoft Office 2003 programs to its own.
What is SharePoint?
SharePoint is software that brings people together to work on a common goal. The platform integrates with various Microsoft products, including those included in the Microsoft Office suite. Despite its wide range of functions, it is primarily positioned as a place to store and manage documents. It can also be used to prototype business applications, host files, build an intranet portal, and more.
2003 – 2007
In 2003, SharePoint was introduced as part of the Office 2003 suite and was also included in Windows Server 2003. Despite the improved personalization and interface, it still needed to be a complete collaboration platform.
The SharePoint logo met the common identity requirements for all Office 2003 programs. On the left were four squares of different sizes: red, blue, yellow, and green. The colors matched the Microsoft palette but had a gradient. The figures were lined up in pairs: two above and two below. At the same time, they lacked fragments near the center; for each square, the two sides didn’t connect, leaving a gap. The corner parts hung freely, which is why the “disassembled” quadrangles resembled flower petals.
On the right side, black inscriptions appeared. The top line featured the standard Microsoft Office wordmark in a thin, geometric sans-serif typeface. Below it was the name SharePoint. It was set in a similar grotesque, but with bolder glyphs. The designers aligned both text parts to the left to maintain the visual balance.
2007 – 2010
In 2007, a new version of SharePoint came out with enhanced features. Users can now manage content and work with Team Sites. The changes affected not only the platform’s efficiency but also its appearance: the outdated logo was replaced by a stylish icon without inscriptions. Its base looked like a square, with the upper left corner cut off and rounded. A thin white line ran along the edge of the geometric figure, with a purple outline behind it. The inner part was also purple, divided into light and dark sections.
In the foreground, a white arrow pointed up and slightly to the right. The designers made it very large, covering almost the entire background. The lower part of the arrow was stylized as a document, or rather a page with three lines. Purple rectangles represented the text. That is, there were no real inscriptions; not even the platform’s name.
2010 – 2013
In 2010, Microsoft decided to improve SharePoint process automation and add functionality, so it updated the platform. The rebranding resulted in a redesigned logo with an orange “S,” similar to the SharePoint Workspace app. The letter was inside a square with the same rounded corners as the previous version. That is, the base shape didn’t change; only its content did.
Behind the “S” were two sheets of blurred rectangles. This likely depicts the documents employees work with. Almost all elements of the logo were sand-orange, but the letter and frame used the darkest shades, transitioning to lighter ones. Because of the gradient, they seemed voluminous.
2013 – 2019
After another redesign, the SharePoint logo became much simpler. The designers removed the gradient, combining only two colors: dark blue and white. On the left side was a blue trapezoid, turned on its side. It was like an open door or the open cover of a book. A large white “S” was written on it. The font matched the previous one: bold, uppercase grotesque.
But the right side of the emblem looked unusual: it featured three white circles connected by curved stripes. The geometric elements formed a semicircle, outlined on both sides by thin blue lines. So the designers tried to display the relationships among the system’s components, a kind of closed cycle, and effective teamwork.
2019 – today
As the platform continues to evolve rapidly, the Point has changed its logo again. In 2019, a variant appeared with the same “S” as before but written in the Segoe font. Now it sits in a square with rounded corners, not an inverted trapezoid. It is superimposed on three overlapping circles of different sizes. All geometric shapes are turquoise, but each has its own shade. The largest circle is the darkest; the smallest is the lightest. At the same time, the colors are uneven because the square casts a multi-layered shadow on them.
Font and Colors
The SharePoint logo adheres to Microsoft’s general branding requirements for Microsoft products. It contains a set of circles with no practical meaning; they are purely decorative. The square serves as the basis for the capital letter “S.” The compact shape is needed so that the emblem can be easily turned into an application icon.
All Microsoft brand logos are set in Segoe, and the SharePoint icon is no exception. This grotesque was inspired by signs that adorned the Roissy Airport building in Paris in 1975. The typeface was designed by Swiss typographer Adrian Frutiger. Not for nothing, many people criticize Segoe for its similarity to Frutiger, a grotesque typeface.
As of 2019, the emblem’s color scheme consists of several shades of turquoise. The darkest ones are used for the square’s shadows. The “S” is white, and this contrast keeps it visible even when the icon is reduced.