StartMail Logo PNG
The StartMail logo is one of the main advertising tools for the mail service because it reveals the brand’s essence. It is a nonverbal signal to users urging them to send letters and not be afraid that confidential information may be in the hands of intruders.
StartMail: Brand overview
The essence of the StartMail platform is that it encrypts emails so that only those users who know the password can access them. The OpenPGP standard is used, which provides network anonymity and information security. The creator of this software, the American scientist Philip R. Zimmermann, developed the encrypted version of Pretty Good Privacy.
StartMail was launched in 2014 by the team behind the StartPage search engine. They aimed to expand their focus on online privacy and security, and growing concerns about email privacy led to the creation of this platform.
Robert Beens, the founder of StartPage, also spearheaded the creation of this email service. The idea for a secure platform arose from the understanding that many popular email services at the time often collected and analyzed user data for purposes like targeted advertising.
In early 2014, the platform invited a select group of users to test a beta version of the service. This allowed the team to gather feedback and improve the platform’s functionality before the official launch.
The secure email service was officially launched in late 2014. The platform offered users a strong privacy policy, end-to-end encryption, and the ability to create disposable email accounts. Based in the Netherlands, it benefits from strict European privacy regulations, providing additional protection for user data.
Throughout 2015, the platform continued refining its security features. The service supported PGP (Pretty Good Privacy), a widely used encryption technology, allowing users to send and receive encrypted messages with other PGP-compatible providers.
In 2016, the platform introduced the “aliases” feature, allowing users to create additional email addresses linked to their primary account. This helped users better manage their online identities and reduce the risks of using a single address for all services.
In 2017, the service improved its user interface, making it more intuitive and user-friendly. Mobile integration was also enhanced, reflecting the growing trend of email use on smartphones and tablets.
In 2018, significant advancements in security were made by introducing two-factor authentication, providing an additional layer of protection against unauthorized access to user accounts.
In 2019, the platform upgraded its spam filtering system and increased server capacity, improving performance and service stability for its growing user base.
2020 saw further development of the service’s features. The platform introduced email scheduling, allowing users to manage their communications better. Mailbox organization tools were also enhanced with improved tagging and filtering systems.
In 2021, the platform focused on enhancing its mobile apps. Updates for iOS and Android brought improved security features and a smoother user experience.
In 2022, the platform expanded its integration capabilities. Introducing more developer-friendly APIs and better support for third-party email clients provided users with more flexible solutions.
As of 2023, the service continues to innovate, focusing on advancing email security and privacy. The company remains dedicated to enhancing its encryption and data protection methods to provide users with the highest level of privacy.
Over the years, the platform has faced challenges, including growing competition from major software companies and the constant need to adapt to emerging security threats. However, by maintaining a strong focus on privacy and security, the service has carved out a niche for itself and attracted users who prioritize the privacy of their email communications.
Meaning and History
StartMail allows you to generate an infinite number of disposable email addresses. Moreover, it is intended for everyday communication and for many companies for which special business accounts are provided on the platform. The email service has much in common with Startpage because it was launched by the same person—David Bodnick, co-founder of Surfboard Holding BV. Both services aim to protect privacy and do not collect user data.
StartMail appeared in 2013, which is much later than Startpage. However, Gravita Creative Ltd. worked on its modern visual identification. In this regard, both brands are similar in concept. They even have the same color schemes, which consist of a combination of white, light blue, and dark purple.
What is StartMail?
StartMail is an email platform that protects the privacy of its users. It was created in 2013 and, along with Startpage.com, is owned by the Dutch company Surfboard Holding BV. The founder of the web service is software developer David Bodnick.
2013 – 2017
The StartMail logo, used since 2013, represents the company’s entry into the secure email service market. The main goal was to highlight the service’s security, ease of use, and reliability, which were the key focuses when creating the visual identity.
At the center of the design are two main elements—the text and a lock. “start” is written in bright red, symbolizing energy, dynamism, and innovation. The red color emphasizes that the company offers a fresh and modern approach to protecting users’ data. The word “mail” is in blue, reflecting the reliability, calmness, and security that the service provides.
The logo’s font stands out with its contrast. For the word “start,” a simple yet dynamic sans-serif font was chosen, symbolizing the service’s openness and accessibility. In contrast, the word “mail” uses a more traditional serif font, adding stability and underscoring the company’s serious approach to security. This combination of fonts successfully merges innovation with time-tested technologies.
A key element of the logo is the lock icon, positioned to the right of the text. The lock symbolizes protection and privacy, reflecting the service’s primary mission—protecting users’ correspondence from prying eyes. In 2013, as concerns about data privacy and security grew among the general public, this logo became a distinctive mark highlighting data protection’s importance in the digital age.
2017 – 2019
This updated logo reflects the changes the company has made to its image. It continues to focus on security and ease of use but with a new, more minimalist approach. Unlike the first visual identity, there is no lock, the symbol of security that was once a clear focal point. Now, the emphasis is placed on the brand name itself, with security remaining an underlying message rather than an explicit visual element.
The color palette has become softer and more muted than the previous bright logo. The red color of the word “start” still symbolizes dynamism and readiness for action, but now the shade is more subdued, making it less aggressive and more approachable. The blue color of the word “mail” has also become lighter and more pastel, reflecting calmness and reliability without sharp contrast. These changes highlight the company’s shift toward greater elegance and subtlety.
The font has been completely redesigned. Previously, it featured more traditional, sharp lines with serifs, but now a soft, rounded sans-serif font has been chosen. This new font conveys a sense of technological advancement while remaining friendly and easy to read. The rounded shapes of the letters signal that the company is staying current and adopting more modern design solutions.
The absence of the lock suggests that the company no longer needs to emphasize its security as overtly as it did in earlier years. By 2017, as cybersecurity concerns became widely discussed, users began to expect high data protection from such services. The logo has become simpler and refined, likely to foster greater user trust.
2019 – 2020
Another updated version of the StartMail logo, introduced in 2019, marked a new phase in the brand’s development, highlighting its commitment to minimalism and modern trends. This was the company’s third visual identity, and its creation reflected a shift in approach to visual branding: the style became simpler, and the colors more subdued. The main goal of this update was to emphasize the company’s focus on technology and user-friendliness, with an emphasis on the transparency and reliability of the service.
The most noticeable change was the font. It became even more modern and softer, without sharp edges or serifs. The rounded shapes symbolize the company’s openness and friendliness towards its users. The lines of the letters became slightly thicker, giving the logo confidence, while the words “start” and “mail” were written in the same font. This underscores the brand’s unity and cohesiveness.
Previously, red was associated with dynamism and passion, but it has now been replaced with a cooler and calmer lavender shade, symbolizing reliability and security. The lavender color of the word “start” was carefully chosen, as data protection and online security had become particularly relevant then.
2020 – today
The current StartMail logo has two parts. On the left is a stylized square letter envelope with rounded corners. It is divided into two halves by a white line that curves downwards like a boomerang. This strip resembles the middle of the capital “M,” and the imagination completes the side strokes of the letter: they run parallel to the edges of the quadrangle. Here comes the association with the Gmail logo.
The bottom of the envelope looks like a dark purple rectangle with a notch in the middle. The top is a light blue triangle pointing at a 90-degree angle into the recess directly below it. The Gravita designers looked at many StartMail logo concepts with different shapes and combinations before coming up with this one. Their designs included paper airplanes, origami, and the blue “M.” However, the agency staff abandoned all versions in favor of the current emblem.
To the right of the graphic sign is the name of the service. It is also two-tone: the first half (“Start”) is light blue, and the second (“Mail”) is dark purple. Each part starts with a capital letter. The designers chose a sans-serif font to design the inscription. It could be called simple if they did not round all the corners. This decision makes the logo visually soft.
Font and Colors
Logically, the email service uses a logo with a picture of a mail envelope. In this case, it symbolizes the protection of information because it is an opaque shell that hides the contents of the letter from the eyes of strangers. Dividing the drawing into two parts made it possible to play on negative space: if you look closely, it becomes noticeable that the capital “M” is hidden in it – the first letter of the word “Mail.”
Initially, Gravita designers planned to combine three elements in the lower half of the sign: an envelope, a fortress tower, and a heart. So, the protruding edges of the dark purple fragment can be considered stylized teeth of a fortress or halves of a heart. Fortification is associated with reliable protection, and the heart symbolizes love for users.
Both parts of the service name are written in the same font – grotesque with rounded corners. It resembles Adobe’s Myriad Arabic Regular in shape; only the “M” has a slightly lower middle diagonal. Similar typefaces are Webnar Medium by The Northern Block, Drive Regular by Fontyou, and Noto Sans Display Medium by Google. However, the designers at Gravita have rounded the letters to make the lettering seem smooth and streamlined.
The British agency’s staff paid no less attention to the color scheme. They chose a purple theme for StartMail (and its sister service, Startpage), complemented by white and light blue.
