The WhatsApp logo symbolizes connection, communication, free access, and the desire to stay in touch. The carefully selected colors and symbols help the world’s most recognizable messenger remain popular despite immense competition.
WhatsApp: Brand overview
Meaning and History
The Messenger was created in 2009. Its founders were two friends, Brian Acton and Jan Koum, who worked at Yahoo but wanted to tackle more global issues. They applied for jobs at Facebook but were rejected. Then, the young men contemplated creating a platform for mobile devices that would allow communication not through SMS but in a chat. Thus, a convenient messenger allowing online communication was born. Its name was coined from the English phrase “What’s Up?” and used as a greeting. What’s up? Or what’s new?
The first application was created for the iPhone, but things were initially tough due to many glitches. Jan Koum was already disillusioned with his brainchild and abandoned this “hopeless” endeavor, but Brian Acton convinced him to continue working.
What is WhatsApp?
WhatsApp is an online messaging app that allows the exchange of messages in real-time. It is owned by Meta Platforms, Inc., formerly known as Facebook, Inc. The original version of the software was released in 2009, and six years later, WhatsApp was recognized as the world’s most popular messenger.
In 2013, the company already had 50 employees, and the number of users exceeded 2 million. Then, Facebook offered to buy the brand rights; it was sold for $ 19 billion, which remains the largest deal. Today, WhatsApp operates as an online chat platform where you can exchange audio and video calls and store information in the cloud.
Font and Colors
There is no exact information on how the recognizable white and green icon appeared. Presumably, Acton and Koum invented it while working on the application. The simple yet meaningful design proved quite effective as an element of the mobile phone interface.
The full trademark logo includes the WhatsApp icon and the name to its right.
The large icon is embedded in a simple icon: the green background symbolizes that WhatsApp lines are always free for communication, and the lifted receiver symbolizes the freedom of communication and the possibility to call anywhere in the world at any time. All this is placed in a white cloud, a text bubble with a tail at the bottom, denoting messages.
Unlike modern smartphones with many functions, the old wired telephone receiver was chosen deliberately – it signifies the ability to make calls.
The logo’s visual image has remained unchanged for over ten years. As of 2020, there are eight patented icons, each with a specific purpose, including Android, iPhone, and Web. Some are obsolete and no longer in use, but all are copyrighted.
The icons’ main colors are green and white, which convey the image. In one version (icon for Windows devices), black is an additional background color option.
The full logo has two official color variations:
- On a horizontally elongated white plate, a green icon and the name WhatsApp are depicted, typed in Helvetica Neue font in a gray-green tone.
- On a gray-blue plate, the standard icon and the name are depicted in white.
- The iconic WhatsApp icon is a prime example of how simple visual means can clearly distinguish a product from others and attract many users.
FAQ
What do the symbols in WhatsApp mean?
The clock symbol means that the message has been sent. One tick means the message has reached the WhatsApp server but has not yet reached the recipient’s device. Two ticks mean the message has been delivered. When the recipient opens the message, the ticks turn blue.
What does the WhatsApp logo represent?
The WhatsApp logo consists of two parts. The first half is the green “bubble” with a white receiver. The second element is a wordmark containing the name of the messaging service. The inscription is executed in a sans-serif font and colored in gray-green.
Why is the WhatsApp logo green?
WhatsApp’s creators, Jan Koum and Brian Acton, chose green as their visual identification to symbolize security. They considered this the most important characteristic, as the messenger must securely store users’ confidential information.