Contrary to what you may think, Mozilla Firefox is not a recent creation! In 1994, when the company was created it was called Netscape. This must tell you something - it was one of the first internet browsers. Unfortunately, Netscape was at a disadvantage because Internet Explorer came with all Windows products. The company responded by making their browser open source. Then in the late 1990s, Netscape was bought by AOL.
This sale resulted in a need for novelty so the team started working on a new product called "Phoenix". However, they soon had to change their name because it had already been taken by another company in the field of technology. It is very important to check the availability of a name and a domain name before starting! In 2004, Mozilla Firefox was finally launched. In 2008, despite a good performance in general, the browser had to fight against a new web giant, Google Chrome. In fact, following the arrival of this new player, Firefox went from 30% market share to 10%. Ten years later, Mozilla Firefox is still present despite the rise of the cell phone and other competitors like Safari.
The Creation of the Mozilla Firefox Logo
The very first Mozilla logo, after the decline of Netscape, was a phoenix reborn from its flames. When they had to change their name, they opted for an animal that was not well known on the web at the time. It was the red panda. Unfortunately, people thought that the animal on the Mozilla Firefox logo was a fox. This "firefox" is actually a red panda which is a protected species in Asia. A mistake when translating red panda from Chinese to English is how we got firefox.
The composition of the logo has not changed since 2004: a red panda encircling a blue globe representing the earth. The use of complementary colors orange and blue create an interesting dynamic that brings out the warm colors of the logo. The underlying message is that Firefox is everywhere to help you navigate the web. The creator of the logo was inspired by a passage from his childhood bible about jackals whose tails were on fire.
The Logo Over Time
Since the beginning, 2004, the Mozilla Firefox logo has not changed much. Even today, after nearly 15 years, the current logo is very similar to the original - a little too much. We have seen 5 versions in all and the general consensus is that the logo has been simplified over time. The details on the blue planet and the red panda have disappeared to give a more simplified image. The logo did become more colorful in 2017. This has been one of the trends for logo redesigns in the last decade - just think of recent MasterCard or Starbucks logo redesigns.
Changes in the Horizon?
Since it had been 15 years since Mozilla Firefox had had a major overhaul of its image, the company decided in 2018 to test the waters. They decided to show different options of their new design. They do not just want to change their main logo but also create a whole new family of icons consistent with the brand. This last point was Slack’s main argument during their redesign earlier this year.
Two designs have been shown to the public so far and they are very promising. Once again we find it a minimalist appearance with warm colors. We should know more about this redesign very soon, at least we hope!
UPDATE JUNE 13TH. 2019
The new logo has been revealed! The red panda and the Earth have disappeared and the final result is quite minimalistic. What do you think of it? Do you like its warm color choice?
In conclusion, as you may have noticed, you never know where a company will be in 10 years. Will it be declining, thriving, or will it have disappeared? Netscape's evolution to Mozilla Firefox is a good example of the importance of adapting to your environment in order to survive. It is the same for your image. You must always make sure you are up to date so as not to lose market share to competitors!
Comments
Post a Comment