Mozilla’s brand update gives the old T-Rex logo a fresh, new look

Mozilla revamped its branding to pay homage to its Netscape roots and better distinguish the broader organization from the Firefox web browser. The most noticeable change is the company logo: what was previously a sans-serif wordmark stylized as “Moz://a” has been updated to correctly spell the name Mozilla, with a new, customized typeface and an M-shaped flag.

Mozilla says the flag symbolizes the brand’s “activist spirit.” It fits the image the Mozilla Foundation, which leads the company, is trying to build: It describes itself as “a nonprofit organization that promotes openness, innovation, and participation on the Internet” and regularly publishes privacy reports that examine the security policies and practices of tech companies.

Here’s a chronology of how the Mozilla brand has changed over the years.

Image: Mozilla

“We intentionally designed a system, aptly named ‘Grassroots to Government,’ that ensures the brand resonates with a wide range of our audiences, from builders to advocates, changemakers to activists,” said Mozilla Brand Director Amy Bebbington. “It speaks to grassroots developers building tools to empower users, government officials advocating for better internet safety regulations, and everyday consumers looking to take back control of their digital lives.”

Our earlier suspicions turned out to be correct: the oddly placed dot on the flag logo is a nod to the original Tyrannosaurus Rex “Hack” poster that Shepard Fairey designed in 1998. “The flag could be transformed into a more literal interpretation as our new ASCII art mascot and serve as a rallying cry for our community,” said Mozilla CEO Mark Surman EdgeMozilla credits global branding agency JKR for helping to create an updated brand image.

This little dinosaur doesn’t have an official name yet, but his animated transformations are seriously adorable!

Image: Mozilla

However, the red fire truck used in the old T-Rex logo is not returning. Instead, Mozilla is using a mix of saturated green, pink, and orange (the latter being a subtle nod to the popular Firefox browser) to add a splash of color on a white or black base. This, alongside the custom typefaces Mozilla Semi-Slab, Mozilla Sans, and Mozilla Sans Text, will replace the branding Mozilla introduced in 2017, as well as several technical design elements such as 2D bitmaps and 3D wireframes.

Most of the Mozilla site still carries the legacy branding, but it will be gradually updated over time. “Looking forward: we plan to roll out the branding in a variety of settings and on a variety of surfaces, with the goal of bringing Mozilla back to the forefront of thought,” Bebbington said Edge.