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I didn't see a question about this anywhere so I decided to ask it.

I anticipate an answer like "it best represents the site name," which is all right, but I'm sort of looking for an in-depth look at the creation of the logo from, perhaps, the minds of those who created it.

And while we're at it, I'm curious if it is geometrically awesome. And by that I mean, were there separate shapes and such that determined the curve of the overflowing units in the logo? I'd like to know if simple things like those were employed in the creation of the logo.

I ask because it's so recognizable now, like the yellow arches or white "f." It's important to understand that something's icon is much more important than we know in terms of branding on marketing (the people over at Graphic Design probably agree :P).

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  • 2
    What is this "white f" thing of which you speak? :p
    – Andrew Barber
    Feb 17, 2012 at 9:21
  • You can find some attempts at approximating the curve in the answers to Generate the Stack Overflow logo over on CodeGolf.SE.
    – hammar
    Feb 17, 2012 at 9:29
  • 1
    As @Andrew said - white f??
    – Rory Alsop
    Feb 17, 2012 at 9:48
  • 1
    @Rory He's talking about Facebook, btw. I was just making a bad joke :)
    – Andrew Barber
    Feb 17, 2012 at 10:17
  • I understand now. I wouldn't have thought of facebook from that description - shows how their marketing has passed me by :-)
    – Rory Alsop
    Feb 17, 2012 at 10:20
  • Me too. Had to think hard for the yellow arches, even.
    – Daniel Fischer
    Feb 17, 2012 at 13:30
  • I doubt you would question it if you actually saw those symbols. ;)
    – Someone
    Feb 17, 2012 at 23:45

1 Answer 1

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Back when work on Stack Overflow had just started Jeff Atwood decided to run a logo design contest on 99designs. He eventually chose the original Stack Overflow logo seen below, designed by one Peter Borlace. There have been some minor changes since then.

the winning, current Stack Overflow logo

Jeff also selected these three as the runners-up.

a runner-up logo

a runner-up logo

a runner-up logo

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  • 7
    hmmm, 104 unpaid designers
    – Timmy O'Mahony
    Feb 17, 2012 at 11:16
  • 2
    And so is uncovered another chapter of StackOverflow's history. Thanks! I really didn't know any of this. :P
    – Someone
    Feb 17, 2012 at 17:58
  • Wait, the footer says "Stack Exchange Inc" now. Did they change their name back to Stack Exchange from Stack Overflow?
    – Erik Humphrey
    Aug 16, 2019 at 16:28

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