Development of The Netflix Logo
Original Netflix Logo
The original Netflix logo was first created back in 1997, prior to the streaming services and growth of social media. We can see the logo is more complicated than the modern day logo with a San Serif font and a film reel design. The logo was cutting edge for the time. However, no parts of this logo were brought forward into the modern design.
The Short Lived Logo
As Netflix’s moved into the 2000s they did try one particular style a solid black oval badge which was stretched horizontally and enclosed between two rounded yellow brackets. It also used a lowercase type face and was clearly not popular as this logo only lasted a few months.
2000s Netflix Logo
As the turn of the century rolls in, so does a more iconic logo design. The simpler white on red with black shadow logo appears. The red background has become part of their brand identity and continues to play a part in their overall branding.
DVD Rental
This second iteration of the logo came during the age of DVD rental. The world of streaming was still in its infancy and Netflix was a simple online DVD rental and shipping company. From this point to the modern day the logo still carries a similar styling to this design.
2014 Netflix Logo
In 2014 the DVD rental side of Netflix was a thing of the past. With the development of the media company and online streaming content Netflix felt the need to transform their logo once again. Maintain the word Netflix as their word-mark logo, however with some differences.
Colour Switch
The previous logo used white colour on red with a black shadow, and now we see a very similar design. We still see the red, but now it features as the colour of the word Netflix while the background is white. With both the smaller N logo and the presence of the full word, the design is simple and fits with their brand image.
Meaning of Netflix
As we look into the Netflix logo and branding, it might be of interest to know what Netflix means. We can see in the original series of logos the film design cuts through the Net and the Flix. This is because originally the meaning of Netflix was Net as in internet & Flix as in movie.
Beyond the Logo
As we look at the future of the Netflix logo and brand we can look beyond the image and turn our attention to the audible. If you’ve ever watched a Netflix movie or TV show you’ll have noticed the Ta-Dum at the start. This sound isn’t just an intro sound effect, but is an active part of their brand identity.
Sonic Branding
Sonic Branding is the use of audible cues as part of a brand identity. It isn’t currently as popular as visual branding, but has an incredible physiological impact. Identifying a brand through sound evokes the brand message.
Netflix’s Sound
Hearing the Ta-Dum at the beginning of an episode or movie prepares you for what is to follow and adds the thrill and excitement of the show or movie before it’s even started.
How Can We Learn From This Logos Evolution?
Brands develop over time and evolve into something that can often look nothing like the first iteration. It’s important to look at your brand and how it fits with the current climate or market. Innovation helps keep your brand in vogue and prevents it from standing still and being lost to time.
To help develop your brand identity find out more information on our brand identity page here.
