Unsplash

Unsplash is a beloved service, an industry shaper, forever changing our views on photographic distribution and universally raising the bar for quality expectations across open media assets. They have become an integral part of our individual creative practice here and are so universally relied upon across almost every industry. It's unlikely you go a single day without seeing one, if not many, images from the Unsplash community.

The challenge was that their symbol, when separated from the Unsplash name, was indiscernible from any other generic camera icon. A core function of a logo is to be distinctive, and while humbly sitting in the background of all the great work they display is an honorable business practice, being confused or seemingly invisible—especially when used externally—wasn't the right choice for the brand. 

The solution was to create a symbol, one that stemmed from the idea of choosing exactly what image you need, that also subtly referenced the first letter of the name. The simple form, constructed within a perfect square, allows for consistent use and immediate recognition even in the most limiting of situations. Though maintaining the same general proportions as the original camera icon, the abstract mark leaves plenty of room for interpretation. As the team at Unsplash says it, "However you see it, the new Unsplash logo is yours."  

Having the flexibility to work with multiple partnerships was an important consideration. With a wide array of companies and alternative identification styles, we developed a system that keeps a uniform look regardless of what brand the Unsplash name may sit beside.

Consistency of appearance in all sizes and locations was paramount for the new symbol. By adhering to a set of simple structural guidelines we established how the Unsplash icon can scale seamlessly.