Medium Logo and Usage Guidelines
Last updated: October 30, 2024
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The Medium wordmark and icon are the primary expressions of our brand identity. They have each been carefully designed and constructed to achieve visual harmony, should never be altered, modified, or redrawn. Because these elements are such recognizable and highly visible brand assets, it is vital that that they are always applied consistently.
These few simple rules will help you use our wordmark and icon to represent the Medium brand most effectively.
Wordmark
This is the Medium wordmark. It is our primary graphic device and should be the first choice when choosing a graphic element to represent the Medium brand.
The wordmark should be used in any instance where the canvas space is not restrained to a 1:1 ratio container. Examples include press story images, banner images, responsive websites, or video thumbnails.
Wordmark clear space
When using the wordmark in a design or placing it next to other visual elements, you should ensure that it has plenty of room to breathe. This is a great rule-of-thumb for any design elements, not just Medium’s wordmark.
The wordmark’s clear space defines the distance between the wordmark and any graphic element it may be sitting next to in a composition. Use the height of the wordmark as a reference for the appropriate clear space.
For example: if you were to place the Medium wordmark, sized 30px tall, in a set next to other logos, you should ensure that the Medium logo has at least 30px of clear space on all sides.
Color and background
The Medium wordmark should be kept in black or white only. It should not be treated in any other colors, gradients, or filled with images.
The wordmark can be used on top of images or colorful backgrounds. Ensure that there is adequate contrast and that the Medium wordmark is legible, with minimal interference from the subject matter of the image.
Icon
This is the Medium icon. It utilizes the Medium wordmark so that the M is visually centered within its container. It is best used as a secondary identifier when an association with Medium has already been established. It is the app icon for the Medium mobile app and the favicon for Medium on the web.
The icon can be used in any instance where the canvas space is exclusively restrained to a 1:1 ratio container. Examples include a list of app icons, a user avatar by an official Medium profile, or a set of linked social media icons on a personal website.
Icon clear space
The same general rules for clear space and margins that apply to the logo and wordmark also apply to the symbol. Use the height as a guide and try to give the Medium icon adequate breathing room around all sides.
