For years, CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) has been the backbone of web design, yet it lacked an official logo until the introduction of CSS3. The iconic shield featuring a bold “3” quickly became synonymous with CSS, providing a recognizable symbol for the language. However, as CSS evolved beyond its original version 3, it became clear that a new logo was needed—one that could represent the language in its entirety.
A Visual Identity for CSS’s Evolution
The CSS shield has served as a familiar emblem for over a decade. But while the shield logo stayed the same, CSS expanded to include powerful new features, from Grid and Flexbox to custom properties and container queries. Recognizing this gap, the CSS-Next Community Group began working on a modernized logo, one that reflects CSS’s evolution and resonates with the wider web development community.
The Collaborative Design Process
The CSS-Next Community Group invited contributions from designers worldwide to create a logo that represented CSS as a whole. Javi Aguilar (@itsjavi) submitted a standout design, featuring clean lines, thoughtful references to CSS, and a modern aesthetic that aligns with logos of other web technologies like JavaScript (JS) and TypeScript (TS). After several iterations and community feedback, the final design was selected.
One of the most meaningful elements of the new logo is its use of rebeccapurple, a color with deep ties to the CSS community. Named in honor of Rebecca Alison Meyer, the late daughter of CSS advocate Eric Meyer, rebeccapurple is a tribute to the personal connections and stories that make up the web’s history. You can read more about the touching story behind the color on Eric Meyer’s blog.
The New CSS Logo: What It Represents
The new logo is a bold representation of CSS’s versatility and its enduring role in the web’s evolution. With its sleek design and meaningful color choice, it symbolizes not just a language but a community of developers and designers who continue to innovate and push boundaries.
Explore the Design
Javi Aguilar has shared the journey behind the creation of the new logo on their blog, including early drafts and design insights. Visit Javi’s blog post for a deeper dive into the creative process.
To see the official repository for the new logo, visit the GitHub page.
