Skip to main content
  1. Blog
  2. Article

Tom Macfarlane
on 12 October 2016


Recently the brand team designed new logos for Core and Ubuntu Core. Both of which will replace the existing Snappy logo and bring consistency across all Ubuntu Core branding, online and in print.

 

 

Guidelines for use

Core

Use the Core logo when the Ubuntu logo or the word Ubuntu appears within the same field of vision. For example: web pages, exhibition stands, brochure text.

Ubuntu Core

Use the Ubuntu Core logo in stand alone circumstances where there is no existing or supporting Ubuntu branding or any mention of Ubuntu within text. For example: third-party websites or print collateral, social media sites, roll-up banners.

The Ubuntu Core logo is also used for third-party branding.

The design process

Extensive design exploration was undertaken considering: logotype arrangement, font weight, roundel designs – exploring the ‘core’ idea, concentric circles and the letter ‘C’ – and how all the elements came together as a logo.

Logotype

Options for how the logotype/wordmark is presented:

  • Following the design style set when creating the Ubuntu brandmark
  • Core in a lighter weight, reduced space between Ubuntu and Core
  • Ubuntu in the lighter weight, emphasis on Core
  • Core on its own

 

 

Roundels

Core, circles and the letter ‘C’

 


Design exploration using concentric circles of varying line numbers, spacing and line weights. Some options incorporating the Circle of Friends as an underlying grid to determine specific angles.

Circle of Friends

 

Design exploration using the Circle of Friends – in its entirety and stripped down.

Lock-up

 

How the logotype and roundel design sit together.

Artwork

Full sets of Core and Ubuntu Core logo artwork are now available at design.ubuntu.com/downloads.

Related posts


Nina Rojc
16 June 2026

Template: Streamlining open source design contributions

Design Ubuntu tech blog

As designers working at Canonical, we’re always thinking about open source. We believe that encouraging more designers to contribute to open source  benefits everyone, from the project maintainers to the end users themselves.   In the 2025 edition of FOSSBackstage conference, we presented our research findings on  why designers don’t get ...


Miguel Divo
22 May 2026

Decoding design: How design and engineering thrive together in open source

Design Ubuntu tech blog

Open source thrives on engineering-driven processes. Fast feedback loops, terminal tools, Git workflows: they’re the lifeblood of how we build software in the open. But for software to truly excel, we need to create user experiences that empower people to use them. I wanted to bring this conversation into the spotlight as part of Canonica ...


Johann Wolf
27 April 2026

Why web engineering is great

Ubuntu Ubuntu tech blog

Hi, I’m Johann! I’m an engineering manager in Canonical’s web team. For the larger part of my 15 years of work experience as engineer, I’ve been working in web development. Like many software engineers, one of my first software development experiences started with creating my own web page. Since that time almost 25 years ago, ...