The story behind the Super Bowl logo design’s evolution
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The annual Super Bowl logo is iconic for using Roman numerals and incorporating both local football imagery over time.
- Since Super Bowl XLV (45) in 2011, the logo design for the big game became somewhat standardized using bold Roman numerals, an icon of the Super Bowl trophy, silver and blue color scheme and imagery of the host stadium and, in some cases, city.
- Prior to 2011, the game typically had a completely different look from year to year, with designs adding in local landmarks, colors or other additions.
- In 2011, the Super Bowl logo began using bold Roman numerals with curved corners placed beneath a silver bar reading “Super Bowl.”
- In 2016, the logo design for the Super Bowl took a notable departure from its tradition of using Roman numerals, branding as “Super Bowl 50” instead of what would have been “Super Bowl L.”
- This design also changed the number to gold, which is in line with the traditional “golden anniversary.”
- The decision emphasized the 50th anniversary of the annual matchup — something that may have been lost given that many are not familiar with Roman numerals.
- After 2016, the Super Bowl logo design was switched to a slab serif typeface for the Roman numerals, with them moving above the word “Super Bowl.”
- A red accent was also used in 2017, which did not include stadium or city imagery.
- The year after, 2018, the logo switched to a blue accent and did not feature any localized icons.
- For the 2019 Super Bowl LIII (53) logo design, local imagery is once against committed, placing the emphasis on the trophy icon and bold typography.
- The 53th annual Super Bowl is slated for Feb. 3, 2019, at the newly constructed Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.