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Netflix logo (1997–2014)

Contributed by Stephen Coles on Feb 20th, 2014. Artwork published in .
Netflix logo (1997–2014) 1
Source: pr.netflix.com © Netflix. License: All Rights Reserved.

The logo for media streaming service Netflix — in use since its founding in 1997 — could be an entirely custom letttering job, but it is quite feasible that the designers based the mark on the very similar Graphique, perhaps trimming the shapes at the bottom for that retro-cinematic curved baseline.

Graphique is a 1940s typeface credited to Swiss designer Hermann Eidenbenz, the man also partially responsible for the modern incarnation of Clarendon.

There are at least two digital versions of Graphique, ARType’s Graphique-AR, which is a closer match to the metal specimens shown in Encyclopaedia of Typefaces and this Stempel specimen; and profonts’ Graphique Pro which takes more liberties with the design (see the detached ‘Q’ tail, for instance) and has a larger character set. Graphique Pro is also wider than Graphique-AR, with a heavier outline, so it could be based on a smaller size of the metal type.

Netflix headquarters.
Source: pr.netflix.com License: All Rights Reserved.

Netflix headquarters.

Netflix Android app.
Source: blog.netflix.com License: All Rights Reserved.

Netflix Android app.

Netflix on a TV set.
Source: pr.netflix.com License: All Rights Reserved.

Netflix on a TV set.

The Netflix website. See also our entry on House of Cards.
Source: netflix.com License: All Rights Reserved.

The Netflix website. See also our entry on House of Cards.

Specimen of the metal Graphique from D. Stempel AG.
Source: www.flickr.com Image via Rainer Gerstenberg and Lars Schwarz. License: All Rights Reserved.

Specimen of the metal Graphique from D. Stempel AG.

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  • Graphique

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3 Comments on “Netflix logo (1997–2014)”

  1. Alejandro says:
    Feb 21st, 2014 12:21 am

    Nice review :D

    The diacritics are interesting, they are flat with no shadows. Would be cool to have a mix between both versions of Graphique, one having differents style alternatives taken from the other.

  2. Netflix has updated their logo, replacing Graphique with type that is not only flat but also less distinctive at its core.

  3. Actually, the graphique Netflix logo debuted in 2001. When Netflix launched in 1997, their logo is different.

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