What Is the LEGO Logo?
The LEGO logo is the name LEGO in bold white letters outlined in black and yellow, set on a red square. The LEGO Group introduced the design in 1973 and gave it a light redraw in 1998.
The logo belongs to the LEGO Group, the Danish toy maker in Billund that carpenter Ole Kirk Christiansen started in 1932. It is known above all for its interlocking plastic bricks.
Sub-brands such as LEGO Technic and LEGO DUPLO have marks of their own. The red square with the LEGO name is available as the LEGO logo SVG.
LEGO Logo Facts
| Introduced | 1973; refined in 1998 |
| Symbol | None; the LEGO name on a red square |
| Logo type | Wordmark: the LEGO name on a red square |
| Earlier mark | A 1934 wordmark used on letters and shipping labels |
| Owner | The LEGO Group |
What the LEGO Logo Means
The word itself is the message. In 1934 Ole Kirk Christiansen held a contest among his staff to name the company. The winner was LEGO, made from the Danish words leg godt, meaning "play well".
Only later did the company learn that lego can also be read in Latin as "I put together", which fits a toy built from parts.
The design carries two more ideas:
- The colours: Red, yellow, white and black come from the original primary colours of LEGO bricks, so the logo looks like it belongs on the same table as the toys.
- The lettering: bold and squared-off, it gives the playful name a solid, serious look that matches the company's focus on build quality.
LEGO Logo History
The first LEGO logo appeared in 1934, the year of the name, but only on letters, shipping labels and other printed matter rather than on toys.
| Year | What changed |
|---|---|
| 1934 | The first logo, on printed matter only |
| 1936 | LEGO Fabriken Billund is stamped on wooden toys |
| 1949 | LEGO begins making plastic Automatic Binding Bricks |
| 1955 | The "dog bone" logo, fixed in design and colour |
| 1958 | The modern brick is patented in Denmark on 28 January |
| 1960 | A first rectangular logo |
| 1973 | LEGO adopts the white name on a red square |
| 1998 | A "graphic tightening" for screens |
From 1936 the company's wooden toys were stamped in ink with the words LEGO Fabriken Billund.
In the 1950s the logos came in many shapes, including ovals in varying colours. The "dog bone" logo of late 1955 was the first to be fixed in both design and colour and used across every toy line.
The modern brick of 1958 had tubes inside for a firmer grip.
The 1973 change came the year LEGO began its own production and distribution in the United States, and the company replaced its mix of logos with one design for every market.
In 1998 LEGO gave it what it called a "graphic tightening". It sharpened the letters so they would reproduce well on screens and on the internet.
For more toy and entertainment brands, browse our entertainment logos.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does LEGO mean?
LEGO comes from the Danish leg godt, meaning "play well". The name was chosen in 1934.
When was the LEGO logo introduced?
The red square logo was introduced in 1973 and refined in 1998 for better reproduction on screens.
Why is the LEGO logo red?
Its red, yellow, white and black come from the original primary colours of LEGO bricks.
Who founded LEGO?
Ole Kirk Christiansen, a carpenter in Billund, Denmark, who began making wooden toys in 1932.