GitHub Brand Refactor
GitHub 2026
GitHub has a schedule of annual refreshes. These help the brand stay culturally relevant while keeping aligned as business initiatives change. A cohesive brand experience is only possible through regularly auditing and improving. For the 2026 refresh we evolved some of the foundational primitives: color, logo, type, and layout.
- Me →
- icons, type design, brand systems, layout
- Collaborators →
- Eleena Bakrie illustration, art direction Brooks Chambers creative direction Marcus Bakke illustration, animation
Design
The refactor wasn’t about inventing a one-off campaign look. It was about improving our quality defaults. And there's no bigger default than the logo—arguably the most known in developer tech.
Old (2015-2025)
New (2026+)
Mona's head gets a little more circular, less boxy. The curves are slightly less tense, and a smaller tentacle helps with overall mark symmetry. The vectors transition better. A subtle curve inflection and slightly bigger arm support a more tail-like feeling, and the shoulder better matches the softness of Mona's right side.
Kyle is an designer and illustrator in Oakland, CA. He runs Very Cool, is a brand designer at GitHub, and runs Song Club Records (poorly).