The EPUB logo is the official visual identity for the EPUB open standard, the e-book file format maintained by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). The logo is distributed through the W3C EPUB 3 Working Group and is available in color, black, and grey versions across RGB and CMYK formats for use by publishers, distributors, and software companies seeking to show compliance with the standard [1].
Design and History
The EPUB logo originated from a design competition launched in April 2010 by the International Digital Publishing Forum (IDPF), the organization that created the EPUB standard. The contest was open to both members and non-members, and the winning entry was submitted by German graphic designer Ralph Burkhardt [2]. The IDPF received more than 203 proposals from 18 countries before selecting Burkhardt’s design [3].
Following the IDPF’s merger into the W3C, the logo’s ownership transitioned. In August 2020, W3C Publishing Steering Committee discussions confirmed that the W3C held a license to use the logo, with ownership intended to transfer once the IDPF was dissolved [4]. The logo was subsequently hosted in the W3C EPUB 3 Working Group repository under the folder name “EPUB_Logo_Official2020,” with files dated August 12, 2020 [5].
During the 2020 W3C discussions about adopting the logo, committee members debated whether to remove the mixed-case text that appeared beneath the symbol, though the official assets distributed by the W3C retained the full lockup [6].
Meaning and Symbolism
The logo’s primary visual elements are an open book and a partial circle. The book pages are clearly iconic, while the circle partially encloses the book and evokes the letter “O,” referencing “open,” the first word in the format’s original official name, Open E-book (OEB). The circle also functions abstractly as a container or portal, with the book extending outward from it to suggest availability and readability [7].
The official color version of the logo uses a brown and lime palette, though the W3C does not publish official color specifications in its asset distribution pages. The logo is also provided in black and grey versions for monochrome reproduction [1].
Typography and Design
The official logo lockup includes the word “EPUB” rendered in all capital letters alongside the symbol. The W3C distributes the logo in multiple formats, including JPEG and PNG images at 1672 by 2286 pixels, as well as scalable SVG versions [1]. The availability of CMYK versions indicates the logo was prepared for print production, while RGB and SVG versions support digital and screen applications [5].
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