Aesthetics and meaning: Decoding the Artlist logo design
Compared to the emblems of other well-known music streaming services and creative platforms, the Artlist logo may not be as familiar to most. This relatively new technology company only recently began gaining attention, after originally launching in 2016. However, it’s still worth taking a look at Artlist logo history if you’re interested in graphic design and branding.
Like many smaller and growing brands, Artlist targets a relatively niche audience. The company was originally formed to support independent filmmakers in search of more affordable music for their content. However, over the years, the brand has evolved, reaching new consumers.
If you’ve ever wondered how famous music and creative content companies develop their logos, or how these brands ensure they stand out from the competition, you’re in the right place. Today, we’re going to take a closer look at the Artlist emblem, icon, and visual identity.
Where is Artlist from? An introduction to Artlist
Before we start discussing Artlist logo history, and the image of the company, let’s get to know the brand a little better.
Artlist is an Israel-based company, specializing in the delivery of royalty-free digital content, from music, to images. The business was first established in 2016, by a group of four founders: Assaf Ayalon, Eyal Raz, Itzik Elbaz, and Ira Belsky.
Similar to other creative technology companies, such as Soundstripe or PremiumBeat, Artlist was created to serve content developers, searching for royalty-free, low-cost audio solutions.
When the business began, it concentrated in supporting independent filmmakers. However, as the years passed, Artlist expanded its catalog, introducing new assets for companies.
In 2019, Artlist launched a stock footage platform, and a sound effects subscription purchase, following an investment by the Elephant Partners corporation. In December 2020, Artlist purchased the Motion Array brand, and increased its library even further, offering more than 800,000 assets.
By 2021, Artlist had begun to gain a significant footprint in the creative landscape, joining the independent music publisher agency IMPEL, to offer customers access to new, original songs.
Additionally, the brand also continued making strategic acquisitions, purchasing a Norwich-based brand named FXhome to form a new software division.
Artlist logo history: The Artlist emblem
As a relatively new company in the digital space, Artlist doesn’t have much of a history when it comes to logo design and visual branding.
The current emblem used by the company is the only official one recognized by the organization. However, other designs have been suggested by designers in the past, and shared online.
Like many streaming companies, Artlist produced two variations of its logo, intended to ensure consistent branding across all digital and offline channels. The core Artlist emblem is a simplistic wordmark, featuring blocky, sans-serif letters.
The most interesting aspect of this logo is the “A” character, which has been transformed into a triangular shape, dropping the central line to the bottom of the letter.
The triangle looks a little like a “Play” button turned on its side, which may be a deliberate attempt to connect the company with the content streaming and music landscape.
Additionally, the positioning of the triangle also makes it look a little like an arrow pointing upwards. This shape is commonly used by businesses looking to highlight values of innovation and growth. Alongside the stylized “A”, another interesting element of the Artlist logo is its color palette.
While many music and streaming brands utilize simple shades, such as black and white, or blue to highlight reliability, Artlist chose a bright yellow shade. In color psychology, the color yellow is often associated with warmth, vitality, and joy. It can also be linked to affluence in some areas.
While the official Artlist wordmark simply showcases the inscription in yellow on a white background, the icon for the company typically uses yellow on a black background. In some cases, the full name of the company is apparent, while in others, the brand only uses the distinctive “A” triangle.
The Artlist logo: Fonts and colors
Bright and energetic, the Artlist emblem tells us a lot about the company and its personality. The distinctive yellow color palette reminds us of joy and excitement, highlighting the organization’s commitment to helping customers find the audio and other digital assets they need.
The triangle element used in place of the “A” symbolizes ambition and innovation. Though relatively minimalistic, the Artlist emblem is both modern and engaging. It instantly captures attention on any platform, and helps to distinguish the brand from dozens of other competitors in the creative asset space.
If you want to inspect the elements of the Artlist logo yourself, you can find some useful assets here:
What color is the Artlist logo?
As mentioned above, one of the key factors that distinguishes the Artlist emblem from other designs in the digital market is its unique color palette.
The Artlist logo colors have been the same since the company first launched in 2016. The bright yellow chosen for the font and the Artlist icon highlight concepts of happiness and energy.
The black or white backgrounds chosen to accompany the primary Artlist logo color offer fantastic contrast, while strengthening the credibility and authority of the brand.
The official Artlist logo color is similar to the Sunglow shade of yellow:
Yellow
Hex: #FFDA2A
RGB: 255, 218, 42
What font does the Artlist logo use?
Artlist hasn’t revealed much information about its official typography. The Artlist logo font appears to be unique to the brand, thanks to the use of a triangular shape, instead of a capital “A”. However, the other sentence-case letters in the wordmark are similar to a variety of other typefaces.
The letters appear similar in style to fonts like Raleway. However, certain aspects of the typeface have been adapted to develop the new “Artlist Sans”.
Decoding the Artlist icon
Vibrant and modern, the Artlist logo is a compelling emblem, ideal for highlighting the unique personality of a creative technology brand.
Though relatively simple at a glance, this emblem uses a combination of geometric imagery (the triangle) and easily legible font to connect with customers around the world.
The universal shape of the triangle instantly aligns Artlist with the music and streaming landscape, while funneling ideas of innovation and discovery. At the same time, the unique color palette of black, white and yellow used throughout the brand assets give the company a fun and playful edge.
Artlist brand FAQ
What is the meaning of Artlist?
The name of the Artlist brand appears to be a play on the words “Artist” and “List”. The “Artist” component highlights the brand’s commitment to connecting brands with artistic assets, while the “list” element reminds us of the directory-style nature of the website.
Who is Artlist owned by?
Artlist was founded by Assaf Ayalon, Eyal Raz, Itzik Elbaz, and Ira Belsky. These founders are still responsible for running and operating the private company today.
Can you use Artlist on Spotify?
Artlist is currently available to access on a range of different platforms, including Spotify and YouTube. On Spotify, users can leverage Artist to find catalogs of curated, royalty-free music.
Fabrik: A branding agency for our times.
As Fabrik’s creative director, Stephen oversees complex branding programmes. He advises our clients on their tone of voice, creates logos and visual identities and crafts names for companies, products and services. Writing for Brand Fabrik Stephen reflects his love for logo design and visual identity.
