01/06/2026
Scott Baker, a Microsoft in-house graphic designer, created the company’s iconic “Pac-Man” logo in 1987, which endured with minor tweaks until 2012, one of the longest-running logos in tech history. Replacing the quirky 1980–1982 “Blibbet” design (so beloved that employees launched a “Save the Blibbet” campaign and the cafeteria served a commemorative burger), Baker crafted a bold, italicised Helvetica Black wordmark with a distinctive diagonal slash through the “o.” The slash separated “Micro” from “soft,” emphasised the “soft” part of the name, and conveyed motion and speed, perfectly capturing Microsoft’s ambitious rise during the Windows era. Internally nicknamed the Pac-Man logo for the notched “o,” it became a global symbol of the company’s dominance through the 1990s and 2000s on countless Windows and Office products. Baker has remained largely out of the public eye since leaving Microsoft, with little documented about his later career. The logo was retired in 2012 for the modern four-square tile and Segoe UI identity tied to Windows 8, but Baker’s clean, dynamic design is still celebrated as a masterclass in longevity and brand recognition.
