VRML (Virtual Reality Modeling Language)

1994

In 1994 I was asked by Mark Pesce, the co-inventor of VRML, to create a logo for the language. I came up with a simple design that reflected the nature of the language, using the basic cube, sphere, and cone 3D modeling primitives and the colors red, green, and blue, which make up the primary components of light in the world of common display hardware. The fonts used, Industria Solid and Steel Wolf, are reminiscent of the VR hardware developed by Jaron Lanier's pioneering company VPL in the 1980's.

Looking back on the logo, I would have removed the highlight on the sphere, as its glossiness is inconsistent with that of the other shapes.

VRML has since mutated into another language with another name, neither of which I can keep track of these days. Before then, however, the logo elements were reused for a book cover as well as the VRML Consortium.


This is a treatment of the logo with a black background.


Above is the banner used on the VRML site for some years.

To the left is an animated logo that other people could put on their Web pages. It was among the first animated GIFs on the Web and was mentioned in a few design books at the time. The modeling was done using Strata Studio Pro.

All of the core VRML logo artwork was placed in the public domain. Available are the PostScript versions of this art.

Download this artwork
(EPS format, 396k)