Renowned social coding network, GitHub, has recently updated its visual identity with a new GitHub logo design and mark. The unveiling includes an updated logo design and an official mark based on its mascot, the Octocat.

Unlike the old typography-based design, the new logo looks more streamlined and formal. A significant change has been done to letter-casing, as the title has been changed from all-lowercase to camel case. Middle letter ‘H’ is capital and creates a ‘hump’ in the middle of a word. In addition, ‘social coding’ tag of the old logo design is also gone.

The new mark is based on a silhouette of the Octocat, which looks more formal. But one thing that is really confusing is why the Octocat still has four legs? Anyways, here’s what GitHub team has to say on the new identity:

“We’ve worked hard to preserve the things that both we and the community love about the GitHub identity while improving the things we felt didn’t fit. We have big dreams and now an identity that will suit them well.”

The new GitHub logo and Octocat mark are free to download from GitHub’s website, but can be used only

• to link to GitHub;
• in social buttons to link to your GitHub profile or project;
• to advertise that your product has built-in GitHub integration;
• in a blog post or news article about GitHub.

These seem to be pretty common restrictions for trademarks and aren’t all that odd for any brand attempting to keep itself pure and coherent.