The GitLab logo is a combination mark: a faceted orange tanuki head beside a bold “GitLab” wordmark. It is the visual identity of GitLab, the DevOps platform for source code management and CI/CD.
The tanuki replaced an earlier mascot in 2015, and a 2022 refresh produced the version in use today. It stands out among tech company logos because most developer platforms rely on abstract symbols or a single letter.
What is the GitLab Logo?
The GitLab logo is a faceted tanuki (Japanese raccoon dog) head in three shades of orange next to a bold sans-serif “GitLab” wordmark in charcoal. The tanuki was introduced in 2015 with type and logo by designer Ty Wilkins, and GitLab refreshed the mark and wordmark in 2022.
| Symbol | A stylized tanuki head built from orange facets |
| Designer/agency | Ty Wilkins (2015); the 2022 refresh is not credited to a named designer by GitLab |
| Current version since | 2022 |
| Colors (hex) | Orange #E24329, #FC6D26, #FCA326; Charcoal #171321 |
| Typeface | GitLab Sans (Inter as fallback); the wordmark resembles a heavy Inter; a close free alternative is Inter |
| Previous major version | The 2015 tanuki with the wordmark set below it |
How Has the GitLab Logo Evolved Over Time?
GitLab has had three looks: a grey mascot face with a condensed wordmark, the 2015 orange tanuki, and the 2022 refresh. Each change made the mark simpler and easier to read at small sizes.
Old GitLab Logo (before 2015)
The first logo was a grey, drawn animal face, the raccoon dog mascot, next to a narrow all-caps “GITLAB” wordmark. GitLab’s own 2015 blog post described the old mascot as angry-looking, which was part of the reason for a redesign. No designer is credited for it.
The 2015 Tanuki Logo (2015-2022)
In July 2015 GitLab replaced the old mascot with an abstract tanuki made of flat orange shapes, with the wordmark placed below it in a lighter grey sans-serif. GitLab’s announcement credits designer Ty Wilkins with the new logo and type.
Current GitLab Logo (2022-Present)
The 2022 version kept the tanuki idea but rebuilt it with simpler facets and a more unified orange palette, and moved the wordmark beside the icon in a heavy, charcoal sans-serif. GitLab’s repositories show the new logo rolled out across its pages in 2022, and as of 2026 no later change has been announced.
What Do the Design Elements of the GitLab Logo Mean?
GitLab’s design system calls the logomark a stylized tanuki that represents the company’s values, culture and stewardship of open source. It describes the animal as trustworthy, agile and prepared, one that works with others toward a common goal, and says the construction is meant to suggest adaptability, iteration and momentum, like the DevOps loop.
The name itself comes from Git, the version control system GitLab is built on, and from the idea of teams iterating in a laboratory.
Is It a Tanuki or a Fox?
GitLab calls it a tanuki, but the pointed ears and angular face lead many viewers to read it as a fox. A GitLab issue titled “GitLab logo looks like a fox, not a tanuki” records Japanese viewers saying exactly that, and even suggests the company could simply call it a fox.
Why Did GitLab Choose These Specific Colors?
GitLab does not publish a rationale for orange. What the design system lists as its primary palette are three oranges, a charcoal and white: Orange 03p #E24329, Orange 02p #FC6D26, Orange 01p #FCA326, Charcoal #171321 and White #FFFFFF. The tanuki uses the three oranges as light and shadow across its facets. Among orange logos, it is one of the few in developer tools, where blue is the usual choice.
The purple that appears across GitLab’s marketing is a separate brand color in the design system (Purple #7759C2 and #A989F5), not part of the standard logo.
What Typography Style Is Used in the GitLab Logo?
GitLab’s brand typeface is GitLab Sans, which falls back to Inter where it is unavailable, and GitLab Mono is the secondary face for code and statistics. The logo wordmark looks like a heavy weight of Inter, but GitLab does not publish the exact specification of the logo lettering. Inter is the closest free sans-serif to use for a match in feel.
What Are the GitLab Logo Colors?
GitLab’s design system lists its brand colors with hex codes:
- Orange 03p: #E24329
- Orange 02p: #FC6D26
- Orange 01p: #FCA326
- Charcoal: #171321
- White: #FFFFFF
Full color is the default for the logo. The design system allows charcoal or white single-color versions when brand recognition is already established, and requires approval from GitLab’s brand team for other colors. GitLab does not publish Pantone or CMYK values for the logo, so none are given here.
How Does the GitLab Logo Compare to Competitor Logos?
GitLab’s logo is a colorful animal head, while GitHub’s mark is a black silhouette of a cat-octopus creature and Bitbucket’s is a blue bucket icon. GitLab is the only one of the three with a multi-tone orange symbol.
GitHub and GitLab both use an animal, which makes them easy to confuse in a row of developer tool icons. The difference is that GitLab’s mark is faceted and colored, while GitHub’s is a flat single-color shape.
What Cultural Impact Has the GitLab Logo Had?
GitLab calls the tanuki a symbol of its values, and the debate over whether it is a tanuki or a fox is recorded in GitLab’s own issue tracker, which shows how closely the community follows the mascot.
How Does the GitLab Logo Fit Into the Overall Brand Identity?
The tanuki works on its own as a profile icon, as in the dark circular avatar above, while marketing artwork pairs it with a purple palette. GitLab’s design system says the logomark can be used once the core logo has been presented, and that it should never be obscured or hard to recognize.
How Should the GitLab Logo Be Used?
GitLab offers a core full-color logo, a white version and a one-color black version, each in PNG, JPG, SVG and EPS. Its design system says full color is the default and that other colors need approval from the brand team.
As general trademark practice, use the logo to refer to GitLab itself, keep it unaltered, and do not use it in a way that implies GitLab endorses your product.
FAQ on the GitLab Logo
What animal is in the GitLab logo?
The GitLab logo shows a tanuki, the Japanese raccoon dog. GitLab’s design system calls it a stylized tanuki. Some viewers, especially in Japan, read it as a fox, a point raised in a GitLab issue.
Who designed the GitLab logo?
GitLab’s July 2015 blog post credits designer Ty Wilkins with the 2015 logo and type. The 2022 refresh was done in-house, and no single designer is credited by GitLab itself.
What did the old GitLab logo look like?
Before 2015 the logo was a grey, hand-drawn animal face (the earlier raccoon dog) beside a condensed, all-caps GITLAB wordmark. GitLab’s 2015 post described that mascot as angry-looking.
When did GitLab change its logo?
GitLab introduced the abstract tanuki in 2015 and updated the logo again in 2022, with a rebuilt tanuki and a heavier wordmark. As of 2026 the 2022 version is still the current logo.
What colors are in the GitLab logo?
The tanuki uses three oranges and the wordmark uses charcoal. GitLab’s design system lists Orange #E24329, Orange #FC6D26, Orange #FCA326 and Charcoal #171321.
What font does the GitLab logo use?
GitLab’s brand typeface is GitLab Sans, with Inter as the fallback. The wordmark looks like a heavy weight of Inter, but GitLab does not publish the exact specification of the logo lettering.
What does the GitLab tanuki symbolize?
GitLab says the tanuki represents its values, culture and stewardship of open source. Its design system describes the animal as trustworthy, agile and prepared, and as one that works with others toward a common goal.
Where does the GitLab name come from?
GitLab’s design system says the name is inspired by Git, the open-source version control system GitLab uses, and by the idea of teams iterating in a laboratory.
Where can I download the GitLab logo?
GitLab provides its logos in a downloadable set with a full-color core logo, a white version and a one-color black version, in PNG, JPG, SVG and EPS formats.
Can I use the GitLab logo on my website?
GitLab’s brand guidelines say the full-color logo is the default and that other colors need approval from its brand team. For anything beyond referring to GitLab, check its trademark guidelines first.
Conclusion
The GitLab logo has moved from a grey mascot face to a faceted orange tanuki in 2015 and to a cleaner version in 2022. It keeps one idea throughout: an animal that stands for working together on open source.
Orange, a heavy sans-serif wordmark and a simple head shape make it easy to spot in a crowded list of developer tools.
Sources
- GitLab Pajamas Design System, Logomark – https://design.gitlab.com/brand-logo/logomark
- GitLab Pajamas Design System, Core logo – https://design.gitlab.com/brand-logo/core-logo
- GitLab Pajamas Design System, Color – https://design.gitlab.com/brand-design/color
- GitLab Pajamas Design System, Typography – https://design.gitlab.com/brand-design/typography
- GitLab Blog, Our new logo (July 3, 2015) – https://about.gitlab.com/2015/07/03/our-new-logo
- GitLab Issue 345643, GitLab logo looks like a fox, not a tanuki – https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/345643
Renowned for his expertise in logo design and visual branding, Bogdan has developed a multitude of logos for various clients.
His skills extend to creating posters, vector illustrations, business cards, and brochures. Additionally, Bogdan's UI kits were featured on marketplaces like Visual Hierarchy and UI8.
He also wrote in the past years on sites like Design Your Way, WebDesignerDepot, WPDean, Designmodo, Speckyboy, Slider Revolution, and more.
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Bogdan Sandu is a seasoned designer who has been designing websites since 2008. Renowned for his expertise in logo design and visual branding, Bogdan has developed a multitude of logos for various clients. His skills extend to creating posters, vector illustrations, business cards, and brochures. Additionally, Bogdan's UI kits were featured on marketplaces like Visual Hierarchy and UI8. He also wrote in the past years on sites like Design Your Way, WebDesignerDepot, WPDean, Designmodo, Speckyboy, Slider Revolution, and more.
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