The MongoDB logo is a green leaf next to the wordmark “MongoDB.” The database company was founded in 2007 as 10gen by Dwight Merriman, Eliot Horowitz and Kevin Ryan, and it took the name MongoDB, Inc. in August 2013.

The current version is a June 2022 redesign led by designer Saloni Soni with Colophon Foundry. It keeps the leaf but flattens it and sets the name in a custom serif, MongoDB Value Serif.

What is the MongoDB Logo?

Four versions of the current MongoDB logo with a flat leaf and serif wordmark in dark, green, white and bright green on light and dark backgrounds

The MongoDB logo is a combination mark: a flat, solid leaf with a thin central vein, followed by “MongoDB” in a serif typeface. The 2022 version was unveiled at MongoDB World in New York in June 2022 and was led by designer Saloni Soni together with Colophon Foundry.

Symbol Flat green leaf with a thin central vein
Designer/agency Saloni Soni with Colophon Foundry (2022 redesign); original leaf proposed by the early development team, no designer credited
Current version since June 2022
Colors (hex) Approx. #00684A (leaf green), #00ED64 (spring green), #001E2B (near-black ink)
Typeface MongoDB Value Serif, a custom serif (no close free match; a transitional serif such as Source Serif is a loose stand-in)
Previous major version Leaf logo with a dimensional, gradient leaf, used until 2022

How Has the MongoDB Logo Evolved Over Time?

MongoDB has had two main logo eras. A third-party logo history dates the first leaf logo to the first stable release of the database in 2009, when the company was still 10gen. I could not find a primary source that confirms the year or credits a designer for the original.

Previous MongoDB Logo (until 2022)

Swatches of greens associated with the older MongoDB branding: two greens #4DB33D and #3FA037, beige #E8E7D5, dark gray #3F3E42 and light gray #C1BEBC

The older logo used a green leaf with a three-dimensional, gradient look and the name in lowercase “mongo” followed by capital “DB.” The swatches above show a palette of mid greens (#4DB33D, #3FA037) with a dark gray (#3F3E42) that matches the older green branding, though I could not confirm them against an official source. The sources I found disagree on whether the old wordmark was serif or sans-serif, so I haven’t stated it here.

Current MongoDB Logo (June 2022-Present)

The 2022 redesign flattened the leaf into a simple geometric shape, removed gradients, and set “MongoDB” in a custom serif, MongoDB Value Serif. It was part of a larger rebrand that also gave MongoDB a new grid-based visual system. The logo is now offered in four colors: dark ink, leaf green, white, and bright spring green on dark backgrounds, as in the four versions shown in the first image.

The company changed its name before that. 10gen announced on August 27, 2013 that it was becoming MongoDB, Inc., so that the company name would match its single product.

What Do the Design Elements of the MongoDB Logo Mean?

The leaf stands for freshness and organic growth, a contrast to the rigid tables of relational databases. A third-party logo history says the early development team proposed it for that reason. MongoDB’s brand page says the leaf is the brand’s mark and can appear alone only where the full logo has already been seen or the audience will recognize it.

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Why Did MongoDB Choose These Colors?

MongoDB has not published a color rationale that I could find. Its brand page says only four colors may be used for the logo and that you should choose the one with the best contrast on the background. Third-party brand kits list the palette as spring green #00ED64 for accents, a deeper green #00684A for the leaf, and ink #001E2B, a near-black with a blue tint, for backgrounds and text. Treat these as approximate and check MongoDB’s own press kit for exact values.

What Font Does the MongoDB Logo Use?

MongoDB Value Serif typeface specimen with the alphabet in upper and lower case on a dark background

The wordmark is set in MongoDB Value Serif, a custom typeface made with Colophon Foundry for the 2022 rebrand. It is a serif with moderate stroke contrast and is not sold as a font.

How Does the MongoDB Logo Fit Into the Overall Brand Identity?

The 2022 rebrand kept the leaf and the green and rebuilt the rest of the identity, according to one brand-guidelines analysis. The company’s brand page says the leaf may be used alone to represent the brand, but should never be made part of an illustration. Other examples of recognizable marks are collected in tech company logos.

How Should the MongoDB Logo Be Used?

MongoDB logo usage examples marking incorrect skewed, outline and illustrated leaf versions and one correct placement

MongoDB’s brand page asks people not to alter the logo in any way, and the examples above show what that means: no skewing or squishing, no outline version (the leaf should always be solid), and no use of the leaf as part of an illustration. The correct example shows the logo once, in a prominent place. Use of “MongoDB,” “Mongo” and the logo is subject to MongoDB’s trademark guidelines.

FAQ on the MongoDB Logo

What does the MongoDB logo look like?

A flat green leaf with a thin central vein next to the name “MongoDB” in a serif typeface. The logo comes in dark ink, green, white and bright green versions.

Who designed the MongoDB logo?

Designer Saloni Soni led the 2022 redesign with type designers from Colophon Foundry. The original leaf was proposed by the early development team, and no individual designer is credited.

When did MongoDB change its logo?

In June 2022, at MongoDB World in New York. The company itself changed its name from 10gen to MongoDB, Inc. in August 2013.

What font does the MongoDB logo use?

MongoDB Value Serif, a custom serif made with Colophon Foundry. It is not publicly available as a font.

What are the MongoDB logo colors?

Approximately #00684A (leaf green), #00ED64 (spring green) and #001E2B (ink), according to third-party brand kits. MongoDB’s brand page lists four permitted logo colors.

What did the old MongoDB logo look like?

It had a leaf with a three-dimensional, gradient look and a wordmark with lowercase “mongo” and capital “DB.” The older branding used mid greens such as #4DB33D, though that value is unconfirmed.

What does the MongoDB leaf symbolize?

Growth and freshness, set against the rigid tables of relational databases. This explanation comes from a third-party logo history rather than from MongoDB itself.

What was MongoDB called before?

10gen. The company was founded under that name in 2007 and renamed MongoDB, Inc. on August 27, 2013.

Can I use the MongoDB logo?

MongoDB’s brand page asks that the logo not be altered and refers to its trademark guidelines for use of the name and logo. Check them before using the logo in anything commercial.

Can the MongoDB leaf be used on its own?

Yes, but only where the full logo has already appeared or where the audience will recognize the leaf, according to MongoDB’s brand page.

Conclusion

The MongoDB logo kept its green leaf through a full rebrand. In June 2022 the leaf went flat and the name moved to a custom serif, while the company’s 2013 rename from 10gen had already tied the brand to a single product.

Sources

  • MongoDB, Brand resources – https://www.mongodb.com/brand-resources
  • Max Schireson, What’s in a name? 10gen is now MongoDB, Inc. (August 27, 2013) – https://maxschireson.com/2013/08/27/whats-in-a-name-10gen-is-now-mongodb-inc/
  • Logos World, MongoDB Logo – https://logos-world.net/mongodb-logo/
  • Brandkit, MongoDB brand colors and typography – https://brandkit.pro/brand/mongodb

Bogdan Sandu
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Written by Bogdan Sandu

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.