The Under Armour logo ranks among the most recognized symbols in athletic apparel. Two interlocking letters. Simple geometry. It reads quickly on a chest, a shoe or a stadium sideline.
This mark also carries an underdog story from an industry dominated by giants like Nike and Adidas.
Kevin Plank founded Under Armour on September 25, 1996, working from his grandmother’s basement in Washington, D.C. The company later moved to Baltimore. The mark’s look changed in the first few years, then settled by the mid-2000s. That kind of consistency is rare in sportswear branding.
The symbol has appeared on professional athletes and everyday gym-goers worldwide. It helped build a billion-dollar brand.
What Is the Under Armour Logo?
The Under Armour logo is an interlocking U and A monogram, drawn as two mirrored arcs and often set above a wide UNDER ARMOUR wordmark. It dates to the brand’s 1996 launch, and no designer has been publicly credited. Logo history sites date the current simplified version to 2005.
Under Armour logo at a glance
| Symbol | Interlocking U and A monogram made from two mirrored arcs |
| Designer/agency | Not publicly credited |
| Current version since | 2005, according to Logos-World |
| Colors (hex) | Black (approx. #000000) and white (approx. #FFFFFF), sampled from the current logo |
| Typeface | Custom lettering; Eurostile Extended Black is the most cited close match, unconfirmed |
| Previous major version | 1999-2005, with “Performance Apparel” under the name |
How Has the Under Armour Logo Evolved Over Time?
The idea of a linked U and A has held since 1996. Its look changed more than most summaries admit, especially in the first three years.
Under Armour has not published its own logo timeline, so the years below follow Logos-World and should be read as approximate.
Original Under Armour Logo (1996-1997)
The old Under Armour logo was tall and narrow, with long legs that crossed in the middle. UNDER sat above it, and ARMOUR with “Athletic Apparel” sat below. It dates from the time Plank was selling moisture-wicking shirts from his car.
Oval Under Armour Logo (1997-1998)
This version enclosed a shorter UA in an oval, with the company name running around the outline and “Athletic Apparel” along the bottom. A 1-888-4-ARMOUR phone line sat underneath.
Gray Oval Logo (1998-1999)
Here the mark became wider and heavier inside a sketchy gray oval, with UNDER ARMOUR in plain capitals below it. The arcs had started to look like today’s symbol.
Performance Apparel Logo (1999-2005)
The oval disappeared and the black wings arrived. The wide wordmark sat below with “Performance Apparel” underneath, on a thin line. The look carried the brand through its early growth, including the 2002 move to Tide Point in Baltimore.
Current Under Armour Logo (2005-Present)
The tagline went away, leaving the UA symbol and the UNDER ARMOUR wordmark. The symbol often runs alone, with symmetry that makes it easy to spot. The date lines up with the company’s IPO in November 2005, though we found no source linking the two.
What Do the Design Elements of the Under Armour Logo Mean?
The logo joins two mirrored curves. The upward one reads as a U and the downward one as an A.
Many people see a shield or armor plate, which suits the name. We found no statement from the company confirming that it was the intent.
Logos-World says the monogram has no additional meaning beyond representing the company.
What Typography Style Is Used in the Under Armour Logo?
The direct answer on the Under Armour font: the wordmark is custom typography, not a font you can install. It uses a very wide, heavy sans-serif font style with squared curves.
That wide stance is the opposite of the “condensed” look some articles describe. Font-identification sites often name Eurostile Extended Black as the nearest match, but that’s unconfirmed.
The tracking stays tight. Letters sit close together, creating a solid horizontal bar under the symbol.
It holds up at most sizes, which matters for everything from shoe tags to stadium banners.
What Are the Hidden Meanings in the Under Armour Logo?
No hidden meaning has been documented by the company. Claims about upward arrows in the negative space, or about Plank describing athletes going into battle, have no source we could find.
Logos-World notes that the shape looks a little like an inverted Chanel logo. That’s a resemblance, not a stated reference.
How Does the Under Armour Logo Compare to Competitor Logos?
Nike owns the abstract swoosh. Adidas has the three stripes. Under Armour went with letterforms.
This choice set it apart in the shoe brand logos landscape, where abstract symbols are common.
The UA mark looks heavier than its rivals. Nike feels swift and light. Under Armour feels solid and planted.
Puma’s leaping cat aims for motion. Under Armour’s symmetrical mark suggests stability instead. Different strategy entirely.
What Are the Under Armour Logo Colors?
The logo is usually a single color: black on light backgrounds and white on dark ones. On underarmour.com, it’s drawn in whatever the current text color is, which shows that it isn’t tied to one fixed shade.
Treat these as approximate values sampled from the current logo: black, approx. #000000 and white, approx. #FFFFFF. We found no official RGB, CMYK or Pantone values.
The “UA red” #E41E31 repeated on many sites has no support we could find. Black gets a lot of credit from color psychology for suggesting authority, and white gives strong contrast on dark gear, but the company hasn’t explained its choice.
If you need clean artwork, vector graphics scale without losing quality. Just check where the file came from.
What Cultural Impact Has the Under Armour Logo Had?
The UA symbol changed how people see athletic undershirts.
The first product was a moisture-wicking T-shirt, built to replace sweat-soaked cotton at football practice. The logo helped turn base layers into something people wanted to be seen in.
Stephen Curry signed in 2013, and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has endorsed the company since 2016. Curry’s partnership ended in November 2025, when the two sides said Curry Brand would continue independently.
The interlocking letters became shorthand for serious training. Gym culture adopted it as a badge of commitment.
How Does the Under Armour Logo Fit Into the Overall Brand Identity?
The logo anchors everything Under Armour does. Products, campaigns and partnerships all connect back to that interlocking symbol.
Project Rock keeps visual ties to the parent mark. The visual hierarchy keeps UA prominent while allowing a signature line its own expression. Curry Brand worked the same way until the 2025 split.
The website and packaging design rely on the mark too, often with little else needed to identify the brand.
How Should the Under Armour Logo Be Used?
We couldn’t confirm any current public Under Armour rulebook, so this is general advice, not company policy.
- Keep the mark undistorted, with enough contrast to read clearly.
- Use editorial mentions accurately, and don’t imply a sponsorship that doesn’t exist.
- Don’t put the logo on products or ads without a license.
The logo is a registered trademark, and brand guidelines for licensed partners are a private matter between them and the company.
FAQ on the Under Armour Logo
What Does the Under Armour Logo Represent?
At its core, it’s the company’s initials: the UA logo joins a U and an A. Logos-World says the monogram has no additional meaning beyond representing the company.
Many people read it as a shield or a piece of armor. That fits the name, but we found no company statement confirming it.
Who Designed the Under Armour Logo?
No designer has been publicly credited. Logo sites say Kevin Plank or his early team made it, but we couldn’t trace that to a primary source.
What is documented is the setting: Plank started the company in 1996 from his grandmother’s basement in Georgetown, Washington, D.C.
When Was the Under Armour Logo Created?
A UA monogram appears on the earliest catalogued logo, dated to 1996 when the company launched.
Its current form, without the “Performance Apparel” line, is dated to 2005 by Logos-World. Under Armour has not published its own timeline.
What Colors Are in the Under Armour Logo?
The logo is one color at a time, usually black or white. Under Armour’s site draws it in the current text color, so it has no fixed official hex.
The often-quoted “UA red” #E41E31 has no source we could find. It isn’t part of the logo’s color palette, though red does appear in UA products and marketing.
What Font Is Used in the Under Armour Logo?
The UNDER ARMOUR wordmark is custom lettering, not an installable font. Under Armour has not published the name of a typeface.
Font-identification sites most often point to Eurostile Extended Black as the closest match. That is a visual comparison, not a confirmed source.
What Did the Old Under Armour Logo Look Like?
The 1996-1997 version had a tall, narrow UA placed between the words UNDER and ARMOUR, with “Athletic Apparel” below.
Versions from 1997 to 1999 put the mark in an oval, then 1999-2005 introduced the wide wings seen today, with “Performance Apparel” under the name.
Has the Under Armour Logo Changed Over the Years?
Yes, though the idea stayed the same. The UA symbol went from tall and narrow to low and wide by 1999, and the oval disappeared.
The overall concept of a linked U and A has held since the beginning.
What Is the Meaning Behind the Interlocking UA Symbol?
The upward arc forms the U and the downward arc forms the A. Logos-World compares the shape to an inverted Chanel logo.
The psychology of shapes can explain why its heavy curves feel strong, but that is interpretation rather than company history.
Why Is It Spelled Under Armour?
Wikipedia reports that Plank used the British spelling because the toll-free vanity number was still available that way. Logos-World adds that the name came when his brother Bill misheard “Body Armor” as “Under Armor.”
The 1997 logo even carries a 1-888-4-ARMOUR phone line.
Can I Use the Under Armour Logo for My Business?
Generally not. It’s a protected trademark, so commercial use needs permission from the company.
Editorial mentions are a different matter, but they shouldn’t imply endorsement. Ask a lawyer about your specific case.
Where Can I Download the Official Under Armour Logo?
We couldn’t find a public download page. Third-party sites offer an official logo in name only, and some of them carry wrong or old versions.
For press use, contact Under Armour’s media team and confirm which version you have.
How Does the Under Armour Logo Compare to Nike?
Nike uses an abstract swoosh. Under Armour built its mark from letterforms. These are different approaches to logo design principles.
The UA symbol looks heavier, while Nike’s swoosh suggests speed. Both work, for different brand personalities.
Conclusion
The Under Armour logo proves that simple geometry can build a billion-dollar brand. Two letters. Two arcs. Nearly three decades of the same core idea.
Kevin Plank started something that competitors like Nike and Adidas couldn’t ignore. The interlocking UA symbol became closely tied to performance athletic wear.
From training gear to NFL sidelines, this mark shows up where athletes compete. It says the brand’s name without spelling it out.
The design elements work together with clear unity. Strong brand identity doesn’t require complexity. Sometimes the best sportswear logo design just needs bold intention and staying power.
Sources
- Wikipedia, Under Armour – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Under_Armour
- University of Maryland Athletics, The Under Armour Story – https://static.umterps.com/ma_new/the-ua-story.html
- Logos-World, Under Armour Logo – https://logos-world.net/under-armour-logo/
- Made Good Designs, What Font Does Under Armour Use? – https://madegooddesigns.com/under-armour-font/
- ESPN, Warriors’ Stephen Curry ending partnership with Under Armour – https://www.espn.co.uk/nba/story/_/id/46958115/warriors-stephen-curry-ending-partnership-armour
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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