Everything You Need to Know About the SSI Logo - History, Versions & Brand Guidelines
Églantine Montclair
TL;DR - What is the SSI logo and why it matters
The SSI logo is the visual identifier for Safe Superintelligence Inc. (formerly the Stanford Spaceflight Initiative). It appears on all official communications, product UI, merchandise, and media assets. A consistent logo protects the brand, conveys trust, and ensures legal compliance.
Example: The 2023-2024 “shield-star” logo is used on the company’s website header, research papers, and conference slides.
1. Concept - Core Elements of the SSI Logo
| Version | Year Introduced | Designer | Key Visual Elements | Primary Use Cases |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Original “Stanford-S Rocket” | 2012 | Kyle Anderson (initial sketch) | Stanford “S” + rocket silhouette | Early internal flyers, prototype decks |
| First Official “Sat-Excavator” | 2013 | Omar Diab (vectorization) | Stanford “S” + satellite & excavator icons | Student-run outreach, brochure covers |
| “Star-Orbit” (rev 1) | 2015 | Robert Jackson & Ben Todd (iteration) | Star at centre, orbit rings, subtle “S” | Public presentations, website banner |
| Current “Shield-Star” | 2024 | Kirill Safin (final selection) | Minimalist shield, central star, clean sans-serif word-mark | All corporate material, product UI, legal filings |
Why the evolution matters: Each redesign responded to branding rules (e.g., removal of Stanford trademark) and to feedback on visual clarity. The current shield-star version is the only legally approved mark for external use.
2. Mechanism - How the Logo Is Built
- Vector format: SVG (primary), EPS for print, PNG (transparent) for web.
- Color palette:
- Primary - #0A1F44 (deep navy) for the shield.
- Accent - #FFD700 (gold) for the star.
- Typography: “Inter” Bold, 48 pt for the word-mark, spaced-letter “SSI”.
- Clear-space rule: Minimum margin equals the height of the star (≈ 12 px at 100 % scale). No other graphic may intrude this zone.
- Minimum size: 24 px height for digital, 6 mm height for print to retain legibility.
3. Use Cases - When & Where to Deploy the Logo
| Context | Recommended File | Placement | Do’s | Don’ts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Website header | SVG (inline) | Top-left, full-height | Keep clear-space, use primary colors | Stretch > 150 % |
| PowerPoint slides | PNG (transparent, 300 dpi) | Bottom-right | Use monochrome version on dark backgrounds | Add drop-shadows |
| Merchandise (t-shirts, mugs) | EPS (CMYK) | Centered | Use approved brand colors only | Re-color or overlay patterns |
| Press releases | PNG (transparent) | Header line | Include “© Safe Superintelligence 2024-2026” | Crop or rotate the logo |
4. Brand Guidelines - Quick-Start Checklist
- Download the official asset pack - SSI Brand Kit (ZIP, 2 MB).
- Verify file integrity - Open the
manifest.jsonand confirm SHA-256 hash matches3f9a2c.... - Apply clear-space - Use the star’s height as the minimum margin on all sides.
- Choose the right color version - Primary (navy/gold) for light backgrounds; Inverse (white/gold) for dark backgrounds.
- Add attribution - “© Safe Superintelligence 2024-2026. All rights reserved.”
Rollback: If a logo is mistakenly altered, replace the file with the original from the brand kit and re-apply the clear-space rule.
5. Pitfalls - Common Mistakes to Avoid
| Symptom | Typical Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Logo appears blurry on high-DPI screens | Using PNG at 72 dpi | Switch to SVG or 300 dpi PNG |
| Colors look off-brand in print | CMYK conversion error | Use the EPS version with the provided Pantone values (Pantone 2768 C, Pantone 1235 C) |
Stay updated on recent OpenSSL vulnerabilities discovered by AI in the French cybersecurity landscape: douze vulnerabilites openssl decouvertes par ia. | | Logo is cropped in email signatures | Signature editor auto-trims | Set image size to 150 × 50 px and embed as inline SVG if possible | | Unauthorized logo version shows up on social media | Old “Star-Orbit” file cached | Delete old assets, upload the 2024 shield-star PNG (transparent) |
For more insights on app security, see the analysis of malicious app blockages on Google Play.
6. FAQ
Q1: Can I modify the logo for a partner co-branding?
A: No. The SSI logo is a protected trademark. Co-branding must use a separate “partner” graphic placed outside the clear-space zone and never overlap the shield-star.
Q2: Is there a monochrome (black-white) version?
A: Yes - ssi_logo_mono.svg is included in the brand kit for use on documents where color printing is unavailable.
Q3: How do I cite the logo in academic papers?
A: Include the caption “Figure 1 - SSI logo (© Safe Superintelligence 2024-2026)”. Use the 300 dpi PNG to ensure print quality.
Q4: Are there any licensing fees?
A: The logo is free for internal and external use provided the brand guidelines are followed. Commercial merchandise requires a signed licensing agreement. Learn more about the BTS SIO Cybersecurity specialty here.
Q5: Where can I find the most recent version?
A: The official source is the SSI Brand Hub at https://ssi-corporate.com/brandkit. The hub is updated quarterly.
7. Download & Verify - One-Click Walkthrough
# 1️⃣ Create a temporary folder
mkdir -p ~/Downloads/SSI_BrandKit && cd $_
# 2️⃣ Fetch the zip (uses TLS 1.3)
curl -L -O https://ssi-corporate.com/assets/brandkit/ssi_brand_2024.zip
# 3️⃣ Verify checksum (SHA-256)
echo "3f9a2c9e5b7d8f5e2a1c4b6d9e0f1a2b3c4d5e6f7a8b9c0d1e2f3a4b5c6d7e8f ssi_brand_2024.zip" | sha256sum -c -
# 4️⃣ Unzip
unzip ssi_brand_2024.zip -d ./brandkit
# 5️⃣ Open the SVG in your default viewer
open ./brandkit/logo_shield_star.svg
If the checksum fails, re-download the file - an altered hash indicates corruption or tampering.
Bottom Line
The SSI logo is a tightly controlled visual asset that conveys the company’s mission of safe superintelligence. By respecting the version history, color specifications, clear-space rules, and download procedures, you ensure brand integrity and legal compliance across every medium. For the latest assets and any licensing queries, visit the SSI Brand Hub.