Segoe UI: The Typeface Behind Microsoft’s Modern Identity

Segoe, designed by Steve Matteson for Monotype, is now a registered trademark of Microsoft and serves as the core font for the company’s branding. The Segoe UI sub-family is widely used across Microsoft products, including its logo, brand communications, and as the default font in applications like Word and Windows interfaces.

Designed with a humanist approach, Segoe was created to be user-friendly and versatile across various weights, offering both clarity and approachability. The Microsoft logo itself features slightly tightened kerning, giving it a clean, modern look—very different from its earlier 1980s versions. Unlike some proprietary fonts like Google’s Product Sans, Segoe UI is freely available for anyone to use and comes pre-installed in Microsoft products, making it an accessible and widely recognized font worldwide.