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Published Aug 23, 2023

The Starfleet Insignia Explained

No Star Trek symbol captures the eye or imagination quite like the delta.

StarTrek.com

"The Starfleet Symbol." "The Arrowhead." "The Delta."

Star Trek uses symbols to convey a lot of things, but none captures the eye or imagination quite like the delta. In the years since The Original Series first aired, fans have tried to determine the meaning behind the various insignia shapes we see in the show. To most, it seems that the iconic delta shape is some sort of ship assignment patch meant to represent the U.S.S. Enterprise .

Some arrive at this conclusion because they see various Starfleet personnel wearing a number of different insignia. However, like any puzzle without a key, it’s impossible to precisely interpret the meaning of these other insignia.

The hidden key to the puzzle was finally uncovered a few years ago. The discovery was a memorandum written by producer Robert H. (Bob) Justman to  costume designer William Ware (Bill) Theiss . The subject? STARSHIP EMBLEMS.

A copy of that memorandum has been digitized from the Gene Roddenberry  Star Trek  Television Series Collection (held in the Library Special Collections division of the Young Research Library at UCLA in Irvine, California) and is shown below:

This memo, written during the production of the episode "The Omega Glory," and referencing Captain Ron Tracey, nullifies the long-held assumption that Starfleet assigned different insignia shapes to starships during TOS. Theiss’ inclusion of an alternate insignia for the  Exeter 's captain and chief medical officer, unfortunately, downplays how genuinely ubiquitous the delta insignia is within the  Star Trek  universe. As a result, fans of the series are left with conflicting visual information regarding the meaning of the insignia worn throughout the original series.

Nearly 50 years after Bob Justman wrote his memo, we now have the opportunity to clarify the use of each and every Starfleet uniform insignia used in   TOS. With a wee bit of Scotty's ingenuity, and a pinch of Vulcan logic, the complete picture of what Gene Roddenberry envisioned for the delta insignia should snap into focus.

There are six Starfleet duty insignia used in The Original Series:

• Starship Duty Insignia (Fleet personnel emblem)
• Spacecraft Duty Insignia (Auxiliary Fleet/ Merchant Marine personnel emblem)
• Outpost Duty Insignia (Outpost and Colony personnel emblem)
• Cadet Duty Insignia (Starfleet Academy student emblem)
• Starbase Duty Insignia (Headquarters,  Space stations, Drydocks, and Ground installation personnel emblem)
• Fleet Command Insignia (Senior field commander personnel emblem)

In the  Star Trek  universe, the delta emblem is a direct descendant of the vector component of the old NASA (and later UESPA) logos in use during Earth’s space programs of the 20th and 21st Centuries. Those symbols were worn by some of the first space explorers and adorned uniforms and ships during humanity’s first steps into the final frontier.

United Earth Space Probe Agency integrated with Starfleet as the leading United Earth space exploration service.

The delta insignia was first drawn in 1964 by costume designer William Ware Theiss with input from series creator Gene Roddenberry. The delta — or “Arrowhead” as Bill Theiss called it — has evolved into a revered symbol and one that's synonymous with  Star Trek  today.

The delta also conveys information about the wearer’s duties aboard ship using a series of division symbols. When paired with a distinctive, elongated “star,” the insignia represents someone assigned to the Command division aboard ship. When it displays the “planet” symbol, it represents the Sciences division, a stylized “e” stands for Engineering (later Operations), and a red “Swiss Cross” is worn by starship personnel assigned to the Nursing Corps.

Captain James T. Kirk wearing the Starship Duty Insignia, Command Division.

Let’s continue our study of  Star Trek ’s insignia with personnel assigned to other starships that are wearing the delta insignia.

Before we knew about this memo, we assumed that each ship had its own unique insignia, but there are problems that theory doesn't account for. For instance, does it bother you, or at least seem odd to see the surly guys in Starbase 11’s Officer's Club (in the episode "Court Martial") giving “their captain” a hard time over the presumed death of their mutual friend Ben Finney? Or, to see deceased crew members aboard the  U.S.S. Defiant  (in the episode "The Tholian Web") wearing the delta insignia?

If different starships had different symbols, why weren't they wearing them? Simple. The memo makes it clear that those Starfleet officers are not assigned to the  Enterprise ; they are simply wearing Starfleet’s standard-issue Starship Duty Insignia.

Non-Enterprise Starfleet personnel in Starbase 11’s Officer’s Club in Court Martial, and Below: Deceased U.S.S. Defiant crew member wearing the Starship Duty Insignia in "The Tholian Web."

By now, you might be saying, “What about U.S.S. Exeter ’s Captain Ron Tracey and his chief surgeon, Dr. Carter?” As these two insignia patches are the error being addressed in the memo, they need no further explanation. They alone are the anomaly (an anomaly Theiss never repeated), which led to the misconception that every ship has its own assignment insignia.

Above: Captain Ron Tracey of the U.S.S. Exeter, and Below: his CMO, Dr. Carter.

As you can see here, Theiss thoughtfully, if erroneously, provided both officers with unique assignment insignia patches, and in keeping with his fastidious reputation, insured both patches included their appropriate division symbols.

Early in TOS, we get our first look at non-delta insignia. In the episode "Charlie X,"  Antares ’ Captain Rampart and his first officer are wearing the Spacecraft Duty Insignia, which indicates that they are assigned to an auxiliary spacecraft serving in Starfleet's Merchant Marine Corps — just as Justman points out in his memo. 

Antares' Captain Rampart, and his XO wearing the Merchant Marine Spacecraft Duty Insignia.

Not long after that, we get a look at another new insignia. The Outpost Duty Insignia is worn by Starfleet personnel assigned to outposts on the very edge of Federation space, the frontier. This emblem is characterized by a gold spikelet against a black background. Warning: Do not put yourself in a situation where this insignia goes on your uniform. Personnel wearing this badge never seem to live happily ever after.

Outpost Crew from "Balance of Terror" & "Arena" pictured wearing the Outpost Duty Insignia.

A few episodes later, the Enterprise takes shore leave and Kirk reminisces about his days at the Academy. Worn by students attending Starfleet Academy, the Cadet Duty Insignia is characterized by a pewter colored, smaller version of the Starbase Duty Insignia.

Second Class Midshipman Finnegan wearing the Cadet Duty Insignia.

First seen in "The Menagerie," the Starbase Duty Insignia is worn by personnel assigned to Federation Starbases, which include Starfleet Headquarters, space stations, drydocks, and other ground installations. The emblem, which is devoid of any departmental symbol, is a stylized representation of an “Evening Starflower” (a flowering plant native to the western hemisphere of Earth).

Above: Admiral James Komack of Starfleet Command - Sector 9, and Below: Admiral Fitzpatrick.

Miss Piper, assistant to Commodore Mendez, and Lt. Areel Shaw Starbase 11 JAG Officer wearing the Starbase Duty Insignia.

So how does Commodore Wesley in "The Ultimate Computer," or Commodore Decker in "The Doomsday Machine," fit into the spectrum of Starfleet insignia?

Well, let’s talk about commodores for a moment. A commodore is a flag officer rank, one position above captain. A starship captain usually commands a single vessel, but a commodore ordinarily commands more than one ship. Usually, commodores command a group of ships (either close to their flagship or distant), or in the case of TOS, they normally command a starbase.

In charge of evaluating the operational performance of the M5 computer while it's in total control of a starship, Commodore Wesley sits in temporary command of the  U.S.S. Lexington  to lead a battle fleet in war games against the  Enterprise . Throughout the episode, Commodore Wesley continues to wear his Starbase Duty Insignia, while the  Lexington  crew would have been wearing the delta.

Commodore Bob Wesley in the transporter room briefing Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock about the M5 computer.

Finally, we come to one of my favorite characters ever — Commodore Matt Decker in "The Doomsday Machine." We saved him for last because we could only properly discuss his insignia and what it means after we talked about Starfleet’s other symbols first.

William Windom as Commodore Matt Decker

Unlike Commodore Bob Wesley, who was only in temporary command of the  Lexington , Matt Decker is a Flag Officer with permanent field command of a starship. In fact, he's the only Flag Officer we see in  Star Trek  with a field command. As a consequence of Commodore Decker's rank and status as Commander of the  U.S.S. Constellation  (his flagship), he wears the Fleet Command Insignia denoting his status as a Flag Officer in the field. If we had seen Commodore Decker's crew (may they rest in peace), we would have seen the delta shape insignia in use on their uniforms. Commodore Decker's own first officer would have held the rank of Captain and worn the Starship Duty Insignia.

It should be noted that "The Doomsday Machine," which was filmed early in Season 2, is not referenced in Bob Justman’s memo. Some speculate that Decker’s absence from the memo is further indication of the inconsistent use of emblems in  Star Trek , but that presupposes that the production staff missed that detail. However, the very existence of the Justman memo, and a whole forest of others just like it, demonstrates that the opposite is true.

The production team of  Star Trek  worked diligently to ensure that every aspect of the future they were busy creating held up under scrutiny. Gene Roddenberry was notoriously rewriting scripts himself to ensure no less than exactly what he wanted ended up on-screen, and that fastidious nature permeated the entire production staff. That Decker’s unique emblem is not mentioned in the production memo indicates that his particular insignia isn't an error at all; but represents something else.

Check out Commodore Decker's insignia. Remember that when Theiss created the insignia for Captain Ron Tracey, he went out of his way to ensure it was emblazoned with a Command Star department symbol. Commodore Decker has no such departmental symbol in his insignia patch, which places it in the same design lineage as the Starbase Duty Insignia, which is also devoid of any departmental symbol.

At this point in  Star Trek , we’ve seen a number of flag officers; but they have all worn the Starflower shape, which indicates assignment to a starbase, while Matt Decker alone in TOS series serves as a flag officer in permanent command of a starship. He is wearing an insignia that conveys his unique status, the Fleet Command Insignia, and if you look closely, you'll see that Matt Decker’s emblem is visually related to the Starbase Duty Insignia. Decker’s insignia is a stylized representation of an individual petal from the same “Evening Starflower” emblem that comprises the starbase symbol. This insignia isn't mentioned in the production memo because it's not an error at all.

Hopefully, by now, you can see how consistent the  Star Trek  costume department really was in their use of insignia, and that Bill Thiess never repeated the error he made during "The Omega Glory" after it was pointed out by the memo.

Returning to the delta, Roddenberry and Justman intended it to be a very special symbol that communicates something important. The insignia worn on Starfleet uniforms is the equivalent of the badges worn by U.S. Service members — to show how they serve, not where they serve. Both men served with distinction in World War II. Roddenberry was an Army Air Corps pilot and Justman was a radio operator in the Navy. In the air and at sea, they understood the value of visual communication. In uniform, they themselves carried those values on their chests, on their collars, and on their sleeves. Twenty years after they wore their own various insignia, they helped to create something new — a symbol to inspire others. In the 1960s, the Starfleet delta had far more in common with the golden pin awarded to a NASA astronaut than a simple mission patch, and it was intended to equal that proud emblem in both use and sentiment.

The NASA Astronaut Pin. There are two versions of this pin, a silver pin awarded to those who complete their training, and a gold pin awarded only to astronauts who have flown in space.

The delta proclaims that the person wearing it has achieved the goal of every cadet entering the Academy, and the dream of many a devoted fan — to serve aboard a starship and set sail in an endless sea of stars.

Starfleet Insignia Badge, Command Division from Star Trek Discovery

They used to say if man could fly, he'd have wings. But he did fly. He discovered he had to.

Captain James T. Kirk

I am grateful to have an experienced and learned group of expert Star Trek fans who helped with the research on this article — Steve Fronczek, Creative Services Manager, ANOVOS; Lieutenant Commander Michael J. Quigley, United States Navy; and Dayton Ward, Star Trek author.

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This article was originally published on October 7, 2018

John Cooley is a lifelong Star Trek fan.

• Behind The Scenes
• Star Trek 101

Starfleet insignia

The Starfleet insignia or Starfleet delta was an asymmetrical, arrowhead-shaped emblem used by Starfleet . This symbol was used on every Starfleet badge and was displayed on starship hulls , installations , uniforms , and equipment, such as screws and screwdrivers .

• 1.1 Alternate reality
• 1.2 Mirror universe
• 1.3 Parallel and future versions
• 2.1 Background information

History [ ]

NASA insignia

This arrowhead shape has roots in history, beginning with a basic form on the logo used NASA in the 20th and 21st centuries , the United States military space command ratings badge and unit insignia, and on UESPA exploration vessels, such as the Friendship 1 , in the 21st century .

United Earth insignia

Building on that legacy, the United Earth Starfleet of the 22nd century used a simple forward-facing "pointer" shaped pennant, with a round backdrop. The original design for the Starfleet uniform of that era did not include this symbol, unless it was a crewperson assigned to Starfleet Command , who wore the insignia as their assignment patch on the left shoulder. In a later uniform revision of the 2160s , personnel wore the Starfleet patch on their right shoulder as well as the left shoulder assignment patch. ( ENT : " First Flight ", " These Are the Voyages... "; TNG : " The Royale ")

Shortly after the founding of the United Federation of Planets in 2161 , a solid silver delta was worn on the left breast of the uniform , with individual assignment patches worn on both shoulders. ( Star Trek Beyond )

After the 2160s, Starfleet slightly changed its insignias. The forward facing "pointer" shaped pennant remained the main logo for all of Starfleet, however Starfleet adopted different insignias for a different part of the fleet such as Starships and installations. For Starships. a new arrowhead delta design was adopted. This new arrowhead was the iconic Starfleet delta and was used only used on Starships. This design was used continuously until at least 2255 or 2256 , when the right side of the delta was changed to be outlined and slightly separated from the rest of the arrowhead. ( DIS Seasons 1 and 2 ; SNW Season 1 ; Star Trek: The Original Series ; Star Trek: The Animated Series ; Star Trek: The Motion Picture )

Personnel sit in front of a 2260s Starfleet pennant

The main logo of Starfleet was modified by 2256, with the left side of the insignia shortened. This simplified pennant was still used to display on Federation starships, and some installations, though it was not used on uniforms. ( TOS : " Court Martial "; ENT : " In a Mirror, Darkly ", " In a Mirror, Darkly, Part II ")

Three variants of the Starfleet insignia on uniforms aboard the USS Discovery ( 2257 )

The arrowhead delta insignia of Starships remained on the uniforms of officers and enlisted who served on starships. It came into usage for much of Starfleet's exploration division in the early to mid- 23rd century . ( TOS : " Court Martial ")

A starburst insignia was used by flag officers and administrative support staff of fleet headquarters and starbases . The regular Starfleet arrowhead insignia remained the standard identification for Starfleet from the late 2250s to at least 2265 . ( TOS : " The Cage ", " Court Martial ", " The Doomsday Machine ", " The Omega Glory "; ENT : " In a Mirror, Darkly, Part II "; Star Trek ; DIS : " The Vulcan Hello ")

Two variants of the Starfleet Insignia based on rank and division, seen aboard the USS Enterprise ( 2268 )

By the mid- 2270s , while some installations such as Epsilon IX station , maintained their individual assignment patches, Starfleet Command began adopting the Starship arrowhead design for all of Starfleet. ( Star Trek: The Motion Picture ; Star Trek ; Star Trek Beyond ) Specifically, the command division insignia, with its five-pointed star contained in the arrowhead, was most often used, although a version omitting the internal star gained prominence as well. This symbol was now pointed up when worn on the chest or shoulder of uniforms, as well as displayed in signage, and facing fore when used as hull decoration on ships. This symbol eventually phased out all assignment patches by the late 2270s, and remained in use for some Starfleet divisions well into the 24th century . The metal badge version of this symbol became Starfleet's first combadge as well. ( Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan ; TNG : " Yesterday's Enterprise "; VOY : " Friendship One ")

Two variants of Starfleet insignias worn on uniforms on the USS Enterprise -D (2365)

In the 2340s , a more stylized version of the symbol, the familiar arrowhead without any internal symbology within the shape, and mounted on an oval field, was incorporated into uniforms. A metal badge of this emblem, again serving as a combadge , was worn on the uniform chest. This symbol also became common in starship hull pennants. ( TNG : " Encounter at Farpoint ", " Family ")

Two variants of the Starfleet insignia worn on uniforms, as seen on the USS Cerritos (2380s)

By the 2370s , a newer version was created for use as a combadge , with a stylized trapezoidal background. Starship hull pennants of this era began using a simplified version of the arrowhead alone, without a background. ( Star Trek Generations ; DS9 : " The Search, Part I "; VOY : " Caretaker "; Star Trek: Insurrection ) Starfleet adopted the simplified silver version as part of the uniform used in the early 2380s, alongside continued use of the version used in the 2370s. ( LD : " Second Contact "; PIC : " Nepenthe ")

In 2383 , some Starfleet personnel wore a hollow, outlined version of the arrowhead in silver with two dark, irregular stylized vertical trapezoids behind it. ( PIC : " Maps and Legends ") This is similar to a version of the insignia used in several alternate timelines around 2390 onward, which used vertical gold bars as the backing. ( TNG : " All Good Things... "; DS9 : " The Visitor "; VOY : " Timeless ", " Endgame ") In 2378 , one of these "alternate future" combadges was brought into the prime timeline by a future version of Kathryn Janeway , where it remained alongside other anachronistic advanced technology used to bring the USS Voyager home early. ( VOY : " Endgame ")

By 2399 , this design had been adapted with the trapezoids in dark silver, and now only descending from arrowhead. By 2402 , the combadge had been revised slightly, with the color of the trapezoids restored to gold.( PIC : " The Last Generation ")

By 3190, a solid chrome background with 2 golden triangular shapes (one bigger than the other), making up the arrowhead, placed on top with a silver, curved, bottom. It also had markings on the right-hand side to show the wear's rank, following the same pattern as the pips on the collar (number and colour). it was also the wear's Tricom badge . This insignia was also used on robotic droids such as Darts used on USS Discovery . ( DIS : " Scavengers ") An insignia, similar to that used in the 24th Century, was used on EV suits .

Alternate reality [ ]

In the alternate reality created by Nero 's incursion, Starfleet had done away with the assignment patches by the 2250s. Instead, the fleet was united behind a gold arrowhead, slightly modified from the assignment patch of the USS Kelvin , with a shallow arrowhead indentation on the inside (as seen on dress uniforms ). The insignia used on starships was a silver arrowhead with a hollow division symbol inside the arrowhead, similar to the assignment patches used aboard the prime timeline's USS Enterprise . ( Star Trek )

By 2379, Starfleet was using an insignia similar to the one used from the 2340's to the 2360's in the Prime timeline. ( DIS : " Terra Firma, Part 1 ")

Mirror universe [ ]

In the mirror universe , a dagger impaling the Earth was the symbol of the Terran Empire , and, as such, was used as the insignia of the Imperial Starfleet . ( ENT : " In a Mirror, Darkly ", " In a Mirror, Darkly, Part II "; DIS : " Despite Yourself "; TOS : " Mirror, Mirror ")

Parallel and future versions [ ]

In the Barash -created false-future illusion experienced by William T. Riker in 2367 , the symbol used in the Starfleet combadge consisted of the arrowhead, either silver or gold, with four horizontal bars behind indicating the rank of the individual by the number of bars that were gold or silver. ( TNG : " Future Imperfect ") This version was also in use in an alternate quantum reality visited by Worf in 2370 . ( TNG : " Parallels ")

In several alternate timelines observed by Starfleet personnel, new variations of this symbol existed. In the 2390s and 25th century , Starfleet personnel were known to wear a hollow, outlined version of the arrowhead with two irregular stylized vertical trapezoids behind it as their badge. ( TNG : " All Good Things... "; DS9 : " The Visitor "; VOY : " Timeless ", " Endgame ") One of these combadges was brought back in time to 2378 in the prime universe by a future version of Kathryn Janeway , where it was left behind alongside other anachronistic technology. ( VOY : " Endgame ") This design was in use aboard the USS Dauntless in 2384 of the prime timeline. ( PRO : " A Moral Star, Part 2 ")

Further in the future, 29th century Starfleet had a rotated version of the arrowhead shape, with the bottom half filled in with a mirror of the top point of the shape. In 29th century timeship hull decorations, the arrowhead was shown pointing backwards from the direction of motion for the first time, possibly because of the vessels' capability for time travel . ( VOY : " Future's End ", " Future's End, Part II ", " Relativity ")

This insignia, somewhat modified, was also used as the logo for the Chronowerx Industries company of the late 20th century . Its founder, Henry Starling , stole a 29th century vessel and used the insignia aboard as his company logo, as most of his products were invented using scavenged parts of the ship.

Appendix [ ]

Background information [ ].

Division insignia used during most of TOS

From the Star Trek Encyclopedia , 4th ed., vol. 1, p. 365, " The distinctive arrowhead symbol used on Starfleet uniforms was first created by Star Trek: The Original Series costume designer William Ware Theiss for the " The Cage " in 1964 . Three versions of the original symbol were created, used for command personnel, science specialists, and engineering staff. (A fourth version, featuring a red cross, was occasionally worn by Christine Chapel .)" Another version, which appeared only in "The Cage", had a unique symbol of a box, open on the wearer's left, with a "C" shape inside. Only two crewmembers were seen wearing this unique insignia; both were on the bridge with one standing like a guard at the turbolift doors, and the other standing at times next to Captain Pike's chair. This unique insignia's meaning was never mentioned on screen; it was dropped in the second pilot, " Where No Man Has Gone Before ", and never appeared again.

Following the original Star Trek series, it was generally assumed that the arrowhead symbol was unique to Enterprise , and that other starships had different insignia for their uniforms." This misunderstanding may have arisen from a costume error in " The Omega Glory ", which officers on the USS Exeter were shown having their own unique insignia, but the intention was for all ships to use one symbol. A memo from Robert H. Justman dated 18 December 1967 clarified the policy around the arrowhead emblem , stating " all Starship personnel wear the Starship emblem that we have established for our Enterprise Crew Members to wear, " meaning that the arrowhead was always meant to be the emblem for all of Starfleet. Further, the crew of the Antares was the " equivalent of the Merchant Marines or freighter personnel " and other emblems should be counted as production mistakes. [1] Nevertheless, the two-part Enterprise episode " In a Mirror, Darkly (episode) " depicted the USS Defiant as having its own distinctive insignia.

Reference works , such as the Star Trek: The Next Generation Technical Manual (p. 3), suggest that the Starfleet-wide adoption of the Enterprise emblem was probably to honor the ship and her crew for their successful and historic five-year mission . Considering that one of Star Trek 's long-held influences is the Age of Sail, it may be a reference to the British Royal Navy's adoption of Nelson Chequer – the particular coloration of the ships of Admiral Horatio Nelson – on all of its ships after the Battle of Trafalgar . In a form of fact emulating fiction (and vice-versa), the US Air Force Space Command badges have a delta arrowhead very similar to the 1960s-designed Enterprise insignia, while the United Earth Starfleet insignia seems to be a deliberate synthesis between the TOS era pennant and the NASA logo. Several other space agencies (Roscosmos, JAXA, CNSA, ISRO) use a variation of the 'vector' shape in their logos as well.

Fletcher's revised division insignia seen in TMP

The Star Trek Encyclopedia further notes: " This changed in Star Trek: The Motion Picture , when a modified emblem, designed by Robert Fletcher , was used not only on Enterprise crew members, but on all Starfleet personnel. We therefore assume that at some point after the original Star Trek series, the Enterprise emblem was adopted for the entire Starfleet. The feature film insignia (in a couple of variations) was used for the movies set in the Kirk era, as well for Star Trek: The Next Generation flashback sequences involving Picard's cadet days. Yet another variation was created for Star Trek: The Next Generation 's first season by Theiss, in conjunction with Rick Sternbach and Mike Okuda . This version was also used on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine . Most recently. Starfleet officers wear a version designed by John Eaves and Bob Blackman , first seen in Star Trek Generations . Additionally, two hypothetical future versions have been seen. One, designed by Okuda, was seen in " Future Imperfect " and " Parallels ", while another, designed by Eaves, was used in " All Good Things... " and " The Visitor ". Still more variants were added for the Kelvin timeline for Star Trek and Star Trek Into Darkness . "

The 29th century insignia is referred to as the "far future Starfleet" symbol in the Star Trek Sticker Book , and was designed by Richard James and Rick Sternbach. (p. 14)

Several patches were sold off on the It's A Wrap! sale and auction on eBay. [2]

Following the announcement of the logo of the United States Space Force , a division of the Department of the Air Force, a number of sources noted its similarity to the Starfleet insignia, though others pointed out that the design appeared to based on the logo of the Air Force Space Command , which was phased out in place of the new Space Force. [3]

• 2 Bell Riots
• 3 Daniels (Crewman)

Who Created The Star Trek Logo & What Do Its Variations Represent?

"Star Trek" has some of the most recognizable iconography in all of sci-fi, from the hulking image of the Starship Enterprise to the pointy ears of the Vulcans. Even just one look at the "Star Trek" logo — that basic arrowhead-esque shape containing a star with one elongated point inside — is enough to conjure countless memories of the adventures seen throughout the franchise. In fact, it's such an iconic component that some fans may have never stopped to wonder where exactly it comes from and what it's supposed to represent.

The "Star Trek" logo that everyone knows and loves — also commonly referred to as the "Delta" — was created in 1964 by the costume designer for the original series, William Ware Theiss. Theiss contributed a lot to the look of early "Star Trek," and his development of the "Delta" insignia to denote members of Starfleet on their uniforms quickly became the franchise's most enduring symbol. In the years since, the insignia has evolved and shifted into several distinct variations, each of which carry their own in-universe meaning.

There are a couple major Starfleet insignia variations

While the exact look of the Starfleet insignia has changed with just about each new entry into the "Star Trek" canon, it has just about always retained its core arrowhead shape. However, even dating back as far as the original series from the 1960s, the symbol contained within each variation of the arrowhead has actually been used to denote the specific division of Starfleet that the corresponding individual is a part of.

Of course, the most popular variation and the one most commonly seen today is the logo with the star inside. This version is commonly used to denote a Starfleet employee who is a member of the command division. Most of the major characters who make up the crew of various starships, from Spock to Captain Picard, are part of the command division, hence why it's the most common variation.

"Star Trek: The Original Series" further introduces three other major variations. The one with two overlapping circles signifies a member of Starfleet's sciences division, the one with a spiral inside represents the operations division, and, finally, the one with a red cross contained inside belongs to medical personnel. Other "Star Trek" projects have introduced the occasional new variant, but these four comprise the most well-known versions in canon.

The Starfleet insignia takes inspiration from a surprising place

It's been established that William Ware Theiss developed the Starfleet logo for "Star Trek: The Original Series," but some fans may still be wondering about its canonical origin. Where did the arrowhead symbol come from in-universe and why does it represent Starfleet? As it happens, the in-universe history of the Starfleet symbol and some of the pieces of inspiration Theiss drew from in the real world are one and the same.

The bulk of the "Star Trek" timeline that fans see takes place far into the future beyond the real-world present day. As such, it's frequently suggested that Starfleet as an organization grew out of Earth's space-based initiatives and programs from our real-world history. Indeed, there's a clever link between NASA and Starfleet in terms of their logos. Simply take the NASA logo and focus solely on the diagonal-pointing red "V" shape. Adjust it slightly so that the "V" is pointing upwards, and the resulting shape resembles the basic outline of the Starfleet symbol. To make this connection stronger, the franchise's United Earth insignia hews even closer to the NASA design in terms of composition.

The History Of Star Trek Logos

With the recently released redesign of the Star Trek logo, TrekMovie has put together a short video retrospective of the history of Star Trek title logos, beginning with the original 1960's television series, and concluding with the new JJ Abrams film.

via: Geeks of Doom

ONE MILDLY OBSESSIVE GOAL: The Most Accurate & Complete Star Trek Symbol Database.

Random symbols.

Star Trek has had great influence on modern culture. And no more so than its graphic design.

For three generations designers have been profoundly influenced by the symbols, insignias and logos seen in Star Trek. In turn, those generations have, through design, woven aspects of the Star Trek graphic design aesthetic into every aspect of daily life. So much so, that it should be thought of as a unique genre of graphic design.

Every designer that has contributed to this pervasive cultural influence has used Star Trek’s hopeful and optimistic future for humanity as a guideline. In turn, they applied the same philosophical tenants when creating each new symbol to build a fully evolved and internally consistent visual design spectrum that leverages established design representations of peace, oppression, freedom, foreignness, aggression, etc. and envisions how graphic design will advance along with humanity. But none more than…

Matt Jeffries’ foundational design premise that regardless the technological advance, simple striking visual elements used consistently guides the viewer in forming positive and negative associations.

Franz Joseph’s projections of a future visual language rooted in the United Nations and diplomacy rather than relying on the more obvious military influences.

Mike Okuda ’s wonderful imaginary unbroken thread of design from genuine space exploration through to a future of exploration that Star Trek embodies.

Doug Drexler , William Ware Theiss, Pierre Drolet, Geoffrey Mandel and so many more (please scroll down for more on that).

Faithful reproduction for authentic reference.

To serve as a reliable resource, accuracy in recreation of all marks is of utmost importance. Every symbol is faithfully reproduced from the best sources available, adding only as much illustrative embellishments and artistic license needed to convey depth, texture or overall onscreen appearance.

STDP is a living compendium and symbols will added as discovered and updated as higher quality source material becomes available.

On-screen or it falls outside of the Star Trek graphic design canon.

That countless non-canon additions, derivations, extensions and modifications based on the Star Trek design compendium have been created by designers for over 50 years is a testament to both its influence and adoration. STDP strives to codify only on-screen symbols with provenance to create a compendium for reference and inspiration.

Is a symbol incorrect or missing?

Then the Star Trek Design Project needs your help. Send an email with the symbol in question along with in which Star Trek it appears (if it’s not here), or which symbol has an error along with which Star Trek it appears (if there’s an error). Time codes are extremely helpful.

GET IN TOUCH

It takes a fanbase.

I’ve spent years compiling the collection. But, I’m sure there is much more to be done. While I continue to scour episodes and reference material for more symbols, there is nothing as powerful as Star Trek fans to get to the goal of cataloging every mark. So, if there is an error in something cataloged or something missed, I want to know about it.

Most importantly, the designers of this influential graphic design genre need to receive credit. If you designed any marks or know designers who did, please let me know.

A special thank you to:

Gary O’Neill for his invaluable research and input on many of the marks in the collection. His work can be found at gazomg-trek-art.blogspot.com

Jörg Hillebrand for incredibly deep knowledge of and research into Star Trek symbols. His work can be found at Ex Astris Scientia .

Star Trek, Star Trek: The Animated Series, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Star Trek: Voyager, Star Trek: Enterprise, and Star Trek: Discovery are all registered trademarks of CBS Corporation. Star Trek: The Motion Picture, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, Star Trek III: The Search for Spock, Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, Star Trek V: The Final Frontier, Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, Star Trek: First Contact, Star Trek: Generations, Star Trek: Nemesis, Star Trek, Star Trek Into Darkness and Star Trek Beyond are all registered trademarks of Paramount. The Star Trek Design Project is in no way affiliated with or endorsed by CBS or Paramount.

The ST Design Project offers no suggestion that the work presented on this web page is “official” or produced or sanctioned by the owner of the aforementioned trademarks. The ST Design Project will take all steps necessary to ensure that any usage of trademarked items in no way confuses the audience of this site as to its origin. The ST Design Project makes no claim to own Star Trek or any of the names related to it. Images that are displayed on this site are copyrighted to Paramount Pictures, in the case of screen shots. Visitors may download any pictures displayed on this site for personal use, as long as they are not used for profit, and proper credit is given.

The ST Design Project is intended for personal and non-profit use only. Content posted on The Star Trek Design Project is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial license. I simply want to embrace and extend the cataloging of Star Trek imagery for all to appreciate.

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Monday 1 February 2021

Star trek 55th anniversary logo.

CBS have revealed a new 55th anniversary Star Trek logo, to mark the latest anniversary moment this year. The logo features a whole gaggle of  TOS icons: The Enterprise, a Starfleet delta, the three uniform division colours, and the title text! 

Continue below to check out the first 55th anniversary merch you can find this on, and a look back at previous anniversary logos.

This is a cool post, thanks! I too have a lot of nostalgia for the 30th one. I guess it doesn't count as a logo, but I liked the 40th-anniversary banner used on a lot of TOS novels in 2006.

Post a Comment

• Desilu Productions
• Paramount Television Studios
• Defunct television programs of the United States
• 1960s television programs
• Shows premiered in 1966
• Shows ending in 1969
• Action television series

Star Trek: The Original Series

1964 (pilot) [ ].

This title-card was only used in the pilot epsiode "The Cage".

1966–1969 [ ]

1966–1968 [ ].

For the first two seasons, the show's title is in yellow.

1968–1969 [ ]

For the 3rd and final season, the show's title is in blue.

2004–present [ ]

Following the series conclusion, the show began to be referred as "The Original Series" so it wouldn't be confused with any of its sequels. A logo with this label has been used in home media releases (as well as in merchandise and other type of media) since 2004. [1]

References [ ]

• ↑ https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Star_Trek:_The_Original_Series_(DVD)
• 2 Incredibles 3
• 3 Toy Story 5

US Space Force explains why its logo isn’t a Star Trek ripoff

Similar symbols have been in use long before the tv show.

By Jon Porter , a reporter with five years of experience covering consumer tech releases, EU tech policy, online platforms, and mechanical keyboards.

Share this story

An official logo and motto for the United States Space Force have been revealed , following the announcement of its official seal back in January , and flag in May . The organization’s motto is “Semper Supra,” which is Latin for “Always Above,” while the logo itself is based around a delta shape that’s been the focus of some mockery thanks to its similarity to Starfleet’s logo from Star Trek.

Defenders of Space Force’s seal were quick to point out that its actual inspiration appears to be the shield for Air Force Space Command . The official US Space Force Twitter account points out that the shape has been been in use by space organizations as far back as 1961. Star Trek, meanwhile, debuted in 1966. 

So what about the other elements of the logo? The star in the middle is meant to symbolize Polaris, otherwise known as the North Star, the core values and guiding light for the organization. The two spires are meant to look like a rocket launch, while the four beveled elements at the bottom represent the four armed forces supporting the space mission. Around the edge there’s a silver border, signifying “defense and protection,” and the black background is the blackness of space, obviously. 

“The black area embodies the vast darkness of deep space,” Space Force’s official Twitter account cheerfully notes , “Some feel fear and dread but we prefer to be inspired and stand up to the challenge.”

Space Force is the sixth branch of the US military alongside the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard.

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