Microsoft redesigned Office icons, here are the rejected variants

Last month, Microsoft announced a big redesign for Microsoft 365 app icons, bringing a fresh set of modernized iconography to its Office apps for the first time in seven years. Like it usually happens with stuff like this, designers at Microsoft went through several versions and ideas when creating the new icons. Ultimately, only one variant will make it to the public (it is already available for Microsoft 365 Insiders), but Microsoft wants you to know about the rejected variants as well.

Microsoft published "behind the scenes moments" from the new set of Microsoft 365 icons on its official Microsoft Design Instagram profile, showing the creative process for three iconic Office apps: Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. "Exploration" slides show six rejected variants of each icon and the refinement process for each app.

Historically, icons for Office apps consisted of two parts: a letter and a document, slide, or spreadsheet. When making the new variants, Microsoft considered alternative takes without a letter or an entire icon being one big letter.

Additionally, Microsoft published a timeline of Word icons, showing the evolution of the app from 2003 to 2025 and how it transitioned through several design phases, coming from simple skeuomorphic, then to simple again, and then to "fluent."

The new Microsoft 365 icons are slowly rolling out to users. Microsoft 365 Insiders can already have them on desktop PCs, while Insiders on mobile devices can try out an alternative set with letter-less variants. Some apps, such as OneDrive for Windows, already have the new icon, plus you can spot the updated iconography on some of Microsoft's websites, such as one for managing your Microsoft Account.

Speaking of other major redesigns, Microsoft recently revealed a massive Start menu upgrade for Windows 11, which should soon become available to all users. Shortly after, the company showed some of the prototypes that inspired the final variant.