Prior to X’s rebrand from Twitter, the iconic blue bird Ollie, was the mascot and brand symbol responsible for the platform’s global success. Given Twitters commitment to brand identity, the interface and iconography became tailored to the concept of the blue bird. Such instances include the “Tweet” button being represented by a feather and a “+” symbol. The feather is used in Egyptian hieroglyphics as a symbol of truth and freedom. Similarly in Twitter’s use case, users tweet messages to emphasize their right to freely express and communicate. In a philosophical sense, the feather is a fragment of Twitter’s mascot, because when a user tweets or sends a message, they are adding feathers that allow Ollie to take flight. Without feathers, a bird cannot fly and without users, a company cannot thrive. Both the logo and hieroglyph highlight the motion of the wing, contributing to the idea of progression, taking flight, and rise of the digital age, both using a 2D representation of the bird.

Additionally, Twitter references Egyptian history and lifestyle. Birds were human companions, that enabled humans to deliver messages and communicate with one another. Twitter’s intentional reference to these details collectively contributes to their business motto and branding direction. In all, it is interesting to consider how Egyptian hieroglyphics shaped modern logos and iconography, but also how Egyptian traditions and lifestyle shaped the underlying meaning of modern iconography.