So Thats What I Do - Podcast

Heart lead design company that turned in to building the Pokemon Brand in 1998 – Chris Maple Speaks about the untold story of the 90s

Sam Wren

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 In 1998, Nintendo needed a logo that would define the Pokémon brand for generations to come — and they turned to Chris Maple. But despite creating one of the most recognizable logos in gaming history, Chris’s name was left out of the narrative.

In this episode of So That’s What I Do, Chris shares the inside story of how he developed the Pokémon logo, the intense creative process behind its iconic blue and yellow design, and the emotional toll of seeing his work go global without proper credit.

💥 What You’ll Discover:

  • How Chris Maple was approached to create the Pokémon logo in a high-pressure, low-budget environment


  • The secret behind the logo’s hook-claw typography — and how it connects to Pokémon battles


  • Why the second version of the logo became the permanent one — and what changed


  • The role of Don James, Gail Tilden, and Vance Barr in shaping the brand’s Western identity


Why Chris has decided to speak up now, 25 years later, to set the record straight

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