Manabu Sakamoto (born March 9, 1968) is a Japanese graphic designer and visual communication expert. He graduated from University of Tsukuba (Special Arts Group), where he majored in Visual Transmission Design.
In the early 1990s, Sakamoto joined Sony, working in the Creative Development Department at the Sony Creative Center. He served as a senior producer until 2011, contributing to the branding of major products such as VAIO.
He is best known for conceptualizing the iconic PlayStation logo in 1994, ahead of the console’s Japanese launch on December 3 of that year.
The original PlayStation logomark features interlocking “P” and “S” letters in a dynamic, perspective-distorted form, creating a 3D shadow illusion. This visual approach symbolized the industry’s transition into immersive 3D gaming.
Sakamoto reportedly developed around 20 prototypes before finalizing the design. His process blended approximately 70% concept ideation, inspired by themes like “inspiration” and “logic,” with 30% refined execution. The chosen color palette, red (passion), yellow (happiness), green (excellence), and blue (patience), added emotional depth and helped position the brand for a youthful and diverse audience.