Today we see logos everywhere.
We recognize them. We implicitly understand their messages and we know that they are a powerful tool. They serve to tie together corporate identities and to create marketable images. They help to build immediate recognition and communicate principles and messages through their visual appeal.
That was not always the case, though. For centuries, logos were little used. Only over time have the changed from an interesting rarity into a ubiquitous part of the commercial landscape.
The idea of a logo dates back to the simple identifying ciphers of ancient Greece. These generally consisted of a single letter paired with a symbol or simple design to create a distinctive identifier. They were used by those in positions of great power and were not part of the everyday life of most people.
Those early efforts at logo creation evolved into
the marks and signets of kings and queens.
In time, they would become useful and accessible to those who did not possess royal lineage. In fact, they would become critical to almost every business. That shift, however, was still centuries away.
Wider use and adoption of logos began in the thirteenth century. Individual craftsmen would “mark” their products as an identifier of their handiwork. This practice had obvious utility and it soon extended beyond the realm of masons and furniture builders. By the 1700s, traders had developed the habit of marking their goods with simple logos, as well.
As the industrial revolution took hold, the frequency of logo use became even more pronounced. What was once strictly for a few powerful people was now a mainstream part of identification.
An interesting application of the logo appeared
in the American west during the 1800s.
Individual ranch logos were seared into livestock as identifiers. The branding irons of the old west were merely means of putting one’s mark on his property.
Over time, the logo became more than a simple identifier. Although logos still served that function, it became clear that they could have a greater value. By the 1950s, the logo was not a mere symbol. It was an asset.
Logos became the faces of business. They were used as part of corporate identities to communicate brand and to unify messaging.
What was once a way for a king to seal a letter is now part of how businesses establish their credibility and sell everything from financial services to hamburgers.
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History of Corporate Identity and Logo Design
Today we see logos everywhere.
We recognize them. We implicitly understand their messages and we know that they are a powerful tool. They serve to tie together corporate identities and to create marketable images. They help to build immediate recognition and communicate principles and messages through their visual appeal.
That was not always the case, though. For centuries, logos were little used. Only over time have the changed from an interesting rarity into a ubiquitous part of the commercial landscape.
The idea of a logo dates back to the simple identifying ciphers of ancient Greece. These generally consisted of a single letter paired with a symbol or simple design to create a distinctive identifier. They were used by those in positions of great power and were not part of the everyday life of most people.
Those early efforts at logo creation evolved into
the marks and signets of kings and queens.
In time, they would become useful and accessible to those who did not possess royal lineage. In fact, they would become critical to almost every business. That shift, however, was still centuries away.
Wider use and adoption of logos began in the thirteenth century. Individual craftsmen would “mark” their products as an identifier of their handiwork. This practice had obvious utility and it soon extended beyond the realm of masons and furniture builders. By the 1700s, traders had developed the habit of marking their goods with simple logos, as well.
As the industrial revolution took hold, the frequency of logo use became even more pronounced. What was once strictly for a few powerful people was now a mainstream part of identification.
An interesting application of the logo appeared
in the American west during the 1800s.
Individual ranch logos were seared into livestock as identifiers. The branding irons of the old west were merely means of putting one’s mark on his property.
Over time, the logo became more than a simple identifier. Although logos still served that function, it became clear that they could have a greater value. By the 1950s, the logo was not a mere symbol. It was an asset.
Logos became the faces of business. They were used as part of corporate identities to communicate brand and to unify messaging.
What was once a way for a king to seal a letter is now part of how businesses establish their credibility and sell everything from financial services to hamburgers.
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