Near and far, inspirations for corporate identities can come from virtually anywhere, transcending cultures, geographical territories across vastly different industries.
Bangkok’s “Skytrain” Mass Transit System; Bajkaskie Vody (Lake Baikal Water), Russia; Wewers building materials, Denmark; Norwegian brand of winter wear, NBDCS (National Book Development Council), Singapore; Dale of Norway; Seventh Programme of Euratom, European Atom Energy Community; Synagro Environmental Services Co.; Aleksandrovksy Bank, Russia; Fenchurch Clothing Brand, UK; West Wireless Health Institute, La Jolla UTC, San Diego; and Dao Heng Bank, a former Hong Kong bank that was acquired by Singapore’s DBS Bank and merged to form DBS Bank Hong Kong in 2003; and Malaysian Finance Group Hong Leong; Hong Leong Bank, Malaysia; BALI (British Association of Landscape Industries); Poster designed by Irek Kuriata, Poland; First Citizens Bank, St. Lucia, The Carribean; Main Line Health, Bryn Mawr Hospital, part of Main Line HealthCare Group, PA, USA; IMA (Institute of Management Consultants), USA; Cardinal Healthcare; ASINCAR (Asociación Aragonesa de Consultores en Ingeniería y Organización), Association of Organizational Consultants and Engineers of Aragon, Spain; City of Newcastle (OLD LOGO), NSW, Australia.
You don’t need to search far and wide to realize that the modern homo sapiensis is inspired by the same thing when it comes to creating logos and corporate identities. The internet has brought the world to our fingertips like never before.
Images that we’ve never had access to, or could only see on TV or read in the news irregularly and without our control, are now in cyberspace. All awaiting our discovery… that is if you know where to look.
Having the world so much closer, and on our screens, also means that we can see how more similar we all are. How we see our own immediate environments and how that inspires us. Including how businesses and organizations communicate their message through their identity.
After all, a Logo is the primary visual identity that the outside world sees. And the internet has enabled us to see the similarities in corporate identity from distant shores, representing organizations that are vastly different and yet have somehow been inspired by the same idea. All brought together by a similar vocabulary of design language!
And although two logos may be close to identical, the message they emit is not the same. For its the meaning that customers attach to them according to their culture that gives them the value.
In other words, a logo is a sign or symbol that carries a meaning.
“People only value things that have meanings.
Brand building occurs when brand owners understand the meanings of their brands in the customers’ minds. The strongest brands are those that are able to connect with customers on an emotional level through an engaging relationship built on mutual trust. Just like an old friend.
Recognizing this is key to building stronger brands that go beyond functional, and tap into the emotional and symbolic meanings. After all, people value more what things mean than what things are!”
IDEAS INSPIRING INNOVATION 