Impossible Logos
Learn about impossible objects in logo design.
Impossible logos catch the eye in their close relationship with, but ultimate subversion of the physical world. They twist and fold into themselves, creating mystery and intrigue which aid recognition and recall.
Just like negative space logos, these logos can be traced back to artists such as MC Escher, but more specifically The Penrose Triangle, a famous optical illusion and early example of an “impossible object”.
Devised by the Swedish artist Oscar Reutersvärd in 1934, The Penrose Triangle depicts a triangular shape that appears to have three-dimensional, mutually perpendicular beams connected at right angles. However, when traced, the geometry creates a spatial paradox where the object cannot exist in ordinary three-dimensional space.
Designers in the 1950s took this idea and used it to develop distinct forms, which then proliferated, with some of the finest examples emerging in the 1960s, and catalysed by other movements such as op-art.
Want more examples of negative space used in logo design? Search ‘Impossible Forms’ on LogoArchive.
Thank you for subscribing to Logo Histories. If you enjoy reading this short you may also enjoy these resources from the same team:
Brand Archive – Research tool for brand designers.
LogoArchive Website – Searchable modernist logo archive & research tool.
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