What's Old is New 02 – Logo Histories
An update on all things logo design and branding from the past.
In Issue 2 of What’s Old is New, I share some of the recent additions to the other projects I run including LogoArchive, Brand Archive, LogoArchive Shop and BP&O.
Logo Histories is a reader-supported publication, subscribing to any of these helps with my mission to document and share logos and brands from the past.
LogoArchive
Discover the internet’s largest and historical logo archive, updated every day. Now with over 3000 examples of modernist design from 1920-1991.
Above are some of the latest logos I’ve added to LogoArchive, an ongoing and constantly expanding collection of historical logos. I’ve focused more recently on building out the collection of Japanese historical logos. This now runs into the hundred and the largest collection online.
→ Sign-up here
BP&O
Read the thoughts from the BP&O team on the latest logo and brand identity design work from around the world. Discover over a decades worth of opinion from one of the longest running dedicated branding blogs.
To improve the usefulness of BP&O I’ve started to rebuild our collections into gallery pages centred around key assets from branding projects I and the BP&O team have reviewed over a decade. One of the first themes covered is logotypes. Alongside this, I’ve started to populate our colour palette collection. These are work in progress, check back for more.
→ Get inspired
LogoArchive Shop
A selection of rare and out-of-print graphic design, corporate identity and logo books from the past as well as LogoArchive zines.
This week, I wanted to highlight some of the LogoArchive zines. These collate logos under different themes. Issue 9 covered logos that featured human figures. Alongside the regular issues, I’ve experimented with collaborative issues, working with renowned designers Hugh Miller and Jim Sutherland. Also, I released a special Logo Histories zine that covers some of the early reviews published in this newsletter. I’m currently working on Issue 11. This will be a limited release, drop a note in the comments section to reserve a copy.
→ Start shopping
Brand Archive
Super-power your brand research with Brand Archive, a platform of brands past and present. Discover historical assets from the likes of British Rail, Olivetti, IBM alongside contemporary brands such as Instacart and Deezer.
I recently managed to find a copy of one of the Universiade graphic standards guides. These events have recently caught my eye for their mascot designs. These are just as good, if not better, than some of the Olympic mascots. The 1991 Sapporo Winter Universiade mascot was Sappy. So cute. You can see more assets on Brand Archive.
→ Join here
Logo Histories
Discover the internet's largest collection of logo stories with Logo Histories. Learn about the concepts, contexts and considerations behind the very best logo design and branding of the past.
Tomorrow, on Logo Histories, I’ll share the story of Julien Hébert's 1963 logo for Expo '67. To access our entire archive of 100+ stories, and receive this story straight into your inbox, upgrade below.
→ Upgrade here
Social
Discover design history research throughout LogoArchive’s social networks. You can follow me on Instagram, Facebook and Threads.
I post a lot of research throughout LogoArchive’s social accounts. Some of these get lost amongst the noise, so I’ve picked out a favourite share. This set of brand assets (logo variations and logo patterns) was designed in 1973 by Professor Richard Guyatt, Nick Jenkins, Ian Middleton and Jane-Ann Withers for UK retailer WHSmith.
Thanks for checking out this latest What’s Old is New post, and for your continued support. Don’t forget, there will be a new Logo Histories out tomorrow, and you can read last week’s for free here (until tomorrow). Paid subscribers can access our entire archive of over 100 stories.
Quick links:
Brand Archive – Research tool for brand designers.
LogoArchive Website – Searchable modernist logo archive & research tool.
LogoArchive Shop – Vintage design books & LogoArchive Zines.
BP&O – Contemporary design editorial.