We were asked by Laurence King Publishing to contribute our logo design for Sanssouci Film to their book project symbol.>Symbol by Angus Hyland and Steven Bateman and published by Laurence King in May 2011 features over 1300 symbols, organized into groups and sub-groups according to their visuak characteristics.
Symbols play an integral role in branding programs. More often than not, symbols are used alongside logotypes, the two working in tandem to illustrate the values and qualities of a brand to its audience.
However, symbols can be hugely effective on their own, providing organizations and brands with ‘marks’ that provide an instantly recognizable signifier when seen independently of the brand name and/or logotype. Nike’s ‘swoosh’ is seldom seen with its corresponding logotype these days: it has become so familiar that we don’t need the name in order to recognize the brand. Among countless other examples, the Shell symbol, Michelin’s Bibendum, London Transport’s intersected circle, the Guinness Harp and the Woolmark symbol form a unique visual vernacular as ubiquitous and familiar as the ‘man at work’ pictogram.
Every symbol in the book is captioned with information on who it was designed for, who designed it, when, and what the symbol stands for. These sections are interspersed with short but detailed case studies featuring classic examples of symbols still in use, and exceptional examples of recently designed symbols.
