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History of logo design dates back to Ancient Greece and Rome, where merchant traders would use identifying images in the marketplace to attract the public; most of whom were illiterate. The practice of images in business has continued through the Middle Ages and into our contemporary business practice. However, the history of logo design has taken a bit more of a complicated journey than that. Today logos are everywhere, we see them constantly and they are an accepted part of our day-to-day lives. Logos have journeyed throughout time as identifiers for many different things and peoples.
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In Medieval England, emblems were used as distinguishing features between pilgrims, Lords, and Nobility. Signet rings were used on wax seals to assure that private letters were not opened by anyone but the indented reader. A Signet ring would normally bear an emblem, such an initial, or, a coat-of-arms. A coat-of-arms was a unique image representing a specific family or clan, (in Scotland and England). Coat-of-arms was legal tool, representing the head of the family or clan. The coat-of-arms would be passed down from father to son, and the rest of the family would use a variation of the original image. Usually the variations would be in color or an added charge (ie. war Lion of Scotland). Emblems were also used as crests on helmets, shields and flags to be sure of which soldiers represented which side of the battle. Most crests were accompanied by mottos (like our contemporary logos and slogans). England’s crest is a lion and a unicorn with the motto “Dieu et Mon Droit,” which is French for God and My Right.”
During the English Renaissance Period, The Guild was formed to register tradesmen and prevent battling over jurisdiction and jobs. The Guild, would use symbols and letters patent, (a type of certificate), to distinguish the many registered groups, such as masons, printers and shoemakers. Masons would register so that they cold protect their jobs and workers from being usurped by another group of masons. Printers where forced by the governing Royalty to register with the Guild so that all works printed had to be approved by the Crown. Each approved literary work would be published with the Printer’s seal, or watermark, to make sure that there were no offensive works printed.
What brought logos to its contemporary uses was the Industrial Revolution in the 19th century. Products moved from small ‘mom & pop’ shops to the home, because of the introduction of factories and mass employment. Logos were needed for the reasons that they are used today: to make each company’s product unique. Logos and slogans are used by every contemporary company to make sure that their product is seen and remembered.
Here at ECompanylogos.com,
our logo designers create company logos that
represent the forces that shape your company's vision,
creating a visual representation of your corporate
philosophy and attitudes. Our logo designs are a
distinctive, memorable logo design that projects
your rapidly growing, world-class business.
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