The article traces the history and evolution of the Wipro logo over the years.
The Genesis of the Wipro Logo (1945 – 1977)
Wipro’s origins can be traced back to 1945, when it was established as a Western India Vegetable Products Limited company. In fact, it started as a small manufacturer of vegetable and refined oils. The original logo of the company was a simple wordmark in grey that featured “WIVP” in a bold, serif typeface. It was enclosed within a white circle with a grey outline.
(1977 – 1998)
As Wipro expanded its operations globally, the need was felt for a more modern and universally appealing logo. So, in 1977, the company unveiled a refreshed logo that retained the iconic “W” symbol in white against a black circular background. However, it had a sleeker and more contemporary design. The wordmark was updated with a bold, sans-serif typeface.
(1998 – 2017)
The late 1990s and early 2000s witnessed the dot-com boom and the rapid digitalisation of businesses worldwide. This was the time when Wipro recognised the need to align its brand identity with the digital age. Hence, in 1998, the company introduced a new logo that had a vibrant red dot within the “W” symbol.
The logo had the graphical image of a sunflower painted in stripes of green, orange, red, purple, and blue. The realistic-looking flower had the rainbow colours marked diagonally. The company name appeared in a sans-serif typeface and uppercase letters with rounded corners. The logo was enclosed within a round blue frame.
The choice of the flower was made because Wipro used to produce sunflower oil. The name of the company in the logo was followed by the inscription “Applying Thought.”
(2017 – Present)
In 2017, Wipro unveiled its latest logo, which embraced a minimalist and digital-friendly design approach. The old logo with the rainbow-coloured sunflower was replaced with a new logo comprising multicoloured dots. According to Wipro, the dots in the logo represent the way the company “connects the dots” for its clients. The iconic “W” symbol was reimagined as a simple graphic that conveys a sense of agility, modernity, and adaptability.
The Elements of the Wipro Logo
Font
The Wipro wordmark is presented in a sans-serif typeface that bears resemblance to fonts like Brandon Grotesque Office Bold and Fibra One Bold. However, the letterforms have been subtly modified, and the dot above the letter “I” is replaced by one of the green circles from the emblem.
Colour
Wipro uses a vibrant, multi-color palette.
Finally
The evolution of the Wipro logo reflects the journey of the company from a consumer products company to a global IT giant. It proves the company’s remarkable ability to adapt and innovate in a rapidly changing world.