The Hankook Tire & Technology Co., Ltd., was established in 1941, and has evolved from being a local South Korean tyre manufacturer to a global player in the tyre industry. The journey of the company is marked by significant milestones in production, technological advancements, and global expansion.
The Hankook logo has changed many times, and each of the changes has reflected its growth and evolution in the global tyre industry. The article delves into the history and evolution of the Hankook logo, among other details, of the company.
The Genesis of the Hankook Logo (1941 – 1969)
The original Hankook logo was introduced in 1941, which featured a bold, uppercase wordmark “Hankook Tires” in two levels, colours, and sizes. A distinctive aspect of the big sized “Hankook” wordmark written in a geometric sans-serif typeface was the overlapping of the letters “N” and “K”.
Additionally, the two “O”s were stylised to resemble black tyres and refer to the core product of the company. These were drawn in black with white accents at the top. Below this, the word “Tires” appeared in red, italicised uppercase letters, which added a dynamic touch to the design.
(1969 – 1999)
In 1969, the logo underwent a redesign that maintained the bold wordmark “Hankook” in black uppercase but introduced new elements to emphasise motion and dynamism. The letters “N” and “K” remained connected, and the “O”s in black continued to represent tyres. At the top of the logo was a zigzag pattern in red to symbolise tyre tracks. This was done to reinforce the company’s association with the tyre industry. The word “TIRE” in white uppercase was placed at the bottom on a straight strip of red, black, and blue.
(1999 – 2019)
The turn of the millennium brought a significant change to Hankook’s visual identity. The new logo featured an italicised brand name in an uppercase sans-serif font to convey a sense of speed and forward movement. Interestingly, the letter “a” was rendered in lowercase. An orange symbol resembling stylised tyre tracks or wings was introduced to the left of the wordmark. This was done to symbolise innovation, flight, and speed. This design aimed to present Hankook as a modern, global brand.
(2019 – Present)
In 2019, Hankook refined its logo to align with its corporate vision, “driving emotion.” The updated design retained the italicized wordmark in black and brightened the orange emblem to the left. Also, it introduced the slogan “driving emotion” in grey lowercase letters beneath the main logo. This iteration emphasises the company’s commitment to innovation and emotional engagement with its customers.
The Elements of the Hankook Logo
Font
The bold mixed-case wordmark of Hankook Tires is designed in a sleek, slanted sans-serif typeface with thick strokes and clean, straight edges. The font closely resembles EconoSans Pro 94 Black Expanded Italic or Neue Plak Extra Black Italic, though with subtle contour modifications.
Colour
The colour palette of the Hankook logo features a powerful and classic combination of red, black, and grey. These colours symbolise the professionalism, quality, confidence, and reliability of the brand.
Finally
The Hankook logo and its various iterations show the journey of the company from a local tyre manufacturer to a global industry leader. Each logo redesign captures the evolving identity and aspirations of the brand.