Lenovo is a renowned Chinese multinational technology company that manufactures a range of digital and electronics products. These include personal computers, tablets, smartphones, workstations, servers, and more. The company’s logo and its evolution reflect the growth and global expansion of the company over the years. The article traces the evolution of the logo since the inception of the company in 1984.
The Genesis of the Lenovo Logo (1984 – 2003)
The company used to be called Legend for the first two decades. In the late 1980s, Legend achieved significant success with its Chinese-language computer systems. It became a leading brand in China’s emerging personal computer industry. The hieroglyphic logo represented the company’s Chinese roots and identity. As Legend expanded its operations, it sought to establish a stronger presence in the international markets.
The name “Legend” is reflected in the first logo of the company as inscriptions in two lines: the bigger top line mentions “Lianxiang” in Chinese, and the smaller bottom-line mentions “Legend” in English. On the left of the lettering was a circular graphic containing the form of a “highway ring” with elongated lines protruding in opposite directions. The capitalised glyphs were connected between “E” and “N,” and the emblem was shown in a monochrome black colour palette. The logo of this era symbolised the aspiration of the company to connect with people through technology.
The Birth of Lenovo and its Revamped Logo (2003 – 2015)
In 2003, Legend made a strategic decision to abandon its Chinese brand name. The company rebranded itself as “Lenovo.” It was a portmanteau derived from “Le” (from Legend) and “novo” (Latin for “new”). This change marked a key moment in the history of the company and showed its ambition to become a major player on the global stage. Lenovo’s new logo featured the company’s name in a sleek, modern English font.
The change of logo was a necessary step to facilitate Lenovo’s expansion into foreign markets. The logo did away with the graphic, which was there in the previous version. Instead, there was the wordmark “Lenovo” displayed in blue colour. It was written in italic, a custom bold type font, and lowercase letters. Interestingly, the letter “e” in the wordmark was quite unconventional in its appearance. It had a pointed connecting end.
The Modern Lenovo Logo (2015 – Present)
In 2015, Lenovo unveiled a refreshed corporate identity, including an updated logo. The new logo designed by Saatchi & Saatchi studio featured the company’s name in a bold, white coloured sans-serif typeface enclosed in a red rectangle. However, it included a distinctive “smiley” symbol formed by the letter “e.” This smiley represents Lenovo’s commitment to creating products that enhance user experiences and bring joy to customers.
The logo’s clean and minimalist design conveys a sense of modernity and simplicity. It aligned with Lenovo’s brand values. The updated logo also features a vibrant red colour. The colour is culturally significant in China and represents good luck and prosperity.
The Elements of the Lenovo Logo
Font
The evolution of Lenovo’s visual identity has been as straightforward as the logo itself. It is primarily text-based and does not feature any graphics except for the distinctive “e.” This letter “e” has undergone subtle changes as well. For instance, it appeared with either a sharp crossbar or a diagonal stroke in different versions. Additionally, the colour and typeface of the company name have been actively modified through the years.
To facilitate the supply of goods to the international market, Lenovo strategically removed the hieroglyphic inscription from its emblem and retained only the English version. The company also underwent a rebranding process. As a result, it changed its original name to be better suited for export opportunities.
The original logo featured an inscription in a grotesque typeface, which was similar to Steagal Rough Bold, with a modified “N.” The modern logo, on the other hand, employs a typeface that resembles two types of fonts: Yorkten Demi (designed by Insigne Design) and Gilroy Bold (created by Radomir Tinkov). The distinguishing feature of the present logo is the diagonally tilted letter “e.”
Colour
The latest iteration of Lenovo’s wordmark introduces a more diverse colour palette. For instance, while previous versions were limited to black, red, and grey, the 2015 update expanded the colour options to include blue, green, orange, and pink.
The History of Lenovo
The visionary leader, Liu Chuanzhi, played a key role in creating Lenovo. He assembled a team of ten highly skilled engineers and laid the foundation for what would become the flagship of the Chinese computer industry. The application for this new venture was swiftly approved on the very day of its submission. This allowed all eleven engineers from the Computing Technology Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences to become employees of the newly formed entity.
While the official founding date is recorded as 1984, the organisational structure of the company took shape in early 1985, when the necessary documents were signed. This initial setup included departments dedicated to engineering, administrative tasks, technology, and clerical functions.
After facing a spate of challenges with ventures in television and watch production, the company made a strategic shift towards mastering computer manufacturing techniques. To achieve this, a recruitment drive was launched through newspaper advertisements. This resulted in the company assembling a talented workforce by 1990.
With this team in place, the company commenced the production of personal computers under its own brand name. Lenovo’s growth continued as it expanded into new product lines, which include personal computers, laptops, servers, electronic boards, tablets, and smartphones. In doing so, Lenovo positioned itself as a diversified technology powerhouse.
Interesting Facts About Lenovo
- Lenovo used to be called “Legend” for 15 years. It was only in 2003 that it got its present name.
- The name Lenovo combines two words: “Le” from Legend Holdings and “novo” from “new” in Latin. In short, “the new Legend.”
- Lenovo, or Legend, was founded on November 1, 1984, by ten engineers led by Liu Chuanzhi in Beijing at a cost of $30,000. It began with the distribution of IBM-compatible personal computers in China.
- The first product of the company was the Legend PC, which was released in 1990.
- Lenovo spent around $30 million to rebrand itself and make its new name popular.
- Lenovo struck a deal with Microsoft in 1997 and became known internationally.
- Lenovo took over the PC division of IBM in 2005 for $1.75 billion. This takeover made it the third-largest PC company in the world.
- In 2014, Lenovo took over Motorola Mobility from Google for a price of $2.91 billion.
- Lenovo has a wide range of products, such as personal computers, tablets, servers, workstations, tablets, smartphones, and other electronic devices.
- Lenovo has a presence in over 180 countries.
- Lenovo has a dedicated gaming brand, Legion. It offers high-performance gaming desktops, laptops, and other gaming accessories.
- Lenovo develops technology solutions for the education sector in the form of the Lenovo Scholar Network.
Finally
The evolution of Lenovo’s logo reflects the company’s remarkable journey—that is, from a modest Chinese firm to a global technology powerhouse. Each iteration of the logo has signified a significant milestone in the growth and expansion of the company. Today, Lenovo is a well-established international tech brand that competes with industry giants in various technology sectors. Its current logo, with its blend of modernity, simplicity, and cultural symbolism, represents the company’s commitment to innovation, the user experience, and its global identity.