The South Korea-based Samsung Corporation is a global technology company that is known for innovation in technology. The brand’s journey from humble beginnings to becoming a household name in electronics globally can be traced through the evolution of its iconic logo. The article explores the history and evolution of the Samsung logo and gives insight into the adaptation of its logo through the decades based on changing aesthetics and market dynamics.
The Genesis of the Logo (1938–1969)
In 1938, Lee Byung-Chull established Samsung as a small trading company in South Korea. The original logo of the company featured the name “Samsung” in a simple typeface to reflect the modest roots of the brand. In its early stages, the Samsung logo had an intricate design and was placed on a packet of rice noodles. And like many logos of prominent brands, the original Samsung logo helped consumers identify the company’s products across diverse retail outlets.
Over time, the Samsung logo found its place on an array of goods, be it vodka, wine, dried fish, or rice. The original logo was shown in a black rectangle, accompanied by white elephants. It featured Korean characters alongside an oval centrepiece and depicted elements such as rice, three lines, and three stars. The three stars in the logo were significant in a symbolic way.
They represented the essence of the name of the company. There are many theories behind the name of the brand. According to one, the name “Samsung,” which meant “three stars,” signified the brand to be inherited by the three sons of the founder. However, Samsung maintains that the name signifies symbolism and embodies the notions of power and eternity.
(1969 – 1979)
As the brand made forays into the world of insurance and real estate, it moved away from the food industry. This was reflected in the logo, which sheds all elements related to the food industry. As a result, there were only three stars enclosed within a white circle pitched against a square background.
(1979-1993)
In the logo iteration of 1979, the white circle of the previous logo variant was removed, and the individual stars in white were separated and placed inside individual hexagons in red. Here, the colour red took primacy as Samsung came out with colour televisions. The inexpressive black-and-white colour palette was done away with. Also, the standalone symbol making the logo was scaled up to be seen clearly.
(1979-1980)
In another logo iteration of the same year, the brand name in black capitals was placed alongside the emblem comprising three white stars enclosed within three red hexagons, respectively.
(1980-1993)
In this iteration, the shape of the hexagons was elongated, and the letters of the brand name were spaced a little apart from each other.
(1993-2005)
During the era as shown above, Samsung expanded internationally. In pursuance of that, the company embraced modern innovation and aligned with the technological boom. Consequently, it went for a rebranding exercise and changed its logo. The new logo featured a blue oval or ellipse with a white inscription of the brand name in a sans-serif typeface. Interestingly, the letter “A” appeared without the horizontal bar.
(2005-Today)
In 2005, the designers decided to dispense with the blue ellipse altogether and make the design simple. The brand name in blue was rendered in a custom font, which looked similar to Helvetica Black and DDT Cond SemiBold. The letters have straight lines with no serifs. And like in the previous iteration, the letter “A” was written without the customary horizontal bar.
The Future of the Samsung Logo
As technology continues to evolve, the Samsung logo is likely to change as well. The future logo redesigns may incorporate certain elements that resonate with the company’s commitment to sustainability, accessibility, and cutting-edge innovation. For the enduring success of the brand, it will be important for the logo to stay relevant and resonate with the ever-changing preferences of consumers.
The Elements of the Logo
Font
Ever since Samsung began displaying its company name in English on its logo, it has chosen a relatively simple typeface. The font that Samsung chose for its logo always featured sans-serif uppercase letters for the English name. Today, the wordmark consists of a customised typeface, which is similar in some ways to the DTT Cond Semi Bold or Helvetica Black font. The most memorable part of the company logo is the “A” character, which lacks the typical horizontal bar.
Colour
Initially, Samsung chose a relatively simple colour palette for its logo by sticking to just black and white. This was common before the television market exploded with the introduction of colour TVs. As Samsung searched for its new emblem, it began experimenting with new colours. The first colour chosen by the company, besides black and white, was red.
It was meant to symbolise passion and vitality. However, the owner of the company eventually decided to shift to a blue colour palette, which is commonly used in the tech industry. The dark blue colour symbolises trust, credibility, and reliability. In some cases, the simple logo features inverted colours with white letters on a blue background.
The History of Samsung
The South Korean industry powerhouse, Samsung, is renowned for its diverse range of products. These include home appliances, electronics, medical equipment, clothing, chemical products, and building materials. Beyond these, Samsung is also into areas such as hotel operations, insurance, and financial services. Today, Samsung has many subsidiaries, but it traces its roots back to 1938, when it began its journey by selling noodles and dried fish.
Established by Lee Byung-Chul, Samsung initially operated as a trading company. However, with time, it diversified into various sectors, including food processing, insurance, retail, textiles, and securities. However, it wasn’t until the 1960s that Samsung made its foray into the realm of technology. By the middle of the twentieth century, Samsung sought to diversify beyond its traditional ventures in dried fish and noodle packs. It aimed to venture into more substantial and lucrative markets. This led the company into insurance and real estate, where it showed promise for success. Unfortunately, the outbreak of the Second World War put an end to all its plans.
The impact of the Second World War was particularly harsh in southern Korea. Consequently, the government of the day took strategic action following the occupation by Imperial Japan. Among the measures taken was a review of the thirty most profitable companies. It resulted in select companies, including Samsung, being granted advantageous tax breaks and increased funding for industrial development.
This key governmental intervention helped Samsung move away from its initial pursuits in insurance and real estate. The company redirected its focus towards the growing field of electronics. Shaped by wartime exigencies, this decision proved to be transformative for Samsung. It formed a legacy that continues to resonate to this day.
Interesting Facts About Samsung
- In the initial years, Samsung used to sell noodles and other stuff. It was only after 1970 that it started selling its first electrical product, a black-and-white television.
- About ninety percent of Samsung accessories are produced in Samsung factories only.
- Samsung is a large employer, for it employs more than 236,000 staff in 79 countries.
- Created the first digital television in 1998, the MP3 phone and watch phone in 1999, the 3D home theatre in 2010, and the first curved display on a smartphone in 2013.
- Samsung is in the shipbuilding industry and builds over 30 large ships per year.
- The chairman of Samsung once asked his employees to make a bonfire of 150,000 phone and fax machines to show them the new era of quality products.
- Samsung built the first fighter jet, the KF-16, for the South Korean Air Force.
- Samsung is the largest manufacturer of smartphones in the world.
- Samsung is the owner of numerous patents. In fact, it holds the largest number of U.S. patents compared to any other company.
- Samsung’s construction wing was responsible for building the tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai.
Finally
The evolution of the Samsung logo shows the remarkable journey of the company from a humble trading firm to a global technology powerhouse. Each iteration of its logo has reflected the brand’s values, aspirations, and adaptability to changing times. It helped strengthen the position of Samsung as a trailblazer in the realm of innovation and branding.