Copying an iconic logo design
Posted September 9th, 2009.
From time you time you invariably come across logo designs which to some extent resemble others, ranging from minor similarities to blatant rip-offs.
Some similarities are of course, unavoidable. There are only so many colours, shapes and styles and when distributed across millions of logos they are bound to repeat themselves.
Depending on who and where the duplicate is, discovering your logo design has a duplicate might not be such a disaster. If you run a restaurant in Australia and find one in England that shares your logo, customers aren’t likely to get you confused and go to the wrong one… but what about these?
The first image shown in this post is of course the London Underground logo designed ( refined from the original 1908 mark ) in 1917 by Edward Johnston. I think you’d be struggling to call these two, Scooter Central and Frost Design, anything but copies.
I’m particularly surprised at Vince Frosts decision to use the mark, his internationally renowned studios do great original work but I’d love to know the rational behind choosing such using such a notorious mark. I wouldn’t want the first thing potential clients see to be a copy.
I’ve also seen the mark used for a candy store, a Japanese clothing and accessories outlet ( selling Hello Kitty style items ) and a few other places I can’t recall the names of.
What do you think?
Why you’d directly copy something anyway I’m not sure, let alone something as recognizable as this. Perhaps I’m being overly critical but when I look at these all I see are copies, how about you?
Yeah complete copies.
It makes sense to take ideas from renowned logos, but a direct copy just seems stupid.
I’ve seen a logo before that was similar but I didn’t know it was originally the London Underground logo ( not that I’m a logo designer or anything mind you… ) perhaps it’s not as familiar to the average Joe as it is to you as a designer?
Edward Johnston died in 1944 so I think you’ll find that the London Underground logo was probably designed around 1915. Yes I’m afraid these do look like copies.
One could argue that as the original logo is such a classic and has been in existence for such a long time that these are a pastiche or homage (which I’m happy to see) but these just look like rip-offs to me.
PS. You are wicked, I followed the Frosts link.
Steven,
I’m thinking the same thing.
Stan G,
You’re right that every person isn’t going to know the original logo and might not recognize a copy, but I definitely think it’s recognizable enough not to use it.
Julie,
Oops, got my dates mixed up there somewhere. The correct information is now there, thanks for the catch.
I grew up in India and in my growing up years I saw this icon on every station in India wherever I went ( Mind you, Indian Railways is the largest employer in the world and there are sooooo many stations ), see one here.
British ruled India and perhaps this is where these originated. In my mind this icon is associated with a rail stop, any rail stop, a station. It was only after many many years that I realized in the Western world people associated it with The London Underground.
In my travels through South East Asia and now in Australia, I have seen this style being used everywhere from Kid’s Stores http://www.kidscentral.com.au/ to fashion stores to book stores. Till a year ago I actually thought “Oh clever! They are using the railway station sign”.
I think the common man just associates it in that manner. And yes the others are copies, everyone just likes using them and thinks its kind of tongue-in-cheek I reckon.
They’re pure rip-offs. The structure is ok to copy somewhat because it is rather obvious and simple. The trick though is the color scheme. Red circle with a blue rectangle containing white text in both the copies and the original logo.
They are copied because the folks utilizing those logos are most likely betting that the familiarity of the London Underground logo will benefit them. I see it a lot with smaller companies especially if they happen to have a commonality in the name.
Sneh,
I have no idea if that’s true but the British rule of India sounds like a logical reason for the same logo. India became independent in the late 40′s so the times align.
Jon,
I’m with you, obviously using simple geometric shapes your bound to find similar designs, but these are pure copies which I’m not a fan off.
I’ve never understood the reason to copy someone elses logo. I can understand using somebodies design as a base if they are associated with a certain type of business and are easily recognisable but still I prefer to be original, helps you stand out from the crowd.
Ewan,
I would think that if you’re using the logo of someone prominent in your field as a base only, by the time you altered it enough to be distinct you might as well have created something original.
Last year the local government in London was thinking about copywriting and protecting more of its designs ranging from the TFL tube logos to the Westminster street signs.
If this actually happened then it would be bad news for people using or selling the many fakes (fake tube designs on hats, clothing, key rings, badges, bits and bobs and many other things and momentos we like to buy when we’re on holiday) as they would have to pay a royalty and lose a significant amount of revenue.
In the end the government decided the not go through with it because it will cause more bad than good to ordinary people, and I agree. I used to work in an organisation where the logo was a copy of the Westminster street sign, if it was copywrited we would of had to do some major rebranding, the street sign logo was very good and is an important asset.
I feel I should add the organisation I used to work for was the University of Westminster Students’ Union, hence why the street sign was copied and it made good sense. Instantly recognisable, especially at national conferences where other delegates can easily recognise where we’re from without even reading out logo.
TFL has some great logos and branding, it doesn’t get the credit it deserves sometimes.
I would also like to add, sometimes it is important to remember there is a difference between ripping something off or copying it in a way which gives a tribute and a complement to the original.
Amar,
“the organisation I used to work for was the University of Westminster Students’ Union, hence why the street sign was copied and it made good sense”
Something like that I can appreciate, where I get lost is seeing an icon like the London Underground copied for restaurants, candy, clothes and a plethora of other odd choices.
Andrew,
I couldn’t agree more, too often copied logos have very small or even no relationship to the original, which is of course bad in its own way as we may not be able to make the connection.