Akzonobel Logo PNG
A company that produces both paints and pharmaceutical products should have a universal emblem, not tied to a specific activity. The AkzoNobel logo features an abstract image that is fresh, open, and friendly. It looks friendly and elevated, symbolizing the desire for continuous development.
AkzoNobel was formed in 1994, but its roots go back through several older European companies. One line began in 1792, when Dutch painter Wiert Willem Sikkens opened a small paint-and-varnish business in Holland. Another came from Vereinigte Glanzstoff-Fabriken, founded in Germany in 1899 as a maker of viscose and dyes. In 1929, it merged with Nederlandsche Kunstzijdefabriek to create AKU.
A separate Dutch branch developed through Koninklijke Zout-Organon NV, or KZO, with salt and pharmaceutical operations. In 1969, AKU and KZO merged into Akzo NV, a major European chemicals group active in synthetic fibers, paints, pharmaceuticals, and industrial chemicals. During the 1970s, pressure from East Asian fiber producers, oil shocks, and falling profits forced Akzo to cut capacity and shift its focus to paints and pharmaceuticals.
The Swedish side came through KemaNobel, founded in 1871, and Elektrokemiska Aktiebolaget, started by Alfred Nobel in 1895. In 1984, KemaNobel merged with Bofors to form Nobel Industries AB. The group later faced scandals, including the 1985 bankruptcy of Bofors Nobel Inc. in the U.S. and the 1987 revelation of illegal arms exports.
In 1994, Akzo NV merged with Nobel Industries AB, creating Akzo Nobel NV. By 2000, it became the world’s largest paint producer, ahead of PPG Industries and BASF. In 2007, Organon BioSciences was sold to “Schering-Plough” for $14.4 billion. In 2008, AkzoNobel bought ICI, the owner of Dulux, for £9.1 billion and adopted the AkzoNobel spelling. After rejecting PPG’s offers in 2017, it spun off Nouryon in 2018 and focused on paints and coatings.
Meaning and History
Throughout the company’s existence, only two versions of the logo were used. The basis of them is the same, namely, the figure of a man made in the style of sculpture, under which is the corporation’s name. Only the figure’s appearance, its location relative to the buyer, and the color palette changed. Interestingly, the AkzoNobel logo has a prototype. It is a Greek bas-relief sculpture. Today, it is in Oxford, in the Ashmolean Museum.
What is AkzoNobel?
First and foremost, it is one of the world’s leading paint manufacturers. Sales in 2020 were more than 8 billion euros. Also, the company has subsidiaries in many countries around the world.
1994 – 2008
The first version of the logo was presented immediately after the company’s foundation. Its author was the famous designer Wally Ollins, who worked for Wolf Ollins. The latter was not related to him, and the identical last names are nothing more than a coincidence. That said, his success in creating visual brand identities led him to become chairman of Saffron Brand Consultants, a popular consulting firm.
In creating the Akzonobel logo, he was assisted by Amsterdam-based illustrator Martin Rijven. A male figure, turned to face the viewer, was chosen as the basis. His face is turned to the left, and his arms are raised at shoulder level. The image is partially painted in gray, contrasting with the blue outlines that do not cover the entire figure. The face has no features, but one can easily tell it is a man. Both hands have five fingers each.
The brand’s name is set in a classic, bold sans serif font, in blue capital letters with a slight roundness. There is a small space between the parts “Akzo” and “Nobel,” which separates the parts. Together with the logo, it looks modern and progressive.
2008 – today
The 2008 logo redesign is directly linked to AkzoNobel Corporation’s acquisition of the rights to the well-known chemical company ICI (Imperial Chemical Industries). The decision to change was because the acquired organization had a fairly modern logo. Therefore, AkzoNobel did not want to get lost in the visual identity against the background of a subsidiary company.
At this stage, the emblem takes on more pronounced sculptural characteristics. The left hand is raised, while the right hand is partially closed at the bottom. This creates an association with scales. The man’s face is also turned to the left, and the use of a blue gradient and white creates a sense of three-dimensionality. The corporation’s customers immediately see a reference to Greek sculptures. This choice aimed to showcase the company’s current achievements and future development aspirations.
Changes were also made to the verbal lettering. There was no distance between the parts of the name at this stage. At the same time, the capital letters “A” and “N” clearly indicate the two parts. The typeface was significantly redesigned. It is a bold and modern sans-serif style with rounded corners. All of the letters look playful and friendly. Like the entire logo, the wordmark was navy blue instead of blue in the original version.
Saffron handled the redesign. The slogan “Tomorrow’s Answers Today” is the basis for this version of the logo. Interestingly, the day the new logo was released in April 2008 led to a significant increase in the stock price (by more than 3%).
Font and Colors
A classic sans-serif font with rounded corners was chosen for the lettering. The name is not lost on the emblem’s background but complements it.
The corporation did not choose the white-and-blue color palette by accident. It perfectly matched the style of the “sculpture” and clearly showed Akzonobel’s customers the company’s prospects and growth.