Kobo Logo PNG
Kobo: Brand overview
In the spring of 2010, Toronto was home to an innovative new company called Kobo Inc. created by visionary Michael Serbinis. The intriguing name “Kobo” derives from a Japanese term symbolizing “reading”.
The company quickly attracted attention with an investment from Borders Group, which spurred the release of the first electronic reading device, the Kobo Reader, later that year. Along with the device, the company proudly unveiled its extensive digital bookstore with a collection of over 2.2 million titles.
2011 was a pivotal year for Kobo when it entered the tablet market with the introduction of the Kobo Vox. Further diversifying its offerings, Kobo joined digital book review portal Shelfari, expanding the social reading experience. However, this year has not been without its challenges. Following the financial collapse of Borders, Kobo became a standalone company.
The company took another turn in 2012 when it teamed up with Japanese e-commerce giant Rakuten in a deal worth $315 million. This partnership allowed Kobo to expand into new international markets at an unprecedented rate.
In today’s dynamic e-reader market, Kobo has an undeniable place. Collaborations with retail giants such as Walmart in the US and other well-known players around the world have strengthened its influence. Not resting on its laurels, Kobo continues to create innovative e-readers for different audiences.
Meaning and History
What is Kobo?
Founded in 2010, Kobo, a Canadian company, aims to improve the reading experience by offering innovative and convenient e-readers that allow readers to enjoy their favorite books in a new way and personalize their reading experience. Through its inventive and intuitive approach, Kobo successfully allows readers to see their favorite books in a new light. Designed to enhance reading enjoyment, Kobo e-readers are packed with features that improve the overall reading experience.
2010 – today
2015 – today
The Kobo logo contains an anagram that stands for “book,” which makes sense since the logo belongs to an online marketplace that sells audiobooks, e-books, and readers. The text uses a lowercase font with vertically elongated letters. These letters are geometrically precise, straight, and neat. The only letter without a curve is “k,” which makes it stand out; the rest have rounded edges, which gives them a uniform look. The font is bold, sans-serif, black in color. To the left of the name is a red circle with a white “R” inside, representing the parent company Rakuten.
The red circle with the “R” serves as a seal of approval, as it were. The elongated letters are reminiscent of a person standing on tiptoe and trying to see something interesting. This fits the theme of a craving for knowledge or a good story. The black, bold letters are reminiscent of a solid foundation, reliable like a good book you can always go back to. And the lone “k” with no curves is like one wild card in a deck, making things a little more interesting.
Kobo color codes
| Venetian Red | Hex color: | #bf0000 |
|---|---|---|
| RGB: | 191 0 0 | |
| CMYK: | 0 100 100 25 | |
| Pantone: | PMS 485 C |
| Black | Hex color: | #000000 |
|---|---|---|
| RGB: | 0 0 0 | |
| CMYK: | 0 0 0 100 | |
| Pantone: | PMS Process Black C |
