The National Geographic logo opens the door to the light and beautiful world of nature. Behind the emblem are journeys, exciting adventures, and new information that shows how amazing our planet is.
National Geographic: Brand overview
Founded: | September 22, 1888 |
Founder: | National Geographic Society |
Headquarters: |
Washington, D.C., U.S. |
Website: | nationalgeographic.com |
Meaning and History
The National Geographic logo was designed by specialists from the Chermayeff & Geismar branding agency. They had a specific task: to portray something neutral, suitable for every area of the scientific association’s activities – from publishing films to protecting the environment. This is how the famous brand name was born, adapted to all community trademarks.
What is National Geographic?
National Geographic is a TV channel and magazine owned by a society of the same name. It deals with issues of flora and fauna, scientific discoveries, history, culture, nature in all its manifestations.
1997 – 2001
The debut logo consists of two parts: a text and an icon to the inscription’s left. It looks like an elongated rectangle and looks like a standard magazine or window. It is because the designers have played up the name of society as a “window to the world.” The yellow lines are wide. In height, they are comparable to the adjacent phrase “National Geographic Channel.” The lettering is arranged in three rows and a serif typeface.
2001 – 2005
During this period, changes affected the form of the name. The top and middle sections of National Geographic remain the same, while the bottom Channel has a dividing line and a different writing style. As a result, she lost her serifs and became half the size.
2005 – 2016
Management approved a new logo with a revised sans serif font. The designers removed the demarcation line between the parts, returned the word “Channel” to its original size, and highlighted it in gray.
2016 – today
Since National Geographic is a digital and satellite channel and a society of the same name, a publishing house, a magazine, and a series of travel guides, the administration decided to unify the logo. With an updated version, it now fits everything at the same time. To do this, the developers removed the word “Channel.”
Font and Colors
The logo was updated several times, but the main elements remained in place: on the left – a large white rectangle with a yellow frame, on the right – the full name of the brand, written in a standard font. Most often, the changes concerned the design of the text: it was black and gray, and three-line, and with a horizontal line. The current version contains the phrase “National Geographic,” split into two lines and a sans serif typeface.
Trying to come up with a universal logo, the designers unwittingly immortalized National Geographic magazine in it. First, the rectangle was shaped like a page format. Secondly, yellow was once associated with the magazine, according to a survey conducted by Chermayeff & Geismar. And the reason is quite banal: wide yellow stripes around the perimeter surrounded the print edition’s cover.
Previous versions of the logo used a serif font. Now they are gone – the brand name is written in the Stone Sans SemiBold typeface. The color scheme includes yellow (for the rectangular frame), black (for the letters), and white (for the background).
National Geographic color codes
Yellow | Hex color: | #ffd51c |
---|---|---|
RGB: | 255 213 28 | |
CMYK: | 0 16 89 0 | |
Pantone: | PMS 116 C |
Black | Hex color: | #000000 |
---|---|---|
RGB: | 0 0 0 | |
CMYK: | 0 0 0 100 | |
Pantone: | PMS Process Black C |
What is the meaning of National Geographic logo?
The rectangle next to the title is in the form of a certificate of honor. The yellow color with which it is made denotes the sun – a source of light and favorable conditions for maintaining life on Earth.
Who designed the National Geographic logo?
The National Geographic logo was designed by one of the most famous American designers – Tom Geismar. He made it in collaboration with other employees of the branding agency Chermayeff & Geismar & Haviv.
How much did the National Geographic logo cost?
The cost of the National Geographic logo designed by Chermayeff & Geismar & Haviv has not been disclosed.
Is National Geographic trademarked?
Yes, National Geographic is a registered trademark, and its use is strictly limited. Third parties can use the company’s logo only in the case of an official partnership for work.