The Nokia logo symbolizes continuous development, stability, and high technology, ensuring recognition today. The fish depicted on the brand’s first logo reflected the essence of the Nokianvirta River since it was the river that gave the company its name.
Nokia: Brand overview
Founded: | 12 May 1865 |
Founder: | Fredrik Idestam, Leo Mechelin, Eduard Polon |
Headquarters: |
Espoo, Finland |
Website: | nokia.com |
Nokia is a Finnish manufacturer of telecommunications equipment and consumer electronics. According to official figures, the company was founded in 1865, when Fredrik Idestam opened his first pulp mill. However, Nokia Corporation appeared much later – in 1967, after the merger of three companies:
- Suomen Kaapelitebdas Oy (power and telephone cables)
- Suomen Gummitehdas Oy (galoshes and other rubber products)
- Nokia Ab (electricity, forestry)
Meaning and History
Some of Nokia’s logos used to belong to the companies that founded it. Perhaps that is why they look so illogical: many symbols have nothing to do with mobile and telecommunications devices.
What is Nokia?
Nokia is an international corporation based in Finland, with its headquarters in Espoo. Established in 1865, the company has been involved in various types of businesses, starting as a paper and pulp manufacturer and eventually becoming a leading mobile phone manufacturer. Today, it is one of the largest players in the field of information technology and communications, ranking third in the world for the production of network equipment.
1865 – 1898
The first emblem was used by Nokia Ab, which first was engaged in pulp processing, and then switched to power generation. The trademark was round like a seal. Its shape was broken only by a fish that peeped out of the ring. Most likely, it was salmon from the Nokianvirta river, on the banks of which the city of Nokia is located. The drawing was complemented by the inscriptions “NOKIA OSAKEYHTIO” and “NOKIA AKTIEBOLAG.”
There were two versions of the logo in parallel. The first is blurry, with jagged lines and detailed fish scales. The second one has clear contours and a minimalistic salmon image.
1898 – 1965
In 1898, the company switched to rubber and electrical products manufacturing, merging with several factories. The Nokia logo underwent a drastic change. It contained the inscription “1898 S.G.T.O.Y. NOKIA,” where the abbreviation with dots after each letter stood for the name Suomen Gummitehdas Osakeyhtiö (Finnish Rubber Factory). The text was executed in simple thin glyphs without serifs and was located inside a pentagon with an elongated top.
1965 – 1978
The emblem, adopted in 1965, once belonged to the Suomen Gummitehdas Oy rubber factory. As he specialized in tire manufacturing, the brand name consisted of a black ring. It was crossed by a semicircular strip of the same black color as the inscription “Nokia.” Interestingly, in this context, the word did not mean the Nokia corporation, but the city where the enterprise was located.
1978 – today
The Nokia logo with the dark blue inscription is one of the most recognizable in the world. It contains the brand name written in bold letters without serifs. This font, known as Nokia Pure, was designed by designer Dalton Maag. The blue color used in the wordmark has several meanings.
- On the one hand, it is associated with technology, modernity, reliability, and quality.
- On the other hand, it symbolizes safety and tranquility, emphasizing the company’s overall philosophy.
2023 – today
In 2023, Nokia radically changed its logo to no longer be associated with mobile phones. For nearly a decade, the company has been developing other business areas – primarily, the production of telecommunications equipment. The iconic dark blue color in the main emblem version has become lighter, which is likely related to the desire to attract the attention of potential clients. The chosen shade embodies freshness, energy, and innovation.
The letter “O,” which previously resembled a square, now has the shape of a round ring. This symbolizes wholeness and universality. The other glyphs look minimalist because they lack standard elements. The “N” is missing the vertical line on the right side, the “K” is missing the left vertical line, and the “A” is missing a diagonal fragment in the upper left corner. This design not only gives the logo dynamism and modernity but also indicates openness and non-standard solutions.
Font and Colors
The Nokia brand name has evolved continuously since 1978. A version close to the modern one appeared in 1992. At the same time, the slogan “Connecting People” was adopted. The designers redesigned the letters using the original Nokia Sans font. The next modernization took place in 2006: it touched the palette. The final version was presented in 2011. It lacks the famous slogan, so the name of the company immediately catches the eye.
In 2011, not only did the “Connecting People” label disappear – the redesign sent the Nokia Sans font into the past, replacing it with the Nokia Pure. A simple sans serif font reflects the calm nature of the manufacturer.
As for the palette, the company tries to stick to blue. She uses light and dark shades to showcase her corporate image.
Nokia color codes
Safety Blue | Hex color: | #124191 |
---|---|---|
RGB: | 18 65 145 | |
CMYK: | 88 55 0 43 | |
Pantone: | PMS 287 C |