Logo History: What is the origin of the logo?

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One item that will be clearly visible on much of the printing we at ZoePrint create for you or your organization is your logo: some sort of symbol or image unique to your company or organization that sets your work apart and makes you recognizable. In the interest of better understanding our product, let's explore logo history and the origins and development of logos.

As it turns out, the idea that a person or an organization should have a symbol or mark to distinguish itself from others like it actually has quite a long and proud history, stretching all the way back to ancient Greece. In Greece, each of the major gods had his or her own symbol. For example, a snake coiled around a staff has long represented the messenger god Hermes, and later, Asklepios, the God of medicine. This logo persists today as the caduceus, which is used by medical professionals everywhere. Clearly, a well-designed logo has strong staying power.

This idea of an entity having its own consistent symbol eventually spread beyond the religious realm. By the middle ages, many professional craftsmen (stonemasons, goldsmiths, blacksmiths, etc.) were known for having their own professional “mark” that was inscribed into all of their work as a guarantee of quality. If someone wanted to verify that the article they were purchasing was indeed authentic work rather than a forgery, they needed only to check for the correct mark somewhere on the object.

Families also began to create “logos” during this time; the family crest was developed as a way for noble houses to distinguish themselves at court and on the battlefield (in an age without consistent uniforms or easy battlefield communication, knowing which logos were allied and which belonged to the enemy could literally mean life or death for the common soldier). In fact, some scholars at then time and even a few today are known for their expertise in the field of heraldry, which entails recognizing the origins of family crests as well as their combination in more complex crests created through intermarriage. Clearly, to European nobility as well as the professional class, logos were important in determining authenticity and quality.

From that time onward, the logo has continued naturally along its developmental course, and by today, virtually any new organization hoping to create a high-quality image for itself will have, well, an image intended to do just that.

At ZoePrint.com, we focus on making your image in print the absolute best it can be with high quality, state-of -the-art printing equipment. We will render your logo, along with the rest of your print job, in striking color and sharp detail. A well-designed and well-printed logo clearly does make an impact; let us make yours stand out from the crowd.