Favourite South African logos: Part 1

This post has been a while coming. I was initially planning to feature about 10 of my favourite South African logos in a single post, but while compiling the list I decided to rather split the post and dedicate more time to each logo.

I've mostly sourced information online, which I've found difficult for some, so if you have anything to contribute please do so in a comment, or contact me directly if my information is incorrect, and I'll amend my post accordingly.

Which are your favourites, and why? Spend a few days thinking about it.

The logos featured are listed in no particular order. Here are the first 3:

SABC

Simple. Attractive. Brilliant Concept.

The SABC (South African Broadcasting Corporation) is the state-owned broadcaster in South Africa and provides 18 radio stations (AM/FM) as well as 4 television broadcasts to the general public.

A snippet from their downloadable Corporate Identity Usage Manual (PDF):

Our identity encapsulates the original colours of South Africa’s rich heritage and national flag. The design depicts a clean SABC font for legibility, the broadcast signal of radio and television, radiating outward is paired with the shape of the African continent.

The SABC type is based on the Frutiger typeface. It bears witness to our self-image - no frills, but by no means ordinary, state-of-the-art but not artificially claiming to be new.

And more from their full CI Manual (which I found here, 2007 version):

The pay-off line "Vuka Sizwe!" ("Nation Arise!") drives the SABC as a Public Service Broadcaster. This verbal expression informs all SABC decisions - it says: Rise South Africa! Let's build a winning nation together.

Designed by Switch Design.

Sharks Rugby

Cape Town's roads are ruled by two brands. What I mean by that is: with the exception of a few surf brands and English footy teams, you're more than likely to spot a car proudly adorned with one of two stickers. One is an apple (sometimes upside down, but always identifiable). The other is black and white, and belongs to The Sharks.

This is all the more impressive when you consider that Cape Town is home to the Stormers, whose supporters are nowhere near as passionate when it comes to showing off their team's "S" wrapped around a lightning bolt (ooohh, so intimidating).

This mascot is what sets the Sharks miles apart from their competition:

The Sharks are a South African rugby union team competing in the Super 14. They are based in Durban and centred around the Natal Sharks union, also based in Durban and drawing players from all of KwaZulu-Natal Province.

In late 1995, after being informally called the Banana Boys for a substantial amount of time, the Natal Rugby Union adopted the Shark as their official mascot and namesake for the team. The Sharks mascot was launched in 1995 but the rebranding went into full swing in 1996.

Via Sharks (rugby club) on NationMaster:

The Sharks branding was the brain child of Terry Kukle, the owner of Tag International. After assessing international marketing trends, Kukle presented this strategy to the council of the Natal Rugby Union. After many meetings a decision was finally made to go ahead with the new branding.

The local press at first were very hesitant to accept the new name and branding and fans were polarised by the radical proposed change that flew in the face of rugby tradition and convention. After much controversy in the media (which very rapidly brought the proposed brand to everyone's attention) and a very successful season supported by great products and promotions the Sharks were embraced by all.

The Sharks' marketing has been widely acknowledged in marketing and rugby circles as best practice and included as a successful case study in many marketing text books.

More reading: The Sharks Brand at sharksrugby.co.za, and The Sharks Brand at Wikipedia.

(The Sharks are one of two sports teams that I'll be featuring, try and guess the other!)

University of Johannesburg

I've featured this one on my blog previously, if you missed that post then here it is again:

Established in December 2005, the University of Johannesburg is the result of a merge between two of Gauteng's premier academic institutions - Rand Afrikaans University (RAU) and Technikon Witwatersrand (TMR) - and some Vista University campuses. With over 40 000 full-time students and 2 700 permanent employees, it's one of the largest residential universities in South Africa.

In a joint venture, Interbrand Sampson and Zanusi Brand Solutions were appointed to develop the brand. Code collaborated to design the logo as well as separate sports brands and just under 100 applications on everything from letterhead to signage and sports wear.

If you're curious you can read Interbrand Sampson's press release which goes into extreme detail regarding the design process and outcome, view more designs at Code's website, or read more on UJ's website.

My favourite part of the logo is the book. Via the press release:

In the centre of the logo, through the creative use of space, the illusion of an open book is created, representative of the book of knowledge. It is up to the beholder of the logo to notice that the space between the birds takes the shape of a book, thereby experiencing that learning and knowledge generation imply an interactive process.

The birds are unmistakably the colourful African Hoopoe, which is depicted more strongly in their Sports Bureau logo, visible in action at www.uj.ac.za/ujsport.

The typeface is Avenir.

Continued: Part 2