Reading through Simon Singhs “The code book” I learnt several ways of encrypting and ciphering messages. Since the beginning of time people have used words, symbols and pictures to carry messages whether it be secretly, subliminally or publicly. The book also noted how a codemaker is usually the best person to use when it comes to code breaking.
Unless you’re a secret agent, programmer, historian or detective I guess there’s not much need for the knowledge of deciphering code in today’s world, or is there? Everyday we are surrounded by thousands of pieces of code, in fact there is one underneath your nose right now. Look at the bottom of your monitor screen and you will see one there, the logo for the manufacturer of your monitor.
Logos are indeed pieces of code just like Egyptian hieroglyphs. Symbols and images used to communicate a message but also carry an identity. You may not understand, ancient Egypt, French, German or the Hindi language but if you saw a piece of text you could probably guess where the language originated from (like a corporate identity).
Logos are just the same and here are some examples of deciphering them.
Adidas –
The original adidas logo (three stripes) was an attempt to create a big brand presence in the 1900’s by Adi Dassler himself. He wanted everyone to know which trackstar was unmistakably wearing his shoes and thus branded them with 3 stripes. He even said himself it was “the brand with three stripes”.
In due time Adidas become bigger and bolder with a strong reputation and went onto create the Trefoil logo showing the diversity in the Adidas brand.
Today’s logo is much like the original, three stripes but in this case they take a specific formation.
Decipher: Today’s three stripes form in a shape of a mountain, signifying the challenges and rewards in life (climbing a mountain.)
BMW –
A controversial logo which still holds confusion today. The Bavarian Motor Works (BMW) has its place in history tied in with the World Wars. One story tells the logo originating before world war 1 as a rotating plane propeller set off a blue clear sky (hence the coloured segments). It was also said that BMW started business making Luffwafe fighter planes which were decorated in the same blue and white colours. Adverts for BMW even used this imagery for publicity but ultimately they claim that this not the case. The other story which BMW claims is true is that the logo is an ode to Bavaria (blue and white flag), the HQ of BMW.
BMW themselves say that the logo was created 6 months before they had ever created any plane components and the signature rotating propeller which backs up the World War story, was not even a component that they made.
Next time you see a logo see if you can decipher it. Even better, when you have your logo designed (or redesigned (just give me a call) see what code you can implement into it.
