1. Originally created as a flag to represent each country participating in the Olympics, the Olympic Rings logo has been used to feature the Olympic events every two years. It is comprised of five interlocking rings, colored blue, yellow, black, green, and red. Not to be forgotten is the white background where the rings are located. The rings and the white background signify each participating country’s flag colors. What I appreciate most is the timelessness and simplicity of the Olympic rings. I also enjoy the visual representation of community and togetherness. The logo has been used, in some form, in each host country’s individual logo (shown in examples below). Some countries chose to keep the five original colors, while others chose a two or three-color layout. Regardless, the logo holds strength.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

http://www.olympic.org/

 

 

 

2. Nintendo is a brand that has been ever-present in my life. It is an excellent, easily identifiable gaming system that has grown into an entire industry with many facets. Nintendo’s success is international due to well-known characters like Mario and Pikachu and their accompanying merchandise like games, television shows, toys, and clothing. The logo consists of the company name, “Nintendo” written inside of a capsule-like shape. Although the principal color changed from red to grey, the font and shape has remained. It features simple, bold, sans serif typeface with centered alignment, a white background and gray lettering. Again, I am impressed by the longevity and success of the logo. As suggested in the Color Emotion Guide, grey represents “balance, neutrality, and calmness.” Due to the bold colors from famous game characters (Mario, Yoshi, Pikachu, Kirby, etc.), I imagine it is better to have a logo that fits well with each persona. I prefer the original red which represents “excitement, boldness, and youthfulness,” –a much more fitting description of the company.

http://www.nintendo.com/

3. The Audubon Nature Institute is one of the most well known nonprofits in New Orleans that consist of museums and parks centered around nature. The logo is the most complex of the three I have chosen. It represents the three main attractions in the Audubon Institute: Audubon Zoo, Audubon Butterfly Garden and Insectarium, and Audubon Aquarium of the Americas. The colors green, yellow, and blue correlate with each institution’s main elements of land, sky, and sea. The typography used is a simple Old Style serif that uses just a small contrast by adding italics. I enjoy the use of image and text to include the brand, motto, and visual representation of the museums. It leaves no questions to be asked, yet is not assaulting to the senses. The logo is versatile in that it can be easily affixed to various merchandise, ads, letterheads, and business cards, as well as be used to represent the Audubon Nature Institute as a whole, or as individual departments.

http://www.auduboninstitute.org/