Al Jazeera is a Qatari state-funded broadcaster headquartered in Doha, Qatar. It belongs to the Al Jazeera Media Network, a large global news organization.
You will hardly find any other TV station whose logo is similar to the Al Jazeera logo. The company’s official website mentions the “simple beauty” of the emblem. While the design does look beautiful and rich, it is hardly possible to agree with the word “simple.” On the contrary, in the world of modern minimalist logos, it appears intricate and elaborate.
It all started in 1996 when the TV station’s founders announced a logo design contest in Qatar. One of the people who decided to take part was Hamdy Al-Sharif, an artist from Egypt who had been collaborating with Qatar TV since 1973.
Initially, he developed several versions experimenting with the Arabic glyphs in various calligraphy styles. Then he drove to the company’s office to submit his work. On his way, he had an idea to make a logo inspired by the teardrop-shaped keychains that were popular in the Middle East in that era. He quickly sketched one more version right in his car and placed it at the bottom of the pile as he did not expect this version to be successful.
To his surprise, the next day, the channel’s founders called him and told him that his design would become the official logo.
The Al Jazeera logo catches the eye with its unusual water droplet concept. The gold color of the glyph adds a rich, luxurious touch.
In the logo of the Al Jazeera Media Network, the gold is paired with the name of the wordmark in Arabic and English. It features a saturated shade of dark blue.