The Hisense logo is a perfect example of a minimalistic commercial emblem. There’s nothing more than the company name in a traditional sans serif type.
Hisense was founded in 1969 as Qingdao No.2 Radio Factory, which was later renamed Qingdao TV Factory. In the early years of its history, the company produced radios under the brand name RedLight.However, soon after, under the order of the military, began trial production of black and white TV sets. This was the first step towards the diversification and development of the company.
Already in the early 1970s, Hisense began to actively absorb competitors with production in the same province of Shandong, as a result of which the range of products was expanded by televisions and refrigerators.
In 1988, Hisense released its first air conditioner, and in 1997, introduced the first inverter air conditioner in China. As early as 2013, Hisense had 400 patents in the field of air conditioning.
Already in 1996, Hisense began to produce color TVs, which predetermined the vector of the company’s development. And by the end of 2004, Hisense became the largest TV manufacturer in China. The next important thing was the acquisition of the brand and business of Sharp in 2016. This strengthened Hisense Group’s position in the fattest North American market, as well as the markets of Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina.
Hisense, a state-owned holding company, currently sells its products under various brand names: Hisense, Toshiba, Gorenje, Kelon, and Ronshen. The company is one of the leaders in air conditioners and televisions not only in China but also around the world. The company’s products are sold in more than 130 countries around the world.
The very first logo of Qingdao No.2 Radio Factory, created in 1969, featured a stylized depiction of a red lantern, which was also the name of the factory’s first product, the radio stations were drawn horizontally extended in red and yellow strokes against a bright blue background without any lettering.
Another badge, used by the company during the 1970s, featured a handsaw image, executed in gold and burgundy, with the name of the company written in the center and accompanied by an image of a lantern. All elements of the badge had thick gold outlines, looking solid and stable.
The redesign of 1979 has introduced somewhat new. It was a black-and-white rhomboid badge with a schematic image of waves and a lighthouse. The image was drawn in thick uneven black strokes against a flat white background. The minimalistic emblem was the only element of the company’s visual identity until the beginning of the 1990s.
In 1993 the first HiSense logo with the wordmark saw the light. It was a minimalistic badge, formed by a circular emblem in red and blue, and a bold title case lettering written in flat black bars of a traditional sans-serif typeface. The emblem of the Chinese brand somehow evoked associations with the iconic Pepsi emblem, that’s why it didn’t stay with the company for long.
The previous Hisense logo looked more vivid than the current one. The main color, green, was darker and more saturated. Also, it was paired with an orange accent, which only added brightness and energy.
The shape of the letters was slightly more generic than in the current logo (except, of course, for the initial “H” formed by two elements). The glyphs were more elongated, with traditional curves (note, for instance, the “s”).
While the letters are highly legible, you probably wouldn’t recognize the wordmark if you placed it side-by-side with several other versions in popular sans serif types.
While the original logo featured a distinctive orange square, which replaced the top left part of the initial “H,” the current wordmark is given in only one color, a light shade of green.