Nokia is a Finnish manufacturer of smartphones and telecommunications equipment for various types of IP networks. Established in 1865 as a small paper mill, in the 1990s Nokia has become one of the strongest telecommunications companies in the world, being the manufacturer of the best-selling cell phones.
Meaning and history
The original Nokia logo appeared in 1866. It depicted a fish supposed to be the salmon fish of Nokianvirta River. The emblem was in use for around a century without any notable alterations. It was only in 1965 that Nokia Osakeyhtiö’s logo was given a facelift. Due to it, the picture became more transparent and minimalistic.
However, as soon as a year later a new Nokia symbol was introduced. The black-and-white emblem featured the name of the company inside a round shape.
Having merged with Finnish Cable Works and Finnish Rubber Works in 1966, Nokia unveiled its ‘Arrows’ logo. It looked very similar to the current one, except for the typeface, the lighter shade of blue, and the image of an arrow.
Once the “Connecting People” slogan was introduced in 1992, the emblem was slightly altered. The slogan used the ‘Nokia Sans’ type, created by Erik Spiekermann. In 2006 the Nokia emblem’s type and color were slightly modified, while the latest modification, which took place in 2011, included the removal of the slogan.
1865 – 1898
The original Nokia logo appeared in 1865. It depicted a fish supposed to be the salmon fish of Nokianvirta River. The emblem was in use for around a century without any notable alterations. It was only in 1965 that Nokia Osakeyhtiö’s logo was given a facelift. Due to it, the picture became more transparent and minimalistic.
1898 – 1965
The logo, designed for Nokia in the end of the 19th century has stayed with the brand for almost seventy years, becoming the most long-lasting badge in the company’s history. It was a pentagonal badge in a shape of a Diamond, with the plain white background and a thin black outline. The main part of the logo was taken by a three-leveled lettering in a simple handwritten font, also in black.
1965 – 1978
However, as soon as a year later a new Nokia symbol was introduced. The black-and-white emblem featured the name of the company inside a round shape.
Having merged with Finnish Cable Works and Finnish Rubber Works in 1966, Nokia unveiled its ‘Arrows’ logo. It looked very similar to the current one, except for the typeface, the lighter shade of blue, and the image of an arrow. The arrows were used as the symbol of the company’s progress and advancement in telecommunication industry.
1978 – 2023
The current logo showcases the name of the brand in a minimalist sans. The letters are bold enough to convey such messages as “reliability” and “quality.” The “O” is a rectangle with rounded corners rather than a more ordinary oval or round.
The highlight of the wordmark is the “K” looking like an arrowhead. It resembles the “play” button, thus creating a link with the industry in which Nokia works. And of course, they take up the meaning of the three arrows from the previous logo symbolizing progress and advancement.
2023 – Today
In 2023 the Nokia logo was redesigned, creating a very stylish and progressive image of the company. The new concept is based on a sharp uppercase lettering in a bright shade of blue, with some bars of the “N”, “K” and “A” missing. Only the “O” and “I” have their contours complete, and it makes the logo look very unique and edgy. The clean lines and sense of the unfinished story balance the distinction and geometry, and hike the color catches attention and makes the brand stand out in the list of its competitors.
What is the worst emblem?
In comparison with the sleek, minimalistic, yet recognizable logo the company uses today, its first two emblems (designed in 1865 and 1898 respectively) may seem absolutely awkward. Yet, if you put them side-to-side to logotypes of other well-known companies working at the same historical period, you may notice that they are not that bad at all. However, the roundel emblem adopted in 1965 could not hold a candle to its “contemporaries”.
Font and Color
The modern uppercase lettering from the redesigned Nokia logo is set in a bold geometric sans-serif typeface with the bars of some letters erased. The closest fonts to the one, used in this insignia, are, probably, Rexton Light and Frontage, but with some modifications.
As for the color palette of the Nokia visual identity, it is based on a bright and vivid shade of blue, which is a symbol of professionalism and quality, and at the same time a reflection of energy and progressiveness of the Finnish company.