Lego logos

[Cavannus]

Hi,

I didn't find any topic about this, so I create this one: have you ever noticed how Lego logos match real life's ones? Plus there are existing logos printed as is, such as Shell, Octan, etc.

By the way, I've always found funny that they could use both Lego and BNSF logos on the same train: would you imagine a train engine that would have the logos of two railway compagnies printed? I wouldn't, but Lego dit it!

Is it for fun or to make sets more realistic? I assume they do not want to build partnerships about "everyday" services such as transportation or post office, as they do for "sensitive" markets such as oil compagnies, so they create "generic" logos that are similar to well-known ones and they look realistic, not toyish.

Creating a logo is a very hard job -- and I think Lego designers make it very well. These logos could be used for an existing compagny and they would work very well -- I especially think about the recent airline logo, I love it more than Phoenix or any other one.

Do you have other examples?

[aawsum]

Interesting topic, I guess there will be a lot more .... that I cannot think of at the moment.

However, the last one from the post office example ... there I do not see the resemblance

But I guess I understand your point

[BillytheKid]

This a good point. Never thought about this.

[BlueBard]

This is a very interesting topic indeed but I'm afraid the company logos are very generic ones, that's probably why TLG chosed them. For example the Airlines or the Post ones are very similar to dozens of companies in the world (the logo representing horn of the old days postmen is really popular in all Europe, and how many Airlines have an eagle, a fenix or a swan in their logos?)

Edited September 5, 2009 by BlueBard

[Modulex Guy]

I think that LEGO makes logos with design cues from real logos. they are not direct copies, but can give you a sense of realism with building. take the post symbol, the horn on the real one is almost the same as the LEGO logo, with the little horn on the letter, it gives you a bit more of a real feel and people can relate to the similarities they see around town and can build from LEGO.

Just my thoughts.

[Cavannus]

Aawsum: I updated the picture!

It's true that horn for post, flying animal for airlines, or weat for tractors are somewhat generic and immediately understood (except the railway company). They also apply on domains on which children have a poor impact on parent's decision, compared to oil companies whose partnership is interesting for both parties (children will ask they parent to stop at Shell because they have an Shell set or minifig).

Edited September 5, 2009 by Cavannus

[Rijkvv]

These two oil companies have the same color scheme:

But I have to agree with BlueBard. I think they were inspired by logos of official companies, but not a particular one.

[Cavannus]

These two oil companies have the same color scheme:

But I have to agree with BlueBard. I think they were inspired by logos of official companies, but not a particular one.

Oooops, I'm feeling sooo stupid because I realize that I've always thought that Octan was an existing oil company*!!!

It's the reason why I didn't add it to my list. Well, here's a proof that their logo is realistic, but I do find it's very close to Castrol, almost a plagiarism...

* I don't have a car so I've never paid attention on that, but I feel really stupid anyway!!

Edited September 5, 2009 by Cavannus

[ProducePrincess]

These two oil companies have the same color scheme:

But I have to agree with BlueBard. I think they were inspired by logos of official companies, but not a particular one.

When I was little i thought Octan was a real Oil company and only found out it was fake about 2 years ago

[Whittleberry]

I think that airline logo looks more like the Lufthansa logo:

[Legoliner Pilot]

I think that airline logo looks more like the Lufthansa logo:

Agreed...

[Still Raindrop]

Oooops, I'm feeling sooo stupid because I realize that I've always thought that Octan was an existing oil company*!!!

It's the reason why I didn't add it to my list. Well, here's a proof that their logo is realistic, but I do find it's very close to Castrol, almost a plagiarism...

* I don't have a car so I've never paid attention on that, but I feel really stupid anyway!!

How is Octan almost a plagiarism? The logo shares the colors of Castrol's, but that's about it. I'd say Octan's logo looks more like the Amoco logo than the Castrol logo.

Edited September 6, 2009 by Mariko

[Piranha]

Very interesting topic, I thought LEGO was original and created its own fake companies, but it looks like they did have some real life inspiration

I was most interested in the post office logos, does anyone have any idea as for this one?

Another thing I have noticed in some airport and most train schedules, they always have European towns, even if the sets are sold in the US

I most remember this from owning my Railway Express set, what exactly is LEGO trying to say? That train transit is more popular in Europe?

[Cavannus]

How is Octan almost a plagiarism? The logo shares the colors of Castrol's, but that's about it. I'd say Octan's logo looks more like the Amoco logo than the Castrol logo.

- Red, green, and white palette

- Round logo, almost circular

- Red & green shapes with a white transversal "L" line in the middle

- The logo is relatively small, as high as the letters, and immediately on the left (not all companies use this layout: some have small letters below the logo, others have the label within the logo, etc.)

- Two syllables and similar letters (O, T, C,...)

- Red sans-serif font

The Octan logo might be the new Castrol logo, people would recognize it.

For me "plagiarism" is NOT pejorative at all in this meaning. As I said twice, I find Lego logos very well designed and in this case, Lego achieved to create a logo that looks completely real but is fake. English is not my mother language, I should have used "inspiration" or "tribute".

I was most interested in the post office logos, does anyone have any idea as for this one?

Peeron call it "Royal Mail Horn Pattern" but it looks like the Danish, Norwegian, Spanish -- and other? -- post logos. So, once again, a generic but very credible logo.

Edited September 6, 2009 by Cavannus

[Davey]

Another thing I have noticed in some airport and most train schedules, they always have European towns, even if the sets are sold in the US

I most remember this from owning my Railway Express set, what exactly is LEGO trying to say? That train transit is more popular in Europe?

Whether they are trying to say it or not, it's generally regarded as a fact. Scheduled passenger train transport in the US is a joke right now and is minimal compared to Europe.

-Dave

[Big Cam]

Holy cow, I new shell was the same but I never new of all the other brands they have used. Good observation!

[CP5670]

That modern plane logo definitely reminded me Lufthansa when I first saw it. (which I think is supposed to be a bird, but always looked more like a hand to me )

The post office logos are interesting. They look unusual, but I didn't know what they were inspired by.

How about the Technic logos used on the front hoods of 8880 and 8448? I wonder if there are any real car companies with logos like that. The 8880 one was actually used on several other sets as well.

[SlyOwl]

Interesting topic.

I immediately thought the "grain" logo was based on Weetabix -

Oooops, I'm feeling sooo stupid because I realize that I've always thought that Octan was an existing oil company*!!!

It's the reason why I didn't add it to my list. Well, here's a proof that their logo is realistic, but I do find it's very close to Castrol, almost a plagiarism...

* I don't have a car so I've never paid attention on that, but I feel really stupid anyway!!

I too thought it was a real company. I'm assuming the name is based on Octane, a hydrocarbon used in fuel.

I can't imagine TLG using franchises such as Shell and McDonalds nowadays, as they have bad reputations/connotations. I think it's great that Octan exists as a plausible, but fictional, company only in the Legoverse.

[jonwil]

With regards to Octan, I remember reading somewhere that TLG stopped licensing and using Shell for their sets (and invented Octan instead) because Shell as a company was under increasing pressure from lobby groups (environmentalists etc) and LEGO was concerned about being hit with the same pressure for supporting Shell and making Shell sets.

[samthelegoman1]

How is Octan almost a plagiarism? The logo shares the colors of Castrol's, but that's about it. I'd say Octan's logo looks more like the Amoco logo than the Castrol logo.

Didn't they make Shell Gas Station Promotion sets, too?

[Legoliner Pilot]

Didn't they make Shell Gas Station Promotion sets, too?

Yeah.

Shell Race Car Transporter

Shell Service Station

Shell Convenience Store

Shell Car Wash

Shell Tanker

I have all of these but unfortunately they are all broken up across many boxes of Lego.

Edited September 6, 2009 by Legoliner Pilot

[Still Raindrop]

For me "plagiarism" is NOT pejorative at all in this meaning. As I said twice, I find Lego logos very well designed and in this case, Lego achieved to create a logo that looks completely real but is fake. English is not my mother language, I should have used "inspiration" or "tribute".

Ah, I see. And I completely agree with you, then. I'm in university, you see, and "plagiarism" is one of the dirtiest words we have (Not really, but it is pounded into our heads that plagiarism will mean failing the course at best).

It does look very inspired by the Castrol logo. I suppose part of the reason I think it looks like Amoco, as well, is because there was an old Amoco sign near my house when I was young and living in Pennsylvania, and I associated that with Octan (which I too thought was a real company for a while)

[Tom Bricks]

Oooops, I'm feeling sooo stupid because I realize that I've always thought that Octan was an existing oil company*!!!

It's the reason why I didn't add it to my list. Well, here's a proof that their logo is realistic, but I do find it's very close to Castrol, almost a plagiarism...

* I don't have a car so I've never paid attention on that, but I feel really stupid anyway!!

I actually found this out only yesterday, from that NY Times article I believe. I just thought that they where only in europe. On the other hand, I thought Maersk was fake until I saw a truck on the streets one day...

[prateek]

Holy cow, I new shell was the same but I never new of all the other brands they have used. Good observation!

Same here. I never noticed that.

[Yeow]

With regards to Octan, I remember reading somewhere that TLG stopped licensing and using Shell for their sets (and invented Octan instead) because Shell as a company was under increasing pressure from lobby groups (environmentalists etc) and LEGO was concerned about being hit with the same pressure for supporting Shell and making Shell sets.

This seems possible, but they must of backed off. They still do promotional releases with Shell and those sets listed further up were from the late 1990's. There is also a McDonald's set and a few Exxon sets as well.