It's sort of obvious when you think about it. Most people couldn't read, so you can't put your name on your stuff, it has to be a mark, and one simple and memorable enough to be understood by...
Modern-day brands create logos to symbolise aspirational products, services and values. [...] But our ability to decode signs and symbols is not a contemporary skill [...] if we rewind back to the 1500s, a medieval equivalent is found.
It's sort of obvious when you think about it. Most people couldn't read, so you can't put your name on your stuff, it has to be a mark, and one simple and memorable enough to be understood by enough people. An interesting, if not quite in-depth enough for my tastes, article about medieval merchant's marks in 14th-16th century England. The associated instagram account has many examples, and lots of them are pretty cool
I'm really tempted to redesign my own logo in this style, or at least create an additional logomark for decorative use.
It's sort of obvious when you think about it. Most people couldn't read, so you can't put your name on your stuff, it has to be a mark, and one simple and memorable enough to be understood by enough people. An interesting, if not quite in-depth enough for my tastes, article about medieval merchant's marks in 14th-16th century England. The associated instagram account has many examples, and lots of them are pretty cool
I'm really tempted to redesign my own logo in this style, or at least create an additional logomark for decorative use.