​Featured photo via ​Wikimedia Commons

The Transformers brand began in 1984 and encompasses all media, products, and toys from Hasbro, Griffin Bacal, and Marvel that feature a series of alien robots who transform into various automobiles and machinery. The Transformers toys were originally made by Takara Tomy’s Diaclone and Microman toy lines and featured tiny plastic cars that could morph into robotic form for combat. The toys have been almost constantly available on shelves for over 34 years with very few periods of absence, none of which lasted longer than 18 months.

In the Transformers universe, there is an ongoing civil war between two factions known as the Autobots and Decepticons. The franchise has produced endless cartoons, comic books, video games, and films. The Transformers timeline can be divided into two generations. The first generation lasted from 1984 to 1993, and it was the period of time when the original comic books and animated cartoons came into popularity. The second generation consisted of various sequels and spin-offs, including the Beast Wars television series.

There have been a variety of other incarnations of the Transformers universe in the form of other series such as Robots in Disguise and the Unicron Trilogy. A competing series called Gobots with toys manufactured by Tonka was eventually bought out by Hasbro, and afterward, the Gobots were featured in the animated series Challenge of the Gobots.

In the 1990s, an online Transformers fandom emerged which allowed fans to connect with one another. It became a popular pastime for fans to name all the appearances of and references made about Transformers in pop culture. A movie adaptation of the Transformers series, directed by Michael Bay, was released in 2007 with a slew of sequels following in 2009, 2011, 2014, and 2017. A spin-off movie about the Transformer Bumble Bee came out in 2018. These upsurges in nostalgia over the series have continued to make it a pop culture phenomenon over the years.

Several versions of the Transformers logo have existed since the brand originally gained popularity in the 1980s. This is partially due to the ample number of emblem usages in the brand’s series of cartoons, comics, and movies. Different insignias have been used to differentiate Transformers from one respective army or another, including sub-factions within each army. Some individual Transformers have their own specific logos designed just for them. As a battle strategy, Transformers would occasionally wear the emblem of their opponent to gain an advantage.

The major faction of protagonists in the series are the Autobots, and the antagonists are the Decepticons. Both factions have their own specific emblems that represent each group as a whole. The emblems each resemble the face or head of a Transformer. The Autobot emblem was most likely drawn from the likeness of a character called Prowl. This logo is known as the Autobrand, and according to Transformers lore, it represents the face of the Last Autobot. The symbol for the Decepticons was probably drawn from the character Soundwave. Emblems have also existed for other types of Transformers such as Security Services, Clench, and Ultracon.

Each symbol has evolved throughout time, often with each generation/incarnation of the series. Stylistically, many versions are highly similar, with the “face” being comprised of smaller geometric shapes to form a Transformer “head.” Some Transformers logos feature flattened colors, and others are more three-dimensional with a metallic or chrome sort of look. There are some logos, such as the Cybertron elements, without a face that appear as a stylized shape or text. There have also been “crossover” Transformers logos that spoof other franchises such as Star Wars and G.I. Joe.

The version of the general Transformers logo that is considered the earliest one featured the word “Transformers” split across two lines with the face of a Transformer at the end of the first line. The colors were a dark red and gray. Many of the following logos did not feature the face, but rather just the word “Transformers” on its own. Currently, the Transformers word mark is spelled out on a single line. The font is thick and heavy with sharp angles, and it is often represented three-dimensionally. The most distinguishing feature is the letter “A,” which looks like a triangle with a slit carved out of the bottom left.

The colors of the various emblems have also changed over time. They have been seen as solid colors such as red, blue, and black. Sometimes, the Transformers logos have been colored in with gradients of red, white, yellow, and blue. At other times, the logos have looked like stone, metal, or chrome with texture and shading for a three-dimensional look.

The movie franchise continues to use a more traditional approach to their treatment of the Transformers logo. It is depicted in a historical version of the font that features the unique “A” design, and it is always rendered with a good amount of gray texture and three-dimensional shading. The Autobrand is frequently featured as well, which adds to the Transformers logo’s recognizability.For the movies, the Autobrand has been tweaked and modified to serve the purposes of each film. For example, the fourth installment in the Transformers movie franchise (2012) featured the Decepticon insignia split down the middle with the number 4 making up half of the symbol. The color of the logo was a dingy gray that appeared to be weathered metal, and it was rendered to have a very heavy three-dimensional weight.

By contrast, the current Hasbro logo, as featured on their website and in the cartoons, has changed a good deal. The font is still bold and angular, however, it seems to be stretched vertically to make the logo taller. The word mark is a medium-dark red and simply reads “Transformers.” Underneath is a horizontal red bar that features tiny white sans-serif text with the brand’s slogan. An Autobrand symbol is used for the “O” in the phrase “More than Meets the Eye.”

This somewhat drastic change is a dramatic simplification of the complex movie Transformers logo. It seems to follow the trend of most current brands that are simplifying their logos into one flattened color without many special effects. This allows the logo greater versatility in its usage and can be easier on the eyes of some viewers. Even with the taller font and solid color, the new Transformers logo still manages to be consistent with the brand’s overall identity.

Even though the Transformers logo has undergone many alterations and adaptations, it still remains one of the most easily recognizable entertainment logos today. Although the colors have changed dramatically, and the fonts have been updated over time, it manages to retain its brand identity and invoke a sense of nostalgia among long-time fans of the series. This instant recognition might be due in part to the consistent usage of thick, heavy, angular fonts along with the stylized “A,” and of course there is no mistaking the Autobrand symbol as anything other than the face of a Transformer.

​Featured photo via Flickr

Skype has revolutionized the art of long-distance relationships, allowing friends and loved ones to speak face-to-face no matter how many miles separate them physically. It is often impossible to remain in the same location as those we care about due to job demands and family commitment. Fortunately, as means of communication have improved to reflect technological advancements, it has become more possible to maintain important relationships over time and distance. Many people take advantage of the services that Skype provides, but few users stop to wonder how this impressive company came to be, from the Skype logo to the development of services.

About the Skype Brand

Skype, created by Niklas Zennstrom and Janus Friis in 2003, is the most prominent online communication service worldwide. In 2011, there were 663 million people who used Skype around the world to stay in touch with loved ones and conduct business. Skype was one of the first companies to greatly affect the internet phone market. In 2011, Microsoft Corp bought Skype for $8.5 billion dollars.

Skype is a software that focuses on video chats and voice calls between phones, computers, tables, the Xbox and smart watches. It connects regular telephones to other devices, making communication possible in new convenient ways, along with allowing for instant messages. Along with having conversations across times zones and distances, Skype allows users to send videos, images and other documents to each other. Much of the services provided by Skype are free, but there are certain subscription services for those who wish to call a landline or mobile phone.

Skype not only helps us stay in touch with friends and family; it also opens up the possibilities for the online job market and business strategies. Because of Skype, we are able to conduct face-to-face interviews and business meetings from around the world, and employees who travel for work are able to keep their colleagues up to date on proceedings. Entrepreneurs are also able to use the internet to teach classes and explain concepts, using Skype as a platform to conduct their business. Skype has given more options to consumers and business owners, providing a new way to communicate and spread knowledge.

Skype Logo Design History

The Skype logo was first designed and launched in 2003, based on a yellow speech balloon. The logo went through a number of transformations before becoming the blue and white “S” that it is known as today. Every detail of the Skype logo has a deeper meaning that symbolizes what Skype hopes to bring into the lives of its users, helping to set intentions for its effects on the world. The shade of blue used in the Skype logo represents prosperity, hope and communication, while the white color behind it symbolizes harmony and peace.

The Skype logo has been tweaked and changed over the years to result in its most pleasant and inviting version. The original small yellow speech cloud was designed and implemented in 2003. In the same year, the logo became a blue rectangle outside of a white rectangle. In 2004, it was updated into a more complicated icon, created out of a number of circles of different sizes. These circles combine to create the image of a cloud.

Skype Logo Design Evolution

This evolution of the Skype logo reflects the technological advancements and changes in brand focus that have occurred since its creation in 2003. The Skype logo is designed to communicate its values to the public, representing the natural connections that its services make available. Clouds were part of the original design, but they’ve become a more central piece in recent years. The clouds that make up the Skype logo were created from a number of circles of varying sizes. They are meant to symbolize the free, natural conversations that happen through Skype.

Conclusion

In today’s day and age, it can be easy to feel distant and disconnected from the people we consider important. It can be difficult to balance work commitments and personal relationships, and this can cause us to lose contact with friends and family whose realities are different from our own. Skype strives to prevent this disconnect, bringing people together through its many means of communication. With Skype, a family member is only so far away because Skype creates the possibility of face-to-face communication in seconds.

The services that Skype provides help users around the world be more connected to their loved ones, helping to bring people together despite the physical distances separating them. It also allows business to create strategies that take into account an online client base, opening up possibilities for new ways of distributing services and products. This new online way of communicating makes life and work easier for students, businesses and families. Thanks to Skype and its many services, we can maintain our personal and professional relationships in new, efficient ways, allowing us to connect naturally and easily with friends, loved ones and colleagues. What are you waiting for? Ready to sign on?

If you grew up watching American television, you are aware of the CBS logo present in commercial breaks and between programs. It has been a symbol of stability in entertainment and pop culture for as long as most us have lived on this earth. You may have realized the design resembles an eye, and maybe even thought of it as looking at you as you were looking at it. Well, in this article we are going to investigate it ourselves, probing CBS and the history and evolution of this simple and iconic logo.

About the CBS Brand

Originally dubbed Columbia Phonographic Broadcast System in 1927 when the Columbia Phonograph Company became a major investor with United Independent Broadcasters, CBS took on the name Columbia Broadcast System when the company was sold to Isaac and Leon Levy in 1928.

They owned one of the affiliates of the small network of radio stations, but turned management of the overall company to a young in-law by the name of William S. Paley. It was he who trimmed the name to Columbia Broadcast System. That year, he purchased enough of the company to become the majority owner. With the growth of radio and Paley's highly competent management, CBS expanded rapidly through the next decade and became a major player in the broadcast industry.

The Many Faces of CBS

Obviously, CBS became much more than a radio network. In the 1940s, they were developing their television network in competition with NBC and eventually ABC. Although CBS has been through many changes, mergers and splits, its arms branch out like a massive tree.

It must be mentioned that Viacom took over CBS in 2000 and another entertainment giant known as National Amusements owned Viacom. So when Viacom split from CBS in 2006, CBS Corporation came into existence as an entity and National Amusements remained in control. There is a vast array of CBS Corporation assets that illustrate the diversity of the CBS brand.

The CBS Corporation owns CBS Entertainment, which is made up of the basic TV network, CBS News (television and radio), CBS Sports (television and radio), The CW,  and CBS Television Studios with its many subsidiaries. In addition, there are network holdings internationally.

CBS owns CBS Cable Networks, which include such organizations as Showtime, The Movie Channel, CBS Sports Network, and AXS TV. They also own CBS Publishing. Under that name is Simon & Schuster with their many imprints such as Atria Publishing Group, Gallery Books Group, Scribner, Aladdin and many more.

Although there are over 200 non-owned CBS television affiliates, they still own at least 16 television stations. CBS television programs are shown in Canada, Bermuda, Mexico, five European countries, Australia, New Zealand, and five Asian countries. They also own CBS Local and CBS Local Sports, which give the network a presence in local digital media organizations..

CBS Logo Design History

The CBS logo we know today was preceded by one designed during the radio years. It was basic, using block lettering of CBS on a plain surface that appeared to be under a spotlight. The letters were raised, meaning the spotlight effect threw shadows on the letters. This added to a slight three-dimensional look. It's not bad, really, but the CBS President Frank Stanton felt the logo was boring and had no style.

He asked network graphic designer William Golden to present something more interesting for the network 'ident', which is a visual image used to remind viewers between programs as to the network they were watching.

The Inspiration

Golden was driving through Pennsylvania Dutch country when he noticed an old Shaker design used and embellished by the Amish on the outside of their barns which conveyed the Eye of Providence. This symbol was meant to show God is watching, warding off evil. Golden was taken by the design and took time to study Shaker art he found in a magazine. He passed it along to his fellow graphic designer Kurt Weihs to refine the design into something the network could use to identify itself.

Weihs came up with the CBS logo that became such a success. We do not want to forget Georg Olden, another designer in the company, who may have had a role in the development of the logo. He was an African-American who was a graphic designer of note in the years following World War II.

An interesting side note is that Golden took the eye logo and two other proposals to CBS management, receiving a less than enthusiastic response. Fortunately, Stanton liked what he saw and made an executive decision to use it. When Golden wondered aloud the following year what he could present as the ident for the new season, Stanton proclaimed with certainty he didn't want it changed. It was his backing that made the icon permanent.

Another appealing feature of the logo was the font. Golden took it from two similar typefaces known as Didot and Bodoni. He changed their lettering for CBS and the result was the distinctive, strong yet elegant look that accompanies the circular logo design.

The Eye

The concept of the CBS logo as an eye was one the network came to use in its marketing. CBS stars were brought on to do endorsements, using the logo. For instance, famed actor Conrad Nagel, whose career spanned the silent film era through sound film, radio and television, did a voice-over spot with the CBS logo on the screen, saying, "This is Conrad Nagel, suggesting you keep your eye on this eye, the CBS Television Network." It was 1951 when it was adopted. TV was coming into its own, but radio was still strong in many parts of the country.

CBS came to be known as the Eye Network and the logo was credited with possibly hinting at the forthcoming dominance of television over radio in the following years.    

CBS Logo Evolution

The core design of the CBS logo has never been altered, but over the years there have been changes to enhance its effect on the viewer. Once it was being used on screen in the beginning, it was shown to be in motion. The camera would slowly move in toward the logo's inner circle and the center "pupil" would open to reveal "CBS Television Network," then shut in the manner of a camera shutter.

Different Takes through the Decades

In the 1960s, the network wanted to emphasize its transition to color programming. When showing the CBS logo, it would show the letters in vivid color next to the eye while the iris was left in black and white. The only difference was, the white was primary and black was secondary— a reversal.

To celebrate 50 years of broadcasting, in 1971 CBS made the logo look more electronic, resembling a neon light. The background was blue with a thin purple line running most of the way across the screen behind the basically white eye. The lines of the eye were shaded to blue and pink at places along the way. "CBS Television Network" was shortened to just "CBS."

In the 1980s, the CBS logo was for the first time a completely computer-generated image. The background was blue transitioning to purple and the lines of the eye were shades of white, blue, pink and now yellow with a bit of red. No writing was in the eye, but "SHARE THE SPIRIT OF CBS" was written on the lower right. The slogan also was printed subtly in the entire background. The graphics weren't great, in retrospect, but for the times it probably achieved the purpose of making CBS appear to be advancing technologically with the rest of the world.

The eye returned to a more simplistic look in the 1990s, but the graphics dramatically improved. The modernistic eye, in shades of blue mostly, was prominent and seemed to be suspended in a space-like environment. The background was colorfully lit in blues, purples, yellow and black, blending softly reminiscent of the aurora borealis.

In the first decade of this century, the CBS logo evolved to high definition. The network went back to black and white, but again with the colors reversed to white being primary. The background is mostly black with some spots of white bleeding into the lower left of the screen. Under the eye in big letters of white and a textured blue, "ONLY CBS" is written.

Conclusion

The CBS logo is a model of simplicity, high quality art, and accessible symbolism. The most successful logos are the ones that, when you look at them, the name of the company springs to mind. Examples of this are Apple, Mercedes-Benz, and McDonald's. None of these need to put their name on their logos for you to recognize them. CBS accomplished this with the eye.

Even with the cosmetic changes to update the presentation of the iconic design, the logo is easily identified. Its basic integrity has been preserved throughout, which is a tribute to Frank Stanton and all CBS presidents who have followed him.