Created by a group of Swiss designers, who are now located around the world, Logobook aims to serve as both a resource and an inspiration to design fans. Currently in beta phase, its creators are adding to it all the time.

“At the moment Logobook.com is mostly a reference tool for designers and businesses to not only find inspiration but also to build awareness of what has been done before, and by whom,” says Seymour Auf Der Maur, the site’s editor. “In future, we would like to grow the database of original designs, and ultimately to build a strong community of contributing businesses and designers that will help push identity design into new areas, encouraging more innovation and less repetition.”

The logos featured on the site come from a variety of sources. “We have been collecting (scanning/photographing) the base of the collection from some rare, out-of-print trademark books from the 50s, 60s and 70s,” says Auf Der Maur. “These books are very hard to come by, and most designers cannot access them.

“The more recent logos have been collected from open online resources such as Google and some logo websites,” he continues. “With some being sent in as tips from keen designers, wanting to show their work.”

For ease of search, the logos are categorised by simple themes such as ‘letters & numbers’, ‘shapes’ and ‘objects’. All are displayed in black and white, in order, says Auf Der Maur, to allow users of the site to more easily compare the concepts.

“The most successful logos/symbols/trademarks of all time are just as comfortable in black and white as they are in colour,” he says. “The Logobook archive is in black and white, to make the navigation of the logo concepts as simple and intuitive as possible, allowing the visitor to study and compare logo concepts in an objective and rational way.”

Enjoy a browse at logobook.com