Logos using the standby symbol

Mar 13, 2009read the 83 comments

Logos using the standby symbol

I’m often emailed asking for advice about logo projects, and it’s a little surprising how many designs include similar ideas.

Next time you think about using a standby symbol in your logo, remember, it’s been done before.

The Gadget Show (thanks Roy)

Esport TV (thanks Wez)

Kogan (thanks Sixem)

Goodwrench (thanks Plamen)

Germanos

HiQnet

Q-dance (thanks David)

EcoGeek (thanks Photocritic)

HiWired, Inc. (thanks M.)

Staples Easy Tech

GameVicio (thanks Lucas)

Gateway (old logo, thanks Jon)

ECOT

Informedica

Think First

GridPoint

Gabriel Gely Design Group

Snap TV

Aveon

Bragunica Innovations

Tecconex (thanks Stephen)

Proven Choice

PC.com

Digital Peach (thanks Brandon)

Vobis Online (thanks Cristina)

Com On (thanks Bernard)

Power of One (thanks David)

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83 appreciated comments, click here to add one

Darryl Collins

Flick Off is hilarious. LOL!

Mar 13th, 2009
Daniel

I think the best use of it is in Five’s Gadget Show logo, which rotates the symbol into a G: http://gadgetshow.five.tv/gadget-show

Mar 13th, 2009
Michael McClure

The examples shown are good. Of those shown I would have to say the Gadget Show or Flick Off are on top. Reminds me of a button design: http://tinyurl.com/bdokex

Mar 13th, 2009
James Kurtz III

Haha. Nice. I never realized so many logos used this symbol. I think I like the gadget show the best.

Mar 13th, 2009
The Gadget Show

thank you for featuring The Gadget Show in this blog! The animated version of the logo (see demand.five.tv for the On-Demand service, it’s the first 30 seconds or so) is pretty awesome, too.

Mar 13th, 2009
Plamen

Also, Goodwrench: http://www.underconsideration.com/brandnew/archives/mr_goodwrench_gets_turned_on.php and Germanos and HiQnet: http://theplamen.blogspot.com/2007/03/blog-post_04.html

Mar 13th, 2009
Photocritic

Also worth a mention: Ecogeek: http://www.ecogeek.org/

Which, interestingly enough, I found via http://www.logodesignlove.com/logo-design-love-awards-results

:-)

Mar 13th, 2009
M.

HiWired (defunct) : http://www.hiwiredinc.com/
Staples EasyTech : http://www.staples.com/sbd/cre/marketing/easytech/

Mar 13th, 2009
Roberta Seldon

Thanks for posting this article. I hadn’t realized how many times the standby symbol had been used… and I’m pretty sure there are many others out there as well!

Mar 13th, 2009
Erik

Interesting to see how many logos are using the standby symbol, and I’m sure this post only represents some of them. The strange thing is, I’m not sure the symbol makes sense in most of these marks. Granted I don’t know what most of these companies do, but when looking at their logos some are just making sense with the standby symbol.

Mar 13th, 2009
Lucas

No Brasil. Revista GAME VICIO
http://www.gamevicio.com.br/revista/

Mar 13th, 2009
David Airey

Thanks for the additional suggestions, which I’ve added — already doubling the number of logo examples!

Mar 13th, 2009
Matt Fouty

Flick Off – I said “whoa! … oh! lol”

Personally I’ve avoided using the symbol because I’ve seen it it so many logos.

Mar 13th, 2009
Andrew Kelsall

On the subject of “Flick Off”, I’ve seen another climate change logo, that is a sticker that reads “Switch me off before you go-go”. Used on photocopiers, PCs and Lights, etc.

Mar 13th, 2009
David

check out http://www.q-dance.nl for a small variation

Mar 13th, 2009
David Airey

Me too, Matt.

Andrew,

I wasn’t previously familiar with the Flick Off logo, but it’s not one I’ll forget in a hurry.

David,

I’ve added your example, cheers bud.

Mar 13th, 2009
ivan de ramos

Hi!

here is the stanby symbol too, and it represent a cup of coffee too.

http://www.horecadigital.com

Mar 13th, 2009
JonSel

Thanks for the shout-out, although I’m not sure what I did!

Nnice roundup. I’m sure this will rival the swoosh in no time.

Mar 13th, 2009
David Airey

Thanks, Ivan.

Jon,

I noticed over on the Brand New blog that you inserted the old Gateway logo into a comment. I wouldn’t have picked up on that one if it weren’t for your input.

Mar 13th, 2009
Stephen

http://www.kerridgeconsultants.co.uk/images/Medium-TC-Logo.jpg

Mar 13th, 2009
David Morin

Wow, I agree with James… I never realized how many they were lol! It might (actually…. in the process to) become another “can’t stand it anymore” icon like the word “cyber”….

To my eyes, my award for best use, execution and communication effectiveness goes to EcoGeek. Love it!

Cheers and have a good weekend everyone!

Mar 13th, 2009
David Airey

Nice one, Stephen.

David,

I published this post with just seven examples. There are now 28, and that’s in only a couple of hours of suggestions!

Mar 13th, 2009
dsmith

I know we’re here for logo talk and not icon talk, but one thing I find fascinating is the standby icon itself… I’ve always thought of it simply as the ‘power’ icon and until now had not heard it referred to by its original name and intent.

Although its changed to also be known as the generic ‘power’ icon, it makes much more sense graphically as a standby icon in relation to the ‘on’, ‘off’ and ‘toggle’ members of the icon set. Cool!

Mar 13th, 2009
Aaron Riddle

This post has removed all possibility of me ever considering using the standby icon in any of my future logo designs. :-)

Mar 13th, 2009
Brandon

Another, this one a little more unique:

http://www.digitalpeach.com/

Mar 13th, 2009
Panasit Ch

There’s so much irony in Bragunica Innovations.

Mar 13th, 2009
M.

Guess I’m looking for these after this post! Just happened to notice:

http://www.pc.com/

Mar 13th, 2009
Jacob Cass

Wow, never knew there were so many… I’ve also designed one with the standby symbol:

http://justcreativedesign.com/wp-content/gallery/logo-design/trueconnectlogo_0.gif

Love the flick off one :)

Mar 14th, 2009
Elisa

It would have been interesting to know which industries the companies belong to – seems to me they are spread, but I don’t know most of them!

Mar 14th, 2009
Trish

Good post. Someone said it earlier that the standby symbol doesn’t seem appropriate for all. The one that sticks out to me is Goodwrench Auto Parts. ? I admit the old logo needed a revamp, but why they decided the stand by symbol was the way to go baffles me.

Mar 14th, 2009
Sam Van Eman

EcoGeek got my creativity vote.

But should any receive a utility vote? “Standby” or “sleep mode” has to be one of the poorer choices for a logo. For instance, ThinkFirst (dead link?) focuses on technology innovations. You need to be awake for that line of work.

Mar 14th, 2009
inspirationbit

this is incredible. Who could’ve thought that there are so many logos using the same stand out element in their design.
Thanks for putting this collection together.

Perhaps you can turn this into series, and showcase other logos using same/similar design element in them?

Mar 14th, 2009
designByLefty

i don’t know about the other logos, but the indesit logo was created in 1998 and i think it was one of the first to use this symbol and was very innovative at time.

+1 FLICK OFF :))

Mar 14th, 2009
Dainis Graveris

oh, interesting – didn’t know there are so many :) not so exclusive.

Mar 15th, 2009
Dreamspeaker

so much for creativity hey?

Mar 15th, 2009
drew

The next time you think about using the word “love” or a heart in your design blog name or logo… remember it’s been done before

Just playin’ ;)

Mar 15th, 2009
Dom

HiWired is the top choice for me, followed by Staples easytech logo.
I like the perspective of HiWired, and the simplicity. Easytech uses the symbol as an e, also. Very memorable and clean! Less is best!

Mar 16th, 2009
Johan Alvin

Hahahahaa…
i didn’t realize this icon have been used by many logos until now.
Thanks for another great article!

Mar 16th, 2009
Saioa

I did a logo using this symbol:

http://www.watermelonisacolor.com/portafolio/papel/#15

Mar 16th, 2009
Carl

“Remember, it’s been done before.” – Love that!

- Remember, at least try and do some research before creating logos or marketing campaigns and don’t be so damn lazy!! Pshh!

Thanks again for the good article.

Mar 16th, 2009
David Airey

Panasit,

The irony makes it more appealing. :)

Trish,

The Goodwrench redesign is an odd one. I wonder if they gave any other meaning to the icon, besides ‘standby’ or ‘power’.

Sam,

I think that was a dead link. Thanks for pointing it out (removed).

Vivien,

Nice idea. I may just do that.

Drew,

Touché. A series of logos using the heart symbol would be even larger!

Mar 16th, 2009
cristina morais

another one: http://www.vobis.pt/Splash.aspx

vobis store

Mar 16th, 2009
Noe

I Agree. FLICK OFF made me laugh! funny logo but well executed.

Mar 16th, 2009
nburman

Er.. next time I think about designing ANY logo, I’ll remember it’s been done before. Although, yes, any symbol that we see everyday must have been used at least a million times before. And we can all strive for a little more creativity and originality.

Nice post! Cheers.

Mar 16th, 2009
Zach

Wow, Flick Off is awesome haha. That is crazy how many use the same idea. I thought the list was never going to end.

Mar 16th, 2009
Drahony

thanks for the list, didnt realise there was so many company using the standby symbol out there.

Mar 17th, 2009
Josh

Also, it’s worth taking a look at the new logo Best Buy’s “Geek Squad” is using…

http://www.prnewswire.com/mnr/iconsofprotection/34911/images/btp.jpg

it’s a nice update/change from their boring black and orange circle. Easily my favorite use of the standby, and one of my favorite of last year

Mar 17th, 2009
Steve - Eightyone Design

Yeah, agree with the others, Flick Off is very good. Another one for your list:

http://www.eswav.com

Mar 17th, 2009
David

…and the current “Power of One” campaign for Energy Efficiency Ireland, @ http://www.powerofone.ie/

Mar 18th, 2009
Angie

And here are a couple more:

http://bit.ly/OFQXu (Serveron)
http://procompgroup.com/

Mar 18th, 2009
Nik Pawlak

Playswitch uses one aswell.

http://www.playswitch.com/

Mar 19th, 2009
Andrew Kelsall

David, there is another great example on the Wolda website for “Molla” here: http://www.wolda.org/?page=8

Mar 20th, 2009
David Airey

Thanks for the additional suggestions, everyone. I’ll update the post as soon as I have a chance, linking to your sites (for those who have them) as a little way to thank you.

Duty calls, and I’m off to collect my girlfriend from her work.

Have a great weekend!

Mar 20th, 2009
jennanderson

From the founder of eBay, The Omidyar Network (ON):
http://www.omidyar.com/

Mar 23rd, 2009
Robert

Just to add my little contribution : I recently fell over a “Presto” logo http://www.prestomypc.com/

Mar 24th, 2009
Tuzemec

http://www.stantondj.com

Mar 24th, 2009
Al Woods

Some nice logos in there though. Thing is the stand-by mark is one of those (I suppose like hearts) marks that just cries to be used and works in the right context.

I did a similar logo for a photographer friend using the timer icon on a camera to make the letters ‘C and J’. It looks nice and works really well but admittedly does have an air of familiarity about it.

No right or wrong here I reckon but yeah, definitely been done before.

I didn’t even notice ‘flick’ at first double take made me smile like a smiley face…now there’s another icon!!

Mar 26th, 2009
Steve Brown

It seems one of the most biggest problems designers have is avoiding what has gone before. Is it even possible anymore? These are always very useful posts, bringing (possibly) overused design elements together in one place is a great reference.

Apr 6th, 2009
Trish

In 1899 the head of the US Patent Office resigned his position because, he affirmed, everything had already been invented.

I have said this before, but believe it completely, creativity and invention, like creation and evolution, is mostly a gradual process with some spectacular mutations along the way.

I am perfectly content to be simply a part of the process (with a tiny bit of hope I’ll create one of those spectacular mutations!).

Trish

Apr 7th, 2009
David Airey

Al,

The smiley face is definitely another you can find used on many occasions, with one of my favourite being Landor’s People PC logo.

Steve,

Glad you find this a useful resource. I’ll see what else I can put together for future posts.

Trish,

Nice tidbit there. I wonder what the head of the Patent Office would’ve thought about the internet.

Apr 7th, 2009
BGdesign

Its a little played out.
good post thanks mucho.

Apr 8th, 2009
stefan

The Flick off logo is monumental in scope. I won’t forget that for a while.

Apr 13th, 2009
Aaron

I think the flick off is one of the better logos there, but does anyone else read flick as the “f” word?

May 7th, 2009
Pourio

“flick off” is the best. read’s “f–k off” with the power btn as the giving the bird. hahaha.

May 13th, 2009
Josep

http://www.doctorclic.es

May 21st, 2009
Richard, Peacock Carter Newcastle

As with logos revolving around any concept, some well executed ones (Flick Off, for example), and some poor (and inappropriate) ideas too: nice showcase!

May 23rd, 2009
Lucas

Mais uma no Brasil http://www.nicoli.com.br/

May 25th, 2009
Veronica

Don’t you think that Quicktime falls into the same category? :)

Jun 9th, 2009
Johsh

I’m wondering what the designer who designed “Flick off” was thinking. Haha…

The thing about using the standby sign is that none of those brands are large, and none of those logos strike me as iconic.

So I say if you want to use a symbol like that, go for it. It doesn’t matter if everyone does it, you can do it to, as long as you do it better than everyone else.

Jun 12th, 2009
Colin

also see http://www.stantondj.com/v2/index.asp which i thought was great when i first saw their logo but now having seen your list realise they were not that clever

Jul 5th, 2009
Dries

another one
http://www.wiredbristol.com/

Jul 14th, 2009
Peter Fabricius

And another .. http://www.digicape.co.za. One of our authorized Apple resellers in Cape Town.

Aug 5th, 2009
Blake

Standby symbol?

I thought it was the on/off symbol!

Nov 12th, 2009
Dmitry

Here’s another one, http://i-on.ru/Images/ion_logo.gif (a Russian electronics chain).

Jun 3rd, 2010