The Evolution of World Health Organization Logo: A Brief History
The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that is responsible for the international public health. Along with fighting against infectious diseases, the organization provides leadership and supports the development of healthy policies. WHO’s logo has become a universal icon that is recognized worldwide as a symbol of health and well-being. Though the logo is widely recognized today, it has gone through quite an evolution to reach its current design. In this article, we’ll take a brief look at the history of the WHO logo.
The Beginning
In 1948, the WHO’s emblem featured entwined snakes on a shaft and a globe with outlines of the world’s continents printed on it. The emblem’s primary colors were red and blue. The snake wrapping around a staff is a well-known symbol of medicine, dating back to ancient Greece, and it’s still used today by medical professionals. The emblem emphasized the importance of working together on a global scale to fight against infectious diseases.
The First Redesign
In 1950, the WHO did a slight redesign of their emblem. The globe was replaced with a shield that featured a snake on a white background. The entwined snakes on a shaft remained the same. The new design had a more modern look while keeping the organization’s original symbols.
The Second Redesign
The WHO’s emblem underwent another redesign in 1957, this time changing to its current logo. The design was created by Eric Nicholls, who also designed logos for the International Standards Organization (ISO) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The new emblem featured a rod of Asclepius (a medical symbol of a serpent and a staff) intertwined with the letters “W-H-O.” The letters are placed inside a circle with a blue background. The emblem’s design is simple yet effective, displaying the organization’s values and mission – the medical staff symbol representing healthcare and the “W-H-O” letters signifying the organization’s name.
The Adaptation
The WHO logo has remained relatively unchanged since 1957, with the exception of the adaptation made in 1986. In this adaptation, the emblem was given a red color to enhance visibility to television audiences and other media formats. It was a minor change that helped the organization’s logo to stand out more.
The Conclusion
In conclusion, the WHO logo has gone through a considerable transformation from the original entwined snake emblem to the current design. Each redesign in the WHO’s logo history has improved the logo’s simplicity, effectiveness, and visibility. Today, the WHO logo is a recognizable symbol of international health and well-being. The WHO logo’s evolution reinforces the importance of keeping up with the times while upholding the organization’s values and mission.
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