News: Danish design brand Carl Hansen & Søn has changed its logo back to one originally created by legendary furniture designer Hans J. Wegner in 1950, in honour of the 100th anniversary of his birth.
Carl Hansen & Søn produces many of Wegner's most iconic furniture designs and has once again adopted the logo created by the Danish designer shortly after he began collaborating with the firm.
"The 100th anniversary [of Wegner's birth] offers Carl Hansen & Søn an ideal opportunity to return to Wegner’s original logo," said the company's CEO Knud Erik Hansen.
"With the new logo, we are adding another page to Carl Hansen & Søn's history and visually expressing our transformation from a traditional production company into a modern design enterprise - still clearly referencing our 100-year furniture history, but now with a visual identity that matches the company's present-day position as an internationally oriented design player," he added.
The logo (main image) comprises a red circle surrounding the initials of the family-run company, which are written in a curving font that evokes the organic modernism popular in Scandinavia at the time of its design.
It was originally used from the 1950s until the mid-1980s, when the company commissioned a new logo with a blue square and a white letter C.
"Wegner’s logo is meaningful to us on several levels," said Erik Hansen. "The logo visually expresses that at its core, the company is passionate about design and creativity. At the same time, the logo reinforces the strong ties that for decades have linked Wegner with Carl Hansen & Søn."
The company was founded by Carl Hansen in Odense, Denmark, in 1908 and began collaborating with Hans J. Wegner in 1949. Among the classic pieces that Wegner created for Carl Hansen & Søn are the Wishbone, Shell and Wing chairs.
Wegner is known to have designed more than 500 chairs prior to his death in January 2007, over 100 of which have been put into production.
Here's some more information from Carl Hansen & Søn:
Carl Hansen & Søn introduces new logo designed by Wegner
Carl Hansen & Søn has changed its logo to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Hans J. Wegner's birth. The logo, designed by Wegner in 1950, revitalizes Carl Hansen & Søn's visual identity to reflect a modern design company. The logo is one more testament to Wegner's brilliant, visionary talent.
Carl Hansen & Søn is celebrating the 100th anniversary of Hans J. Wegner's birthday by launching a logo Wegner himself designed in 1950. The round logo encircles the family-run company's initials on a red background in soft, organically curved lines.
The logo was originally used from the 1950s until the mid-1980s, when Carl Hansen & Søn asked architect Bernt to design a new logo in the shape of a blue square marked with a contrasting, white letter C in reference to the initial letter in the company name.
The 100th anniversary offers Carl Hansen & Søn an ideal opportunity to return to Wegner's original logo. "With the new logo, we are adding another page to Carl Hansen & Søn's history and visually expressing our transformation from a traditional production company into a modern design enterprise – still clearly referencing our 100-year furniture history, but now with a visual identity that matches the company's present-day position as an internationally oriented design player," says
Carl Hansen & Søn's CEO Knud Erik Hansen.
Wegner's timeless logo perfectly communicates Carl Hansen & Søn's approach to furniture production – craftsmanship, quality and tradition reflected in long-lived furniture produced using the finest materials and with the utmost consideration for the environment. Knud Erik Hansen continues, "Wegner's logo is meaningful to us on several levels. The logo visually expresses that at its core, the company is passionate about design and creativity. At the same time, the logo reinforces the strong ties that for decades have linked Wegner with Carl Hansen & Søn. Given the fact that the logo was originally designed by Wegner, it was just a question of finding the right occasion to reintroduce it, and what better occasion than Wegner's 100th birthday?"
The story of the collaboration between Wegner and Carl Hansen & Søn dates back 65 years. In 1949, Carl Hansen & Søn, which today has over a century-long tradition of proud craftsmanship to its name, became one of the creative playgrounds Wegner would frequent over the years. The creative partnership produced a series of chairs that went on to become modern classics and treasured collector's items around the world. Among them are Wegner's iconic Wishbone Chair, Shell Chair and Wing Chair.
This year, Carl Hansen & Søn will also launch several new Wegner pieces. Both the furniture and the logo pay tribute to Wegner's remarkable sense of design and craftsmanship.