History- UNICEF
1946
UNICEF is created by resolution 57(I) of the United Nations General Assembly on 11 December 1946 to provide supplies and assistance to children after World War II. Originally known as the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund, UNICEF starts as a temporary relief fund of the United Nations. As such, it is entitled to use the UN logo.
1953
In October 1953, the United Nations General Assembly extends UNICEF’s mandate indefinitely to assist vulnerable children. As a UN agency with a distinct mandate, UNICEF develops its own visual identity.
UNICEF’s first logo features a child drinking a cup of milk, which reflects the organization’s main activity at the time: delivering milk to children. This logo retains some elements of the UN logo, on which it is based, such as the olive branches and globe in the background. ‘A child drinking milk’ becomes the symbol of UNICEF
1960
As UNICEF’s focus expands to include the wider needs of children, the organization’s logo changes as well. In the 1960s, ‘a child drinking milk’ is redesigned as ‘a mother lifting up a child’. This is also linked to the UN adoption of the Declaration of the Rights of the Child in 1959, which defines children’s rights to protection, education, healthcare, shelter, in addition to good nutrition.
The universal gesture of a mother lifting up a child symbolizes the hope, security and joy that UNICEF’s work gives to parents and their children. This gesture evokes parents’ energy and enthusiasm, which reflects UNICEF’s optimism and the results we seek to deliver for every child.
1975
A standard global logo is issued, which retains the ‘mother and child’ emblem as the dot on the ‘i’ of ‘UNICEF’. This is the first version of the UNICEF logo to be registered with the World Intellectual Property Organization.
1978
While the key elements of the 1975 logo are retained, the typeface is revisited to align with some prevailing visual trends of the time.
1986
In 1986, coinciding with the 40th anniversary of UNICEF, significant changes are made to the logo: the typeface is altered to Future bold, and the color transforms from black to PMS Reflex Blue. UNICEF introduces The Identification Graphic Standards Manual, which serves as the organization’s first Brand Book.
The logo includes UNICEF‘s name, presented in lowercase with a bold typeface, and is accompanied by the ‘mother and child’ emblem. Aligned with the design principles of the prevalent Swiss Style of that era, the approach is minimalist. This version of the logo is considered clearer than its predecessors, contributing to enhanced universal recognition and visual clarity.
2001
In 2001, the UNICEF logo as we know it today is introduced ─ along with guidelines for its use on multiple platforms. The colour is changed from PMS Reflex Blue to PMS Process Cyan. The undiluted colours of the new UNICEF brand colour palette (cyan, yellow, pink and violet) are meant to evoke the vibrancy of children.
The logo is stylized and simplified. The ‘mother and child’ emblem is modernized to reflect a more generic figure.
2008
UNICEF undergoes a shift in its tagline to ‘Unite for Children.’ This change, previously employed as a call to action in different UNICEF campaigns like ‘Unite Against AIDS’ and ‘Unite for Peace,’ emphasizes the organization’s advocacy role in line with the Millennium Development Goals and the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The adoption of ‘Unite for Children’ signifies UNICEF‘s collaborative efforts with partners across various sectors, working together to achieve meaningful outcomes for children.
2016
In 2016, the organization embraced the phrase ‘for every child’ as part of its branding strategy, seamlessly integrating it into the official logo. This expression resonates with UNICEF’s overarching mission to safeguard the rights of children universally, emphasizing a commitment to prioritizing the well-being of the most underprivileged children.
The new logo features modularity as a crucial element. ‘For every child’ constitutes the initial segment of the brand statement, while the second half incorporates additional words that illustrate the extensive scope of UNICEF’s initiatives. Examples include ‘for every child, hope,’ ‘for every child, opportunity,’ and ‘for every child, dignity.’ This innovative logo allows us to spotlight not only the challenges children encounter but also the aspirations we hold for their future.
