Logo and Branding: Privacy International

Privacy International is a UK based non-profit organisation established in 1990 to monitor the security intrusions of governments and business, increase the awareness of the data protection and establish ‘new forms of privacy advocacy’ at an international level. Made up of computer professionals, academics, lawyers, journalists and human rights campaigners the organisation has worked on initiatives across fifty countries and is funded by British privacy activist Simon Davies. Advertising, design and branding agency This Is Real Art recently developed the organisation’s new visual identity which blends a redacted visual device, synonymous with restricted government intelligence, and a simple perforated material treatment to make global security relevant and understandable at a personal level.

The logo-type’s redacted sans serif construction suitably mixes the themes of censorship and freedom of information with an authoritative sensibility that has sufficient vertical height in contrast to the strike through to be legible without loosing the impact of the concept. This, in conjunction with a stark black and white colour palette, suitably characterises the clear divide between legal and illegal behaviour. The perforated business cards are original, engaging and appropriately adopt the actions and associated visual cues drawn from secure letters and sensitive personal information received through the post. Inside the red internal patterns deliver an authenticity through the functionality of covering contact information while giving the organisation further visual assets to work with. The simple resolution of these components reflects the serious nature of the organisation but with the intelligence to utilise physical techniques to relate global security issues to the personal experience and understanding of privacy.

Visit the BP&O Logo Gallery for a chronological guide to all the identities reviewed on BP&O.

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Richard Baird Richard is a British freelance designer and writer who specialises in the development of logos, branding and packaging. He has written for Brand New and Design Week, is an editor for The Dieline, has featured in Computer Arts magazine and also runs the resource Design Survival. Follow:     |     Twitter     |     Facebook     |     Portfolio     |     Contact