I’ve always loved the way designers can find the most esoteric meanings in their output and I often suspect the justification has been reverse-engineered.
As an example, take the rationale for the current Toyota logo.
The badge, apparently, “symbolizes the unification of customer hearts with Toyota’s products, technological advancement and future potential.”
Stay with me! The horizontal oval represents the customer’s heart and the vertical oval, Toyota’s heart.
Their intersection forms the letter “T” for Toyota and “symbolizes the strong bond and trust between the company and its customers”.
The larger outer oval represents the global reach and potential of Toyota’s technology.
There’s more . . . The background space within the outer oval symbolizes Toyota’s technology and the opportunities that lie ahead.
But here’s the punchline: each letter in the word “Toyota” can be made from the ovals.
And you thought it was just a group of ovals!
Another theory holds that the logo represents the eye of a needle with a thread being passed through it.
Not many people are aware the company started as a division of Toyoda Automatic Loom Works, so you can see where they might get that idea.
Of course, we’re open to other theories.
1966-1970 Corolla
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GR Corolla
Name that ute
Badge
Replica 1936 Toyoda AA sedan.
Akio Toyoda
Spell T-O-Y-O-T-A
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