Ricoh Company, Ltd. is a Japanese imaging and office equipment manufacturer headquartered in Tokyo. The company’s current corporate logo, introduced in September 2005, is a lowercase wordmark with rounded letterforms and a red circular accent on the letter “o.”
Design and History
Ricoh’s first corporate brand logo was established in April 1963, when the company was renamed Ricoh, adopting a symbol that had already been used to identify Ricoh brand products since 1960. A second logo began appearing around 1972 for the English company name in printed and signage advertising, used concurrently with the earlier mark.[1]
In February 1986, Ricoh launched a new logotype in commemoration of its 50th anniversary. According to the company, this design prioritized identifiability and was created to symbolize creativity, humanity, internationality and communication, key themes tied to mission statements formulated as part of its corporate identity projects.[1]
The current logo was introduced in September 2005. Ricoh’s official history states that it was designed with increased legibility to reflect the company’s raised global recognition, and to represent three ideas defined for Ricoh Brand Benefits: “Harmonize with the environment,” “Simplify your life and work” and “Support knowledge management.”[1]
In April 2012, Ricoh added the corporate tagline “imagine. change.” alongside the existing logo. The company describes this as an expression of its commitment to bringing together the Group’s imaginative capabilities to drive creative changes for offering new customer values.[1] The 2012 launch also united Ricoh and IKON Office Solutions under one brand in the U.S., culminating a progression since Ricoh’s acquisition of IKON in 2008.[2]
Meaning and Symbolism
Ricoh’s 2005 press release explained the design intent behind the new logo. The rounded edges were designed to express “intelligence tempered by a friendly and human disposition,” while readability on a global scale was greatly enhanced.[3] The company also stated that the simple, elegant design reflected its three core values: simplifying knowledge creation, thinking solutions that fit, and harmonizing with the environment.[3]
Ricoh’s official history confirms that the 2005 logo was designed to represent the three Ricoh Brand Benefits: “Harmonize with the environment,” “Simplify your life and work” and “Support knowledge management.”[1]
Typography and Design
Ricoh’s official history describes the 2005 logo as having increased legibility and being designed for global use.[1] The company’s press release further noted that the rounded edges of the new logo were intended to express intelligence tempered by a friendly and human disposition, and that readability on a global scale was greatly enhanced.[3]
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