C.O.N.I. 25 is a graphic mark created in 1972 for the Italian National Olympic Committee (Comitato Olimpico Nazionale Italiano, or CONI). The design is attributed to Michele Spera and Mimmo Castellano, two Italian graphic designers active in the 1960s and 1970s whose work ranged from logo design to posters.[1]
Design and History
The mark was produced in 1972, a year that marked the 25th anniversary of CONI’s post-war reorganization. The number “25” in the title refers to this milestone, though the specific design intent behind the numeral is not documented in available sources.
Mimmo Castellano had an established relationship with CONI by this time. In 1968, with the birth of the “Youth Games,” CONI entrusted Castellano with a restyling of its logo, producing an essential and rigorous mark where the first three letters were generated by a single ribbon.[2] Castellano also created a graphic image for CONI in 1970.[3]
Michele Spera, born in Potenza in 1937, studied architecture in Rome before dedicating himself to corporate communications for the Italian Republican Party from 1962 to 1995. He later served as art director at Treccani and worked with companies including Confindustria, Innocenti, Maserati, and RAI.[4]
The C.O.N.I. 25 mark is a bold, graphic emblem that reflects the clean, modern design sensibility of the early 1970s. It prioritizes clarity and impact over decoration, consistent with the rigorous approach Castellano applied to his earlier CONI logo work.
Meaning and Symbolism
The “25” in the mark references the 25th anniversary of CONI’s post-war identity, which was established in 1947 when the royal crown and fasces were removed from the organization’s logo following the end of the monarchy and fascist era in Italy.[2] The mark thus commemorates a quarter century of CONI’s modern, democratic identity.
Logo Index is an independent educational archive covering logos, visual identities and graphic design history. All trademarks and brand assets remain the property of their respective owners.
