Nongshim is a South Korean food and beverage company best known for instant noodles and snacks, including the Shin Ramyun brand. Its corporate identity centers on a symbolic mark called the “Nongshim Seed,” which the company adopted in 1991 and continues to use today.
Design and History
Nongshim was founded in 1965 under the name Lotte Food Industrial Company and changed its name to Nongshim in 1978. In 1991, the company introduced a new corporate identity called “Nongshim Seed,” which remains the basis of its current logo. The name change to Nongshim reflected the company’s intention to be humble and sincere like a farmer, and the 1991 CI adoption carried the meaning of effort and sincerity in making seeds sprout and bear fruit. [1]
The symbolic mark is described by Nongshim as representing a seed, which is “an essence of life in which buds and fruits will come into being.” The company states that the mark embodies its belief that “as you sow, so shall you reap.” [2] [3]
Meaning and Symbolism
According to Nongshim’s official CI documentation, the mark consists of two ellipses, one inside the other. The company explains that the two ellipses symbolize agility and flexibility in responding to change, with the outer ellipse incorporating growth and development and the inner ellipse symbolizing the detailed image of a seed. The harmonious integration of the two ellipses is said to imply unity and intimacy between the company, its employees, and customers, as well as gratitude and honesty. [3]
Red is designated as Nongshim’s business color, described as symbolizing the benefits of bright and abundant nature. The official red is specified as RGB 223 0 41, HEX #DF0029. A secondary orange color, RGB 236 135 12, HEX #EC870C, is described as expressing the warmth of the earth and the infinite capacity and tolerance of the land. [3] [2]
Typography and Design
Nongshim’s CI guidelines specify minimum size and spacing requirements for the corporate mark. The minimum size for the outside ellipse’s conjugate diameter is 4 mm (11 pixels) to ensure visibility, and when the mark is used without its brand signature, a space corresponding to one-quarter of the conjugate diameter must be secured. [3] [2]
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