The Technical Association of the Pulp & Paper Industry, commonly known as TAPPI, is a not-for-profit, volunteer-led association founded in 1915 by a group of papermakers who sought to create a technical arm of the American Paper & Pulp Association (APPA).[1] The organization, headquartered near Atlanta, Georgia, serves engineers, scientists, managers, academics, and suppliers in the pulp, paper, and related industries.[1]
Design and History
TAPPI’s visual identity centers on the acronym “TAPPI” as a wordmark. The organization holds a registered trademark for the TAPPI name with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, filed in the classes of paper goods and printed material, advertising and business services, and computer and software services.[2] The mark is also registered in other jurisdictions, including Taiwan, where it was filed in 1996.[3]
In the lead-up to TAPPI’s centennial, the association solicited member input on a special anniversary logo, offering two design options for a vote: a “Yellow Ribbon logo” and a “Big 100 logo.”[4] This anniversary mark was a temporary celebratory variant rather than a replacement of the standard identity.
Meaning and Symbolism
However, a related sub-brand, TAPPI SAFE, provides a clear example of the organization’s visual language. The TAPPI SAFE trademark description states that the mark consists of the word “TAPPI” with a swirl shape to the left of the “T,” above the word “SAFE,” with a dot to the left and right, a small triangle above “TAPPI,” and a small triangle below “SAFE.”[5]
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