The Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry, commonly known as TAPPI, is a not-for-profit, volunteer-led association founded in 1915 by papermakers who sought to create a technical arm of the American Paper & Pulp Association. Headquartered near Atlanta, Georgia, the organization serves engineers, managers, scientists and academics across the pulp, paper, packaging and converting industries worldwide.[1]
Design and History
TAPPI’s current wordmark, registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office in 2024, consists of the word “TAPPI” with a swirl shape positioned over the letter “T” and ending on top of the “A.”[2] The mark was filed in August 2022 and registered on January 2, 2024.[3]
An earlier TAPPI symbol, documented in the May 1969 issue of the association’s own journal, was described as being composed of three age-old basic elements of art and science: the circle, the triangle and the rectangle. The journal described the symbol as a positive graphic device pointing “idealistically upward to greater achievement.” The cover designer for that issue was identified as Mr. Thompson, who had served as design consultant for Westvaco Publications for 19 years.[4] While the journal identifies Thompson as the designer of that cover, it does not explicitly confirm him as the creator of the TAPPI symbol itself.
In 2015, as part of the association’s 100th anniversary, TAPPI solicited member votes between two proposed anniversary logos, identified as the “Yellow Ribbon logo” and the “Big 100 logo.”[5]
Meaning and Symbolism
The circle, triangle and rectangle were characterized as basic elements of art and science, and the overall device was said to point upward toward greater achievement.[4]
Typography and Design
The current TAPPI mark is a wordmark set in capital letters with a swirl graphic integrated over the initial “T.”[2] No official documentation identifies the typeface used in the current mark or in earlier versions of the logo.
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