The International Public Relations Association (IPRA) is a global network for public relations professionals, established in 1955 at a meeting in the Cabinet Office at No. 10 Downing Street, London. The association operates as a professional body whose members join in their personal capacity, and it is best known for its code of conduct and the Golden World Awards for Excellence. [1]
Design and History
The IPRA symbol was originally designed in 1966 by Canadian identity designer Hans Kleefeld, who created it while working at the Toronto design firm Stewart & Morrison. Kleefeld, who immigrated to Canada in 1952, served as director of graphic design at Stewart & Morrison during the 1960s, where he also designed identity programs for Bank of Montreal, Air Canada and Inco. [2] [3] A dated portfolio listing confirms the International Public Relations Association mark as one of Kleefeld’s 1966 projects. [4]
In 2007, under the presidency of Philip Sheppard, IPRA launched a fresh new logo at the start of the year. Sheppard noted in his retrospective that the new logo “achieved recognition rapidly around the globe.” [5] The current IPRA wordmark and symbol appear on the association’s official website, which describes IPRA as “leading trust and ethics in global communication.” [6]
Meaning and Symbolism
IPRA’s official materials do not publish a documented explanation of the logo’s symbolism or design intent. The association’s stated mission, however, centers on advancing trusted communication and the ethical practice of public relations, themes that recur throughout its official communications. [6] The 2007 logo launch coincided with a broader initiative that included a new Five Year Plan and a revised code of conduct, the Code of Brussels, suggesting the visual refresh was part of a wider organizational renewal. [5]
Typography and Design
Brand asset databases list IPRA’s current brand colors as including a yellow tone (hex #FFC93E) and a blue tone (hex #035992), alongside a light gray. [7] No official documentation from IPRA specifying the typeface used in its wordmark or the exact construction method of its symbol has been published in the sources reviewed.
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