Comments on: Commercial Bank of Kuwait Logo http://www.248am.com/mark/kuwait/commercial-bank-of-kuwait-logo/ Mark and Nat, a married couple who are living in Kuwait. Both are designers, Mark works in advertising while Nat runs her own design studio called Push+Pull. Mon, 13 Feb 2012 07:11:22 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: A. Ranganathan http://www.248am.com/mark/kuwait/commercial-bank-of-kuwait-logo/#comment-503310 A. Ranganathan Sat, 04 Sep 2010 11:14:29 +0000 http://248am.com/?p=417#comment-503310 I worked in this Bank for twenty years since its inception in 1961. I was one of the nucleus staff recruited from India where I was employed with Lloyds Bank Limited. Lloyds Bank gave help and assistance in the establishment of CBK. To implement operation procedures based on the then exiting Lloyds's systems , the first General Manager of CBK, Mr. E. H. Cattell recruited staff from the Eastern Branches of Lloyds Bank. I was one in the bandwagon of thirteen (yes thirteen -unlucky for some but proved otherwise for us). It was tough for us to start from scratch, the language, the weather, the transportation facilities, eateries were all new to us. We were in a strange land but I should say the Kuwaitis were very amiable and understanding. The then Board of Directors under the chairmanship of late Hamad Saleh al Homaizi( I hope I remmber right-it was so many years ago) ably assisted by stalwarts like Abdul Aziz al Bahar, Khalid Saleh Al Ghunaim and so many others gave the Bank a great start. In ten years the bank moved into it own magnificient building shaped like a X'mas cake, near the Seif Palace. And in 1979 acquired the present logo with great pomp and celebration. What prompted me to write all this is the mention that in Kuwait people work for only ten minutes a day. It is very uncharitable. Those days we used to work for hours late into the night unmindful of the clock. Even if it be so these days.I would categorically say that the Kuwait people deserve it, beacuse they have sweated and toiled to build a strong and powerful nation from scratch. Glory be to them! I worked in this Bank for twenty years since its inception in 1961. I was one of the nucleus staff recruited from India where I was employed with Lloyds Bank Limited. Lloyds Bank gave help and assistance in the establishment of CBK. To implement operation procedures based on the then exiting Lloyds’s systems , the first General Manager of CBK, Mr. E. H. Cattell recruited staff from the Eastern Branches of Lloyds Bank. I was one in the bandwagon of thirteen (yes thirteen -unlucky for some but proved otherwise for us). It was tough for us to start from scratch, the language, the weather, the transportation facilities, eateries were all new to us. We were in a strange land but I should say the Kuwaitis were very amiable and understanding. The then Board of Directors under the chairmanship of late Hamad Saleh al Homaizi( I hope I remmber right-it was so many years ago) ably assisted by stalwarts like Abdul Aziz al Bahar, Khalid Saleh Al Ghunaim and so many others gave the Bank a great start. In ten years the bank moved into it own magnificient building shaped like a X’mas cake, near the Seif Palace. And in 1979 acquired the present logo with great pomp and celebration.

What prompted me to write all this is the mention that in Kuwait people work for only ten minutes a day. It is very uncharitable. Those days we used to work for hours late into the night unmindful of the clock.

Even if it be so these days.I would categorically say that the Kuwait people deserve it, beacuse they have sweated and toiled to build a strong and powerful nation from scratch. Glory be to them!

]]> By: maujkar http://www.248am.com/mark/kuwait/commercial-bank-of-kuwait-logo/#comment-486275 maujkar Sat, 16 Jan 2010 08:28:46 +0000 http://248am.com/?p=417#comment-486275 free masonary indeed.... http://www.scoreboard-canada.com/articles-freemasonpyramids.htm free masonary indeed…. http://www.scoreboard-canada.com/articles-freemasonpyramids.htm

]]> By: RubyTuesday by Pentagram http://www.248am.com/mark/kuwait/commercial-bank-of-kuwait-logo/#comment-356245 RubyTuesday by Pentagram Tue, 13 Nov 2007 13:38:31 +0000 http://248am.com/?p=417#comment-356245 [...] redesigned their identity and it was handled by Pentagram, the same agency who were responsible for the Commercial Bank of Kuwait identity back in the 70s. I prefer the new logo and how its being applied but I know a lot of people think type based [...] [...] redesigned their identity and it was handled by Pentagram, the same agency who were responsible for the Commercial Bank of Kuwait identity back in the 70s. I prefer the new logo and how its being applied but I know a lot of people think type based [...]

]]> By: Malcolm Macaulay http://www.248am.com/mark/kuwait/commercial-bank-of-kuwait-logo/#comment-95803 Malcolm Macaulay Sun, 10 Dec 2006 20:36:11 +0000 http://248am.com/?p=417#comment-95803 Bizarre. Today I was building some shelves in our furnace cupboard. Upon cleaning out the years of accumulated wood and detritus, I came across a Commercial Bank of Kuwait SAK bronze plaque. It’s about 300 x 200 mm and looks like the sort of thing you would see on the doorway of a older building in the city of London. We live in a flat in New Crane Wharf in Wapping (east of the city). I thought someone might have souvenired it from a defunct bank, so I Googled CBK and found this website. cheers Malcolm Macaulay Bizarre. Today I was building some shelves in our furnace cupboard. Upon cleaning out the years of accumulated wood and detritus, I came across a Commercial Bank of Kuwait SAK bronze plaque. It’s about 300 x 200 mm and looks like the sort of thing you would see on the doorway of a older building in the city of London. We live in a flat in New Crane Wharf in Wapping (east of the city).

I thought someone might have souvenired it from a defunct bank, so I Googled CBK and found this website.

cheers

Malcolm Macaulay

]]> By: Patrick http://www.248am.com/mark/kuwait/commercial-bank-of-kuwait-logo/#comment-66749 Patrick Sat, 30 Sep 2006 09:19:37 +0000 http://248am.com/?p=417#comment-66749 Good info to share. Its an Okay logo, I personally do not see the "Pentagram magic" in it. + The information given on the logo creation & basics that the designer relied on are not enough, for instance, it does not explain why they used a star of 8 points, not 5 or 7 or 9. Its clear that it is a common Islamic / Arabic geometrical shape but those are many, why a star, and why this specific 8 points one. Also, the design was not an innovation as it has been used before, not going too far, CASINO DU LIBAN have their logo very similar, which was done in 1959. Adding more info: With time, the logo has been modified several times, if you look at the first logo image of the CBK, (the one used as a header for this topic) which is a new version, you see that the star is positioned in a way where 2 points are on top, if u scroll further down to the photo, u see the logo on the wall in a different position, one point is on top (Until these days, they use both positions). I worked in an agency in the past in where we also used different variations; one of them was the solid star, with no calligraphy, another one was the outline version and in other layouts we used a 2D texture (gell-like effects) logo... Anyhow, not to mean to be critic in here but, as a designer myself, i feel the urge of giving my honest opinion in technical and artistic manners. I am a big Alan-Fletcher-work appreciator and respect the guy's career a lot. Good info to share.
Its an Okay logo, I personally do not see the “Pentagram magic” in it.

+ The information given on the logo creation & basics that the designer relied on are not enough, for instance, it does not explain why they used a star of 8 points, not 5 or 7 or 9.
Its clear that it is a common Islamic / Arabic geometrical shape but those are many, why a star, and why this specific 8 points one.
Also, the design was not an innovation as it has been used before,
not going too far, CASINO DU LIBAN have their logo very similar, which was done in 1959.

Adding more info: With time, the logo has been modified several times, if you look at the first logo image of the CBK, (the one used as a header for this topic)
which is a new version, you see that the star is positioned in a way where 2 points are on top, if u scroll further down to the photo, u see the logo on the wall in a different
position, one point is on top (Until these days, they use both positions).

I worked in an agency in the past in where we also used different variations; one of them was the solid star, with no calligraphy, another one was the outline version and in other layouts we used a 2D texture (gell-like effects) logo…

Anyhow, not to mean to be critic in here but, as a designer myself, i feel the urge of giving my honest opinion in technical and artistic manners.
I am a big Alan-Fletcher-work appreciator and respect the guy’s career a lot.

]]> By: Moey Hyperventilating http://www.248am.com/mark/kuwait/commercial-bank-of-kuwait-logo/#comment-65529 Moey Hyperventilating Wed, 27 Sep 2006 13:08:40 +0000 http://248am.com/?p=417#comment-65529 [...] Many of you might not know this but the Commercial Bank of Kuwait logo was designed by him in one of the best design agencies in the world, Pentagram back in 1979. for more information and to read what Alan wrote about Kuwait, check this [link]Biorgraphy: [...] [...] Many of you might not know this but the Commercial Bank of Kuwait logo was designed by him in one of the best design agencies in the world, Pentagram back in 1979. for more information and to read what Alan wrote about Kuwait, check this [link]Biorgraphy: [...]

]]> By: Alan Fletcher - RIP at 2:48AM [The B-Sides] http://www.248am.com/mark/kuwait/commercial-bank-of-kuwait-logo/#comment-65125 Alan Fletcher - RIP at 2:48AM [The B-Sides] Tue, 26 Sep 2006 16:38:21 +0000 http://248am.com/?p=417#comment-65125 [...] This is very sad news, Alan Fletcher an incredibly talented Graphic Designer passed away on the 21st of September. I can’t believe this news wasn’t more publicized. Alan Fletcher was a founding member of the design agency Pentagram and is among the most influential figures in British graphic design history. I posted about him previously when I wrote about the Commercial Bank of Kuwait logo. This is really really sad news. If you never read my post on the CBK logo then you should since there is a very nice piece written by Alan Fletcher where he talks about his experience coming to Kuwait and the idea behind the logo. I can’t believe he is dead! [Link] Filed under: Interesting, Design, Information Posted by Mark on 09.26.06 | Related Entries [...] [...] This is very sad news, Alan Fletcher an incredibly talented Graphic Designer passed away on the 21st of September. I can’t believe this news wasn’t more publicized. Alan Fletcher was a founding member of the design agency Pentagram and is among the most influential figures in British graphic design history. I posted about him previously when I wrote about the Commercial Bank of Kuwait logo. This is really really sad news. If you never read my post on the CBK logo then you should since there is a very nice piece written by Alan Fletcher where he talks about his experience coming to Kuwait and the idea behind the logo. I can’t believe he is dead! [Link] Filed under: Interesting, Design, Information Posted by Mark on 09.26.06 | Related Entries [...]

]]> By: Annie http://www.248am.com/mark/kuwait/commercial-bank-of-kuwait-logo/#comment-31495 Annie Fri, 14 Apr 2006 05:35:09 +0000 http://248am.com/?p=417#comment-31495 Hey Mark, It's your cousin Annie. The other day i saw the logo of Casino Du Liban and it reminded me of this logo. Wonder who came up with it first .... The actual logo is very small on their website www.cdl.com.lb. But you can check out the black and white version here http://www.1stlebanon.net/uk/casinos.html Hey Mark, It’s your cousin Annie. The other day i saw the logo of Casino Du Liban and it reminded me of this logo. Wonder who came up with it first ….
The actual logo is very small on their website http://www.cdl.com.lb. But you can check out the black and white version here http://www.1stlebanon.net/uk/casinos.html

]]> By: OSHO http://www.248am.com/mark/kuwait/commercial-bank-of-kuwait-logo/#comment-31131 OSHO Sun, 09 Apr 2006 11:46:33 +0000 http://248am.com/?p=417#comment-31131 Has anyone read Angels and Demons by Dan brown? The CB logo is quite reminiscent of the illuminati branding designs. Additionally, the pentagram name hits too close to home. Coincidence or Illuminati (Commercial Bank?????) in our midst?? You decide! (MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA) Has anyone read Angels and Demons by Dan brown? The CB logo is quite reminiscent of the illuminati branding designs. Additionally, the pentagram name hits too close to home. Coincidence or Illuminati (Commercial Bank?????) in our midst?? You decide! (MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA)

]]> By: dotone http://www.248am.com/mark/kuwait/commercial-bank-of-kuwait-logo/#comment-31129 dotone Sun, 09 Apr 2006 11:11:59 +0000 http://248am.com/?p=417#comment-31129 I so wanned to see such a post or article to end the off-shore and basicaly outsourced branding work arguement and sensless/meaningless/nonexpressing identity and designs with many printed/web formal-hand-shaking-business-men photos bleneded with some keyboard and brief case stock photos. I'm basicaly talking about the SMB segment, however it's there in the big boys zone too. Man gotta thank ya for this post. I'm lovin' it! I'm deliciousing it ;) I so wanned to see such a post or article to end the off-shore and basicaly outsourced branding work arguement and sensless/meaningless/nonexpressing identity and designs with many printed/web formal-hand-shaking-business-men photos bleneded with some keyboard and brief case stock photos.

I’m basicaly talking about the SMB segment, however it’s there in the big boys zone too.

Man gotta thank ya for this post. I’m lovin’ it! I’m deliciousing it ;)

]]> By: purgatory72 http://www.248am.com/mark/kuwait/commercial-bank-of-kuwait-logo/#comment-31127 purgatory72 Sun, 09 Apr 2006 10:27:49 +0000 http://248am.com/?p=417#comment-31127 Yeah we need a lunch break too! Yeah we need a lunch break too!

]]> By: Anon http://www.248am.com/mark/kuwait/commercial-bank-of-kuwait-logo/#comment-31126 Anon Sun, 09 Apr 2006 09:59:45 +0000 http://248am.com/?p=417#comment-31126 Great post mark, very informative... :) Great post mark, very informative… :)

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