“1000 Marks By Pentagram” Expanded Edition of Its Red Book

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Pentagram releases “1000 Marks By Pentagram,” an expanded edition of its 2010 book that showcases 1,000 logos designed by the agency.

Key takeaways:

• Pentagram expanded rather than reprinted its 2010 Marks book, increasing the featured logos from 400 to 1,000.
• The collection highlights diverse graphic styles, including marks for global corporations, startups, and political figures.
• The book has three editions, including a special version by Unit Editions featuring a fold-out poster of all 1,000 marks.
• Logos today must be highly adaptable, balancing functionality across digital and physical platforms.

Pentagram releases an expanded logo collection

Renowned design agency Pentagram has released a bold, expanded edition of its iconic Marks book. 

The new edition, 1000 Marks By Pentagram, showcases 1,000 logos created by the firm’s past and present partners, reflecting decades of influential graphic design.

The original Marks book, first published in 2010, featured 400 logos spanning from Pentagram’s founding in 1972 to the present. Instead of a simple reprint, the agency saw an opportunity to push boundaries by curating a more extensive collection.

A rich tapestry of logos from global to niche

The collection presents an eclectic mix of logo styles, from typographic wordmarks to abstract graphic symbols. 

It reflects how branding extends beyond corporations, including logos for government agencies, non-profits, and individuals like Hillary Clinton.

The book features logos from globally recognized brands like American Express, Yahoo, the V&A, and Rolls Royce while spotlighting lesser-known entities like Chicken & Egg Films, the Moholy-Nagy Foundation, and lighting brand Vibia.

According to London-based Pentagram partner Angus Hyland, who led the project, the selection process was rigorously democratic: “Everyone had the opportunity to put forward a similar number of new marks, supplementing old classics to make the final count.”

Hyland takes particular pleasure in the more unconventional inclusions, such as the Spaghetti Records logo by Karin Beck and David Hillman. 

“It looks like a piece of spaghetti and is probably unsuitable for a social media button,” he notes humorously.

The biggest technical challenge was the book’s massive scale—1,008 pages packed with one logo per page, making the book block nearly as thick as it is wide.

Three editions with distinct features

Pentagram offers three versions of the book:

• A special edition gifted to the agency’s clients and friends.
• A Thames & Hudson edition is widely available for purchase.
• A Unit Editions version with exclusive design elements.

While the first two editions feature a clean, flex-bound red cloth cover, the Unit Editions version goes further. It features a French-fold jacket that unfolds into an A2 poster displaying all 1,000 marks. 

This edition also comes housed in a black linen slipcase, making it a collector’s item.

Logos in a changing design landscape

Printed in black and white, the logos appear “purest form,” allowing readers to analyze their visual contrasts and similarities. But in today’s rapidly evolving design world, logos must do more than look good on a printed page.

Hyland reflects on the evolution of branding: “Marks have to work very hard these days. They need to work equally well as a tiny icon in a social media app while still looking good on a giant digital billboard.”

Despite technological and cultural shifts since Pentagram’s founding in 1972, one thing remains unchanged: the pursuit of timeless, meaningful logo design. 

“The deceptively simple exercise of designing a mark for a client, and the elusive quest for timelessness that it entails, are still central to the challenge that graphic designers face today,” Hyland concludes.

A must-have for designers

With 1000 Marks By Pentagram, the agency solidifies its reputation as a powerhouse in graphic design. It offers both a historical archive and a source of design inspiration. 

Whether you’re a designer, brand strategist, or simply a lover of iconic marks, this design book is a must-have addition to any creative library.

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