What is interesting about the Ogilvy palindrome logo?

Sai Ganesh, quiz master of Brand Blitz Quiz, quizzed leading brand geeks from the marketing community in the regional final (south zone) episode of the Brand Blitz Quiz. Here’s a story behind the Ogilvy logo for the Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Middle Eastern market.

By  Storyboard18Sep 21, 2023 3:35 PM
What is interesting about the Ogilvy palindrome logo?
It can be read from both sides. In English, from left to right it reads ‘Ogilvy’ as signed by David Ogilvy himself. However, when read from right to left, it reads the same in Urdu or Persian.

During the regional final of the south zone of Storyboard18’s Brand Blitz Quiz, quizmaster Sai Ganesh posed a very interesting question to the participants. It was regarding a logo of creative agency Ogilvy, done for our neighboring country Pakistan.

What is interesting about the original Ogilvy logo is that it’s the actual signature of founder David Ogilvy. The logo for the Pakistani, Bangladeshi and soon to be Middle Eastern market is an adaptation of it. It can be read from both sides. In English, from left to right it reads ‘Ogilvy’ as signed by David Ogilvy himself. However, when read from right to left, it reads the same in Urdu or Persian.

One of the guest panelists Devaiah Bopanna, who worked at Ogilvy in the early days of his career, mentioned that the only problem he ever had with the logo was that it was small and illegible from afar. And as it is one of the most important things in marketing, he suggested that the logo needs to be bigger.

Watch the full episode here.

First Published on Sep 21, 2023 3:28 PM

More from Storyboard18

Quantum Brief

APAC consumers eager for tech transformation, cautious of speed and privacy risks: Ipsos Report

APAC consumers eager for tech transformation, cautious of speed and privacy risks: Ipsos Report

Quantum Brief

Maestro Ustad Amzad Ali’s son compose patriotic music for Independence Day

Maestro Ustad Amzad Ali’s son compose patriotic music for Independence Day

Quantum Brief

Pune eatery wins legal battle against US based Burger King

Pune eatery wins legal battle against US based Burger King

Quantum Brief

World Federation of Advertisers suspends brand safety unit after Elon Musk’s lawsuit

World Federation of Advertisers suspends brand safety unit after Elon Musk’s lawsuit

Brand Makers

GOAT Brand Labs raises $21 million to drive omnichannel expansion

GOAT Brand Labs raises $21 million to drive omnichannel expansion

Quantum Brief

EXCLUSIVE: Ampverse Shuts 7Sea Esports; Founder says 'can't see growth trajectory in India'

EXCLUSIVE: Ampverse Shuts 7Sea Esports; Founder says 'can't see growth trajectory in India'

How it Works

Look beyond vanity metric to make most of print ads: Rajiv Gopinath of Publicis Media Services

Look beyond vanity metric to make most of print ads: Rajiv Gopinath of Publicis Media Services

Quantum Brief

Epic Games CEO to fight against Apple’s app store policies

Epic Games CEO to fight against Apple’s app store policies