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History of the logo

Swan symbol

The origin of the Swan symbol is the 5 Nordic swans, which appeared for the first time on a poster for 'Nordens Dag' ('Nordic Day') in 1936 based on Hans Hartvis Seedorff Pedersen's poem "The Nordic Swans".

In 1956, stamps illustrated with the 5 swans, although in different designs, were issued in the Nordic countries.

In 1985, the 5 swans were the inspiration for the new symbol of official Nordic co-operation designed by the Finnish artist Kyösti Varis for the Nordic Council of Ministers and the Nordic Council. The swan symbol with its eight quills represents the five Nordic countries, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, and the three autonomous territories - the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Åland.

In 1989, the swan symbol was used as the model for a new swan label, the well-known Nordic Ecolabel.

Logotype 'Norden'

In 2004, Due Design AS were commissioned to use Kyösti Varis' swan symbol to modernise the logo in order to give official Nordic co-operation a modern, simple and robust impression. They therefore created the Logotype 'Norden' which made the name 'Norden' the common international name for the co-operation.

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  • The history of Nordic Co-operation

    The common Nordic initiatives in recent times have been called "Nordic zigzag" by some people. Going back 1000 years the fluctuations between periods of war and periods of solidarity were even greater. However, in the 20th and 21st centuries we observe a continual greater co-operation occurring between the countries.
  • History of the Nordic Council of Ministers

    The Nordic Council of Ministers was established in 1971 after an attempt at Nordic economic co-operation, the so-called Nordek, had failed the year before. Denmark and Norway voted on membership of the EC in 1972, and one of the goals of the Nordic Council of Ministers was to maintain Nordic co-operation, in the event that some of the Nordic countries also became EC members.
  • The history of the Nordic Council

    After the Second World War the politicians of the time strived for stronger international co-operation. This was the time when the United Nations was established, the Council of Europe created and the first steps were taken towards the EU. At the same time there were many discussions on much closer Nordic co-operation. As a result the Nordic Council was formed in 1952.

 

Contact

Niels Stern
Phone: +45 33 96 04 10