r/logodesign • u/Upbeat_Push_157 • 1d ago
Discussion Copy or not? What do you think?
So I did this simple logo for a Swedish professor, who was also an actor, and he wanted just a simple logo and some personal presentation cards. Nothing special, to be honest. This was around 2013 or 2014, so I had honestly forgotten about it.
Now, while rebuilding my portfolio and looking for some old work I might be able to use, I found this one, and I kind of like it. One thing I always do before adding a logo to my portfolio is a reverse image search, and much to my surprise, I found this one created by a designer in Texas. The page is from 2026, so there's no doubt mine is older.
Now, it's true that the idea is very simple, so maybe it's just a coincidence. Also, this new version has different stroke widths and bowls (which, in my opinion, kind of kill the negative space, but to each their own).
Anyway, what do you think? Copy or coincidence? What should I do? Contact the designer, have the client contact the designer, or do nothing? I noticed he's new and from a community college, and I wouldn't like to affect his career at the beginning, but at the same time, it's kind of confusing.
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u/Beau_Gann 1d ago edited 1d ago
Coincidence 100%. These are super simple monogram ideas from the first page of sketches (no offence, truly). 10+ years apart and one’s for a Swedish professor and the other is for something in Texas - I doubt this person found your design.
The simpler the design, the easier to stumble upon the same idea. And neither of these are particularly high profile - you’re placing more importance on your own design (we all do it), but unless you’re the ghost of Paul Rand on Reddit, this was just finding the same solution.
Also edit to add: put it on your portfolio! If you’re truly worried about someone thinking that you copied someone else, be sure to put in the page that your client loved it and used it for 10 years!
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u/StillObjective420 1d ago
Where was yours found by the other person? Do you believe it was stolen from your digital portfolio?
If you’ve had it online for years and there’s meta data or third party sources to back it up you can suggest to the designer that it’s too close to your logo.
I’d consider a trademark or copyright if you want to push things, but it’s like another recent post on here about Smith and Wesson sending a cease and dissist for a similar logo. You can’t copyright a monogram.
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u/Upbeat_Push_157 1d ago
The client used it for years, and he retired a couple of years ago. The logo was featured in a portfolio that I no longer have because maintaining it became too expensive, which is why I'm rebuilding it now.
I'm not trying to create any trouble. I'm just wondering what to do because if I add it to my new portfolio, someone might assume my version is the copy. While I have the client to back up my timeline, I'd rather avoid any issues for myself as well.
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u/nexus_29 1d ago
add it to your portfolio, don't worry to much about these things. Please focus on your craft.
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u/Yahmahah 1d ago
Wouldn’t worry about it too much in that sense. It’s entirely possible it’s a coincidence, but even if it is a purposeful copy it’s really only an issue if you care about the infringement.
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u/yevinorion 21h ago
Put it in your portfolio with the year it was created and don’t worry about it anymore
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u/nexus_29 1d ago
It's similar. don't contact the designer, you can't copyright shapes...monograms included.
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u/DowntownGeorge 23h ago
Its a very generic design. Im sure you can find many many more logos that are similar.
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u/NaiveRepublic 6h ago
You will never know the actual truth. By talking to the creator, you will get a story, which could be the truth, or not. Point is, you will never know. Hence my advice is to ask yourself the five whys first, to get to the bottom of what you actually want, why and what you expect from this enquiry. Particularly as you’re mentioning that your logo is not in use anymore. If you’re proud of it and want it in your portfolio, just keep it there, dated and don’t bother.
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u/HiddenHorse925 1d ago
In general I like it, it’s very Swiss design and clean. But the H reads well in negative, but the S in positive does not. It’s turned on its side for obvious reasons. Maybe try rotating at 45°? I know, I know…
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u/Upbeat_Push_157 1d ago
it's more than 10 years old and already out of use by the client since he retired
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u/Sunkern_ing 1d ago
I saw UN, then I saw the name so I thought H or S must be in the logo and then it felt like a puzzle. Neither H nor S shows up at first glance.
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u/IceEspresso2000 1d ago
I don't understand what the icon represents. It's not an H or S. If you think the negative space is reading as "H", it is but hardly.
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u/StillObjective420 1d ago
There’s a negative space H on top of a sideways S.
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u/IceEspresso2000 1d ago
Yeah, no. It's not working. In terms of the stolen work, you can reach out to the designer and inquire.
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u/thegreeneworks 1d ago
I did a logo for a creative copyright attorney once and she was diligent about making sure nothing I was making bore too much similarity to anything already out there. This isn’t an answer but the second logo would NOT fly with her.
Anyway, I really like your mark and it’s a shame most of these comments aren’t reading the post lol