Samsung Group

Samsung Logo

1. The name itself translates to "Three Stars", known in Korean symbolism as 'hanja' which
translates to "big, numerous, and powerful". The company got its start exporting dried local
vegetables, fruit and fish to Manchuria and Beijing. For many years they operated without any
branding or marketing and in 1958, Samsung presented their first logo.

The wordmark is written in Korean along with a circle enclosing three stars which are
superimposed over three stripes and a couple of stylized wheat plants that represented the
company's agricultural roots.

The 1960s: The Future of Electronics

2. The business would profit immensely over the coming decades, spurning Lee to create
subsidiaries and expand to new markets. What was once a simple export business was now
beginning to flourish into a manufacturing empire which would offer an increasing variety of
products.

In 1969, Lee founded Samsung-Sanyo Electronics. Their first product was a black and white
television and the company decided to rebrand in order to reflect this new direction.

Here we see the 3 star motif taking more of a backseat as the wordmark is pushed to the
forefront. The incorporation of the slightly rectangular box is intentional as the company's goal
is to dominate the television market, which is now reflected by the corporate identity.

The 1980s: Age of Mobile Telecommunication

3. In 1985, Samsung introduced the SC-1000, a mobile unit which was engineered for in-car use
only. It would mark the beginning of a new chapter in Samsung history, heralded by a new logo.

In this iteration, Samsung's designers explored further simplicity, removing the outside circle
which had long been a visual staple of the brand and substituting it for the three stars which are
composed of minimal diamond shapes placed at interlocking angles. With the sharp lines and
use of negative space, we can see the company's transition towards a more tech-oriented
identity.

1993: The Frankfurt Declaration

4. From the 1980's to the early 90s, the mobile market would become very competitive. Samsung's
chairman Kun-hee traveled the world to review the company's standing. In 1993 he invited 200
company executives to Frankfurt where he would deliver a stirring, 3-day speech outlining an
elaborate roadmap for the company's future.
 His vision would lead to market dominance on the mobile front, while spurring designers to
create a more modern brand. This update features the most notable visual departure from
earlier logos. Gone are the three stars that once defined the company. The wordmark has taken
center stage, carved from a blue ellipse tilted at a 10-degree angle. This was meant to be a
graphic representation of the universe - a symbol of the company's perpetual ambition.

2015: The Bare Essentials

5. After two decades the logo is revisited once more, this time eliminating the blue ellipse and
focusing completely on the wordmark.

Samsung History

Samsung is one of the world's top producers of cutting edge electronics. The company's understated
wordmark appears on millions of electronic devices and is recognized worldwide. And yet, given that the
establishment was founded nearly a century ago, it becomes obvious this hasn't always been their
business model.

 With only 30,000 won (about $27 USD), Lee Byung-chull started Samsung on March 1 in
1938, as a trading company based in Taegu, Korea. The small company of only 40
employees started as a grocery store, trading and exporting goods produced in and
around the city, like dried Korean fish and vegetables, as well as its own noodles.
 After the war, Lee started a sugar refinery in Busan that was called Cheil Jedang, before
expanding into textiles and building the (then) largest woolen mill in Korea.
 Samsung was focused on the redevelopment of Korea after the war with a central focus
on industrialization.
 The initial electronics divisions included Samsung Electronics Devices, Samsung
Electro-Mechanics, Samsung Corning, and Samsung Semiconductor &
Telecommunications. Samsung built their initial facilities in Suwon, South Korea, in
1970, where they started producing black and white television sets.
 1980- Initially building telephone switchboards, Samsung expanded into telephone and
fax systems which eventually shifted to mobile phone manufacturing.
The mobile phone business was grouped together with Samsung Electronics which
began to invest heavily in research and development throughout the 1980's.
 the Samsung group was separated into four business groups leaving the Samsung
Group with electronics, engineering, construction, and most high-tech products. Retail,
food, chemicals, logistics, entertainment, paper, and telecom were spun out among the
Shinsegae Group, CJ Group, and Hansol Group.
 As part of its bio-pharma investment, Samsung formed a joint venture with Biogen,
investing $255 million to provide technical development and biopharmaceutical
manufacturing capacity in South Korea.
 becoming the largest manufacturer of mobile phones in 2012.
 Samsung Supporting Local Communities

 by improving educational environment for students residing in disadvantaged

areas. In 2015 alone 224,753 students attended Samsung SMART School.
 The program engages students and non-profit organizations to identify the
most pressing social problems and to find and to implement solutions to
these problems
 As of 2014, the company had 30 active programs primarily in China,
Russia, and several countries in Africa.
 Within the scope of this program, partnerships are formed with national
and local governments to provide an extensive support for education
infrastructure, medical facilities, clean water and the construction of
community centres.
Samsung Educating and Empowering Workers

 It is a talent nurturing process that supports employees in designing an individual career

path and establishing a clear vision with their supervisor. In Korea alone 2000
employees undergo STAR sessions annually.

The company operates green workplaces by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and
usage water, as well as, increasing waste recycling in its offices.