Some of us may recognize the CBC logo when we watch the news on TV. This logo was created by Canadian graphic designer, Burton Kramer. Born in New York, Kramer paved the way for the ‘International Style’ in Canada but also helped developed a uniquely elegant and confident Canadian look. His other celebrated works include the Expo 67, CIBC, Bell Canada and VIA Rail.
His logo for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation remains his most celebrated and well known design. According to the CBC’s 1974 corporate manual, Kramer’s designed the logo with an “overall shape [that] is globular, conveying the corporation’s international responsibilities in addition to its national role.” Here, the letter ‘C’ (for Canada) expands outwards into a multicoloured globe pattern. (Kramer described it as the ‘exploding pizza’)
Kramer also helped developed graphics and signage for the Montreal Expo 67 where he brought the Swiss design ethos to Canada. Other logo identities he designed include the Royal Ontario Museum, Reed Paper and the Eaton Centre. Today, Kramer focuses on geometric fine art paintings.
Slightly Tilted Planet 