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ILO100

ILO unveils new visual identity to celebrate its 100th anniversary

The International Labour Organization’s core values and aspirations are bound up in the symbol of its Centenary.

News | 03 September 2018
GENEVA (ILO News) – As the ILO begins the countdown to its 100th anniversary, a new visual identifier has been launched and will be rolled out across around 40 offices worldwide.

The visual identifier brings together past, present and future in its combination of traditional ILO logo, and alongside it the number 100 which is open ended, symbolising that it leaves the door open to the future of work.

The Centenary tagline, which underscores the number 100, is a reminder of the ILO’s core mandate “Advancing social justice, promoting decent work”.

Changes of ILO logo throughout the history



Since its founding in 1919, the visual representation of the ILO has gone through several phases. In 1921, the ILO seal served as its logo.



It was replaced in 1938 by a black triangle surrounding the letters “ILO” in white, reinforcing the tripartite structure of the organization.



In 1943-44, the colours were reversed with black letters on a white background, the letters slightly overlapping the triangle.



A new logo was designed in 1968 to celebrate the ILO’s 50th anniversary. It introduced a cogwheel, divided into three parts symbolizing the world of work and the organization’s tripartite structure. Around the cogwheel is the iconic UN wreath of olive leaves, reaffirming the ILO membership of the UN family.



On 2 July, 1969, the same emblem without the dates (1919-1969) became the official ILO logo.




On the 75th anniversary in 1994, a new visual identifier was adopted for the year.





From 1995 until now, the ILO has continued to use the 1969 logo. It has been incorporated in the ILO Centenary visual identifier.




Official permission is required to use the ILO Centenary visual identifier. The ILO’s Document and Publications Production, Printing and Distribution Branch (PRODOC) should be consulted for guidance on Centenary-related design projects and on questions about the use of the visual identity.