What Is the Guinness Logo?
The Guinness logo is a gold harp set above the GUINNESS name. The harp has been linked with the stout since 1862, and it was registered as a Guinness trademark in 1876.
Guinness is the Irish stout that Arthur Guinness began brewing at St James's Gate in Dublin in 1759. The brand is owned by Diageo, the British drinks group. The harp with the name is available as the Guinness logo SVG.
Guinness Logo Facts
| Introduced | Harp adopted in 1862; registered as a trademark in 1876 |
| Symbol | A harp modelled on the Trinity College harp |
| Logo type | Combination mark: harp and wordmark |
| Owner | Diageo |
What the Guinness Logo Means
The harp ties the beer to Ireland. It is modelled on the Trinity College harp, a medieval instrument kept at Trinity College Dublin.
- The original instrument is known as the O'Neill or Brian Boru harp.
- It is also the national emblem of the Republic of Ireland.
- Guinness draws its harp facing right, so it can be told apart from the Irish coat of arms.
Guinness Logo History
The Guinness harp has kept the same basic idea since 1862, while its drawing has been sharpened over time.
| Year | What changed |
|---|---|
| 1862 | Proprietor Benjamin Lee Guinness adopts the harp |
| 1876 | The harp is registered as a Guinness trademark |
| 1922 | The Irish Free State turns the state harp the other way |
| 2016 | Design Bridge redraws the harp with sharper detail |
The 1922 change shows how closely the two harps were tied. The new Irish state needed an emblem of its own, so it turned its harp the other way to avoid the trademarked Guinness one.
In the 1980s Guinness considered scrapping the harp altogether, during the IRA bombing campaign. It kept the symbol instead.
The 2016 Redesign
London agency Design Bridge unveiled a redrawn harp in April 2016. It said the work was a "labour of love" and hoped Arthur Guinness would be proud.
- Harp: a more traditional look, with more defined ridges.
- Date: "Estd 1759" moved from under the harp onto the harp's body.
- Lettering: the typeface was changed as well.
- Inspiration: the stamped lettering on ironwork and oak barrels at the Guinness Storehouse.
Design Bridge worked with letterpress specialists New North Press, testing materials and layers to give the harp depth and texture. Diageo said the aim was to bring back a handmade quality that fitted the brand's "Made of More" idea.
Guinness and the Irish Harp
The Guinness harp is a beer logo that shaped a national emblem. Ireland and Guinness both draw on the same medieval harp, and the direction they face tells them apart.
The Irish Free State made its choice in 1922, after the Guinness harp had been a trademark for over 40 years. For more brands like Guinness, browse our food and drink logos.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is there a harp on the Guinness logo?
The harp is a symbol of Ireland. Guinness modelled it on the Trinity College harp and adopted it in 1862.
Which way does the Guinness harp face?
It faces right. That sets it apart from the harp on the Irish coat of arms, which faces the other way.
When did Guinness trademark the harp?
In 1876, fourteen years after Benjamin Lee Guinness first adopted it.
Who redesigned the Guinness logo in 2016?
London agency Design Bridge. It sharpened the harp and engraved "Estd 1759" into the harp's body.