Explosive logo by HGV

A recent job has had HGV studying the Big Bang theory of corporate entertainment. The London consultancy produced a brochure for event decoration specialist Big Bang some 18 months ago, who then mainly provided balloons for big functions. Now it has created an identity to mark the company’s shift into supplying other decorative devices, such as table displays and corporate gifts.

Big Bang’s old logo ‘didn’t reflect the status of the company’, which lists the Savoy Hotel and Mercedes Benz among its clients, says HGV creative director Jim Sutherland. The team comprising Sutherland, consultancy founder Pierre Vermeir and senior designer Stuart Radford came up with the lighted fuse idea to suggest the impact of the service.

A typeface based on News Gothic was chosen, mainly because of the shape of the G, says Sunderland. The fuse is lit on letterheadings and business cards, burning down slowly on stationery continuation sheets. A van identity has been designed with a burning fuse running round the vehicle and ending with the ignition light.

Big Bang’s original logo featured bright purple. HGV has toned this down to a more elegant colour, which offsets the fluorescents used for the flame.

Designer: HGV

Client: Big Bang