Authored by: Shafishuhaza Sahlan & Yeong Che Fai
Never judge a logo by the way it is designed, for behind those designs, there are a lot to be discovered.
In the last 25 years, CAIRO UTM has become increasingly recognized in Malaysia for its significant contributions in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and robotics. From there onwards, CAIRO UTM is slowly making its mark globally, within the same areas.
Undoubtedly, always often, CAIRO UTM has always been mistaken with Cairo, i.e. the capital of Egypt. Just a clarification, we do not have any association with Cairo Egypt. Although, having a coveted significant history and prominence on higher learning education as Cairo Egypt does, is a desirable trait.
Now, let us focus on the main agenda, the evolution of CAIRO UTM logo.
To get an overview of the significant change in the design throughout CAIRO UTM 25 years, a timeline of the evolving CAIRO UTM logo is illustrated in Figure 1.
Let us begin with the first logo, designed in 1997.
The 1997 logo design specifically focuses on CAIRO’s niche area, Artificial Intelligence (AI), i.e. neurons encased in a square box. Although, globally, the timeline of 1980 was the year of AI, historically, CAIRO was the first AI centre in Malaysia. The niche areas of CAIRO UTM are unmistakably recognized by the acronyms, C for Centre of Excellence, AI for Artificial Intelligence (AI) and RO for Robotics. An instant recognizable acronym, one can hardly miss, CAIRO UTM as the AI and Robotics Malaysia expert. The first CAIRO logo serves its purpose for the first 12 years of CAIRO UTM existence.
In 2009, CAIRO UTM logo was re-designed.
Similar to the first logo, the second logo retains CAIRO acronym, but Universiti Teknologi Malaysia was spelled out in full. Similar concept was used, having neurons being visible in the design representing CAIRO UTM niche areas, the expert on AI and Robotics Malaysia. For ten years, this logo design was used to introduce CAIRO UTM to the world.
In 2019, the advent of Machine Learning trend initiates another CAIRO UTM logo design.
In this third CAIRO UTM logo design, both the CAIRO and UTM acronyms are utilized, along with the full CAIRO UTM name, fully visible in the logo. This logo design emphasized more on the acronyms, with its big-sized letter, demanding attention. Meanwhile, the drawing of a robot represents Robotics, and the gears in the robot’s brain, signifies its intelligence, representing AI.
Finally, we come to the main highlight of the article, the 2022 CAIRO UTM logo, to mark the 25th year Anniversary of Centre of Artificial Intelligence and Robotic (CAIRO) UTM.
As seen in the fourth design, the logo consists of two parts, the acronym CAIRO (similar to the first design) and the acronym UTM (Universiti Teknologi Malaysia), as well as the globe.
Then comes the significant colour scheme, originates from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia logo. The colour scheme, both the acronym and the globe, follows the colours found in Universiti Teknologi Malaysia logo. Similar colour schemes, hence similar values being uphold, Kerana Tuhan Untuk Manusia.
Then comes the globe.
From the logo, the globe shows connections of neurons, represented as connection points in an artificial neural network, of an AI. The connection represents collaborations of CAIRO UTM with the rest of the world. While the connected neurons inside the globe represents togetherness of CAIRO UTM in strengthening this collaboration, through AI and robotics.
The new logo marks CAIRO UTM 25 years of existence, making its path as the leading centre of AI and Robotics Malaysia.
A simple design, yet so much history.
More about CAIRO UTM:
CAIRO UTM (Centre for Artificial Intelligence & Robotics) is one of the leading Centres of Excellence in Malaysia focusing on Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Control and Automation. Established in 1997, CAIRO UTM has produced numerous talents and significant research outcomes on AI & Robotics. In 2018, CAIRO UTM was awarded as one of the Competence Centre by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry MITI. UTM has strong linkages and networking with academic institutions, government sectors and industrial sectors, on national and international level.