The Edelweiss of Switzerland and Mugunghwa (Hibiscus) of the Republic of Korea are two flower friends walking side by side with their arms around each other. These two flower characters will be the mascot of the 60th anniversary year of diplomatic relations between Switzerland and South Korea which falls in 2023 and will be used throughout the year for anniversary events.
This logo was selected as the official anniversary logo through an exchange project involving designers from both countries. In May, the Swiss Embassy in Seoul, in partnership with the Korean Embassy in Bern, invited design studios from both countries to apply to a design exchange program Cool Friends and submit logo proposals to celebrate the 60th anniversary. From over 70 applications from design studios of the two countries, six entries have been shortlisted, and one final logo was selected.
Swiss design studio Balmer Hählen, based in Lausanne, won over the jury’s heart with this humorous and fresh approach to these natural symbols, creatively transforming the representative flowers from the two nations into amicable characters. The logo will serve as the perfect symbol to celebrate this special jubilee and promote friendly relations and exchange between the two countries.