Penang's Komtar gets logo designed by Bukit Mertajam designer

The design is the winning entry in a contest held to select a logo for Komtar. The winner was announced at the same time the logo was unveiled this morning.

Freelance graphic designer Zulkifli Harun from Bukit Mertajam beat 110 contestants with his clean, uncluttered logo design that that took him only three hours to finish.

The design features the name “Komtar” in red, written in freehand. The letter “T” in the word is a hand drawn image of the tower and ithe Geodesic Dome.

Zulkifli, who is based in Kuala Lumpur, said the simplicity of the design would reflect the laid-back atmosphere of the city and Komtar itself, which was a place for both business and pleasure.

"Komtar is our administration and commercial hub. It is a landmark that the world identifies with Penang.

"The building and the dome are both icons. One cannot do without the other," he said, in presenting the rationale for his design at a press conference at Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng's office today.

He said he chose red because it was an auspicious colour according to  Chinese customs, and its boldness reflected the strong spirit of Komtar.

Zulkifli said he was proud of his design, not only because it had just won him RM3,000, but also because he wanted to give something to his home state.

"This is just a small contribution I am making to the state as a Penang boy," he said.

Zulkifli's logo will be displayed at five locations around Komtar soon.

Four other contestants whose designs were shortlisted won RM500 each. The contest ran for a month and ended on May 5.

Lim said the logo contest was organised as part of Komtar's rebranding exercise, which aimed to revive its image as the state icon administration and prosperity icon.

The 232m-tall building, he said, was completed in 1988, but it never had a logo.