A Cambodian Student Opts for Simplicity to Mark 70 Years of Cambodia-United Kingdom Diplomatic Relations

British Ambassador Dominic Williams presents Kuy Ratanak David with the award for the best logo design to mark seven decades of Cambodia - United Kingdom relations. Photos: British Embassy of Cambodia

PHNOM PENH — Kuy Ratanak David, was awarded first prize in the competition held to obtain a logo for the ceremonies marking the 70th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between Cambodia and the United Kingdom.  



“I wanted to design a logo that is easy to understand, to clearly see, to remember, and to memorize,” he said. 



Originally from Banteay Meanchey province, David is a student on scholarship in architecture and urbanism at the Royal University of Fine Arts (RUFA) in Phnom Penh.



As he explained during an interview, the number 7 in the logo he designed represents the Khmer Naga, which signifies prosperity, the spirit of the land and water of the Khmer, or “serpent” in Sanskrit, which means power, water, and fertility. The circle is a Tudor Rose, which is the emblem of the United Kingdom, and means unification and peace.



“What’s so special is that I was be able to contribute [and reflect in a design] the relationship between Cambodia and the United Kingdom…I am proud to be a part of these beautiful countries’ history,” David said.



When he started to work on concepts for the design, David said he remembered what the legendary 15th century Italian painter Leonardo da Vinci had said: that simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. So, he focused on creating a design that would enable people looking at it to immediately grasp its meaning, he said.

Logo designed by RUFA student Kuy Ratanak David to mark the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Cambodia and the United Kingdom. Photo: British Embassy of Cambodia 



“This design is a hope to create a logo that is as timeless to gaze at as the United Kingdom-Cambodia relationship,” David said. “And I believe simplicity has a significant role [to play] to achieve this goal…[to remember] the 70th meaningful year of working together, to remember and understand at a glance and yet [in a design] embedded with symbolic meanings of two of the nations’ most respected symbols: the Naga and the Tudor Rose.” The design also seems to, he said, “further strengthen the relationship in this ever-changing world.”



Color-wise, David chose navy blue and deep red as both countries share the same three colors in just different shades: red, blue and white.



David said he learned a great deal in the course of this competition. “It’s normal to lose or to win in a competition, and I have failed before,” he said. But while working on this logo, he said, “I learned about the history of the two countries’ relations through studying to create a concept, an idea.”

 



Originally written in Khmer for ThmeyThmey, this story was translated by Meng Seavmey for Cambodianess.


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