The Lightbulb as a Symbol of Invention & Inspiration

Ever since Thomas Alva Edison's invention of the electric light bulb, it has been the perfect visual metaphor for itself and by extension all brilliant ideas: for inspiration, for the spirit of invention.

I am a longterm member of the Inventors Association of Australia, and I designed the logo fo that august body. You may find it on the IAASA website, http://www.inventors.asn.au/

A pair of hands shapes a negative map of Australia around the inside, and enclose a bright lightbulb, universal symbol of a brilliant idea: of inspiration, of invention. Note that the fingers also shape a positive map around the outside. This "double" sort of image is in my experience unique, and it is in itself an obvious symbol of ingenuity. (If I say so myself!)


Now, there are some people who say that as a symbol of invention etc., the light bulb is outdated, and we ought to come up with some other more a la mode image of . . ? . . something . . ? . . to take its place.

Two blogsites with almost identical attitudes are the self-procalimed "Creative Think", (search the posting for 27th April 2007, which presumes to trumpet"Death of An Innovation Metaphor") and the equally self-importantly-titled "Endless Innovation" posting of October 9 2007, which similarly brays"No more innovation light bulbs!"

The funny part is that neither of the geniuses who authored these inspired proclamations has offered any possible alternatives. In fact, one ends up lamely asking readers, (D-uh!), "What are your suggestions for the new creativity metaphor?" The other, uncannily similarly stupidly, asks
"What do you think should become the new symbol of innovation?"

Their dopey respondents come up with a wonderful range of idiotic suggestions: they include daffodil bulbs, lightning flashes, the Wright Flyer, sunrise, Franklin's kite, a (coffee?) percolator, an egg cracking (with, note, a white light emanating from within!); a sapling/budding plant; butterflies, corn kernels; a target; fern spirals; a match; a sneeze!; fireworks; a waterballoon; a human brain, presumably separated from its original owner.

What a crock of crap! Several sensible respondents weigh in with their support for the continuance of the light bulb on the obvious bases that (a) it best epitomises the AHA! response, (b) it is itself the architypal invention and (c) it is universally recognised already. The only respondent who properly takes to task the stupidity of the notion that the light bulb should be replaced is Devil's Advocate, who lampoons it hilariously: s/he proposes that the red light which everywhere symbolises Stop (and Danger) should be replaced, as it has been around so long. Even then there is one respondent who takes him seriously, and one who feels moved to bother to explain to him that Devil's Advocate has his tongue firmly in his cheek. Good on you, D's A!

Long Live the Spirit of Invention! Long Live the Light-Bulb!

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There are just a few* certain other extra-specially-wonderful icons in the world that should or at best even could be replaced. One is the His Master's Voice logo: Nipper (so called because he allegedly used to nip people's ankles) is a Jack Russell Terrier, forever looking, cock-eared and puzzled, down the horn of an old-fashioned Edison Phonograph. The older that image gets, the more out-of-date, the wonderfuller it gets! Then there's the superb Rosella (as in Tomato Sauce): how could that logo ever be bettered, or go out of date?

* . . . SO few, in fact, that I am already scratching to think of any more - except for the one I was thinking of already. . ! . . And that is my best-beloved image of all time, since I was a little boy of just 5, in Grade One when a Big Boy in Grade Two looked hard at my bright new Bus Fare Penny, and then he said "That's a Very New Penny, it's this very year's, see it says 1949?" I did! Ever since then I have adored Kangaroos in every way for their grace and strength (and all their other lovely attributes) but in particular I love that Penny Kangaroo, drawn by a Pommie(!) named George Kruger Gray, whose initials KG appear on all the Penny Kangaroos, 1939-196?
That best-of-all design appears truly on one brand of Aussie Rules Football (see my earlier comments on the Alpha Male's Game!), and on RAAF Aircraft, and in variously buggerized versions on certain commercial aircraft, and on all sorts of other stuff and services - but wherever it appears, it says louder than any words ever could, it says, Australia!

That's why I think that a Proper KG Kangaroo should take the place of Britain's flag on ours.