Wiki Logo

As I often depend on Wikipedia for quick online reference
I was curious as to who came up with their intricate logo:

I found out it was a created overtime after several modifications:
In 2001 Jimbo Wales used the American flag as a temporary Wikipedia logo
1.Nupedia logo was the next logo used, which lasted for 8 months
2. In 2001 Wikipedians suggested a new logo and out of a list of candidates the Cunctator was chosen as the winner.

The quotation which this logo is based on:
Man is distinguished, not only by his reason, but by this singular passion from other animals, which is a lust of the mind, that by a perseverance of delight in the continual and indefatigable generation of knowledge, exceeds the short vehemence of any carnal pleasure.
Taken from Thomas Hobbes's Leviathan, Part I, Chapter VI:
Desire to know why, and how, curiosity; such as is in no living creature but man: so that man is distinguished, not only by his reason, but also by this singular passion from other animals; in whom the appetite of food, and other pleasures of sense, by predominance, take away the care of knowing causes; which is a lust of the mind, that by a perseverance of delight in the continual and indefatigable generation of knowledge, exceedeth the short vehemence of any carnal pleasure.

3. The late comer: Mark Ryan designed the Meta Logo, which was chosen.
4. International Effort: The logo of the time was only in English and therefore inconvenient for Wikipedians of other languages so they began to incorporate their own languages and nationalities into the logo.
5.Finally, an international contest was held for a logo that was suitable for all languages.Paullusmagnus developed the winning Puzzle sphere design. Variants on the final logo were then discussed with Nohat putting forward several options. One of Nohat's variants was chosen as the final product.


reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Logos_and_slogans