A symbolic transformation to celebrate 20 years of action
“When Te mana o te moana came into being in 2004 under the impetus of Richard Bailey and myself, the association’s logo that I had sketched out carried a clear message: to celebrate the richness of marine life and to do everything possible to study it, protect it and make it known” says Dr. Cécile Gaspar, Founder and Strategy Director of Te mana o te moana.
2004: The initial logo
The initial design represented a shell, symbol of the ocean, surrounded by 14 pictograms of marine animals, each corresponding to a letter of the association’s name. Te mana o te moana, literally translated as “the spirit of the ocean”, was enhanced by these visual elements and the gradations of blue, which evoked the depth and mysteries of the sea.
In 2009, a discussion with Jean-Michel Cousteau, the association’s patron, triggered a desire for change. “He pointed out that these animals seemed to be frozen, losing all their vitality. His advice was clear : bring these animals to life, freeing them from their rigid, static framework,” explains Dr. Cécile Gaspar.
2011: A logo in motion
After two years of reflection, the logo evolved in 2011 to focus on just 7 species, mainly cetaceans and turtles, which had become emblematic of Te mana o te moana’s actions. These animals now seemed, above all, to escape from the shell, embodying movement and life. The logo thus better reflected the association’s missions: to protect marine biodiversity and help it to proliferate…
The choice of these animals was not insignificant. It reflected the association’s priorities, in particular its work on sea turtles and cetaceans, species at the heart of our research, veterinary care and education projects.
2024 : A streamlined logo for a renewed vision
“In 2024, on the eve of our 20th anniversary, we decided to take a new step in the evolution of our logo, to reflect a more ambitious, forward-looking strategy,” adds Dr. Cécile Gaspar. The new logo focuses on a central element: the sea turtle, which has become our emblem, a symbol of fertility, longevity and resilience. This emblematic species of Polynesian culture is at the heart of the association’s conservation, education and care programs.
The shell’s spiral, present from the outset, has been preserved but transformed. It evokes, in a stylized and more powerful way, birth, resilience and the cycle of life. The idea is to use this spiral to represent a continuous movement, that of nature, but also that of the association, which evolves and grows. The ever-present shades of blue recall our unfailing link with the ocean and our identity as an association.
This logo also marks a new strategic era for Te mana o te moana in 2024. Our work is focused with conviction on three major axes:
- Science and innovation: explore innovative solutions for understanding and protecting marine species, including sea turtles.
- Impact: to become an impact gas pedal for sharing scientific and cultural knowledge and encouraging rapid changes in behavior.
- Integration and outreach: energize the local network and strengthen our international presence in the marine conservation community.
A message for the future:
“This new logo is much more than just an image. It embodies the values, hopes and passion of Te mana o te moana and all those who have supported us since the beginning. We wanted a symbol that reflects our commitment to protecting the ocean, with a focus on sea turtles; but also to bringing together a community of people ready to make a difference, to get involved, and to pass on this love of nature to future generations and ACT ! Richard Bailey, our president and co-founder, and I would like to extend our warmest thanks to all those who have contributed to this project, our teams, but also Karine Toumazeau for her support in the evolution of Te mana o te moana’s strategic vision during 2024, and Nathalie Bourcier, graphic designer and friend, who redesigned our logo with such passion!” concludes Dr. Cécile Gaspar..
