KEN CATO

Australian Made

Australian Government

1988

In 1988 graphic designer Ken Cato took a call from Sydney advertising guru John Singleton. Singleton and Cato had worked together in the 1970s in Melbourne. Singleton had a high profile new project. ‘I need you to design the logo for Made in Australia. I need it in two days.’ Cato respectfully suggested that even with his skills and an outstanding team the deadline seemed a little unrealistic. Singleton responded, ‘I am sitting here with (then Prime Minister) Bob Hawke... you have two days.’ and he hung up the phone. The Australian Made brand has seen seven Australian Prime Ministers come and go. It continues to signify to consumers in Australia and abroad the brand values conceived in an instant in 1998.