India, July 11 -- Puns have long been a go-to technique for logos. How else to cram in layers of information within the tiny space they're given, and slyly convey what the brand is trying to say? They allow us to treat language not just as a tool, but as a playground. They give us permission to stretch, bend, and twist meaning in joyful ways. I love spotting these signs, which work overtime to create new meaning. Here are some of my favourites.

Does this optician's sign make you grin or groan? I love that someone took the time to position the glasses so cleverly across the two words that make up Galaxy Optician.

Puns were the foundation of early writing systems. Ancient pictograms often stood in for sounds or meanings through associatio...