There are brands all around us. These can be seen in various forms from many businesses on billboards, television, blogs, and websites.
But how did they become so successful and omnipresent?
Well, their logos deserve a lot of credit; they’re straightforward yet striking. Therefore, in this blog, we’ll focus on the top prominent companies that did an excellent job with their logo design:
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Apple
The Apple logo is more than just recognizable or iconic. It serves as a status symbol and a representation of elitism and sophistication.
With good cause, the bitten Apple logo is just as premium as the company’s products.
When Apple’s sleek and simple logo was first conceptualized, this was not how it was planned to look.
The first logo Apple ever used showed Newton taking notes while seated beneath an apple tree. However, Steve Jobs, the tech giant’s founder, was dissatisfied with it, which resulted in the creation of the bitten apple.
The sophisticated Apple logo, which still ranks among the best logos ever made, symbolizes the latest in technology.
MasterCard
The initial design for the MasterCard logo, created in 1966, featured the words “We Honor Master Charge: The Interbank Card” just above two iconic, overlapping circles.
But soon enough, the wording was changed to “MasterCard,” signifying a makeover of the entire brand. Brighter colors and stronger typography were used in the new logo to make it stand out.
This occurred in 1976, and ultimately, in 1996, the MasterCard logo underwent a further revision to become the 3D red and yellow logo, which is still relevant today!
The interlocking circles that makeup MasterCard’s current, text-free logo represent the company’s resilience and flexibility to change with the times.
Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola is one of the market’s oldest corporations, and the distinctive Coca-Cola logo is just as ancient. The Coke logo initially gained recognition in 1900 and hasn’t changed much in more than a century.
Only once, in 1985, the corporation decided to drop its former corporate brand, which cost a lot. The corporation had to go back to its former brand aesthetic due to the overwhelmingly negative response to the new Coca-Cola logo font.
This terrible episode in the history of the Coca-Cola logo exemplifies the significance of the corporate name, which is usually best left out of artworks. Given that calligraphy and lettering are becoming trendy again, Coca-Cola, with its well-known, everlasting logo, remains in the lead.
Given that Facebook is a new and already renowned company, it makes sense that the logo’s history is relatively short.
There have only ever been two styles used for the Facebook logo, both of which are excellent in their own way. These two concepts correspond to current design trends.
The only thing to note is that Facebook was one of the first businesses to adopt lowercase font, giving the site a relaxed, informal feel.
Joe Kral created the Facebook logo typeface on his own using the letterforms from the Klavika Bold font.
The company’s icon symbol is perhaps even more famous than the Facebook logo. Since the user interface is always being updated, it has undergone more revisions than the logo.
The icon’s design is generally fairly simple and identifiable for a firm like Facebook, where brand awareness is everything.
IBM
IBM, popularly known as Big Blue, is one of the oldest corporations. The business created one of the most iconic logos, which has been used for over 60 years. In 1956, the initials “IBM” appeared in three plain letters.
They designed their logo in 1972, which has remained unchanged. In the history of logo design, the IBM logo is seen as a turning point.
Companies became aware of the importance of logo design, thanks to IBM and designer Paul Rand, and began to consider the quality of logo design.
The new IBM logo is perhaps the only one in the world that was expertly recreated to signify a company that everyone can instantly recognize.
McDonald’s
There isn’t a single person on the earth who does not know the McDonald’s logo, as two yellow arches meet together to form an M.
A food chain restaurant’s logo does not even represent food, yet the sight of it can make anyone drool out about the restaurant’s iconic French fries! However, if you looked at it, you might think of the M as a single, lengthy French fry in the shape of an alphabet.
Jokes aside, McDonald’s first emblem was as far from the present M as it could be. When the company’s name changed in the late 1940s, the logo briefly featured a terrifying cartoon chef.
The now-famous M-shaped golden arches were first introduced when McDonald’s logo undertook a significant transition in the 1960s.
The arches’ logic is pretty straightforward. It is a representation of the McDonald’s M.
Nike
Swoosh! That is, after all, what the iconic tick mark-shaped logo for Nike is known as! An intern designed Nike’s logo perfectly to complement the company’s motto, “Just Do It.” You’ll be shocked to learn that the logo never even got close to the attention it does now.
When Phillip Knight, the company’s founder, first saw the Nike logo, he confessed that he didn’t appreciate it but would surely come to like it.
Carolyn Davidson, the logo’s designer, was paid only $35 for her efforts. She drew inspiration for the company’s emblem from the Greek goddess of victory, Nike.
The Swoosh represents movement and speed. The logo underwent changes and redesigns.
And in 1995, it agreed on the current design - a tilted Swoosh without the brand name.
FedEx
One of the best company logos ever created is for FedEx! It can seem like the plain text on the ground, but if you look carefully, you’ll notice a skillfully placed directional indication!
The 1971 FedEx logo did not resemble what it does now. It had slanted typography with blue and red hues and the company’s entire name, “Federal Express.”
Due to the brand’s affiliation with the American government, the color palette was chosen to reflect its intrinsic patriotism.
Although the brand’s original logo design was excellent, it was revised in 1994 to become what it is now.
The transportation and shipping giant’s current logo makes excellent use of blank space. You can spot a skillfully concealed arrow if you look at the gap between the letters E and X. This arrow is a symbol of FedEx’s commitment to efficiency and punctuality.
Disney
All of us have grown up with a fondness for the magical Disney logo. The Disney logo font was supposedly inspired by Walt Disney, the company’s founder. With this distinctive font, the Walt Disney logo’s history began.
Surprisingly, the iconic Cinderella castle and the star-shaped shooting arch that appears atop it were only recently introduced to the logo.
We can see how the logo evolves over time and how the designers constantly refine and perfect it. The Walt Disney logo will continue to evolve with the times while retaining the inventiveness of its illustrious creator with each slight modification.
Microsoft
If there’s one company logo you should model yours after, it’s Microsoft’s! Microsoft’s logo has a long history and has undergone several dramatically different changes.
Before settling on the four squares, this IT company’s logo underwent six significant changes.
In 2012, when the company’s 23rd storefront in Boston was inaugurated, the most recent version of Microsoft’s logo was officially launched.
The tile-centric user interface is very cutting-edge in its design. The four colors in the squares stand for the company’s four main products: Microsoft Office (red), Xbox (green), Windows (blue), and Bing.
Starbucks
Because of its significant connection, you can’t imagine Starbucks without the two-tailed mermaid. However, the Starbucks brand logo is a heavily edited version of what it formerly was.
Starbucks’ Mermaid emblem was created in 1971 when the company’s founders discovered a Norse 16th-century woodcut depicting the famed two-tailed mermaid.
The emblem at that time featured a bare-chested mermaid, also known as the siren. However, the design was changed in 1992 to include a coy mermaid with two tails next to her and wearing a classic crown.
2011 saw yet another update to the design. The outer circle surrounding the mermaid (which stated the brand name) was removed as part of this makeover, and the color was switched from black to Starbucks’ signature green.
Target
Target is — well, exactly on target — in terms of strength and purpose. You can’t get any more basic than a few layered circles, all while precisely representing the brand.
Perhaps it’s luck that a target naturally has a round shape. Also, circles stand for community and connection, two concepts the Target brand promotes.
This retail giant is present throughout the United States, but it has also formed a strong overseas footprint, with over 11,000 locations in 27 countries. Their excellent logo has contributed to their success, even though there is no way to prove it.
World Wildlife Fund
The WWF’s adorable panda has to be one of the prettiest logos ever! In 1961, the design of the black-and-white panda was originally created.
Sir Peter Scott, the company’s first chairman, inspired this design. Since then, despite some changes, the panda has continued to serve as the company’s trademark.
The panda emblem at first had a faint furry appearance. In 1978, that was removed, and the logo was refined even more.
But the aesthetic was still the same as that of the original. The WWF phrase was only placed below the panda as the only addition. In 2000, a small change was made to the “WWF” font while maintaining the integrity of the overall design.
Audi
The original Audi logo was far different from the iconic four interlocking rings that we have come to identify with the company.
In 1909, the company’s logo was composed of an upside-down black triangle featuring the brand and the number 1 position on the triangle.
Audi underwent a merger in its history, necessitating the creation of a new logo. At that time, the well-known four-interlocking ring pattern was created! The four interlocking rings signify the union of four different automakers: Audi, Wanderer, Horch, and DKW.
A new logo modification was made in 2009, maintaining the original concept but giving it a more sophisticated appeal.
Only a handful of brands, to be honest, were able to claim iconic status as quickly as Twitter has. It took a lot of typography for Twitter to arrive at its final blue bird logo.
The brand name appeared in blue lowercase letters as Twitter’s logo from 2006 to 2010.
Simon Oxley, a British graphic designer, was the mastermind behind the latter addition of the bird picture at the end of the world. The bird was given the name Larry at that point!
Twitter’s logo was redesigned in 2012 as a more elegant blue bird with no lettering.
Chanel
Chanel is one of those brands where everything is made in-house, including the company’s logo! Gabrielle Chanel, better known as Coco Chanel, created the Chanel logo.
Chanel’s emblem, created in 1925, earned iconic status, generating a sense of luxury.
Chanel’s logo consists of two intersecting Cs, which represent the letters of the iconic fashion designer’s name. The inspiration for the logo can be traced back to Chanel’s childhood orphanage.
According to reports, the orphanage’s windows were designed in the same style as the fashion label’s logo.
With regard to the logo’s evident simplicity, Chanel personally abided by the “less is more” philosophy. The logo for Chanel redefines exquisite minimalism!
Rolex
Each watch features a crown. A classic crown, meanwhile, represents wealth, luxury, and authority. Therefore, it is no surprise that one of the most prestigious watch-making brands in the world picked the crown as its corporate logo!
The Rolex logo is a classic pointy crown that sits over the company’s name. This elongated crown is designed to represent victory, elegance, and perfectionism.
The most interesting part of the Rolex logo is that, unlike other logos, it has not undergone any significant revisions since the company’s inception.
The watchmaker’s tagline, “A Crown for every Achievement,” fits perfectly with the design.
MTV
The 1981 version of the MTV logo that you see today was created by Manhattan Design. The agency was tasked with developing a logo for the music channel, and they soon developed a concept that quickly became famous.
MTV’s original logo has always been quite dynamic. The icon’s pattern and color scheme constantly fluctuate to incorporate and reflect new topics and trends.
However, the channel chose to use a white logo while maintaining the old style in the 1990s and 2000s, which managed to retain certain uniformity.
In 2009, the logo underwent another update, with the M receiving a dynamic image flow and the TV remaining a solid white.
Warner Bros
Aside from the roaring lion in the MGM logo, only the Warner Bros shield has managed to become a cult classic.
The shield has essentially been a part of the logo since it was first introduced in 1923. However, the studio’s silhouette was initially visible over the WB branding.
The studio outline wasn’t taken down until 1929. At that moment, “Warner Bros. Picture Inc.” was curled to fit the space above the shield, and “Presents” was positioned below in a similar way.
The logo underwent numerous modifications after that, including a color shift and the insertion of the parent company’s names after Warner Bros. The logo now features the iconic blue and gold design from 1984 after years of polishing. Despite keeping its original form, the color varies based on the movie.
Amazon
We can’t ignore online merchants in this technologically advanced world. One of the world’s most inventive logos ever seen belongs to Amazon.
There have been numerous notable logo redesigns for Jeff Bezos’ side project. Early in 1998, the company’s logo was a straightforward lowercase “Amazon.com” with the slogan “Earth’s Biggest Bookstore” below.
The tagline was withdrawn, the lower case letters were transformed to upper case, and a prominent yellow O was added to the name Amazon in late 1998.
The site’s current identity, the smiling arrow logo, was created in 2000. The yellow smile with an arrowhead form that runs from A to Z in the spelling of Amazon reflects the company’s commitment to delivering products and smiles to customers’ doors as soon as possible!
BBC
One of the most well-known square logo designs is from the British TV broadcaster.
The network’s logo was originally launched as a series of circular iterations to differ among channels. The decision to revamp the branding was made in the 1980s. Using squares to confine the box letters, the fresh logo was designed.
The timeless qualities of the plain, sturdy square shapes are undeniable. The BBC Square logo is a brilliant example of how keeping your branding simple can help you focus on important core components.
Additionally, it’s easier to remember and can be used for both online and offline uses.
American Express
American Express is the epitome of a square logo. As a financial institution, the brand must promote security and reliability. Since its inception, the company has hardly changed its basic blue color scheme or sans serif typeface.
All of these components, particularly the bright gradient that amplifies the richness, are designed to properly reflect the company’s market position.
There are three main features in the American Express logo. The logo is enclosed and held in place by the square.
The color blue is commonly linked with consistency and trustworthiness. Last but not least, the bold slab typeface is bold and assertive, giving an impression of power and resilience.
Together, the logo and tagline express the ideal message for a financial institution.
Lego
The instantly recognizable red, yellow, and white logo is based on the brand’s colors and is more cheerful. Undoubtedly, it is the most recognizable red square image!
Because of its geometric design, the Lego red square logo still conveys a feeling of confidence and reliability while appearing innocent enough to draw in buyers.
The bright colors and rounded text are particularly appealing to young eyes, while the emotions connected with a square symbol quickly reassure parents.
Domino’s
Since its inception in the 1960s, Domino’s logo has remained relatively unchanged. To symbolize the three existing locations, three domino dots were made.
As new venues debuted, the pizza company first intended to add more dots, but as you can see, that would result in many dots!
The logo didn’t change again until 2012, with the exception of a little flip.
Today’s version is a straightforward wordmark logo with a surrounding square dominos symbol that is sometimes above and sometimes beside it.
Domino’s is a great example of how good design can make or break a business. The red and blue square icon is easily identified, whether it’s on a car, a pizza box, or a leaflet.
The legendary pizza franchise will always be identified with the logo, regardless of its orientation or size.
Since Domino’s is such a well-known brand, the term “pizza” is no longer necessary. This fact proves how effective their branding strategies have been over the years.
For business-related news, employment opportunities, and networking, professionals turn to LinkedIn. Their brand needed to communicate professionalism, integrity, and community.
Therefore they utilized a clean font and strategically positioned squares surrounding the “in.”
The logo hasn’t been modified a lot over the years, apart from the application of navy blue to express a sense of trust and loyalty.
The square logo for LinkedIn promotes professionalism and awareness. The wordmark and logo both have a boxed “in” as a symbol. The corners have been rounded to make the square seem less rigid and more welcoming as a social network.
Linkedin used a simple blue square to represent reliability and professionalism and a navy to correlate themselves with a credible and community-oriented network.
Cisco
Being the prominent networking company in the world, Cisco provides both small and large businesses with connection software and hardware solutions, such as routers and modems.
Therefore, the logo they selected is quite appropriate because the vertical lines above the name stand for digital transmission. But it also symbolizes San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge, which is appropriate given that two Stanford University employees created the business.
Another intriguing fact is that the brand’s name was derived from San Francisco.
Unilever
Unilever’s logo has a far richer and more significant backstory than you would think. According to the brand’s website, they want to symbolize sustainable living in their logo because they take pride in promoting it.
As you can see, the Unilever logo’s “U” comprises a number of icons. Each one stands for a particular feature of the brand.
For example, the “sun” in the upper left corner represents the company’s beginnings in Port Sunlight. The “bee” below stands for effort and creativity in a similar way.
Pepsi
Since the company’s inception in 1903, the “Pepsi Globe“ has seen numerous modifications; however, the Globe itself did not show up until the 1940s.
This is another global icon with a unique name- clearly one of the most recognizable logos in the entire world. This Globe is, in fact, used all across the world.
The Globe’s white portion became asymmetrical in the most recent revision. It is also regarded as a smile because of its shape, and so many of us get a little bit of extra happiness when we open a can of delicious, fizzy delight. Along with that smile, the lowercase font enhances the easygoing attitude of the logo.
Hyundai
Most people are familiar with Hyundai. Since it only consists of the letter H, the first letter of the company name, at its core, many wonder what makes it so unique.
You can notice the logo’s true significance if you glance at the right side of the logo. It shows a company representative shaking the hand of a happy customer, signifying the close bond between the brand and its audience.
The Google logo appears to be nothing more than a colorful flash at first glance. However, if you look a little closer, you can see that the color scheme was chosen with care.
It mainly combines red, blue, and yellow as its core colors. Yellow has just one letter, while red and blue both have two. Green also follows suit. This is nearly a revolutionary expression: just the right amount of confidence to defy logic.
It’s fascinating to consider how the designers must have considered and analyzed hundreds, if not thousands, of color combinations before coming to this one!
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