What are business logos? They are part of the visual identity of the company, represented as a visual mark. It is the first impression the business makes to its customers and the public in general. It is like a greeting. In this article we share 10 Famous Well Recognized Logos of All Time.
A logo helps a company become a brand. These days, you will find many people who will only purchase branded products because they are deemed to be more trustworthy. They will always look for the logo before buying. This is why the logos are so important. They help us differentiate between the best and average products.
What makes a logo design successful? The ones that are successful can be recognized immediately. It doesn’t just showcase quality products, but also reflects the company’s culture and brand message. They can be of any size, but a successful logo will look professional, timeless, and build trust.
Some businesses will never change their logos, while others, such as Apple and Google will change from time to time. The logo change often also showcases the transition of the business into something new. You can attend art events to understand the background behind the logo change and what the business wants to achieve by doing this.
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What Are the Top 10 Famous Logos?
Here are 10 Famous Well Recognized Logos of All Time –
1. Starbucks
Starbucks started operations in March 1971. The logo has evolved to become what it is now. Their latest logo doesn’t even have the company name in it, but it is still instantly recognizable. That’s how popular the logo has become.
2. McDonald’s
The company’s golden arches are instantly recognized the world over. It is partly because of the simple design, which often does best. For example, the logo of Bata, which simply states the company name. McDonald’s logo comes from their early architecture. They wanted something that could be seen from a distance.
3. Apple
Their first logo was completely different than what we have now. It showed Isaac Newton sitting under a tree with an apple hanging from the top. Apple, however, decided to simplify.
The Apple logo has always been prominent. Like their products, the logo too is clean and sleek. Many believe that the “bite” section of the apple is a pun for the “byte” word.
4. Mercedes
The business stands for the best luxury cars. Vehicles that are comfortable and posh. Their triangle star stands for dominance over – the sea, air, and land. You won’t find the business name in the logo. Despite this, most people would know that it is Mercedes-Benz.
5. FedEx
Their original logo had a white arrow between E and X, which symbolized three important elements of the business – movement, speed, precision. They removed the arrow and used colour cleverly to represent various arms of the business. The “Ex” part changes, depending on the product. FedEx Ground, Express, Office, Trade Networks, all have different combinations.
6. NASA
Even non-commercial organizations can also have a super-successful logo. Like the one of NASA, for example. Their logo between 1959 and 1975 had a blue round planet that represented our planet. The present logo is better because it showcases NASA’s activities in more detail. It shows celestial bodies in the background and an elliptical line that represents the rockets they send to space.
7. Nike
The swoosh was made by a graphic design student in 1971. She was only paid $35 for her work. Of course, this was a lot of money back then. Her logo has become a huge success. As a result, Nike later gave her generous gifts. The logo is simple and can be understood easily.
8. Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola is one of the most successful brands in the world. But the brand has been built slowly over time. The company likes to associate itself with “happiness”. They have maintained this image while tweaking the font slightly over time. Overall, the logo has remained mostly consistent.
9. Chanel
Chanel from France is a leader in the world of fashion. Now, based out of London in the United Kingdom, their “double C” logo is after the founder of the company, Coco Chanel, who was a famous French fashion designer. Many of their products have achieved an iconic status.
10. Mickey Mouse
It is a beloved brand for all, young and old. We grew up with the Disneyland mascot. The logo’s round shape represents a good character.
Of course, there are many other top logos as well that are instantly recognizable. These logos have made the companies some of the world’s business leaders. Some of these popular logos are Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Pepsi, Adidas, BMW, Twitter, IBM, MTV, WWF, and Shell.
The History and Evolution of Logo
The first logos go back a long time to ancient Egypt. They used imprinted letters and symbols to represent various things. The first graphic designers and artists began to emerge much later, during the Victorian era. Their heavy ornamentation, symmetrical layouts styles were popular for about 50 years. Only black and white was used. There was no color.
Colored logos first started appearing in the early 1900s. Brands that introduced colored logos first were Pepsi Cola, United Airlines, and BMW. However, many companies like Shell and Ford were struggling with their fonts and script designs.
Colored logos finally became quite a rage during the 1940s with the introduction of color psychology. The next decade strengthened this even further. Burger King and Pizza Hut both changed their background colors to make the logos appear more attractive. This decade was about the finishing touch.
The next major change came when colored televisions were introduced. The designs had to be changed to suit the television commercials. Pepsi-Cola decided to remove the Cola part. Many brands moved from newspapers to television.
The introduction of computers also changed logo design greatly. Computer technology began to be used to create the designs. Abode and Microsoft added typography in their designs, which changed the word placement in the logos and the fonts.
The logos started to become brighter and funkier in the 1990s. Brands added finish and texture, making them look smarter. Coca-Cola redesigned its logo. Yahoo changed the logo four times. Nokia moved from a text to a symbol logo. Many brands were confused about the size, color, and shape they should select.
Since the 2000s, however, most businesses have opted for simplicity. Many companies realized that it will be easier to remember if the logo was simple and professional.
A logo is very important for a business. It helps them stand out from the crowd, establish their own unique identity. It can be just text, an image, or a combination of the two. The logo can be trendy, cool, stylish. The logo introduces your business to the world, which is why it is so important.
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