History of brand logos. What do the logos and names of world famous brands mean?

A logo is essentially a visual representation of a company. Think of the golden arches of Macdonald's or the swoosh of Nike - these impressive logos have embodied two of the largest empires under their banners. However, many companies still skimp on developing this key part of building the corporate ideal. A good memorable logo significantly increases the growth and loyalty of customers, forms the right impression with business partners,

There are 3 types of logos:

1. Repeating infinity elements. For example, the fundamental power of the logos of IBM, Microsoft and Sony is created by intersecting elements, which makes the symbols of firms distinctive.
2. There are logos that literally illustrate what a company produces or provides, for example, painting houses often use an illustration of a brush or paints in a logo.
3. Use of abstract graphic symbols. An example is Nike. Over time, the image of the brand name has become for consumers a reminder of the company in any situation.

Consider the most popular logos famous brands clothes and shoes.

Nike

The logo of the well-known company is represented by the popular signature Swoosh, which identifies the wing of the Greek goddess Victoria (the Greek name Victoria means “victory”). The logo project was launched in 1971 by Caroline Davidson, a graphic designer and student at the University of Oregon. Caroline this project proposed by Philip Knight, one of the founders of the company. Knight didn't particularly like Caroline's suggestion, but he was confident that the logo would work for him in the future. And, as we see, he was not mistaken in the calculations. Later, as the Nike brand rose to international heights, Philip gave Davidson a thank you gift of a Swoosh diamond ring and a huge amount of sportswear and shoes from the company's warehouse.

Adidas

The Adidas brand was created after the collapse of his father's company, which was called Gebrüder Dassler Schuhfabrik. Initially, the name of the company sounded like Addas - an abbreviation of the initial letters of the name of the founder of the company. However, a few months later, Addas was changed to Adidas (the founder was called Adi among friends).

The signature three stripes featured on the logo were acquired from the Finnish sports company Karhu in 1950, and today it is the style of the firm that is included in the most popular logos of famous brands. By the way, the stripes symbolized the popularity of the company on three continents.

Puma

Rudolf Dassler, brother of Adolf Dassler, in turn, founded the Puma brand. The first version of the company's logo differs from the one we know now - the original name of the company sounded like "Ruda" (from the name of the founder of Rudolf, Rudoo). According to one version, the first version of the logo was designed by Rudolf himself, and in the 60s of the 20th century. the symbol acquired the familiar outlines of Puma.

Gucci

The Gucci company is the brainchild of Guccio Gucci, who laid the foundations of the now famous brand in 1921 in Florence. One of his six children and became the designer of the famous logo in 1933. Today, the Gucci symbol is chicly included in the logos of famous clothing and footwear brands, as it occupies one of the first places in terms of recognition.

A feature of the symbol was the overlapping letters G. However, these are not only letters, this is a symbol of two stirrups - the legacy of the Guccio Gucci brand, which sold accessories for horses.

Givenchy

Givenchy is a fashion brand founded in 1952 by Hubert James Marcel Tuffin de Givenchy. Today, the company also produces perfumes, clothing and jewelry. The logos of famous brands have been replenished with another popular symbol of the fashion house.

The logo design is quite simple, but attractive and mesmerizing at the same time. It is a four "G", occupying the entire area. The Givenchy logo is reminiscent of ornate Celtic jewelry.

Levi Strauss & Co

Levi Strauss & Co. (LS & CO) was founded in 1853 when Levi Strauss moved from Franconia to San Francisco to promote the West Coast branch of his brothers' haberdashery business. Already in the 1870s, the company launched mass sales of denim overalls, which were successfully dispersed among buyers.

It is worth noting that jeans in the form that is known to the modern man in the street began to be produced only after 1920. It is noteworthy that the original logo of the company appeared in 1886 and was a two horses tearing jeans into different parts. Logos of well-known history of their creation, as a rule, are overgrown with legends. Thus, the appearance of the LS & CO logo was preceded by a story that became an indicator of the quality of the product: the driver tied two separate cars with jeans and drove in this way to the destination station.

Reebok

The company was founded in England in 1895 by Foster and his sons thanks to the founder's desire to provide his sons' sneakers with spikes. After climbing the Olympus of global manufacturers already in 1958, the founder's grandsons, Joe and Jeff, renamed the company Reebok. The name refers us to the African continent, where "rhebok" is a type of antelope. The logos of world famous brands Reebok and Adidas now belong to a single fashion house - Reebok has been a subsidiary of Adidas since 2005.

Louis Vuitton

The Louis Vuitton fashion house was opened in 1854, after which the whole world learned about the highest quality and chic products. The company's logo is represented by the brand's initials and is designed as a stylization inspired by Japanese floral motifs.

hello kitty

The character itself was invented and brought to the public in 1974 by Shintaro Tsuji, the owner of Sanrio. As a trade logo of the company, the image of Cute Kitty was registered in 1976.

Initially, there were two names between which there was a choice: Hello Kitty and Kitty White. Nevertheless, the first name turned out to be more attractive, and the character himself became the idol of millions of children and their parents around the world. The logos of well-known companies and brands of children's clothing and toys, previously separate, made a single powerful breakthrough in the field of business.

Converse

The history of the company, like its logo, dates back to 1908 and is called the Converse Rubber Shoe Company. In 1915, the founder of Mills Converse began making tennis shoes, but a life-changing event for the firm happened in 1917: basketball player Charles H. Taylor walked into Mills' office with an injured leg. To facilitate the movement of the athlete, Mills developed high-top sneakers, which today have already become classics in the global fashion shoe industry.

Converse is not just a brand, it is a whole era, for example, it was in this shoe that Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 points in an NBA game in 1962, Converse also wore it when he scored the decisive goal in 1982. It was the official shoe of the NBA for a long time, worn by sports legends such as Larry Bird and Julius Irving.

Since 2012, the equally popular Nike company has become the owner of this brand.

Lacoste

One of the oldest and most respected brands, whose logo is a green alligator, is known to everyone who at least once was interested in the fashion world. In 1933, Jean Rene Lacoste created a company that produced tennis shirts, and the name was formed from consonance with the founder's sports pseudonym, which sounded like "crocodile skin".

The symbol of the company Rene Lacoste was born, as well as many other logos of famous brands. The game was worth the candle in this case. The history of the creation of the symbol is as follows: one of Rene's friends drew a small crocodile just for fun, but it soon became the logo of the brand, which is now known to everyone.

Fendi

The company's logo is often compared to a puzzle: these thoughts are prompted by two letters F inverted relative to each other. The founder of the brand is the popular designer Karl Lagerfeld, who invented the logo for the fashion house of the married couple Eduard and Adele Fendi. The recognizable symbol of the fashion house is now emblazoned on every document signed by Fendi representatives as a fashion seal of Fendi collections.

Chanel

The famous back-to-back double "C" logo was first seen in the fashion world in 1925 on a bottle of Chanel No. 5 perfume.

The logos of the most famous brands often have several stories of their creation, and this happened with the Chanel brand. One of the versions tells about Mikhail Vrubel, who in 1886 depicted horseshoes that resembled the current Chanel logo. Another version says that Vrubel did not take any part in creating the symbol, but simply used two crossed horseshoes as a symbol of success and luck. Nevertheless, most designers are sure that the logo represents the initials of Coco Chanel, the founder of the French fashion house.

Calvin Klein

On November 19, 1942, the Calvin Klein brand was created, the logo of which became available to the public only 30 years later. The light and memorable SK logo easily evoked associations about the brand, so it was made on the pocket of each pair of trousers. Soon, the popular symbol began to be used not only as a mark of the manufacturing company, but also as a collectible stamp.

Versace

The symbol of the famous brand is symbolically linked to Greek mythology and depicts intertwined snake heads that often adorn bag logos. There are quite a few well-known brands, but the Versace logo is difficult to confuse with another company.

The logo was designed in 1978 by Gianni Versachi, who was obsessed with the classics in art, so the option with turning the audience to stone became a symbol that embodied the designer's fatal attraction to the fashion world.

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website chose 15 logos that are recognized all over the world. They have a meaning that we did not notice before.

Hyundai

Many tend to think that the logo of the Korean conglomerate Hyundai is the first letter of its name, nothing more. In fact, the letter H symbolizes two people shaking hands (on the one hand - the client, on the other - the representative of the company).

Adidas

The name of the Adidas sports store chain was formed on behalf of their creator, Adolf Dassler. The logo changed several times, but always included three stripes. On this moment they are inclined and form a triangle - a mountain. This is a symbolic image of the obstacles that all athletes must overcome.

Rob Yanov, designer who invented Apple logo: “I bought a whole bag of apples, put them in a bowl and drew them for a week, trying to simplify the details. Biting off the fruit was part of the experiment, and by pure chance byte(bite translates as "bite") turned out to be a computer term."

Sony Vaio

The first two letters of the Sony Vaio logo form a wave, symbolizing an analog signal, while the last two resemble 1 and 0, the symbols for a digital signal.

Amazon

At first glance, the Amazon logo does not hide anything unusual, but it helps to understand the philosophy of the brand. The yellow arrow resembles a smile: Amazon.com wants customers to be happy. The arrow also links the letters A and Z, hinting that this store has absolutely everything - "from A to Z".

Baskin Robbins

The pink parts of the "BR" make up the number 31 - that's how many flavors historically Baskin Robbins ice cream has had.

Toyota

Many people compare the logo of the Japanese automobile manufacturer Toyota to the head of a cowboy in a hat. In reality, it is a stylized eye of a needle with a thread threaded through it. This is a kind of hint at the past of the company, which was engaged in the period of its formation with looms. However, the logo also has one more little secret: its individual parts make up the letters of the word Toyota.

Continental

Continental - manufacturer car tires. One of them can be seen in the first two letters, which create an image of the wheel in perspective.

Formula 1

If you look closely at the empty space between the letter F and the red stripes, you can see the number 1. The logo conveys a sense of speed.

pinterest

A needle is hidden in the logo of the popular Pinterest Internet service, whose users can collect their favorite images and “pin” them to their online board. Take a closer look at the letter P - it is its sharp “leg” that is stylized as a needle.

The letter B and the red circle of the logo of the American audio manufacturer Beats are positioned as a man in headphones.

Toblerone

Toblerone is a chocolate company based in the Swiss city of Bern. It is also called the city of bears. That is why Toblerone included the silhouette of this animal in their logo.

The logo is very important for a company. Logos of well-known companies are not just a brand icon, but a symbol with which the company will be associated today and in the future. It is by the logo that most people recognize this or that trademark.

You have probably noticed that the logos of well-known companies usually look very simple and concise. It would seem that it would not be difficult for the most ordinary designer to make a small logo for a company.

But that was not the case… Many designers hatch logos of well-known companies for months to make a truly memorable label that will bring success to its owner.

The logos of well-known companies, behind the simplicity of lines and shapes, hide a deep meaning and significance that many do not even know about.

Logos of famous companies: the meaning and meaning of famous labels

We invite you to look at the logos of well-known companies and find out what meaning the simple laconic lines of the logo hide.

Logos of famous companies: Hyundai

Among the logos of well-known companies, one can single out the logo of the Korean company Hyundai. The Hyundai logo is not just the letter H. The meaning of the logo is more symbolic. The logo symbolizes the handshake between the client and the company representative. Agree, the Hyundai logo is, of course, a symbol of success.

Famous company logos: Adidas

The Adidas logo is a crouched reproduction of the name and surname of the owner of the sports store network, Adolf Dassler.

Although the Adidas logo has been repeatedly changed at the request of the owner, three lines always remain in its image, symbolizing obstacles in the way of athletes.

Famous company logos: Apple

But the logo of the world leader in the production of smartphones and computer technology Apple is truly symbolic, after all, like the name of Steve Jobs' company, it was coined spontaneously.

There is no need to look for a special binding here, except that “bite” in translation into English bite - means a computer term. The creator of the logo for the apple company Rob Yanov.

Famous company logos: Sony Vaio

Our list of "Famous Company Logos" also includes the Sony Vaio label, which embodies the analog and digital signal. Interesting, isn't it!

Famous company logos: Amazon

The logo of the famous Amazon company symbolizes the philosophy of the brand. Buy from us with a smile. Be happy with your purchase. We have everything you need.

Famous company logos: Baskin Robbins

The number 31 hidden in the Baskin Robbins logo symbolizes the number of flavors of ice cream that BR released at the very beginning.

Famous company logos: Toyota

The list of logos of well-known companies with a special meaning includes the logo of the Japanese automaker Toyota.

It is generally accepted that the Toyota logo schematically depicts a cowboy in a hat. Actually on the logo original form the eye of a needle and a thread stretched through it are depicted, because once Toyota was engaged in the production of looms.

Another feature of the Toyota logo is that its elements form the letters of the Toyota brand name.

Famous company logos: Continental

The logo of the tire manufacturer Continental hides at its beginning the wheel, which is schematically created by the first letters. Agree, simple, but tasteful.

Famous company logos: Formula 1

The Formula 1 logo is also very original, because here the designers combined three colors and three symbols. The most inconspicuous part of the logo is the white unit, while the red lines symbolize the speed and drive that are always present in Formula 1.

Famous company logos: Pinterest

Many netizens are also familiar with this logo. One of the most popular Internet services, Pinterest, which allows you to save your favorite pictures from various sites on your boards, also has a riddle in the logo. It's about about the small needle that can be seen on the capital letter of the logo.

Famous company logos: Beats

The Beats logo also made it to our ranking of "Famous Company Logos" that have a special meaning. The logo of the manufacturer of audio products Beats symbolizes a man in headphones.

Famous company logos: Toblerone

The Swiss chocolate company Toblerone introduced a bear on its logo, because in Switzerland it is no secret to anyone that the city of Bern is considered the city of bears.

Famous company logos: BMW

The list of logos of well-known companies that we are telling you about today also includes the logo of the automaker BMW.

In the past, the company was associated with aviation. Someone thinks that the BMW logo shows the blades of a rotating propeller, and for someone the BMW label is part of the flag of Bavaria.

Famous company logos: LG

The South Korean company LG, which produces electrical goods, has chosen a very positive logo in the form of a smiling man. Representatives of the industry giant with such a logo express the desire of the brand to support positive, a good relationship with every client.

Famous company logos: Evernote

The logo of the note-taking service Evernote was included in our rating "Logos of famous companies". With the symbolic image of an elephant, the company wanted to emphasize the good memory that, by the way, elephants have, and the ability to never forget anything with Evernote notes.

Famous company logos: Coca-Cola

The Coca-Cola brand also has a very beautiful, memorable logo. On it in the corner you can see the Danish flag.

Probably, such an element is a coincidence, however, it helped the manufacturer a lot during advertising campaign in Denmark.

And so, we presented the logos of well-known companies that have one or another meaning that you may not have known about.

And what logos of famous companies with a hidden meaning do you know?

| 31.07.2014

Almost every popular company has redrawn its logo at least once during the entire period of its existence. The reasons for this could be different - a change in direction of activity, rebranding, the need to keep up with the times, a way to keep up with competitors.

Each of these enterprises certainly has its own interesting story about the evolution of the trademark. We have prepared an interesting assembly, which shows the development of the symbols of global companies that are recognizable all over the world today. You will see how very different the very first logos were from the ones we are used to today.

Engineering and IT

Canon

Founders: Saburo Uchida and Goro Yoshida.
Year: 1937.
Country: Japan.

The global company for the production of photographic equipment and other devices was originally called Precision Optical Instruments Laboratory in Japan. The first camera was released under the Kwanon brand. The emblem was the image of the Buddhist god of mercy. Soon the brand name was changed to Canon.

In 1947, Precision Optical Instruments Laboratory was renamed Canon Camera Co. This was an important step in its development.

The improved Canon logo we see today was introduced back in 1956. It is noteworthy that after 58 years he looks just as stylish and presentable.

Nokia

Founder: Knut Frederik Idestam.
Year: 1865.
Country: Finland.

Nokia got its name from the river Nokianvirta, which flowed next to the factory (then, in 1868, it was a simple paper mill). Then the first emblem with fish was applied to all products.

In the early 1920s, Nokia Corporation, Finnish Rubber Works (rubber products) and Finnish Cable Works (cable) merged. The latter in the 60s launched a new department of electronics, after which, in 1963-1965, two devices were released - the first radiotelephone and a modem.

Over the next 30 years, the company's logo was modified several times. The current logo is the word Nokia with the slogan "Connecting people".

Intel

Founders: Robert Noyce and Gordon Moore.
Year: 1968.
Country: USA.

When Gordon Moore, one of the founders largest company in electronics, proposed to name the company Integrated Electronics, his friend, Robert Noyce, agreed, but recommended shortening the name to Intel.

During the entire existence of the enterprise, the logo has changed twice. The current version was approved in 2005.

Microsoft Windows

Developer: Microsoft Corporation.
Year of release: 1985.
Country: USA.

The corporate graphic symbol of the first versions of Windows, which, by the way, were not full-fledged operating systems, but were only extensions for MS-DOS, outwardly resembles a blue window.

Starting with Windows 3.x, in the early 90s, 4 new colors appear in the sign - red, green, blue and yellow, and its shape becomes wavy, which adds dynamism to the drawing.

With the release of Windows XP in 2001, the symbol again undergoes impressive changes. Although the idea of ​​four colors remained intact, the drawing became more understandable and not as cumbersome as the previous one. In addition to being associated with windows, this sign resembles a flag in many ways.

But the last symbol, designed for Windows 8, has sharply departed from the usual framework. Swiss style, simplicity and lightness, lack of realistic graphics - these are the main rules that guided the designers when creating it.

Apple

Founders: Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne.
Year: 1976.
Country: USA.

The first emblem of the future global corporation was proposed by one of founders of Apple- Ronald Wayne. An engraving of Newton under a tree, wrapped in a massive ribbon with the inscription "Apple Computer Co.", looks quite interesting, but only from the point of view of art.

Soon, Steve Jobs decided to change the Apple logo. A designer named Rob Yanov helped him in this. The "rainbow" bitten apple served the company faithfully from 1977 to 1998.

Subsequent Apple symbols changed only their color - at first the apple was repainted in laconic black, and since 2007 it was made metallic and reflections were added. The form remains intact.

Samsung

Founder: Lee Byung-chul.
Year: 1938.
Country: South Korea.

The word "samsung" in Korean means "three stars". In the first corporate blocks of the company, the image of stars was used in several versions.

The new logo, which is still relevant today, was introduced in 1993. Then the company celebrated its 55th anniversary. The stylized Samsung inscription inside a blue ellipse has become a well-known and recognizable logo all over the world.

LG

Founder: Ku In Ho.
Year: 1947 (opening of the first company of the conglomerate LG Group - Lak Hui Chemical).
Country: South Korea.

LG Electronics (Lucky Goldstar) was formed in 1995 as a result of the merger of two companies - Lucky Chemical Ind. (formerly Lak Hui Chemical) and Goldstar.

The slogan of the company is the phrase "Life is Good". The letters "LG" in the logo are painted in gray, and the logo is made in the form of a kind of red smiley face.

Auto and Moto

mercedes benz

Founders: Karl Benz, Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach.
Year: 1926.
Country: Germany.

In 1909, the well-known and still three-pointed star became the trademark of the Daimler Motoren Gessellschaft (DMG) for the first time. What does this symbol mean? There are several legends, one of which is the most common. Since the company was engaged in the production of not only cars, but also engines - ship and aircraft, a star with three rays indicated the success of this brand in three directions - on land, on water and in the air.

At the same time, Karl Benz, the creator of the first vehicle With gasoline engine, used a laurel wreath with "Benz" written inside it as an emblem.

In 1926, having survived the First world war, DMG and Benz merged to form the Daimler-Benz concern. The new emblem also appeared as a result of the merger of the signs of these two enterprises - a three-pointed star was placed in a laurel wreath, and after a while the wreath was replaced with a regular circle.

Volkswagen

Manufacturer: Volkswagen AG.
Year of foundation: 1937.
Country: Germany.

The first brand name for Volkswagen, according to one version, was developed by a Porshe employee, Franz Xavier Reimspiss. In appearance, the symbol can be seen with the naked eye, at what time and where it was invented.

As the years passed, Nazi features were removed from the brand name, the frame was replaced with a circle, then a square, and the color was changed to blue. But one thing has remained unchanged until now - the letters “V” and “W” recognizable all over the world.

Peugeot

Founder: Armand Peugeot.
Year: 1810.
Country: France.

The first sign with the image of a lion standing on an arrow was registered in 1850. Its author is the jeweler Julien Belezer.

Over the years, Peugeot has modified the lion more than once, adding to it either a mane or a muscular body. The symbol of the lion is firmly entrenched in the Peugeot brand, where the king of beasts means reliability and success.

fiat

Founder: Giovanni Agnelli.
Year: 1899.
Country: Italy.

When the Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino company was created in the Italian city of Turin in 1899, the first emblem was created for it in the form of a sheet of parchment with the same inscription.

In 1901-1904, the logo changed dramatically, having received a new, corporate font. He wrote the word Fiat, framed by a decorative pattern.

The next significant redesign took place in 1931-1932. The emblem was given the shape of a kind of shield, all decorating elements were removed, the letters were stretched in height, and the background was made red. In this form, the sign was used until 1968, after which it was again thoroughly altered.

Today, the Fiat logo has a chrome rim and a rich red background, on which the letters FIAT are located, written in a familiar font.

Ducati

Founders: Andriano and Marcello Ducati.
Year: 1926.
Country: Italy.

Initially, the direction of the Ducati company was the production of radio equipment, which the brothers Marcello and Andriano were very fond of.

Demand for radio equipment declined significantly after World War II, and Ducati, which came under public administration, engaged in the creation of engines and vehicles.

In the period from 1949 to 1975, the company, which already produced full-fledged motorcycles, added either two wings or one to its graphic sign.

The modern Ducati logo is a triangular red emblem with a white stripe track inside, reminding us that Ducati motorcycles were born for speed.

Harley-Davidson

Founders: William S. Harley; Arthur, Walter and William Davidson.
Year: 1903.
Country: USA.

Throughout the existence of the Harley-Davidson company, their motorcycles have changed countless times, as well as emblems. They came in different shapes and colors, but the Harley-Davidson inscription was invariably present on each of them. We will look at just a few.

In 1940, the company introduced the metal logo, which was used until 1946.

In 1955, a large “V” appears in the background of the classic Harley-Davidson lettering, in honor of the famous V-twin engine.
After 6-7 years, the Harley emblem becomes like a sight and a four-pointed star.

But the most recognizable logo of the legendary motorcycle manufacturer called "Bar and Shield" is covered with a halo of mystery, since its author, alas, is unknown. However, this sign was invented in 1910, after which, in 1911, it was patented.

Yamaha

Founder: Thorakusu Yamaha.
Year: 1897.
Country: Japan.

Phoenix with a tuning fork in its beak is the first symbol of the world famous Japanese company Yamaha. In 1927, a brand name appeared in the form of three crossed tuning forks, resembling a three-beam star. It is used to this day. It is believed that this pattern means a strong relationship between the three main ways of the company - technology, production and sales.

Today, Yamaha produces sound equipment and a huge number of musical instruments, and the Yamaha Motor Company, as part of the Yamaha Corporation, is the largest manufacturer of motorcycles.

Food

Twix

Manufacturer: Mars Inc.
Year of release: 1967.
Country: UK, USA.

In 1967, the first bars called Raider were released in the UK. 12 years later, in 1979, the name was changed to Twix, and the product itself was imported to the United States of America. The name Twix was formed from two words - twin and bicsuits. Today these bars are known all over the world, and in some European countries they are still sold under the original name Raider.

Nestle

Founder: Henri Nestle.
Year: 1866.
Country: Switzerland.

The name of the largest food production company is also the name of its founder. The family coat of arms has become a trademark - a small nest with birds, where the mother feeds three chicks. Patented in 1868, this symbol has remained virtually unchanged to this day. Only 20 years later, in 1988, one chick disappeared from the drawing. There is an opinion that this was done in order to adjust the sign to certain standards, because in those days American and European families for the most part preferred to have two children.

McDonald's

Founders: Brothers Richard (Dick) and Maurice (Mac) McDonald.
Year: 1940.
Country: USA.

The first McDonald's logo featured a chef named Spedee. The modern version of the brand name in the form of golden arches was invented in the early 60s by Jim Schindler. And for more than half a century, the popular chain of restaurants fast food people from all over the world are recognized by a single stylized yellow M.

La Vache Qui Rit

Founder: Leon Bel.
Year: 1921.
Country: France.

The first design for the processed cheese La Vash Kee Ree (French for “Laughing Cow”, known in Ukraine as “Vesela Korivka”) was invented by the owner of the company, Leon Bel. But the symbol that we know now is different from the original. Only 3 years after its appearance, the company showed the public a brand name in the form of a red cow with earrings in its ears. In this illustration, the so-called Droste effect is used - the same cow with earrings is depicted on the earrings of a cow, on which, in turn, a cow with earrings is also drawn, and so on ad infinitum.

Initially, the drawing looked rather creepy for many consumers, which they tried to fix over time. The almost demonic features of the cow's muzzle were smoothed out, after which the cow became more like a kind and smiling one.

Chupa Chups

Founder: Enric Bernat.
Year: 1958.
Country: Spain.

The trademark and name of the most popular lollipops were registered in 1962. Fans of the Spanish artist Salvador Dali will be pleasantly surprised by the fact that the entire image for Chupa Chups, which is still used today, was designed by him. It happened in 1969. The new Chupa Chups logo looks like a camomile with eight petals.

Coca Cola

Founder: Asa Griggs Candler.
Year: 1893.
Country: USA.

The legendary Coca-Cola logo, written in calligraphy, was coined back in 1886. Since then, it has remained virtually unchanged. The trademark was registered at the end of January 1893.

In the early 1980s, the company, focused on a marketing battle with competitor Pepsi, launched a new re-formulated drink called New Coke and… failed. Few expected that the reaction of American consumers would be so negative - Coca-Cola was sued numerous times to keep the classic drink on the shelves. Naturally, New Coke did not last long on the market, and the usual Coca-Cola was returned to the market.

Pepsi

Founder: Caleb Bradham.
Year: 1903.
Country: USA.

The Pepsi-Cola trademark was registered in the summer of 1903. After nearly 10 years of bankruptcy and crisis, during the Great Depression of the 1930s, Pepsi showed the Coca-Cola company for the first time what was for them. strong competitor, selling his drink at the same price, but in bottles twice as large. In the 50s, Pepsi confidently took second place in the market after Coca-Cola.

The three-color circle version of the brand name that we are used to seeing now was first presented to the public in 1962, along with the exclusion of the “Cola” prefix from the brand name. In 1991, the word "Pepsi" was decided to be removed from the circle and written next to it. It's funny what modern man easily recognizes this company by only one drawing, without a signature.

The history of logos of famous brands is very entertaining and interesting, it will be extremely useful to get acquainted with it for those who are planning to open their own company and want to do everything correctly. After all, there are several rules for successful brand development that should be taken into account. And then a positive result is guaranteed!
If you need to create a logo, seek the help of professionals.

Company logos play an important role in their promotion and development. In the eyes of an attentive consumer form style companies decides a lot, if not all. At different stages of their history, companies use different variations of their own, which emphasize its values, loyalty to traditions, community and other qualities.

Often, the emblem only symbolizes a product or quality that is already well known to a wide range of consumers. For example, the golden arch on the McDonald logo instantly brings to mind a delicious big mac and fries. At the sight of the BMW logo, many imagine a prestigious car that indicates a high social status its owner. Moreover, the logo forms the consumer's opinion about the company and what it produces.

We faced a difficult task - to select Top 25. But we did it! The authors of some logos are unknown, while the names of several designers are associated with other emblems at once. Some companies changed their logos so often that we just couldn't spend time on every variation and decided to focus only on the main ones. The development of company logos is a reflection of the development of world culture and it is interesting to study this process not only from the point of view of design, but also from the point of view of history!

Nike

Year of foundation of the company: 1964
Year of logo creation: 1971
Logo designers: Carolyn Davidson (1971), Nike (1978, 1985, 1995)
Company Founders: Bill Bowerman, Philip Knight

The history of Nike begins with the importer Blue Ribbon Sports, which in 1971 decided to expand its scope and began to produce sports shoes, laying the foundation for the Nike brand we know. The iconic swoosh on the company's logo didn't impress Nike co-founder Philip Knight, who said, "I don't like this emblem, but I'll get used to it."

The author of the logo was an unknown designer Carolyn Davidson, who received only $35 for her work! Davidson's emblem was inspired by the ancient Greek goddess of victory, Nike, and the checkmark symbolizes the movement and speed characteristic of this goddess. In 1978, Nike updated the logo with a bolder typeface and slightly moved the checkmark. No one expected that the “tick” would become one of the most recognizable emblems in the world and become such an autonomous symbol that in 1995 it would even replace the company name from the logo!

Coca Cola

Year of foundation of the company: 1886
Year of creation of the logo: 1886
Logo designer: Frank Mason Robinson (1886), Lippincott & Margulies (1969), Desgrippes Gobe & Associates, Turner Duckworth
Company Founder: John Pemberton

The author of the legendary Coca-Cola logo is Frank Mason Robinson, who, by the way, had nothing to do with graphic design, but was in charge of the company's accounting. The most characteristic feature of the emblem is the Spencerian font, which was widely used in official documents and correspondence at the end of the 19th century. In 1890, the company added visual complexity to the emblem by enlivening the inscription with serifs and swirls that resembled cherries hanging from the capital letters "C". The new design didn't catch on - which was predictable - and today we still associate the company with the old beautiful Robinson emblem. Agree, it is hardly possible to come up with something better!

Ford

Year of foundation of the company: 1903
Year of creation of the logo: 1903
Logo designed by Childe Harold Wills (1909)
Company Founder: Henry Ford

It is noteworthy that Ford Motor became the third automobile company founded by the legendary Henry Ford. The first business went bankrupt, and Ford left the second company (which later became famous as the Cadillac brand). The original Ford Motor logo was an over-detailed circular icon with the company's name and location. In 1927, the redesign of the logo was timed to coincide with the release of the Ford Model A car: now the automaker settled on the familiar blue oval, which can safely be called a synonym for taste and style.

Apple

Year of foundation of the company: 1976
Year of logo creation: 1976
Logo authors: Ronald Wayne (1976), Rob Janoff (1977), Apple (1998-2013)
Company Founders: Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, Ronald Wayne

The history of Apple's corporate identity begins with an ornate logo designed by one of the company's founders, Ronald Wayne. Wayne's logo was inspired by Newton's discovery of gravity. The logo was adorned with the quote “Newton…A mind that forever sails the uncharted seas of thought…Alone” and the name of the company “Apple Computer Co.” Steve Jobs, however, was not happy with such a complex composition and demanded that the emblem be changed to something “not so pretty.” So in 1977, Rob Janoff came up with a beautiful new design with an image of an apple and the word “Apple”. The new logo was aimed at a younger audience and symbolized the computer's unique ability to display colors. And in order not to confuse an apple with a cherry, it was decided to make it bitten.

In 1984, with the release of the Apple Macintosh, Apple executives decided that the logo had already gained enough notoriety to represent the company alone, without a brand name. This decision turned out to be correct. Since 1984, the company has not changed its legendary symbol, experimenting only with colors and shadows.

Pepsi

Year of foundation of the company: 1893
Year of creation of the logo: 1898
Logo authors: Gould & Associates (1965), Landor Associates (1996), Arnell (2009)
Company Founder: Caleb Bradham

The Pepsi logo, destined to become one of the visual symbols of modern culture, was created by the founder of the company, Caleb Bradham. The concept turned out to be so successful that it was not until 1962 that the logo experienced its first significant change, saying goodbye to the word “cola” in the title. So only the word “Pepsi” remained on the logo on a red-white-blue background (which, by the way, symbolized the Pepsi bottle cap). Between 1971 and 2005, the emblem continued its path of simplification, each time becoming more minimalistic and stylish.

mercedes benz

Year of foundation of the company: 1926
Year of creation of the logo: 1902
Logo authors: Gottlieb Deimler (1909), Henrion Ludlow Schmidt
Company founders: Karl Benz, Gottlieb Deimler

It's hard to believe, but once the DMG (Daimler Motors Corporation) logo, coined in 1902, was not at all like the legendary three-pointed star that each of us recognizes today. Then it was an oval icon with the word Mercedes. Why "Mercedes"? That was the name of the daughter of the founder of the company, Gottlieb Deimler. And only seven years later, in 1909, Daimler registered the three-pointed and four-pointed stars as DMG trademarks. A three-pointed star was chosen as the trademark of the brand, which has become a symbol of the growing era of motor vehicles “on land, water and air”. So since 1910, a three-pointed star flaunted on the radiator of all DMG cars. In 1916, the decision was made to enclose the star in a circle: this is how the well-known Mercedes-Benz logo was born.

It should be noted that from 1916 to 1921, the logo also featured an inner circle with the word Mercedes inside. The laconic silver star we know today, enclosed in a circle, was first introduced in 1921, but soon gave way to an emblem reminiscent of the 1916 design. In 1926, the two auto giants DMG and Benz & Cie merged. So it was founded Mercedes-Benz brand, whose new corporate image was a cross between the logos of the two firms: DMG's three-pointed star and Benz's laurel wreath. Along the inner edge of the circle were the words Mercedes and Benz. This design decision lasted until 1996, when the company realized that nothing could be better than the minimalistic DMG emblem of the 1921 model. And we completely agree with this!

McDonald's

Year of foundation of the company: 1940
Year of creation of the logo: 1940
Logo designer: Jim Schindler
Company Founders: Richard MacDonald, Maurice MacDonald

At the very beginning of its stellar journey, McDonald was known as McDonald's Famous Barbeque. On the 1940 logo, burger lovers could see the name of the company, in which the word Famous (in translation - “famous”) was underlined twice. In 1948, the firm changed its name to McDonald's Famous Hamburgers, and from 1948 to 1953 Chef Speedy acted as its visual image until it was replaced in 1960 by the famous golden arches that formed the letter "M". The arches were written by Stanley Meston.

But the emblem's adventures didn't end there. In 1968, the company simplified the "M" and made the McDonald's logo black. This composition lasted until 1983, when the company opted for the logo, which today is unmistakably associated with largest network fast food restaurants in the world. On a red background there was a white inscription and golden arches. In 2003, under the letter “M”, the slogan “i’m lovin’ it” appeared, which today can be seen on the packaging of the company’s products. As part of a 2006 redesign, McDonalds decided to simplify the emblem as much as possible, leaving only the gold letter "M".

Levi's

Year of foundation of the company: 1850
Year of creation of the logo: 1890
Logo by Landor Associates (1969)
Company Founder: Levi Strauss

Today, the Levi's logo exists in two versions: a simple white lettering on a red background and an image with two horses. This logo is still used on patches on Levi's jeans as a symbol of their durability. No less famous red emblem was invented only in 1940 in an attempt by the brand to stand out from other manufacturers. In 1969, Levi's introduced its new batwing logo designed by Walter Landor & Associates. The fans of the denim brand liked the new icon no less than the two previous ones.

Burger King

Year of foundation of the company: 1954
Year the logo was created: 1954
Logo by: Sterling Brands
Company Founders: James McLamore, David R. Edgerton

As the second fast food chain in the world, Burger King has managed to create a strong visual identity that is second only to McDonald's golden arch. But, to be honest, such an opponent is not ashamed to lose! And it all started with a rather complex emblem, on which the king (the same Burger King!) importantly sat on a burger. Although the character is still used in the brand's advertising, the logo itself underwent a major change in 1969 when the idea of ​​the two halves of a bun was coined. This image turned out to be so successful that it still remains the main element of Burger King's corporate identity. However, in 1998 the emblem was improved: its composition was expanded with a blue circle and became more voluminous.

Google

Year of foundation of the company: 1998
Year of logo creation: 1997
Logo designer: Sergey Brin (1997, 1998), Ruth Kedar (2000, 2010)
Company founders: Larry Page, Sergey Brin

Story Google logo begins in 1997, when one of the founders of the company, Sergey Brin, developed its design in the GIMP graphics program. It was a "raw" version of the current Google logo. Further, the logo was changed and an exclamation mark was added to it (in imitation of the Yahoo! emblem). In 2000, designer Ruth Kedar improved the logo by removing the exclamation point. The new emblem served the company until 2010, gaining incredible popularity in 11 years. In 2015, the firm unveiled its latest logo so far.

Warner Bros.

Year of foundation of the company: 1918
Year of creation of the logo: 1923
Logo by Saul Bass (1972)
Company founders: Albert Warner, Harry Warner, Sam Warner, Jack Warner.

Familiar to every cinephile, the shield adorned (in one form or another) the emblem of the Warner Bros. film company. throughout its history. This emblem first appeared in 1923: above the letters WB, which formed the shape of a shield, there was a photograph of a film studio. In 1929, it was decided to abandon photography: now the words Warner Bros. were located above the abbreviation WB. Pictures Inc., and under it - the word Presents. In 1936-37, the film company removed all the words from the image, leaving only the shield. In 1937, the shield became three-dimensional. This logo lasted until 1948, when a real revolution took place in the cinema: the image became colored.

In the period from 1948 to 1967, on a blue shield with a gold border, there was a voluminous golden abbreviation WB. In order to most successfully demonstrate the new color possibilities of cinema, it was decided to expand the shield and add brightness to the shades. In 1967, the emblem was expected cardinal changes: WB's controlling interest passed to the film company Seven Arts. The famous shield became simpler and more angular, and below it was the name Seven Arts. In this form, the icon existed from 1967 to 1970. In 1970, the Warner Bros. Seven Arts became the property of Kinney. National Company, and now the inscription A Kinney National Company flaunted above the shield. In 1972 Warner Bros. briefly used an emblem very similar to its old 1948 pattern logo. In the same year, designer Saul Bass drew a new logo that lasted until 1984. The new emblem was much simpler than the previous variations: this time the letter "W" was stylized in such a way that it began to resemble three intertwined arcuate lines. In 1984, the company returned to the 1948 blue and gold shield, but this time the colors were brighter and the composition more stylish. The film giant did not change this beautiful logo until 2013. Over the past few years, the emblem, while retaining its basic elements, has changed from film to film, becoming a field for experimentation with various color and animation solutions.

IBM

Year of foundation of the company: 1911
Year of creation of the logo: 1886
Logo by: Paul Rand (1956, 1972)
Company Founder: Charles R. Flint

The year of birth of the IBM logo is considered to be 1924, when the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company changed its name to the more solid and resounding International Business Machines. Logically, the name change was followed by an update of the corporate identity: the ornate, hard-to-read CTR emblem of the 1911 model gave way to a new icon, on which the International Business Machines name was located in the shape of a globe. In 1947 modernization computer giant demanded another revision of the visual style of the company. So the globe was replaced with a minimalist inscription IBM, which remains the same symbol of the company to this day. In 1956, designer Paul Rand made the abbreviation more "weighty", emphasizing the reliability of the company and its high status. In 1972, in response to changes in the company's positioning, Rand introduced a lighter, "striped" logo, which this time symbolized speed and dynamism.

NASA

Year of foundation of the company: 1958
Year of creation of the logo: 1958
Logo by: James Modarelli (1959, 1992), Danne & Blackburn (1974)
Company Founder: US Government

The first NASA logo dates back to 1958, when the US National Aeronautics Advisory Committee was reorganized into NASA. It turns out that NASA has not one, but three emblems: a badge (the so-called “meatball”), a logo (“worm”) and a seal. The seal was approved by President Eisenhower himself, and then President Kennedy made some changes to it.

Microsoft

Year of foundation of the company: 1975
Year of logo creation: 1975
Logo by: Scott Baker (1987)
Company Founders: Bill Gates, Paul Allen

The first Microsoft logo was created in 1975 and was used until 1979. The emblem was developed in accordance with the current design trends of the time. In 1980, the company opted for a simpler and more stylish logo: this time, the Microsoft lettering was placed in one line. In 1982, the world saw an updated Microsoft logo with a fancy letter "O". The new image was very fond of consumers, and its write-off “to the archive” in 1987 caused a flurry of indignation. The visual story of the brand continued with the laconic “Pac-Man logo” designed by Scott Baker: the slit between the letters “O” and “S” evoked associations with speed and rapid development. The heyday of the computer giant came in the late 90s and early 2000s, and its simple, even inconspicuous logo has become one of the most recognizable design ideas in the world.

Adidas

Year of foundation of the company: 1920
Year of creation of the logo: 1949
Logo designed by Adi Dassler (1949), Kathe and Adi Dassler (1971), Peter Moore (1997)
Company founder: Adi Dassler

The logo of the sports shoe manufacturer Adidas was designed by the founder of the company, Adi Dassler, who had the idea to decorate the shoes he produced with three stripes. The emblem gained instant popularity and did not change for for long years(only the shape of the stripes changed slightly). In the 60s, Kathe and Adi Dassler came up with another emblem for clothing in the form of a shamrock. In 1997, the firm introduced a cool new corporate symbol: three slanting stripes arranged in the shape of a mountain, symbolizing the challenges the company faces and the goals it sets for itself.

Starbucks

Year of foundation of the company: 1971
Year of logo creation: 1971
Logo by: Terry Heckler (1971, 1987, 1992), Lippincott and Starbucks International Creative Team (2011)
Company Founders: Jerry Baldwin, Gordon Bowker, Zev Siegl

In 1971, while looking for inspiration for their signature style, the founders of the coffee house came across a 14th-century woodcut of a mermaid (siren) with two tails. This image was destined to become famous all over the world. Based on a rare find, Terry Heckler designed an emblem with a naked siren, whose head was crowned with a fancy crown. It is noteworthy that at that time the company bore the long name of Starbucks Coffee, Tea, and Spices. Subsequently, Heckler improved his creation more than once. The first redesign dates back to 1987, when II Giornale and Starbucks merged into one company. Then, in 1992, Heckler finalized the emblem once more: now the siren smiled shyly, and her crown and tails became less pronounced. Last changes were made in 2011, when the design team removed the outer circle from the emblem, leaving only the image of a beautiful mermaid, and changed the background color from black to the signature green. Such a bold step was justified by the fact that over the 40 years of the logo’s existence, the siren has become so strongly associated with the coffee brand that even people who prefer tea recognized it.

Volkswagen

Year of foundation of the company: 1937
Year of creation of the logo: 1939
Logo authors: Franz Xavier Reimspiess (1938), Meta Design (2007)
Company founder: German Labor Front

The company Ferdinand Porsche held a competition for the best logo for the new Volkswagen car. The winner of the competition was the designer Franz Reimspiess, who, by the way, improved the engine for the Beetle model in the 30s. The original black and white logo included the VW abbreviation and a swastika, which was a reflection of the Hitler regime then dominant in the country. The second logo no longer contained a swastika and in its shape looked more like a wheel than a fan (as was the case with the previous version). After the Second World War, the automaker passed into the hands of the British, who renamed it the Beetle and redrawn the logo. The VW abbreviation remained, but the circle was not censored due to its association with the Nazi flag. But there were no buyers for the Volkswagen factory, and the company had to be returned to the German government. Over time, the company abandoned the black and white colors, and the automaker's modern icon is rendered in friendlier blues and grays.

Visa

Year of foundation of the company: 1970
Year of creation of the logo: 1958
Logo designed by Greg Silveria (2006)
Company Founders: Dee Hawk, Bank of America

The first VISA emblem, which dates from the year the company was founded, featured the word VISA in two lines (the upper letters were in blue and the lower ones in yellow). In 2006, the firm opted for a more visible and recognizable typeface. In 2014, the entire inscription became blue. The new logo is now featured on all marketing and promotional materials for the company.

Shell

Year of foundation of the company: 1907
Year of creation of the logo: 1900
Logo designed by Raymond Loewy (1971)
Company founders: Royal Dutch Petroleum Company, "Shell" Transport & Tranding Company Ltd.

The Shell icon has always been based on a shell, but with each redesign, the emblem has become less and less like its prototype. Back in 1900, the logo featured a simple black and white shell. In 1948, it was decided to paint the image in red and yellow shades. Since then, the icon has hardly changed. For several decades, only the position of the name has changed oil company, but in 1999 it was decided to say goodbye to him as an unnecessary element.

lego

Year of foundation of the company: 1932
Year of creation of the logo: 1934
Logo author: unknown
Company Founder: Ole Kirk Christiansen

The very first logo of the toy company in 1932 can be safely called an example of minimalism: it was a simple LEGO lettering. So the founder of the company, Ole Kirk Christiansen, paid tribute to his hometown of Billund in Denmark. In 1936, LEGO painted its logo in bright colors, making it look like a toy itself. In 1950, the LEGO name was enclosed in a circle, along the outer edge of which was the inscription Billund Danmark. Three years later, in 1953, LEGO introduced a new logo with white letters on a red background. In 1956, the word System was added under the name of the company, and the LEGO inscription itself acquired a black outline to attract attention. In 1973, it was decided to abandon the word System, and the LEGO inscription acquired another, this time yellow, outline. The modern emblem of the Danish toy company has been used since 1998, bringing joy to millions of children around the world.

Hewlett-Packard Company (HP)

Year of foundation of the company: 1939
Year of creation of the logo: 1939
Logo by: Landor Associates (1999), Liquid Agency (2008)
Company Founders: Bill Hewlett, David Packard

Surprisingly, the Hewlett-Packard logo has hardly changed since its introduction in 1939. In 2011, there was talk of making the logo dynamic by drawing diagonal lines across the H and P, but nothing came of it. In 2016, the logo was changed and now consists of four lines that symbolize the letters “HP”.

gap

Year of foundation of the company: 1969
Year of creation of the logo: 1969
Logo by: Laird & Partners (2010)
Company Founders: Donald Fisher, Doris Fisher

From 1969 to 1986, the logo of this popular clothing manufacturer was only the name of the company, without any additional elements. The name was then enclosed in a blue square. The audience liked this simple but self-sufficient composition so much that an attempt to modernize the emblem in 2010 caused a wave of indignation, and the company had no choice but to return to the old version.

Canon

Year of foundation of the company: 1937
Year of creation of the logo: 1934
Logo author: unknown
Founders: Takeshi Mitarai, Goro Yoshido, Saburo Ushida, Takeo Maeda

Few people know that on the original logo Japanese company Seiki Kogaku Kenyudho depicted the goddess of mercy Kannon, who enjoyed great reverence among Buddhists. In honor of the goddess, the first Kwanon camera was named. After an incredible commercial success in 1935, the company expanded production and decided to update its corporate identity. So in 1956, the well-known red logo was released to all of us.

bmw

Year of foundation of the company: 1916
Year of creation of the logo: 1916
Logo designed by Franz-Josef Popp
Company founder: Franz-Josef Popp

The BMW automobile company (or Bayerische Motoren Werke GmbH) was formed as a result of the merger in 1916 of two aircraft engine factories (Gustav Otto's Flugmaschinenfabrik and Rapp-Motorenwerke). The prototype of the BMW badge we know is the Rapp-Motor, which featured the silhouette of a horse and the Bavaria flag with its recognizable blue and white pattern. This is how the BMW logo was born: two white and two blue quadrants enclosed in a black circle. After the end of the First World War, the company switched from serving the military to the production of cars, but its emblem has remained virtually unchanged since 1917. The most notable transformation took place in 2000, when the logo received a three-dimensional effect, which, by the way, suits it very well!

Audi

Year of foundation of the company: 1909
Year of creation of the logo: 1910
Logo authors: Lucian Bernhard, Professor Arno Drescher, Meta Design (2009)
Company founder: August Horch

The first logo of the automaker Audi was an example of art nouveau style and was used from the very beginning of the company until 1932. In 1932, the four intertwining rings that everyone would recognize today appeared when Audi teamed up with DKW, Horch and Wanderer to cut costs in the face of an economic downturn. The rings symbolized the unity of the four companies that were now part of the Auto Union AG concern. In 1965, the group was renamed Audi and was then taken over by the Volkswagen Group. For its 100th anniversary in 2009, Audi redesigned its badge, giving it a more beautiful and sophisticated look.

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