Our store supplies only branded clothing from famous European brands (primarily German), as well as well-known American and Canadian companies. Why are people so eager to buy branded clothing? What is this: a tribute to fashion, the pursuit of prestige or a practical approach? Without denying the fashion aspect, we would still venture to suggest that the main thing for the modern buyer is high quality the products he purchases.
When you buy clothes from a well-known brand, you can be sure that they will last you for a long time, and not one season, as is the case with ordinary things. The reason for this is simple - well-known global corporations strictly monitor compliance with production processes, using modern technologies. This is especially important if you purchase shoes, because they are usually the first to be hit.
In the case of or clothes, you're more likely to get bored of them appearance or it will go out of fashion and become spoiled. That’s why we love it ourselves and recommend that you choose only proven brands for your wardrobe!
A logo is essentially a visual representation of a company. Think of the golden arches of Macdonald's or the Nike swoosh - these impressive logos embody two of the largest empires under their banners. However, many companies still skimp on developing this key part of building a corporate ethos. A good, memorable logo significantly increases customer growth and loyalty, creates the right impression among business partners,
There are 3 types of logos:
- Repeating infinity elements. For example, the fundamental power of the IBM, Microsoft, and Sony logos comes from the intersecting elements that make their symbols distinctive.
- 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 their logo.
- Use of abstract graphic symbols. Examples include Nike. Over time, the image of the brand name has become a reminder to consumers of the company in any situation.
Let's look at the most popular logos of famous clothing and footwear brands.
Nike
The logo of the famous company is represented by the popular branded Swoosh, which identifies the wing of the Greek goddess Victoria (the Greek name Victoria means “victory”). The logo project was started in 1971 by Caroline Davidson, a graphic designer and student at the University of Oregon. Caroline proposed this project to Philip Knight, one of the founders of the company. Knight didn't particularly like Caroline's design, but he was confident that the logo would work for him in the future. And, as we see, he was not mistaken in his calculations. Later, when the Nike brand rose to the heights of the international level, Philip gave Davidson a diamond ring with the Swoosh logo and a huge amount of sportswear and shoes from the company warehouse.
Adidas
The Adidas brand was created after the collapse of his father's company, which was called Gebrüder Dassler Schuhfabrik. Initially, the company name sounded like Addas - an abbreviation of the initial letters of the name of the company founder. However, a few months later Addas was changed to Adidas (the founder was called Adi among his friends).
The signature three stripes featured in the logo were acquired from the Finnish sports company Karhu in 1950, and today it is the company's style, which is included in the most popular logos of famous brands. By the way, the stripes symbolized the company’s popularity on three continents.
Puma
Rudolf Dassler, brother of Adolf Dassler, in turn founded the Puma brand. The first version of the company logo differs from the one we know now - initially the company name sounded like “Ruda” (from the name of the founder Rudolf, Rudoo). According to one version, the first version of the logo was developed by Rudolf himself, and in the 60s of the 20th century. the symbol took on the familiar shape of a Puma.
Gucci
The Gucci company is the brainchild of Guccio Gucci, who laid the origins of the now famous brand in 1921 in Florence. One of his six children 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 recognition.
A special feature of the symbol is the overlapping letters G. However, these are not only letters, it is a symbol of two stirrups - a legacy of the Guccio Gucci brand, which sold accessories for horses.
Givenchy
Givenchy - fashion brand, which was founded in 1952 by Hubert James Marcel Taffin 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 represents a four "G" that occupies the entire area. The Givenchy logo is reminiscent of ornate Celtic jewelry.
Levi Strauss & Co
Levi Strauss & Co. (LS & CO) was founded in 1853, at the time Levi Strauss moved from Franconia to San Francisco to promote the West Coast branch of his brothers' dry goods business. Already in 1870, the company launched mass sales of denim overalls, which were successfully sold 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 company's original logo appeared in 1886 and depicted two horses tearing jeans into different parts. Logos famous history their creations, as a rule, are surrounded by 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 connected two separate cars with jeans and thus drove to the destination station.
Reebok
The company was founded in England in 1895 by Foster and his sons as a result of the founder's desire to provide spikes to his sons' sneakers. After the rise of global manufacturers to Olympus, already in 1958, the founder’s grandchildren, Joe and Jeff, renamed the company Reebok. The name refers to the African continent, where "rhebok" is a type of antelope. The logos of famous world 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 products of the highest quality and chic. The company's logo is represented by the brand's initials and is created in the form of a stylization inspired by Japanese floral motifs.
Hello Kitty
The character itself was created and brought to the public in 1974 by Shintaro Tsuji, owner of the Sanrio company. As trade logo The Cute Kitty image company was registered in 1976.
Initially, there were two names to choose between: 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. Logos famous companies and brands of children's clothing and toys, previously separate, made a single powerful breakthrough in the business sphere.
Converse
The history of the company, like its logo, dates back to 1908 and is called the Converse Rubber Shoe Company. In 1915, founder Mills Converse began making tennis shoes, but a fateful event for the company occurred in 1917: basketball player Charles H. Taylor entered Mills' office with an injured leg. To make the athlete's movements easier, Mills developed high-top sneakers, which today have become classics in the global fashion shoe industry.
Converse is not just a brand, it is an entire era, for example, it was the shoes that Wilt Chamberlain wore when he scored 100 points in an NBA game in 1962, and also wore Converse when he scored the decisive goal in 1982. It has been the official shoe of the NBA for a long time, worn by sports legends such as Larry Bird and Julius Erving.
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 has at least once been interested in the world of fashion. In 1933, Jean Rene Lacoste created a company that produced tennis shirts, and the name was formed from the consonance with the sports pseudonym of the founder himself, which sounded like “crocodile skin”.
The company symbol Rene Lacoste was born, just like many other logos of famous brands. The game was worth the candle in this case too. The story behind 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 inspired 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 Edward and Adele Fendi. The recognizable symbol of the fashion house now appears on every document signed by Fendi representatives as the fashion seal of Fendi colletions.
Chanel
The famous logo in the form of a double “C” overlapping each other and positioned “back-to-back” 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 behind their creation, and this is what happened with the Chanel brand. One of the versions tells the story of 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 that two crossed horseshoes were simply used as a symbol of success and luck. Still, 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 placed on the pocket of every 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 famous brand's symbol is symbolically linked to Greek mythology and depicts intertwined snake heads, which often adorn the logos of bags. Famous brands quite a lot, but the Versace logo is difficult to confuse with another company.
The logo was designed in 1978 by Gianni Versace, who was obsessed with classics in art, so the version that turned viewers to stone became a symbol that embodied the designer’s fatal attraction to the world of fashion.
We have collected examples of both the best company logos and those that are not entirely successful. We'll tell you why they became this way and what they can teach us. But before we get started, here are a few important things about logos and company business. These basic principles will help you navigate the value of a logo in an organization's business, its connection to success, and the cost of logo development:
The success of the company as a whole does not depend on the quality and thoughtfulness of the design. If there were any other sign in place of the Apple logo,would the company be less successful? Hardly.
No one needs a logo by itself. It's how and where you use it that matters. Successful Organizations use the logo at all points of contact with the client. In this way, customers develop a continuous association of the company with its products and the experience they receive by interacting with the company.
- Profitable successful business/ high-quality expensive design - excellent!
- Profitable successful business / bad cheap design - bad!
- Unstable unprofitable business / high-quality expensive design - terrible!
- Unstable unprofitable business / bad cheap design - bad!
- Young business/inexpensive logo - ok!
So now is the time to move on from general principles To specific examples. Let's start with samples, you can familiarize yourself with them in the next section of the article.
The best logos of firms and companies
We have selected for you the most striking examples of quality logos that have helped a number of companies become global leaders in their industries. These include brands such as:
General Electric
The logo of General Electric, one of the leading technology manufacturers, has remained virtually unchanged since the company was founded in 1892.
And why was it necessary to change it? The "GE" initials, crafted in an intricate font and framed by arched strokes, combine simplicity and efficiency - qualities that customers expect from General Electric products. Moreover, the logo, built around an Art Nouveau pattern, is reminiscent of the rotating drum of a washing machine, one of the company's most popular products.
JPMorgan Chase
JPMorgan Chase is one of the leading financial conglomerates and the largest bank, with assets worth a whopping $2.35 trillion.
Moreover, JPMorgan Chase ranks sixth in the ranking of the largest publicly traded companies in the world. In other words, this is a brand that speaks for itself.
It must be admitted that the bank managed to accurately convey its dominant position with the help of its logo.
What makes the JPMorgan Chase logo recognizable and effective?
With a simple, bold font and minimal use of graphics, the JPMorgan Chase logo conveys power and authority and seems to say, “If you don’t pay on time, we’ll charge you a late fee like you never imagined.” Harsh, isn't it? But one cannot expect any other attitude from such a serious organization.
If you are even a little familiar with, then you don't need to explain what Facebook is.
It is noteworthy that Mark Zuckerberg's company was originally called "The Facebook". But the article in the name did not last long, and the company itself made a real revolution in the Internet community, rapidly becoming the most popular social platform in the world.
The Facebook logo has the most valuable quality in graphic design - it provides instant brand identification. Taking care of maintaining a recognizable visual image, the company made only minor stylistic changes to its logo, leaving the main elements intact.
ExxonMobil
ExxonMobil is the largest oil company in the world, bringing astronomical profits to its owners and shareholders. Exxon and Mobil were once two different firms that decided to combine their knowledge and resources in 1998 (perhaps with the ambitious goal of achieving world domination).
Such a successful and reputable organization should have a corresponding logo! But in this case, as they say, something went wrong. The ExxonMobil logo, with its simple, bland design, fails to capture the character of such a powerful brand.
Unfortunately, the logos of individual companies before their merger often look more distinctive and original than the emblem of the merged company.
What conclusion can be drawn from this story? Less is not always better.
I think millions of people will subscribe to my words if I say: “THANK YOU, AMAZON!” Thanks to Amazon Prime, I can order absolutely anything and have it delivered within 48 hours (or less). And all this with free (or almost free) delivery.
Knowing yours very well strengths, the online store masterfully reflected them in its logo. Do you see the arrow that stretches from A to Z? Symbolizing directional movement, the arrow indicates that Amazon will deliver your order from its warehouse directly to your door. But that's not all the meaning contained in this simple icon. The arrow also resembles a smile, indicating that the company guarantees high quality service, ensuring that its customers are satisfied.
Microsoft
Despite some missteps that have accumulated over the past few years (yes, Zune and Windows 10, we're talking about exactly about you!), with a redesign of its logo in 2012 Microsoft company did an excellent job.
The logo, which lasted from 1987 to 2012, was pretty good (I especially liked the “O”, which looked like Pac-Man), but left a lot to be desired from a design standpoint.
In terms of color, the new logo looks much friendlier. And whoever came up with the idea of presenting the company’s main products in the form of four square windows is a real genius! The blue window symbolizes the Windows operating system, the red one represents the Office software package, the green one represents the Xbox game console, and the yellow one... The yellow one does not mean anything, but since the window cannot have three panels, we will assume that it is necessary.
And it's also worth noting that of all the companies on this list, Microsoft has the most serious problems with building a consistent visual identity. Judge for yourself: every time the computer giant makes changes to its logo, it looks completely new, as if it has nothing in common with the company’s previous logos.
Nike Company is known not only for its sports shoes, but also for having one of the best logos in the business world. The famous Nike swoosh is a prime example of how a visual image can play a huge role in building a reputation and transforming an ordinary company into a reliable, respected brand. If earlier the Nike emblem was not considered something remarkable, then over time it became a visual identification of sports culture.
In English-speaking countries, the Nike swoosh is known as the "swoosh". “Swoosh” is the sound we hear when an object suddenly rushes past us. Thus, this word denotes a sharp sound, speed and movement, which is successfully reflected in the curved shape of the logo.
The story of the Nike “swoosh” is remarkable in that it demonstrates the development of the logo from the “ugly duckling”, which no one liked until the “beautiful swan”, which attracts admiring glances.
The “parents” of the legendary BMW logo were the round Rapp-Motor emblem with a black silhouette of a horse and the Bavarian flag with its characteristic blue and white checkerboard pattern. This is how the familiar black circle appeared, inside which there were blue and white quadrants.
After World War I, which ended with the Treaty of Versailles, the company switched from aircraft production to the production of motorcycles and cars. The BMW emblem has remained virtually unchanged since 1917. The most noticeable transformation occurred in 2000, when the logo acquired volume due to the 3D effect.
Mastercard
Back in 1966, Mastercard was known as Master Charge, and its first logo featured two intersecting circles (bright orange and yellowish red) with the words “Master Charge: The Interbank Card.”
In 1979, the company shortened its name to the capacious MasterCard. New name - updated logo! The colors on the emblem have become brighter, and the font has become more solid. In 1996, the logo became three-dimensional: now “slits” appeared in the area where the two circles intersect.
FedEx
In 1971 on the logo postal service the full name of the company “Federal Express” was placed at an angle.
The emblem was made in patriotic colors of red and blue, which evoked associations with the American government. Having gained popularity thanks to its original logo, the brand decided to say goodbye to it in 1994. The new design is as inventive as the old one: hidden between the letters E and X is an arrow that points to speed and accuracy as the main advantages postal company.
The first IBM logo was created in 1924, when the Computing-Tabulating-Recording company was renamed International Business Machines.
Thus, the company name acquired a more modern sound, and the 1924 logo became an updated version of the 1911 logo, which was previously used by CTR. The subtle CTR logo with its airy, ornate font gave way to the bulky inscription “International Business Machines” (with an emphasis on the word “International”), which was placed inside a circle symbolizing the globe. In 1947, when the brand carried out a significant modernization of its technology, the round emblem was replaced by the abbreviation “IBM”, which was destined to become the symbol of the company. In 1956, graphic designer Paul Rand redrawn the letters, making them black and more massive. The new design emphasized the brand's qualities of stability and sustainability. In 1972, Rand was commissioned to rework the image he had created. To create a dynamic and flexible image, the designer made “slots” on the abbreviation. This is how the famous “striped” logo came about, which IBM is pleased with to this day.
Despite the apparent diversity of all of the above signs, they were all designed with similar criteria in mind, which is what made them so successful. It is these factors that we will discuss further.
What can we learn from these logos?
What conclusions can an entrepreneur draw from reading the stories behind these logos?
Decide what your logo should communicate about your brand
The logo should reflect the essence of your brand, emphasizing its most characteristic features. For example, looking at the JPMorgan Chase emblem, you immediately understand that we are talking about an influential company with a reputation built up over the years. How does your logo characterize your business?
By the way, the majority of entrepreneurs are, to one degree or another, in favor of the logo’s compliance with the business sector, and only 16% do not consider such a requirement mandatory when creating a logo.
Don't be afraid to make an impression
Too pretentious, extravagant design is something that should be avoided at all costs. But at the same time, you should not be afraid to use a logo in order to boldly declare yourself and indicate your place in the market.
Create a simple logo
This tip is a bit of a contradiction to the previous tip, but when creating a logo it is important to keep it simple and light. This concerns the number of colors used, the readability of the font, and the number of elements. Look at the Nike logo for a perfect example of a simple yet effective logo.
Find a good concept and stick to it
Many companies (Apple, Johnson & Johnson, General Electric) do not change the logo once chosen for decades (and in the case of J&J - for more than a century!). But even when making seemingly significant changes to their logos, such brands remain faithful to their previous design concept.
While it's never a bad idea to rethink your corporate identity, try to find design solutions that best represent your brand and use them as guidelines. Buyers get used to the logo, and over time begin to strongly associate it with the company. Consistency in developing your visual identity will ensure your brand is widely recognized in the long term.
Ready for another dose of inspiration? Then let's admire them, which once again prove that graphic design is separate species art.
Examples of beautifully designed company logos
Most logos carry one or another message (for example, information about the quality of services provided by the company). We have collected dozens of corporate logos that deserve to be called examples of highly professional graphic design. Share your opinions in the comments! Which emblems made the strongest impression on you?
Which logo suits you?
If a high-quality, yet inexpensive logo is what you're looking for, then check out online service Logaster and develop your logo in just a few minutes.
Company logos I play important role in their promotion and development. In the eyes of an attentive consumer form style a company decides a lot, if not everything. At different stages of their history, companies use different variations of theirs, which emphasize its values, loyalty to tradition, 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 French fries. When they see the BMW logo, many people imagine a prestigious car, which indicates the high social status of its owner. Moreover, the logo shapes the consumer’s opinion about the company and what it produces.
We were faced with 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. Some companies changed their logos so often that we simply could not devote time to each variation and decided to concentrate only on the main variants. The development of company logos is a reflection of the development of world culture and studying this process is interesting not only from the point of view of design, but also from the point of view of history!
Nike
Year the company was founded: 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 importing company Blue Ribbon Sports, which in 1971 decided to expand the scope of its activities and began producing sports shoes, laying the foundation for the Nike brand we know. The legendary “tick” on the company logo did not make much of an impression on one of Nike founders Philip Knight, who said: “I don’t like this logo, but I’ll get used to it.”
The author of the logo was not anyone famous designer Carolyn Davidson, who received only $35 for her work! Davidson's logo was inspired by the ancient Greek goddess of victory, Nike, and the “swoosh” symbolizes the movement and speed associated with that goddess. In 1978, Nike updated the logo, adding a bolder font and slightly moving the swoosh. No one expected that the “tick” would become one of the most recognizable emblems in the world and would become such an autonomous symbol that in 1995 it would even displace the company name from the logo!
Coca-Cola
Year the company was founded: 1886
Year of logo creation: 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. Most characteristic feature The logo is the Spencerian script, which was widely used in official documents and correspondence at the end of the 19th century. In 1890, the company visually complicated the logo, enlivening the lettering with serifs and swirls that resembled cherries hanging from the capital letters “C.” The new design didn't catch on - predictably - and today we still associate the company with Robinson's beautiful old logo. Agree, you can hardly think of anything better here!
Ford
Year the company was founded: 1903
Year of logo creation: 1903
Logo author: 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 overly detailed circular icon with the company's name and location. In 1927, the logo redesign 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 synonymous with taste and style.
Apple
Year the company was founded: 1976
Year of logo creation: 1976
Logo authors: Ronald Wayne (1976), Rob Janoff (1977), Apple (1998-2013)
Founders of the company: Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, Ronald Wayne
The history of Apple's corporate identity begins with an ornate logo invented by one of the company's founders, Ronald Wayne. Wayne's logo was inspired by Newton's discovery of gravity. The logo was decorated with the quote “Newton...The mind that forever sails the uncharted seas of thought...Alone” and the company name “Apple Computer Co.” Steve Jobs, however, was not delighted with such a complex composition and demanded that the logo be changed to something “not so pretty.” So in 1977, Rob Janoff developed 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 so that the apple would not be confused with a cherry, it was decided to make it bitten.
In 1984, with the release of the Apple Macintosh, Apple management decided that the logo had already gained enough prominence to represent the company alone, without the 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 the company was founded: 1893
Year of logo creation: 1898
Logo authors: Gould & Associates (1965), Landor Associates (1996), Arnell (2009)
Company Founder: Caleb Bradham
The author of the Pepsi logo, which will become one of the visual symbols modern culture, is the company's founder, Caleb Bradham. The concept turned out to be so successful that it was only in 1962 that the logo underwent its first significant change, saying goodbye to the word “cola” in the name. So the only thing left on the logo was the word “Pepsi” on a red, white and blue background (which, by the way, symbolized the Pepsi bottle cap). Between 1971 and 2005, the emblem continued its path to simplification, each time becoming more minimalistic and stylish.
Mercedes-Benz
Year the company was founded: 1926
Year of logo creation: 1902
Logo authors: Gottlieb Daimler (1909), Henrion Ludlow Schmidt
Company founders: Karl Benz, Gottlieb Deimler
It’s hard to believe, but once upon a time the DMG (Daimler Motors Corporation) logo, invented in 1902, was not at all similar to 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 company's founder, Gottlieb Daimler. 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 brand’s trademark, which became a symbol of the growing era of motorized vehicles “on land, water and air.” So, since 1910, all DMG cars have had a three-pointed star on the radiator. In 1916, it was decided to enclose the star in a circle: this is how the Mercedes-Benz logo we know came into being.
It should be noted that from 1916 to 1921 the logo also featured an inner circle with the word Mercedes inside. The simple silver star set in a circle as we know it today 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. Thus the Mercedes-Benz brand was founded, the new corporate image of which was something between the logos of the two companies: the three-pointed star of DMG and the laurel wreath of Benz. Along the inner edge of the circle were the words Mercedes and Benz. This design solution 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 the company was founded: 1940
Year of logo creation: 1940
Logo Designer: Jim Schindler
Company founders: Richard MacDonald, Maurice MacDonald
At the very beginning of its star journey, the McDonald company was known as McDonald's Famous Barbeque. In the 1940 logo, burger lovers could see the company name, in which the word Famous was underlined twice. In 1948, the company changed its name to McDonald's Famous Hamburgers, and from 1948 to 1953, Chef Speedy served as its visual identity, until it was replaced in 1960 by the famous golden arches that formed the letter “M.” The author of the arches was Stanley Meston.
But the adventures of the emblem did not end there. In 1968, the company simplified the “M” and made the McDonald’s lettering black. This composition lasted until 1983, when the company opted for a logo that today is unmistakably associated with the largest fast food restaurant chain in the world. There was a white inscription and golden arches on a red background. 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 the 2006 redesign, McDonalds decided to simplify the logo as much as possible, leaving only the golden letter “M”.
Levi's
Year the company was founded: 1850
Year of logo creation: 1890
Logo author: 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 Levi's jeans patches as a symbol of their durability. The equally famous red emblem was invented only in 1940 in an attempt by the brand to stand out among other manufacturers. In 1969, Levi's introduced its new logo shaped like wings bat, which was designed by the design bureau Walter Landor & Associates. The new icon is loved by fans of the denim brand no less than the previous two.
Burger King
Year the company was founded: 1954
Year of logo creation: 1954
Logo author: Sterling Brands
Company founders: James McLamore, David R. Edgerton
As the second-largest 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, it’s not a shame to lose to such an opponent! And it all started with a rather complex emblem, in which the king (the same Burger King!) was sitting importantly 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 two halves of a bun was invented. 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 modified: its composition was expanded to include a blue circle and became more voluminous.
Year of company foundation: 1998
Year of logo creation: 1997
Logo designer: Sergey Brin (1997, 1998), Ruth Kedar (2000, 2010)
Company founders: Larry Page, Sergey Brin
The history of the Google logo begins in 1997, when one of the founders of the company, Sergey Brin, developed its design in the graphics program GIMP. This was a “raw” version of the modern Google logo. Then the logo was changed and an exclamation mark was added to it (in imitation of the Yahoo! logo). In 2000, designer Ruth Kedar improved the logo by removing the exclamation mark. The new logo served the company until 2010, gaining incredible popularity in 11 years. In 2015, the company presented its latest logo.
Warner Bros.
Year the company was founded: 1918
Year of logo creation: 1923
Logo author: Saul Bass (1972)
Company founders: Albert Warner, Harry Warner, Sam Warner, Jack Warner.
The shield, familiar to every movie fan, 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, was a photograph of a film studio. In 1929, it was decided to abandon the photograph: now the words Warner Bros. were located above the abbreviation WB. Pictures Inc., and below it is 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 cinema: the image became color.
From 1948 to 1967, the three-dimensional gold abbreviation WB was located on a blue shield with gold borders. In order to most successfully demonstrate the new color capabilities of cinema, it was decided to expand the shield and add brightness to the shades. In 1967, the emblem underwent dramatic changes: a controlling stake in WB was transferred to the Seven Arts film company. The famous shield became simpler and more angular, and below it was the name Seven Arts. The icon existed in this form from 1967 to 1970. In 1970, the Warner Bros.-Seven Arts film company became the property of Kinney National Company, and the inscription A Kinney National Company now appeared above the shield. In 1972, Warner Bros. briefly used a logo very similar to its old 1948 logo. That same year, designer Saul Bass created a new logo that lasted until 1984. The new emblem was much simpler than previous variations: this time the letter “W” was stylized in such a way that it began to resemble three intertwined arched lines. In 1984, the company returned to the blue and gold shield of the 1948 model, but this time the colors became brighter and the composition itself more stylish. The movie giant did not change this beautiful logo until 2013. Over the past few years, the logo, while maintaining its basic elements, has changed from film to film, becoming a field for experimentation with different color and animation solutions.
IBM
Year the company was founded: 1911
Year of logo creation: 1886
Logo author: 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 sonorous International Business Machines. It is logical that the change of name was followed by an update of the corporate identity: the ornate, difficult-to-read CTR emblem of the 1911 model gave way to a new icon on which the name International Business Machines was located in the shape of a globe. In 1947, the modernization of the computer giant required another revision of the company's visual style. So the globe was replaced with a minimalist IBM inscription, which remains the unchanged 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 the company was founded: 1958
Year of logo creation: 1958
Logo credits: 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 as NASA. It turns out that NASA has not one, but three emblems: an icon (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 the company was founded: 1975
Year of logo creation: 1975
Logo author: 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 current design trends of the time. In 1980, the company opted for a simpler and more stylish logo: this time the Microsoft inscription was placed in one line. In 1982, the world saw the updated Microsoft logo with a fancy letter “O”. The new image was very popular with consumers, and its decommissioning “to the archive” in 1987 caused a flurry of indignation. The visual history of the brand continued with the laconic “Pac-Man logo”, created by Scott Baker: the slot between the letters “O” and “S” evoked associations with speed and rapid development. The computer giant's heyday was in the late 90s and early 2000s, and its simple, even inconspicuous logo became one of the most recognizable design ideas in the world.
Adidas
Year the company was founded: 1920
Year of logo creation: 1949
Logo authors: Adi Dassler (1949), Käthe and Adi Dassler (1971), Peter Moore (1997)
Company founder: Adi Dassler
The logo of the sports shoe manufacturer Adidas was designed by the company's founder, Adi Dassler, who had the idea to decorate the shoes he produced with three stripes. The emblem gained instant popularity and remained unchanged for many years (only the shape of the stripes changed slightly). In the 60s, Käthe and Adi Dassler came up with another emblem for clothing in the form of a trefoil. In 1997, the company introduced a cool new corporate symbol: three sloping stripes arranged in the shape of a mountain, symbolizing the difficulties the company faces and the goals it sets for itself.
Starbucks
Year the company was founded: 1971
Year of logo creation: 1971
Logo Designer: 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 shop came across a 14th-century woodcut depicting a mermaid (siren) with two tails. This image was destined to become famous throughout the world. Based on the 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 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 further refined the emblem: the siren now 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 became so strongly associated with the coffee brand that even people who prefer tea recognized it.
Volkswagen
Year the company was founded: 1937
Year of logo creation: 1939
Logo authors: Franz Xavier Reimspiesse (1938), Meta Design (2007)
Founder of the company: German Labor Front
The company of Ferdinand Porsche held a competition for the best logo for the new Volkswagen car. The winner of the competition was designer Franz Reimspies, who, by the way, improved the engine for the Beetle model in the 30s. The original black and white logo included the abbreviation VW and a swastika, which was a reflection of the then dominant Hitler regime in the country. The second logo no longer contained a swastika and was shaped more like a wheel than a fan (as was the case with the previous version). After World War II, the automaker was taken over by the British, who renamed it Beetle and redesigned 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 black and white color range, and the automaker's modern icon features friendlier blues and grays.
Visa
Year the company was founded: 1970
Year of logo creation: 1958
Logo author: Greg Silveria (2006)
Company Founders: Dee Hock, Bank of America
On the first VISA logo, which dates back to the year the company was founded, the word VISA was located in two lines (the upper letters were in blue and the lower letters were in yellow). In 2006, the company opted for a more visible and recognizable font. In 2014, the entire inscription became blue. Now the new logo appears on all marketing and advertising materials of the company.
Shell
Year the company was founded: 1907
Year of logo creation: 1900
Logo author: Raymond Loewy (1971)
Company founders: Royal Dutch Petroleum Company, Shell Transport & Tranding Company Ltd.
The shell has always been the basis for the Shell icon, but with each redesign the emblem resembled its prototype less and less. Back in 1900, the logo featured a simple black and white shell. In 1948, it was decided to color the image in red and yellow shades. Since then, the icon has remained almost unchanged. Over the course of 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 the company was founded: 1932
Year of logo creation: 1934
Logo author: unknown
Company founder: Ole Kirk Christiansen
The very first logo of the toy company in 1932 can easily be called an example of minimalism: it was a simple LEGO inscription. Thus, 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 with the inscription Billund Danmark along the outer edge. 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 company name, and the LEGO lettering 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 logo of the Danish toy company has been in use since 1998, bringing joy to millions of children around the world.
Hewlett-Packard Company (HP)
Year the company was founded: 1939
Year of logo creation: 1939
Logo author: Landor Associates (1999), Liquid Agency (2008)
Company founders: Bill Hewlett, David Packard
Surprisingly, the Hewlett-Packard logo has remained virtually unchanged since its introduction in 1939. In 2011, there was talk of making the logo more dynamic by drawing diagonal lines through the letters H and P, but nothing came of this idea. In 2016, the logo was changed and now consists of four lines that symbolize the letters “HP”.
Gap
Year the company was founded: 1969
Year of logo creation: 1969
Logo author: Laird & Partners (2010)
Company founders: Donald Fisher, Doris Fisher
From 1969 to 1986, the logo of this popular clothing manufacturer was just the company name, without any additional elements. The title 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 the company was founded: 1937
Year of logo creation: 1934
Logo author: unknown
Company founders: Takeshi Mitarai, Goro Yoshido, Saburo Ushida, Takeo Maeda
Few people know that the original logo Japanese company Seiki Kogaku Kenyudho depicted the goddess of mercy Kannon, who was greatly revered among Buddhists. Kwanon's first camera was named in honor of the goddess. 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.
BMW
Year the company was founded: 1916
Year of logo creation: 1916
Logo author: 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 a silhouette of a horse and the Bavarian flag with its recognizable blue and white pattern. This is how the BMW logo was born: two white and two blue quadrants surrounded by a black circle. After the end of the First World War, the company switched from serving military needs to producing cars, but its emblem has remained virtually unchanged since 1917. The most noticeable transformation occurred in 2000, when the logo received a three-dimensional effect, which, by the way, suits it very well!
Audi
Year the company was founded: 1909
Year of logo creation: 1910
Logo authors: Lucien Bernhard, Professor Arno Drescher, Meta Design (2009)
Company founder: August Horch
The first logo of the automaker Audi was an example of the Art Nouveau style and was used from the very foundation of the company until 1932. In 1932, the four interlocking rings that anyone would recognize today were born 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 concern was renamed Audi, and then it was absorbed by the Volkswagen Group. For its 100th anniversary in 2009, Audi redesigned its logo, giving it a more beautiful and sophisticated look.
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