The History & Evolution of Logos | Designhill (2024)

THE RISE OF GOTHIC

The Pepsi logo history is as fascinating as it can get. The Pepsi logo that we see today started out with this Gothic-esque typeface first used in the year 1898 when Brad's Drink was renamed as Pepsi-Cola Company.

THE ROYAL TYPEFACE

The glorious Victorian history witnessed the rise of typefaces that followed the taste for ornate elaboration, applied shadows, outlines and embellishments to letterforms in the field of logo designing.

INDUSTRIAL INNOVATION

Designed in 1886, Valvoline logo could easily be the first prototype of what we call today commercial logos. The Victorian styletypeface is complimented with arched out sphere and small dots within it.

“Design can be art. Design can be aesthetics. Design is so simple, that's why it is so complicated.”

– Paul Rand –

The Timelessness of Coca-Cola

The timelessness of Coca Cola logo history never fails to impress one and all. Designed in mid-1920s with Spencerian script, the Coca-Cola typeface logo survived for more than a century. This great piece of art nouveau design really triggered the age of the Arciform or ‘fishtail’ logos.

General Electric

Resonant of true Art Nouveau history, the intriguing history of General Electric Company’s logo dates back to over a century. One of the best examples of art nouveau graphic designs, this famous company logo yields a very typographical attribute and has one of the most neutral and comfortable appearance.

Mercedes Among Flowers

Designed between 1909 and 1916, Mercedes’ art nouveau style logo encompasses a three-pronged star meant to with a floral border symbolizes company’s dominance over air, land and sea. Originally created by Gottlieb Daimler in 1909, Mercedes logo consistently ranks alongside some of the world’s best business logos.

Medusa of Versace

The iconic logo for famous fashion brand, Versace is a peculiar example of Art Nouveau style of work. Versace logo uses abstract lines to form a decorative pattern like a maze encircling the head of Medusa, a Greek woman transformed into a monster by the goddess Athena for her wrongdoings.

Ornamental Work

• The complexity involved in certain logos is the result of classic philosophies. This logo features floral lines that form in to a maze like style to support the typography enclosed in figure that resemblance a crown.

The Form of Simple

Some of the most popular art nouveau logos of this era centered heavily on filling negative space with simple forms of nature.

A Symbol for Cigarettes

It wasn't until early modern period arrived that the logo designers could think of taking an alternate route to design styles. Going against the norms of society, this modern logo design for a popular cigarette brand was way ahead of its time.

Greek God Hermes

The winged foot in the Goodyear logo depicts the winged sandal of the Roman god Mercury, also known as the Greek god Hermes, the messenger of the gods.

Cubism (1907)

Termed as the first abstract style of modern art design, Cubism ignored the traditions of perspective drawing and introduced the idea of having sharp edges for logo designs.

Futurism(1909)

Futurism marks the shift of modern logo design philosophy to glorify industrialization, technology, and transport along with the speed, noise and energy of urban life.

Supermatism(1915)

Supermatism movement rejected any use of representational images in modern logo designs, putting orth the notion that non-representational forms of pure abstraction had a greater spiritual power and gives room to multiple interpretation.

Constructivism(1913)

Constructivism is quite like the Suprematism, except for the fact that it abandoned its mystical vision in favor of a more Utopian glimpse of mechanized modernity.

The Siemens and MAZDA(1936 & 1928)

The iconic logos for these companies were heavily inspired from the modern art history. They featured a blend of minimalism along with a strong abstract essence.

Lego - Building the Blocks

Though Art Deco designs gave various dimensions to the field of graphic design, it was the typeface which was the most celebrated motif. A brilliant example of Art Deco logo, Lego logo adopted the custom-designed round typeface in 1934. With its bright red, yellow and white colors and the custom-designed round typeface, Lego logo has long caught the fancy of the young and young at hearts.

LargerThan Life

This art deco style logo depicts streamlined shape with a punch of sophisticated elegance induced in both typeface and the emblem.

Romanticizingof Secret

Giving birth to the concept of a heroic individual, this art deco logo defined the heroic machine.

LuxuryRepresentation

Strong vertical lines like these used here in this art deco logo design promotes extravagance and glorifies culture, speed and consumerism.

AeroAura

The prime aesthetics of the art deco designs era were edgy corners, airbrushed ray bands and emblem, which are highlighted in this famous logo.

Renault

World-renowned French car manufacturer, Renault’s history is incomplete without a mention of its iconic logo that dates back to the art deco history. In 1923, Renault came up with a simple yet memorable logo to market their products.

TheFire Rises

Graphic designers and logo artists understood how the power of good logo design can significantly entertain and educate the primarily illiterate population.

Symbolof Power

The Heroic realism style of art was based on classical and mythological figures or symbols. These graphic elements induced a sense of sacrifice, duty and devotion in masses.

MobilgasHeroism

The Red-winged horse used by Mobil in 1932 is considered to be the symbol of wisdom and fame in Greek mythology. The Mobil gas logo has long been an inspiration for many logo designers and much has been written about Mobil logo history.

NBC Microphone

Designed in 1943, NBC logo had a microphone surrounded by lightning bolts. It is still considered the best designs throughout NBC logo history by a fair share of logo designers. This logo had simple elements with a clean look and intelligent illustration.

C(ut)opy. Copy. PastE.

Giving a smart twist to most of existing graphic elements, few logos dramatized a simple concept to appear more appealing and memorable. Xerox original logo consistently ranks amongst such logos. This strong, tablet shaped black and yellow logo was designed in 1947 and is one of the most recognized logos in Xerox history.

Simple. Effective. IBM

Taking a grand leap of faith from their over-the-top logo of 1924, International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) introduced its new logo in 1956, when IBM’s chief executive stepped down and allowed his son to lead the company. This simple and powerful logo proved that a simple typography can work wonders. Since then, the one thing that hasn’t changed in IBM history is its simple, typography based logo.

The Smart Selling Techniques

Marketers knew, even during the Late Modern period, that a logo having intelligent elements is capable of attracting more customers. Late modernism changed the concept of Hard Sell to Smart Sell. Kodak was perhaps the first company to understand this concept. Kodak logo was the first logo to represent its company name and look into a symbol. 1960 is an important year in the Kodak logo history as corner curl was introduced in the logo in the year.
Late modernism changed the concept of Hard Sell to Smart Sell.

Clarity in Chaos

The non-decorative approach was soon taken over by designs that were simple and clear to understand. However, abstract it might look.

Museum of London

The simple idea used in the Museum of London logo is to represent the different geographical shapes London has taken in its evolution through time. The several colored layers in the logo recount the history of London, from medieval times to today. Following a pattern which has been over half a century old, the typography is simple and confident with overlapping illustrations.

Starbucks

Starbucks was named after a nautical character, and the original Starbucks logo was deliberately designed to evoke the alluring imagery of the sea. The Mermaid mascot, fondly called ‘the Siren’, used in the old Starbucks logo has been termed as one the most intelligently used element. Much has been written and discussed about Starbucks logo evolution, but the one thing that hasn’t changed in Starbucks logo history since its inception is the ‘the Siren’ symbol. It’s no wonder since ‘the Siren’ symbol has lent Starbucks logo a new meaning and a cult status.

MTV Television Logo

Termed as the most dynamic of all postmodern logos at the time of its inception in 1981, MTV logo consistently ranks alongside some of the most popular logos globally. The shape and the size of all the elements in the design have remained the same throughout MTV logo history only the colors and pattern have changed over the course of time.

Steve Jobs 28 Degree Angel

The unconventional way to break the rules was the most dominant trait among graphic designers during the postmodern era. Designed by Paul Rand for Steve Jobs, this NeXt logo is considered to be one of the most iconic logos ever. The story of Next logo is no less interesting than Steve Job’s history. It is said that Rand created a 100-page brochure detailing the brand, including the precise angle used for the logo (28°) and the new company name, NeXT.

To make a Mark

The odd anatomy of logo design was well-received within the art community since it showcased an unusual wit and intelligence of the graphic designers. The double M typeface in the Commonwealth Bank logo brilliantly typifies the intelligence and wit of logo designers from the postmodern era.

Sex-Pistols

Formed in 1975, the Sex-Pistols logo is a perfect example of how logo designers broke the conventional rules to create novel design styles. The typography used in the logo wasn't actually designed or invested by a designer, it was literally cut-off from a newspaper.

The Design of Substitution

This postmodern style logo, in particular, substitutes the alphabetical 'U' with an abstract design resembling a powered magnet.

HP Logo

Designed in the 1981, the HP logo makes the “h” and “p” look more expressive and prominent. The tail and ascender of these two letters are extended all the way to the top of the rectangle, promoting ideas of expansion and innovation. HP logo history has long been an inspiration for many logo designers across the globe.

Intelligence Inside

Going by the strict principle of “the simpler the better”, this logo takes intelligent use of a disjointed circle to chew out a charming design.

Scary Stuff

The loosening of the modern rules paved way for experimental typefaces and arbitrary textures as featured in the logo of Horror Films. With its simplicity and minimization, this amazing logo never fails to impress and inspire.

Vertical Limit

Designed in 1986, the ever-so-popular GAP logo is the purest example for the word, “Stressed Typefaces”. In late 2010, the company took the world by storm when it launched its new redesigned logo. But due to negative response, it went back to its old square logo, within just a week. Experts believe the new logo to be one of the worst logos of all time in the entire Gap logo history.

The Death Star of AT&T

In 1984, AT&T introduced its new logo that featured a globe with lines on the left side of it that seem to make a segmented circle in its endeavor to symbolize the company’s global reach. This AT&T logo is nicknamed the “Death Star” logo.

Mathematical Possibilities

Graphic designers were quick to include mathematical combinations and functions in digital phase since poetic and layout approach brings a panache to the logo design.

Apple

Apple logo has long been a trademark in the design circuit worldwide. It's simple, effective and memorable. And yes, that bite out of the fruit in the logo was deliberate.

3M

With a very simple symbol in modified Sans Serif typeface with “3” and “M” touching one another and the vibrant red color, 3M logo caught on like a wildfire. Developed by Siegel & Gale in 1978, this logo is considered to be the best representation of company values and mission in 3M company history.

Target Eye

Taking a swift turn from their early logo, Target’s bull’s eye logo has a single red ring with dot in the middle. The logo uses Helvetica typeface. This logo is considered to be the best one in Target logo history.

VOLVO

Depicting the pre-historic symbol of Iron, the Volvo logo is a circle with a diagonally upwards pointed arrow directing the right. It represents the “The God of War” - Mars. This logo has long stood the test of time and deeply impacted Volvo history.

AUDI

1932 marks an important date in Audi history. It is during this year that four previously independent motor-vehicle manufacturers: Audi, DKW, Horch and Wanderer merged together giving birth to the idea of the iconic 4 ring logo design. Introduced on AUDI's 10th Anniversary, 4 ring design has been well appreciated over the time. However, it was only after the inclusion of minimalist design elements in the logo that made it as historic as it is now.

Google

Google logo history is as fascinating it can get. The most recent Google logo, launched on September 1, 2015, showcases a capital letter “G” in tailor-made typeface with segment colored red, yellow, green and blue.

Wellforged Software

Soon after its creation, Wellforged Software’s logo design has become an inspiration for a number of graphic designers the design industry. It's simple, effective and memorable.

• Entries63
• Designers17
• Total Amount$259

Los London Clothing

A minimal yet chic design, Los London Clothing’s logo that instantly captures the attention of onlookers. The design idea here is to seamlessly blend monotone pattern and a stern, professional overtone with simplicity and panache.

• Entries56
• Designers25
• Total Amount$259

Contiba

Contiba’s unique logo design is a great sample quantifying what a perfect logo looks like. Created in an unparalleled hexagon shape, this logo inspires with its unique color scheme, simpleton typeface and polished neatness.

• Entries83
• Designers25
• Total Amount$359

The Offbeat Story

More obscure and offbeat stories are often more interesting and this logo design idea clearly reveals the same. Highlighted with shades of color blue and shaped as the nib of a pen, this cool logo design is striking and sophisticated.

• Entries45
• Designers12
• Total Amount$259

NUUK Digital

NUUK Digital's ubiquitous logo design makes for the perfect symbol of a full service digital agency and effectively communicates the brand message. Given it's sleek design, effective color pattern and brilliant typography, it's no wonder why this creative logo never fails to make an impact on customers and ensure that they come back for a second visit

• Entries79
• Designers21
• Total Amount$259

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