Brand with red letter a. Famous brand logos: origin and meaning. Fedex - motion vector

Company logos play an 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 their own, which emphasize its values, loyalty to tradition, community and other qualities.

Often, an 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's logo instantly suggests delicious Big Macs 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 were faced with a difficult task - to select Top 25... But we did it! The authors of some of the 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 basic 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

Nike's history begins with the importing company Blue Ribbon Sports, which in 1971 decided to expand its business and began producing sports shoes, laying the foundation for the famous Nike brand. The legendary check mark on the company's logo did not make much of an impression on one of the founders of Nike, Philip Knight, who said of it: “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 was inspired by the ancient Greek goddess of victory, Nike, and the tick symbolizes the movement and speed of this goddess. In 1978, Nike updated the logo, adding a bolder font and slightly relocating the checkmark. Nobody expected that the "checkmark" would become one of the most recognizable emblems in the world and become so much an autonomous symbol that in 1995 even supplant the name of the company from the logo!

Coca-Cola

Year of foundation of the company: 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 kept the accounting department of the company. Most characteristic feature The emblem is the Spencerian font, which at the end of the 19th century was widely used in official documents and correspondence. In 1890, the company made the emblem visually more complex by revitalizing the lettering with serifs and swirls that resembled cherries hanging from the capital letters “C”. The new design did not catch on - which was quite predictable - and today we still associate the company with the beautiful old Robinson logo. Agree, you can hardly think of something better here!

Ford

Year of foundation of the company: 1903
Year of logo creation: 1903
Logo design: 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 a cluttered, circular icon with the name and location of the company. In 1927, the logo was redesigned to coincide with the release of the Ford Model A car: now the automaker settled on the familiar blue oval, which can be safely called a synonym for taste and style.

Apple

Year of foundation of the company: 1976
Logo creation year: 1976
Logo Credits: 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 co-founder Ronald Wayne. Wayne's logo was inspired by Newton's discovery of the force of gravity. The logo was adorned with the quote "Newton ... The mind that eternally roams the unknown 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 to change the logo to something “not so pretty”. So in 1977, Rob Janoff developed a beautiful new design featuring an apple and the word "Apple". The new logo was aimed at a young 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 executives decided that the logo had already gained enough prominence 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 logo creation: 1898
Logo authors: Gould & Associates (1965), Landor Associates (1996), Arnell (2009)
Company founder: Caleb Bradham

The creator of the Pepsi logo, which will become one of the visual symbols of modern culture, is the founder of the company Caleb Bradham. The concept was 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 on the logo there was only the word “Pepsi” on a red-white-blue background (which, by the way, symbolized the cap from a Pepsi bottle). Between 1971 and 2005, the emblem continued its path towards simplification, each time becoming more minimalist and stylish.

Mercedes-Benz

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

It's hard to believe, but once the logo of DMG (Daimler Motors Corporation), invented 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 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 has become a symbol of the gaining momentum of the era of motor vehicles “on land, water and air”. So since 1910, a three-pointed star has flaunted on the radiator of all DMG cars. In 1916, it was decided to enclose the star in a circle: this is how the Mercedes-Benz logo known to us appeared.

It should be noted that from 1916 to 1921, an inner circle with the word Mercedes inside was also placed on the logo. 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 design of 1916. In 1926, the two auto giants DMG and Benz & Cie merged. This is how the Mercedes-Benz brand was founded, the new corporate image of which was something in between the logos of the two companies: the three-pointed DMG star and the Benz laurel wreath. 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 that!

McDonald's

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

At the very beginning of its stellar journey, McDonald's 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, SpeDi's chef acted as its visual image, until in 1960 it was replaced by the famous golden arches that formed the letter “M”. The arches were designed by Stanley Meston.

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

Levi's

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

Today the Levi’s logo comes in two flavors: 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 only invented in 1940 in an attempt by the brand to stand out from other manufacturers. In 1969, Levi’s introduced its new logo in the shape of a bat wing, which was designed by the design bureau Walter Landor & Associates. Fans of the denim brand loved the new icon no less than the previous two.

Burger king

Year of foundation of the company: 1954
Year of logo creation: 1954
Logo author: 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! It all started with a rather complex emblem, on which the king (the same Burger King!) Was importantly sitting on a burger. Although this character is still used in the brand's advertisements, the logo itself underwent a major change in 1969 when the idea of ​​two halves of a bun was invented. This look turned out to be so successful that it remains the main element of Burger King's corporate identity. However, in 1998 the emblem was refined: 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

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. It 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 refined the logo by removing the exclamation mark. The new logo served the company until 2010, gaining incredible popularity over 11 years. In 2015, the firm unveiled its latest logo to date.

Warner Bros.

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

In the period from 1948 to 1967, a voluminous golden abbreviation WB was located on a blue shield with gold edging. In order to best 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 to be drastically changed: the controlling stake in WB passed to the Seven Arts film company. The famous shield became simpler and more angular, and under it was the name Seven Arts. In this form, the icon existed from 1967 to 1970. In 1970, the Warner Bros - Seven Arts film company became the property of the Kinney National Company, and the sign A Kinney National Company now flaunted above the shield. In 1972, Warner Bros. briefly used an emblem very similar to its old 1948 logo. In the same year, designer Saul Bass drew a new logo that lasted until 1984. The new emblem was significantly simpler than the 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 reverted 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 experimenting with different color and animation solutions.

IBM

Year of foundation of the company: 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 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 the name was followed by the renewal of the corporate identity: the ornate, difficult-to-understand 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 by the minimalistic IBM lettering, which remains the unchanged symbol of the company to this day. In 1956, designer Paul Rand made the acronym more "weighty", emphasizing the reliability of the company and its high status. In 1972, in response to a change in the company's positioning, Rand introduced a lighter, striped logo, this time symbolizing speed and agility.

NASA

Year of foundation of the company: 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 into NASA. It turns out that NASA has not one, but three emblems: a badge (the so-called "meatballs"), 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
Logo creation year: 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 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 a single line. In 1982, the world saw an updated Microsoft logo with the fancy "O" The new image was very popular with consumers, and its cancellation "to the archive" in 1987 caused a storm of indignation. The visual history of the brand continued with the laconic "Pacman 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 became one of the most recognizable design ideas in the world.

Adidas

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

The sports shoe manufacturer Adidas's logo was designed by the company's founder, Adi Dassler, who had the idea to decorate his shoes with three stripes. The emblem gained instant popularity and did not change over the years (only the shape of the stripes changed slightly). In the 60s, Kate and Adi Dassler invented another shamrock logo for clothing. In 1997, the firm introduced a cool new corporate symbol: three slanted stripes 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 Designed 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 shop stumbled upon a 14th-century woodcut depicting 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 a nude siren emblem with a bizarre crown on its head. 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 refined the emblem once again: the siren now smiled shyly, and its crown and tails were less pronounced. Last changes were taken in 2011, when the design team removed the outer circle from the logo, leaving only the image of a beautiful mermaid, and changed the background color from black to the now branded 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 logo creation: 1939
Logo authors: Franz Xavier Reimspiess (1938), Meta Design (2007)
Company founder: German Labor Front

Ferdinand Porsche held a competition for the best logo for a new Volkswagen car. The winner of the competition was designer Franz Reimspiess, who, incidentally, improved the engine for the Beetle in the 1930s. The original black and white logo included the VW abbreviation and the swastika, which was a reflection of the then dominant Hitler regime 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 World War II, the carmaker 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 ditched the black and white color scheme, and the modern icon for the automaker is made in more friendly blue and gray tones.

Visa

Year of foundation of the company: 1970
Year of logo creation: 1958
Logo author: Greg Silveria (2006)
Company founders: Dee Hock, Bank of America

On the first VISA emblem, which dates from the year the company was founded, the word VISA was arranged 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 now appears on all marketing and promotional materials for the company.

Shell

Year of foundation of the company: 1907
Year of logo creation: 1900
Logo author: Raymond Lowy (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 looks 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. 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 a superfluous element.

Lego

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

The very first logo of the toy company from 1932 can be safely called a model of minimalism: it was a simple LEGO lettering. This is how 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 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 of foundation of the company: 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 largely unchanged since its inception in 1939. In 2011, there was talk of making the logo dynamic by drawing diagonal lines through the letters 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 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 name of the company, without any additional elements. The title was then enclosed in a blue square. The audience liked this simple yet self-contained composition so much that an attempt to modernize the logo 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 logo creation: 1934
Logo author: unknown
Company founders: Takeshi Mitarai, Goro Yoshido, Saburo Ushida, Takeo Maeda

Few people know that the original logo of the Japanese company Seiki Kogaku Kenyudho featured the goddess of mercy, Cannon, who was held in high esteem among Buddhists. The first camera of the Kwanon company was named in honor of the goddess. After an incredible commercial success in 1935, the company expanded its production and decided to renew its corporate identity. So in 1956 the famous red logo was released to all of us.

Bmw

Year of foundation of the company: 1916
Year of logo creation: 1916
Logo design: 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 (Flugmaschinenfabrik by Gustav Otto and Rapp-Motorenwerke). The prototype for the BMW badge we know is the Rapp-Motor, which featured a horse silhouette 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 enclosed in 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 practically 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 much!

Audi

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

The first logo of the car manufacturer Audi was an example of the art nouveau style and was used from the very foundation of the company until 1932. 1932 saw the introduction of the four interlocking rings that absolutely everyone will recognize today when Audi teamed up with DKW, Horch and Wanderer to cut costs in the face of the economic downturn. The rings symbolized the unity of the four firms that were now part of the Auto Union AG concern. In 1965, the concern was renamed Audi, followed by its takeover by the Volkswagen Group. For its 100th anniversary in 2009, Audi redesigned its emblem, giving it a more beautiful and sophisticated look.

You can find more examples of beautiful logos.

What will your brand name be?

Needless to say, the Logaster online service has a huge database of icons in a variety of styles. Take a look and test several logo options before choosing the best one.

Every time you see another Chanel or Louis Vuitton handbag on the street, you understand that many people buy them not only because of their beautiful design, but sometimes only because they have such a recognizable brand sign on them. Most women really do not think about whether they like the thing or not, the main thing is that she shows everyone that her owner bought herself an expensive accessory and follows fashion.

But have you ever wondered what brand logos mean? After all, these are not just beautifully engraved letters on gold jewelry. Each of them was once created by someone, and even more so, for a reason.

Let's start with the most recognizable - Chanel. As you know, the logo of this fashion house is two intertwined letters "C". In reality, they represent the initials of Coco Chanel, who once created the most successful and thriving clothing brand. She drew this sign herself in preparation for the opening of her first store.

But there is also another version in the world. Some people say that this symbol is just two horseshoes. And they are known to bring happiness and success.

Louis vuitton

The Louis Vuitton brand is known for producing quality handbags for many years in a row. And I must admit that their fakes began to appear in those years when Louis Vuitton himself was alive. He, as the founder of the label, was very worried about this, and therefore in 1876 decided to create his own logo - two letters LV on a brown background. At the time, this sign was a guarantee that the suitcase was real and not fake.

More interesting story you can talk about the Versace logo. If you look closely at him, it becomes clear that the woman depicted above his name is none other than Medusa Gorgon herself (of course, a scary symbol). It began to be used since 1978, and the head designer of the house said that it symbolizes such a strong charm of all the things he produces that everyone who looks at them just freezes in mute amazement.

Givenchy

And the Givenchy sign is generally shrouded in mystery with seven seals. On the one hand, it is quite understandable - these are four letters G, the arrangement of which resembles a clover leaf. But on the other hand, there is an opinion that only the one who created it knows the true meaning of this logo. After all, a similar symbol was used back in Ancient Greece and there it was regarded as a sign of harmony.

Another fairly well-known sign using letters. There are two Fs here, one of which is turned upside down. Interestingly, Karl Lagerfeld became its creator in 1965. With this symbol, he wanted to show that the creators and owners of the brand, the large Fendi family, are united not only by business relations, but also by strong family ties.

In addition to letters, other images can often be seen on logos. For example:

Almost everyone is familiar with Lacoste polo shirts. History does not hide that the famous tennis player Jean Rene Lacoste was the creator of this fashionable empire. He was famous for the fact that he often won and during the game did not leave his opponents a single chance to win. And then one day, he argued with his friend that if he won the next game, he would give him a suitcase made of crocodile skin. In the end, he got what he wanted. After this incident, another friend of his, Robert George, drew an entertaining picture with an alligator, wanting to show the temper of his comrade. The latter did not offend Lacoste at all, but, on the contrary, became a symbol of his brand.

Burberry

Burberry is a brand that is considered to be truly English. Indeed, in each of her things, you can see notes of the English chiseled style. Its emblem is a rider on horseback holding a flag with the inscription "Prorsum" in one hand and a long spear in the other. Translated from Latin, a strange word means "moving forward" (the company always manages to follow the latest fashion and is constantly developing itself), and the spear symbolizes the fact that the designers of this brand always adhere to their traditions (it is true, no matter how things from Burberry change , they never lose their style).

The Hermes fashion house is known all over the world as a manufacturer of expensive and high-quality clothing. However, if you look closely at its symbol - an inscription on top of which a horse in harness is depicted - you can be surprised without understanding what has to do with one another. Indeed, at first glance it is difficult to understand the motives of the one who came up with such a logo. But, anyone who knows the whole history of the brand will quickly understand what is the matter. After all, the first product that this brand began to produce was bridles and saddles for horses. Having captured such a drawing for centuries, the founders of the company, thus, wanted all their followers to remember forever where they started their business and where they came to in the end (not a bad motivation, I must say).

So, anyone who is really interested in fashion knows that designers don't do anything for nothing or for beauty. They give meaning to any detail they design.

From the moment you wake up until late at night, you are surrounded by many logos. Perhaps you can only hide from them on a deserted island. Most likely, you do not ponder the meaning of these symbols, but it really is. Almost every logo has serious meaning hidden behind it. Let's discover the secrets of some of the world's most common logos!

Domino's

The history of this American brand is just like from a motivational book. The owner of the pizza chain was an orphan who saved up nine hundred dollars to buy a tiny pizzeria in Michigan in 1960. Five years later, he was already able to buy two more establishments. Three dots on the logo are a symbol of the first three establishments of the chain. The owner planned to add points with every new pizzeria, but abandoned his plans, otherwise the logo would already include thousands of points!

Subaru

The constellation on the logo is needed not just for beauty, it is a real constellation called the Pleiades. In Japanese, the name also sounds like "subaru", which also means "union". The largest star symbolizes the main company, and the smaller ones represent the companies that have joined it.

RCA

The most famous American radio company uses the logo, which depicts a dog with its muzzle in a gramophone. This image appeared at the end of the nineteenth century and was then purchased by the company. If you are annoyed by ads, you can blame this particular dog: the image was used all over America even before no one heard of other companies.

Amazon

It is the largest online shopping site with a presence in many countries around the world. Everything is sold there, and the logo reflects it. At the beginning of the new millennium, the symbol used now was created - it resembles a smile, but in fact it is an arrow from the letter A to the letter Z. This indicates that the site has absolutely anything.

Tostitos

These are the popular tortilla chips. In the middle of the name, there are letters that resemble two people holding one piece of tortilla together and dipping it in the sauce. According to the owners of the company, this image well reflects the character of the brand, which guarantees a great evening with the chips.

Toyota

Have you ever wondered what the Toyota logo should mean? What is this, a saint with a halo? This company is the largest car manufacturer, therefore the logo is extremely recognizable, but its meaning remains a mystery to most. This symbol appeared in 1990 and represents the union of the hearts of customers and manufacturers in three ellipses.

Baskin-Robbins

This renowned ice cream parlor chain has a logo that reflects the astonishing array of flavors of their desserts. The symbol hides the number 31, indicating a wide range of products. Even with the reorganization of the brand, the figure remained in the same place.

Nbc

You've probably seen the comedy series from this American channel. But why is the peacock a logo? It turns out there is a long history with this. Peacock was created in 1956 by John Graham. He wanted to portray with this the variety of colors that distinguish the channel's broadcasting. In short, this is a reference to the times when color television was still a rarity. Since then, the peacock has been transformed several times, but has retained its meaning.

Bmw

You are probably familiar with this logo. The owner of the Bavarian factory was forced to change it after the brand was split from another company. Many people think that this is the symbol of the propeller, but the brand's historian assures that it is not. This is a nod to the old Rapp logo, from which BMW spun off. The old one still had a black horse. Small changes were made to the modern version, but the general appearance has remained the same for a hundred years.

Tesla

If you are interested in electric cars, you probably know about this company. Elon Musk has transformed the attitude of people towards such cars, but what kind of logo does he use for his company? The name is a reference to the name of the famous scientist - Nikola Tesla was a brilliant physicist and engineer. No wonder the logo depicts his transformer.

Dc comics

Comics are becoming more and more popular now. The logo of this comic book company has a clear, memorable design. But does it have a meaning? It turns out that the curves of the letter harbor the symbols of Superman, Wonder Woman and Batman. It's amazing that the designers managed to achieve this, because these symbols are completely different.

Nike

If someone asked you to represent a sports-related company, you would probably immediately think of this one. The logo can be seen on a wide variety of sneakers from simple to designer shoes. This is the most famous shoe logo in the world, and its creator received only thirty-five dollars for the work. According to him, the symbol represents the speed of sound. The owner of the company didn't like it too much, but he decided not to change anything.

Versace

What exactly does this trendy logo mean? Gianni Versace was inspired by ancient Greek culture, so he used for his fashion brand image of Medusa's face. According to legend, this is a woman who was punished by the gods: she was turned into a monster, and her hair was snakes. On the logo Medusa before the transformation, with lovely curls.

Mercedes-Benz

The simple three-ray logo is widely recognized throughout the world. These are cars that have always represented luxury. The symbol comes from a drawing by Gottlieb Daimler sent to his wife in a letter. With this icon, he denoted the placement of a new house. Daimler's kids used this design for their car brand logo. Initially, the star was supplemented with a laurel wreath, but then it was removed.

Northwest Airlines

This company originated in 1926 and existed until 2010, after which it was absorbed by Delta. This logo turned out to be quite famous - the simple combination of the letter N and a triangle that resembles the letter W is a perfect example. good design... The triangle symbolizes the compass and points to the northwest.

United States Cyber ​​Command

This firm is dedicated to protecting computer networks from cyber attacks. Their logo is very meaningful, it is a symbolism that is understandable only for programmers. It hides small symbols that are used to determine the integration of the file.

Roxy

This brand is very popular and has existed since the nineties. If you look closely at the symbolism, you will notice that the logo is made up of two symbols of the Quiksilver brand - this is the company from which the brand once separated. The original icon depicts waves and snow, as the brand aims to create apparel for water sports or winter sports.

Lacoste

These T-shirts have become very famous. What is behind the crocodile? It turns out that this is a reference to the nickname of the tennis player. In the twenties of the last century, Rene Lacoste was a real sports star - in America he was nicknamed the "alligator". In those days, the difference between alligators and crocodiles was not known, so at home, in France, he was called "crocodile". He began to wear clothes with a symbolic image, and then such T-shirts and sweaters became popular in the market.

Le Tour de France

The symbol of the most famous French cycling race hides the image of a cyclist. In addition, the color yellow is associated with the color of the jersey, which is given to the leader at each lap of the race.

Unilever

This company is present on the market in many countries around the world. Its symbol consists of many individual symbols, more precisely, twenty-five. Each has its own meaning, for example, strands of hair are a reference to shampoos, and an ice cream cone is a reference to product lines companies.

These original and memorable images accompany us everywhere. The logos of famous clothing brands are well known to many fashionistas; motorists will unmistakably recognize the manufacturer by the badge on the hood. What can we say about the trademarks of companies that manufacture household appliances and electronics. They are well known even to children.

Were you interested in who and how created the logos of famous brands in the world? What do they mean? Why does a seemingly simple picture become the company's business card and is recognized all over the world? I must say that the history of the logos of famous brands is sometimes very interesting. Check out some of them.

Versace

Not all logos of famous brands are as recognizable as this mysterious and catchy sign, which the famous fashion designer has been using since 1978. It has become another decoration of his magnificent collections. Since then, the head of Medusa the Gorgon, located in a circle, has become the trademark of this fashion house.

When the couturier was asked about the rather strange choice of the logo, he replied that it is a symbol of fatal charm and beauty that can hypnotize and paralyze any person. And I must say, Maestro Versace achieved his goal - his logo is known all over the world. It has become a symbol of perfect taste, sophisticated style and luxury.

Givenchy

Photos of logos of famous brands often appear on the pages of glossy magazines. This square, consisting of four G letters and looking like a stylized clover leaf, personifies strict lines and harmony. Some experts in the field of symbolism are sure that the company used the rules developed in ancient Greece to create it.

Givenchy uses the logo for embellishments and prints that are popular and recognizable around the world.

Lacoste

Famous brand logos and names can be found in many fashion magazines. And this little green crocodile does not need advertising, since it has long become a trademark of the Lacoste company, which is famous all over the world primarily for its polo shirts.

Probably not everyone knows how this sign appeared. It is not a combination of letters that define the name of the owner of the company. Jean Rene Lacoste is a successful tennis player in the past; in narrow circles he was called the Alligator. He founded his own company in 1993, which focused on sportswear for tennis players.

The trademark was created spontaneously. For fun, one of Lacoste's comrades drew a funny little crocodile, which later became the logo of the new brand. Today, the fruit of this successful, admittedly, joke is one of the most recognizable in the world.

Chupa Chups and ... Salvador Dali

If you think that the logos of famous brands are not known to children whose parents are far from fashion, then you are mistaken. A striking example of this is Chupa Chups. All kids in our country know these products. But how is the great artist connected with her?

One of the most famous and outstanding representatives of surrealism, artist and graphic artist, director and sculptor, the writer contributed to the development and prosperity of this company. After all, it was Salvador Dali who created the logo of the world famous sweet candies on a stick. We must pay tribute to the founders of the company - they did not spare a substantial sum and invited the artist Salvador Dali, already well-known at that time, to create the logo.

It should be noted that their costs have paid off with interest. The trademark turned out to be bright, simple, interesting and at the same time understandable and unobtrusive. According to the artist himself, this work took him no more than an hour. In the color scheme, he used the paints of the Spanish flag, rounded the letters a little and placed them in a frame.

Nike and Carolyn Davidson

The logos of well-known companies and brands are sometimes striking in their simplicity. Therefore, many are interested in the question of why they are so memorable. An example of this is Nike and its laconic "tick". When the company announced a logo competition, Portland State student Carolyn Davidson entered the competition.

Interestingly, then her sign did not cause much enthusiasm among the owners of the company, nevertheless, they found it quite promising. It's funny, but for her original work, Carolyn then received only thirty-five dollars. I wonder what time brand owners are currently evaluating their logo?

Apple Apple

The logos of famous brands are often striking in their originality. Millions of people around the world know what the Apple logo looks like. And most of them know about the founder of the company, Steve Jobs. However, the name of the creator of this famous logo is known to few. Most believe that Steve came up with the bitten apple, but this is a delusion.

In the beginning, Apple had a different trademark (Newton writing something while sitting under a tree). Steve did not like this option, because from his youth he gravitated towards minimalism and simplicity. He said, "The icons should look like you want to lick them."

This is the daunting challenge he posed to Rob Yanova, the designer behind the new Apple logo. Jobs' only wish was, "Don't make him sugary." Several weeks later, Steve had several sketches of rainbow apples (bitten and whole) on his desk. Jobs chose the well-known option, which seemed to him more interesting and original.

NeXT

Famous brand logos sometimes have special meaning for business owners. This is what happened to Apple founder Steve Jobs. He had to face many problems in his life. He was even fired from the company he founded. But Steve cannot be attributed to people who are broken by life's hardships. After leaving Apple, he very soon founded another computer technology company and called it NeXT. The name turned out to be symbolic - "next". This is probably how Jobs emphasized that he cannot be stopped, and he will create the next company with even more enthusiasm and passion.

But back to the history of the creation of this world famous logo. He was commissioned to design the renowned graphic designer Paul Rand. He put forward a tough condition to Jobs: "You pay me 100 thousand dollars for one version of the logo, which will certainly suit you."

As a result of this collaboration, the world recognized the NeXT lettering, executed in the style of Steve Jobs. The sketch was accepted immediately, without revisions. The only thing Steve wanted to change was to highlight the E in yellow. It should be said that Paul Rand previously created logos for the huge computer corporation IBM, the worldwide delivery service UPS and more than a dozen medium and small companies.

Coca-Cola

When we see the logos of famous brands, which the Coca-Cola Corporation undoubtedly belongs to, it seems that they were developed by teams of professional marketers and designers. But in this case, everything was different. The logo for this company was developed by an ordinary employee of the firm, accountant Frank Robinson.

At that time, the company did not yet have its current name, and it was Frank who chose it - "Coca-Cola". He placed the title on a red background and used the standard script at the time. This typeface was then considered the standard of calligraphy. This is how one of the most recognizable logos of our time appeared before the world. True, about once every ten years the company slightly modifies its trademark. But the special font remains unchanged, as well as the red and white colors.

Three-pointed star

All motorists dream of owning a car with such a logo. The Mercedes company was founded in 1926. And the logo, known all over the world today, appeared much later. The official version of its meaning is voiced by the company as a trinity - air, earth and water.

It is in cars (on the ground), in boats and yachts (on the water), and in airplanes (in the air) that the engines produced in factories are used. There is also an unofficial version, which says that for the first time such a star was used by Gottlieb Daimler, the founder of Mercedes-Benz. In a letter to his wife, he used this symbol to indicate the place where they would be built. new house... The sons of the founder of the company slightly modernized their father's star, and it became the logo of the company.

The three most popular stripes

And this logo represents not just a brand, but a huge industry that is a trendsetter in sports fashion for several generations of sports professionals and amateurs. For a long time, the company logo was a shamrock and three stripes.

An interesting fact - designers were not involved in the creation of the logo. Its concept was proposed by the founder of the company, Adi Dassler. For 22 years (until 1994) the trademark was unchanged. But then new trends in fashion forced the specialists of the famous brand to rework the shamrock that is loved in the world. Now the company's products are decorated with a logo representing a triangle, made in the old traditions. The theme of the three pages has been retained.

Since 2008, the company has been producing a separate collection of footwear and clothing called Adidas original. She combined the fashion of the 80s, as well as the original logo that Adi Dassler created.

Calvin klein

This brand began its existence back in 1942. His logo was immediately created. However, it became recognizable only 30 years later, when the designer introduced the jeans line to the world and placed the logo on the back pocket.

Later, it began not only to be used as a sign of recognition, but also to serve as a navigator through the collection. The dark logo denotes high-end clothing, gray for permanent clothing lines, and white for sportswear.

Famous brand logos: the Brandomania game

If you are interested in the history of trademarks of companies, then you will surely be interested in the new game. Several years ago it appeared in the West, and now it is winning the hearts of gamers in our country. The game "Brandomania" consists of seven levels, they open as you progress through the previous ones. For experienced brand lovers, three special levels have been created, over which you will have to smash your head in order to achieve good results.

Brandomania has a relaxing dynamic. It is better for several people to play it. It is advisable to answer the questions the first time, then you will be able to collect the largest number of prize coins. Of course, the game is designed for those who know at least some of the logos of famous brands. The game (the answers may not be very simple) suggests the possibility of using hints. To do this, you need to click on the "light bulb" icon, and you will see information about a brand unknown to you. A "bomb" will remove most of the letters, and you will need to guess which word is hidden behind the rest.

The design of the game is quite simple, the control interface is clear. We must pay tribute to the authors of the game for the fact that they not only changed the logos beyond recognition, but also preserved their main features. According to those who have already mastered the first levels, guessing the answers of "Brandomania" is actually interesting.

In 2010, the Fashion House Trussardi celebrated its 100th anniversary, and this year the brand celebrates the birthday of its 40th birthday greyhound logo. In honor of such an event, an Italian brand in collaboration with a Japanese illustrator Yuko Shimizu and director James Lima released a short animated film The sky watcher with a purebred dog in the title role. site learned the history of the logo in detail Trussardi and remembered other emblems of famous fashion brands.

Trussardi: English greyhound

The history of the brand began in 1910, when Dante Trussardi opened in the Italian town of Bergamo a workshop for the repair and manufacture of leather gloves. But it wasn't until 1973 that the greyhound became a symbol of the brand. Her nephew decided to use her Dante Nicola Trussardi... The Greyhound Hound, graceful, elegant, dynamic and sophisticated, perfectly symbolized the brand's style. In addition to gloves, Nikola began to produce other leather goods stamped with the new logo.

« I saw many paintings and ancient Egyptian bas-reliefs depicting these animals, and was completely struck by their beauty and incredible elegance. ", - said Nikola about his chosen logo, which has become synonymous with Italian quality.

In the new video Trussardi The Sky Watcher released to mark the anniversary of the logo, a revived statue of an English greyhound chases a magical rabbit through the streets of Milan, bringing the city's monuments to life. But by morning, the miracles end, and the bronze Greyhound returns to its place - to the entrance to the boutique of the Italian fashion house.

“We wanted not to go into explanations about the history of the brand, and preferred emotions, beautiful pictures and music ", - admitted the creative director of the brand Gaia Trussardi.

Chanel: Interlocking "C"

Logo Chanel- one of the most famous in the fashion world. Two intertwining letters "C" can be seen on all products of the brand, but the symbol first appeared in 1921 on a bottle of the legendary perfume Chanel # 5. There are several versions of creating a logo in the form of two "C". According to the most popular, these are the initials of the most Coco Chanel which she drew shortly before the opening of the first boutique Chanel... Adherents of the second, less common version, the authorship of the logo is attributed to Mikhail Vrubel, who drew the symbol introduced by Coco in the 1920s, much earlier - in 1886. It is known that the ornament in the form of a combination of two horseshoes, symbolizing double luck, was fashionable at the end of the 19th century. Therefore, many researchers believe that the similarity between the emblem of the fashion house and Vrubel's sketch is a mere coincidence. Although there is another version: this emblem is just a reminder of the forged ears that adorn the doors of the orphanage in which Chanel grew up. One way or another, with the choice of the logo, Coco did not go wrong, it brought good luck to the House.

Versace: Medusa

Fashion House Symbol Versace- the head of a jellyfish - appeared in 1978 when the 34-year-old Gianni Versace opened his first personalized boutique in one of the most prestigious districts of Milan, Via della Spiga. Legend has it that shortly before the opening, the designer was walking in the garden of his mansion in Reggio Calabria and drew attention to the marble figure of the Gorgon Medusa. The most famous of the three Gorgon sisters with a female face and writhing snakes instead of hair, which at one glance turned a person into stone, would ideally fit the role of the brand's logo. Gianni had always been interested in mythology and classical literature and decided that in the new context the head of the mythological creature would symbolize the fateful attraction. It is in the role of the seductress that the fashion house Versace saw my customer.

Burberry: Knight

English brand logo Burberry appeared in 1901, when founded in 1856 by a young Thomas Burberry the brand has already become quite famous. Products from the start Burberry differed high quality fabrics, convenience and practicality. During the First World War, by order of the British Royal Air Force, Thomas developed a waterproof raincoat (the same famous trench coat). And in 1901, when the founder of the brand received an order for the manufacture of complete uniforms for officers, the question arose of creating a trademark. Burberry... Then the brand's emblem appeared - the figure of a knight-rider in armor and with a spear in his hands, which was depicted against the background of a flag with the inscription "prorsum", which means "forward" in English. This motto reflected the desire for even more progressive inventions, and the spear was a symbol of the protection of the tradition of quality.

Lacoste: crocodile

Sports brand Lacoste was founded by a famous tennis player in his time Rene Lacoste... The Frenchman, whom his father sent to England to receive a prestigious education, became a 10-time winner of the Grand Slam tournaments. But at the height of Rene's career, doctors diagnosed a tennis player with tuberculosis. His sports career came to an end, but Lacoste conceived new project... In 1933 he, together with André Lodging created a company La Societe Chemise Lacoste which made T-shirts for tennis players, golfers and sailors. The crocodile logo appeared even before the brand was created. The fact is that journalists have long called the tennis player nothing but a crocodile. "I was nicknamed" Crocodile "after my argument with the captain of our team- said Rene. - He promised to buy my favorite crocodile leather suitcase if I win an important match for the national team. " Lacoste was not at all offended by the journalists and sewed the image of a crocodile onto his sports uniform. A small toothy alligator was painted by a famous artist and friend Renee Robert George. It was this famous crocodile that moved to the brand's things. Lacoste.

Ralph Lauren: polo player

Ralph Lauren, once the son of Jewish immigrants Ralph Lifshitz, founded the company in 1967 Polo fashions and already in 1968 he opened his first boutique. Worldwide famous logo the brand appears in 1971, when Ralph first gave women a men's polo shirt.

“My wife has an excellent sense of style: she can choose such a shirt and jacket in a men's store that people later ask where we got these clothes,- Ralph told about his innovation. - Her image reminded me Katharine Hepburn in his youth, athletic and non-fashion, in the form of a rider girl with hair flying in the wind».

The designer not only created a polo shirt for the ladies, but also placed the logo of a polo player riding a horse on its cuffs. Lauren himself admitted that for him playing polo has always been the personification of wealth, luxury and power. Coming from a poor family, he always dreamed of becoming a part of high society, joining it. The designer's dreams have come true, and the polo figure that symbolized luxury for Lauren is now associated with the classic American style.

Fred Perry: laurel wreath

Fred Perry- the famous English tennis player of the 1930s. He founded his company in 1952. It all started with a collaboration between Fred and a former Austrian footballer Tibby Wagner, who had the idea to sell an elastic band on the wrist under the Perry name. Soon, the athletes expanded their production and began to produce sports shirts. Fred perry... Of course, the name of the popular tennis player was associated with the famous Wimbledon tournament among buyers, and they willingly purchased the brand's goods. It is known that initially an avid smoker Fred wanted to make a smoking pipe the logo of the brand. He did not think at all that such a symbol was not suitable as an emblem for sportswear. But fortunately, Wagner dissuaded Perry with the words "the girls won't like this." The partner suggested an alternative:

“What about the laurel wreath you wear on your jacket and sweater Davis Cup?» .

Since 1934, when he won the victory at Wimbledon, Fred has always performed with this symbol. Despite the fact that relations with the English club did not work out for Perry, Fred requested permission to use the laurel wreath directly from the director of the Wimbledon Club. He was very happy that their symbol would be used by the famous tennis player, and agreed. Subsequently, brand clothing Fred perry with a recognizable wreath, it became the uniform of a number of subcultures of the twentieth century, in particular mods and skinheads.

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