Buzz
Logos surround us daily, appearing so frequently that they often fade into the background. Yet, even the most straightforward designs involve years of effort and significant financial investment, often concealing layers of meaning that might surprise you.
10. The FedEx Logo Subtly Communicates Speed and Efficiency
At first glance, the FedEx logo appears simple: “Fed” in bold purple and “Ex” in vibrant orange. However, its brilliance lies in the clever use of negative space. Between the “E” and the “x,” an arrow is subtly formed, symbolizing speed and precision. This design, which required months of meticulous work and the creation of a custom letterform, has earned numerous accolades. While many may not consciously notice the arrow, it leaves a lasting impression, subconsciously reinforcing the company’s reputation for fast and reliable service.
9. The Golden Arches Symbolize More Than You Think
While the McDonald’s logo appears to be a simple yellow “M,” it holds a deeper, subconscious meaning. Some interpret the rounded arches as a representation of maternal nourishment, evoking imagery of a mother’s breasts. During the 1960s, McDonald’s considered rebranding but was advised by Louis Cheskin, a psychologist and design consultant, to retain the iconic arches. Cheskin argued that the design had a Freudian influence, subtly reminding customers of comfort and sustenance, thereby stimulating hunger. Whether you believe this theory or not, it’s certain that the golden arches will never look the same to you again.
8. The Museum of London Logo Encapsulates History
The Museum of London captures the city’s rich history across various eras, from medieval times to the modern day. In 2010, the museum underwent a rebranding effort to modernize its image and attract a younger demographic. Their new logo, vibrant and eye-catching, also serves as a visual timeline of London’s evolution. The design features layered colors, each representing a distinct geographical form the city has taken over centuries. This cleverly mirrors the historical narratives showcased within the museum, while its bold colors ensure it stands out unmistakably.
7. The Adidas Logo Inspires Determination and Effort
Adidas, renowned for its sportswear and footwear, derives its name from its founder, Adolf Dassler. From its inception, the brand has emphasized marketing, with its iconic three stripes becoming synonymous with its identity. Over the years, the logo has evolved but consistently retained the three stripes. The current design arranges these stripes in a triangular formation, symbolizing a mountain. This metaphor reflects the challenges and goals athletes strive to conquer, embodying the brand’s ethos of perseverance and achievement.
6. The Mitsubishi Logo Reflects the Company’s Heritage
Mitsubishi originated as a shipping company in the 19th century, formed through the union of two entities. The logo symbolizes this merger by blending two crests: the three-leaf emblem of the Tosa Clan and the Iwasaki family crest, which features three stacked diamonds. These diamonds represent trustworthiness, honesty, and achievement, while the red color conveys confidence and draws attention to the brand.
5. The Google Logo Embodies a Rebellious Spirit
At first glance, the Google logo seems straightforward, with its unpretentious colors and clean font. However, its design carries a deeper message. The creators aimed to infuse a sense of playfulness without relying on complex symbols. Initially, they experimented with skewed letters but ultimately chose to focus on color. The final design uses a sequence of primary colors, interrupted by a single green letter. This deliberate break in the pattern reflects Google’s playful nature and its reputation as a company that defies conventions.
4. The Animal Planet Logo Embodies Wild Energy
Previously, the Animal Planet logo featured an elephant reaching toward a tiny globe, symbolizing the connection between animals and the planet. However, in 2008, the channel underwent a rebranding to attract a broader audience and shed its slow-paced documentary image. The new logo aimed to reflect raw, thrilling content, evoking primal instincts and untamed emotions. The design incorporates shades of green, reminiscent of lush jungles, and transforms a single letter to convey a sense of bold, animalistic energy—all while maintaining the channel’s name as its core.
3. The Pepsi Logo Symbolizes Universality
The Pepsi logo features a straightforward design: a circle divided into red and blue halves, with a wavy white line cutting through the middle. While the colors pay homage to the American flag, the logo’s significance goes much deeper. Pepsi invested hundreds of millions into refining this design, making subtle adjustments that supposedly carry profound meanings.
The branding agency behind Pepsi’s logo submitted a 27-page document detailing the logo’s extensive symbolism. It allegedly embodies concepts like Earth’s magnetic field, feng shui, Pythagoras’ theories, geodynamics, and even relativity. This raises the question: is the logo truly fulfilling its purpose, or did the agency craft an elaborate story to justify their hefty fee?
2. The Amazon Logo Symbolizes Joy and Inclusivity
At first glance, the Amazon logo appears simple: the company’s name in bold black letters, accompanied by a curved yellow line beneath it. However, this design holds a dual meaning. The arrow-shaped curve symbolizes the satisfaction customers feel after a seamless shopping experience, forming a subtle smile with the two “a” letters acting as the eyes.
The yellow line in the Amazon logo also functions as an arrow, stretching from the first “a” to the “z.” This clever design represents the vast range of products Amazon offers—“everything from ‘a’ to ‘z’”—while also drawing a connection to the biodiversity of the Amazon rainforest. Initially, the logo featured an animated version where the arrow extended from “A” to “z,” but this was later altered due to its unintended phallic appearance.
1. The NBC Logo Encourages Consumer Purchases
The NBC logo, featuring a peacock, is widely recognized, but its purpose is often overlooked. The peacock was introduced as a marketing strategy to promote color televisions. During the logo’s creation, NBC was under the ownership of RCA, a company eager to showcase the value of color TV sets. To emphasize the superiority of color broadcasting, RCA sought a logo that would lose its impact in black-and-white. After dismissing rainbows for being too obvious and butterflies for lacking impact, the peacock was chosen, symbolizing pride in NBC’s color programming and aligning with the phrase “proud as a peacock.”
