Arek Dvornechcuck
Branding Expert
What's the meaning behind top brand logos?
In this article, I will discuss 50+ brand logos of the best global brands by Interbrand's Ranking.
The most important expression of any brand is its corporate logo.
A good logo, if designed effectively, can bring to people’s minds the unique selling proposition of an organization which inevitably promotes the company on a subconscious level.
Get to know some of the important facts about these logo designs and what's the meaning behind them.
This will without a doubt inspire you in your logo design process.
In my other article, I've also pulled together a list of 100 style guide examples for your inspiration.
I have separated these logos into 5 categories for your ease.
The bite was introduced, so it can’t be confused with a cherry. It's there for scale.
What does the name Apple stand for?
Steve Jobs said that he was on a fruitarian diet and just came back from an apple farm, and thought the name sounded “fun, spirited and not intimidating.”
Why does the Apple logo have a bite out of it?
Rob Janoff, the apple logo designer, was going for the silhouette of an apple, but to make it look more like an apple and not some other round fruit, he did what one does with an apple - took a bite out of it.
Learn more about Apple logo meaning.
The green "L" that breaks the color pattern, suggests the idea that Google doesn't follow the rules.
What does the name Google stand for?
The name originated from a misspelling of the word Googol, which is 1 followed by 100 zeros.
So, the name was picked to signify the large quantities of information.
What's the meaning of the colors in the Google logo?
Ruth Kedar, the Google logo designer, says that he ended up with the three primary colors, but instead of having the pattern go in order, he put a secondary color on the L and broke the pattern.
Suggesting that Google does not follow the rules.
Learn more about Google logo meaning.
Blue is for Windows, red for Office, green for Xbox, and yellow for Bing.
What does the name Microsoft stand for?
One of the Google founder - Allen, came up with the original name of Micro-Soft, a combination of the words "microcomputer" and "software".
The Microsoft logotype uses the Segoe font, which is the same font used in other companies'z products and marketing communications.
What's the meaning of the colors in the Microsoft logo?
The color squares in Microsoft brandmark are intended to express the company’s diverse portfolio of products.
Learn more about Microsoft logo meaning.
We’re happy to deliver absolutely anything, anywhere. From A to Z.
What does the name Amazon stand for?
If you ever wondered why is it called Amazon - you're in the right place!
Jeff Bezos, the Amazon's founder, named the business after the river reportedly for two reasons:
One, to suggest scale and align with his vision: the earth’s biggest bookstore
Two, back then website listings were alphabetical, which meant Amazon would be always on top
Why there's a smile in the Amazon logo?
The smile is more than just a decoration.
Thanks to that smile, the Amazon logo emanates with positive vibrations and expresses the company's main mission – to make customers happy.
Learn more about Amazon logo meaning.
The Samsung logotype uses a popular font, Helvetica, with a modified "A".
What does the name Samsung stand for?
In Korean, the word Samsung means “three stars" and previous Samsung logo had indeed 3 stars in it.
The word "Samsung" was chosen by its founder Lee Byung-chull with the premise the company will become powerful and everlasting like stars in the sky.
The word "three" represents something "big, numerous and powerful".
What font does the Samsung logo use?
The Samsung wordmark uses a popular font, Helvetica, with a modification to the "A" letter.
The blue color in the Samsung logo signifies trustworthiness, reliability, and commitment in service.
Learn more about Samsung logo meaning.
Facebook worked with Eric Olson, the designer of the Klavika typeface — and developed a custom typeface.
Why did they call it Facebook?
Facebooks are published by colleges and universities for students and teachers to familiarize themselves with the institution's community.
Mark Zuckerberg originally wrote Facebook as a social network for the student community at Harvard and adapt this name because it was the most appropriate and popular it could be.
What typeface does the Facebook logo use?
The original logo was designed in 2005 by Joe Kral and Cuban Council using Klavika typeface as a starting point.
The most recent Facebook logo rebrand, includes the wordmark redesign to use a kind of twenty-first-century Franklin Gothic for the millennial generation.
Learn more about the Facebook logo meaning.
The swoosh represents Intel's aim to take lead in the future.
Where does Intel get its name from?
So, when the founder started their new company, they named it Moore & Noyce.
But they didn't think this name was catchy or it gave an idea about the company.
Then, a while later Noyce's daughter, Penny Noyce suggest the name Intel (INtegrated ELectronics).
The fact that "intel" is the term for intelligence information also made the name appropriate.
What is the meaning of the Intel symbol?
The Intel logo comprises of a swoosh surrounding the company’s name set in a custom sans serif typeface.
A light blue color was chosen to create an impression of the company’s domination and power in the minds of the people.
The blue color also symbolizes loyalty, wisdom, and tranquility and is often used by tech companies.
Learn more about the Intel logo.
The eight bars in the IBM logo imply speed and dynamism.
What does the acronym IBM stand for?
The name IBM stands for International Business Machines.
The company originated in 1911 as the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company (CTR) and was renamed "International Business Machines" in 1924.
Why are there eight strips in the IBM logo?
The horizontally striped IBM logo designed by Paul Rand is meant to suggest "speed and dynamism."
The stripes in the IBM logo also enhance the beauty and give a distinctive quality to the logo.
The simplicity and attractiveness of the IBM logo is surprisingly captivating and it also accurately defines the brand name and quality.
Learn more about the IBM logo history.
The original scripted GE letters were drawn in the early 1890s.
What does the acronym GE stand for?
The name GE stands for General Electric.
In 1892, the Edison General Electric Company and the Thomson-Houston Electric Company merged to form the General Electric Company.
What's the meaning of the GE logo?
The scripted GE letters were drawn in the early 1890s.
The Monogram consists of four parts: the solid circle, the stylized circle, the solid background, and the rounded script.
Some believe it was developed to cover the center bolt holding the blades in place on a ceiling fan
This is a practical and ingenious beginning to a brand mark that has become a highly regarded and enduring promise of quality, leadership, innovation, and integrity.
Learn more about the GE logo history.
The bars in the Cisco logo depict the two towers of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.
How did Cisco get its name?
The name "Cisco" was derived from the city name San Francisco, which is why the company's engineers insisted on using the lower case "cisco".
What is the history of the Cisco logo?
The length of the company name pushes the logotype to look small and the bridge emblem to look heavy.
The bars are intended to depict the two towers of the Golden Gate Bridge, a symbol of San Francisco.
The blue color depicts prosperity, excellence, and calmness, while the red color represents determination and business responsibility.
Learn more about the Cisco logo's history and evolution.
The Oracle logo is a prime example of a technically appealing and modernistic logotype.
What does the name Oracle mean?
The name “Oracle” originates from the code-name of a CIA-funded project that the company’s co-founder, Larry Ellison, had previously worked on.
What is the meaning of the Oracle logo design?
The Oracle wordmark holds a very simple and clean design aesthetic and consists of a powerful and fresh primary color red.
The use of red color exemplifies passion, energy, excitement, and determination.
The clear sans-serif font looks unique, the most unusual characters being probably “E”, “A”, and “R” with characteristic angle cuts.
Learn more about the Oracle logo history.
The iconic blue gradient creates a perfect harmony to the smiling “A”.
What does the SAP acronym stand for?
The SAP name in German stands for Systeme, Anwendungen, Produkte in der Datenverarbeitung which translates in English to Systems, Applications and Products in Data Processing.
In spoken form, SAP always is clearly pronounced by individual letter: S-A-P. SAP is never referred to as a one-syllable word
What is the history of the SAP logo?
The Sap logo features the “smiling A” with a merged square and triangle shape.
The SAP logo is noted for its use of bright gradients of blue color, giving an insightful emphasis to the digital market.
Blue is very often associated with mental activity, information, and software engineering.
Learn more about the SAP logo history.
The four colors; red, blue, yellow, and green, depict joy, enthusiasm, creativity, and energy.
Why do they call it eBay?
The founder went to register the domain echobay.com for his planned business name Echo Bay Inc., but it was taken. So, he came up with “eBay” on the spot and registered it instead.
Do you know the meaning of the eBay logo?
The older version of the eBay logo used to feature the company’s name in a zigzag manner with abnormal capitalization.
The current eBay logo comprises a very straightforward, clean, and contemporary design which is very elegant yet outstandingly exciting.
The vibrant eBay colors and touching letters represent the connected and diverse eBay community.
Learn more about the Ebay logo history.
The “greater-than” sign helps to accent the word as a symbolic expression that aims forward to the future.
What's the meaning of the name Accenture?
The word “Accenture” was chosen to symbolize putting an accent or special importance to the future.
The word "Accenture" is supposedly derived from "Accent on the future".
What does the "greater-than" sign in the Accenture logo mean?
It helps “accent” the word as a symbolic expression that aims forward to the future.
The black color in the Accenture logo depicts the innovation, dynamic attitude and brilliance of the firm.
The Accenture logo uses the Rotis Sans Serif 75 Extra Bold typeface.
Learn more about the Accenture logo here.
Stars represent sparks of innovation, waves show connected lives.
What is the meaning of the name Phillips?
The Philips company was founded in Eindhoven in 1891, by Gerard Philips and his father Frederik - it's the founders' last name.
What is the story of the Philips logo?
The Philips logo comprises four stars and two waves inside a globe which is enclosed in a shield.
The logo was inspired by the fact that sound consists of waves traveling through the ether and the star spangles symbolize electric lighting.
The use of blue color in the Philips logo exemplifies the brightness of the sky, excellence, prosperity, and reliability.
Learn more about the Philips logo history and evolution.
The use of turquoise color represents serenity, freshness, nature, and energy.
What does the name Siemens stand for?
The company was named after its founder Werner von Siemens.
Why does Siemens use a turquoise color in its logo?
The use of Pantone 321 (Turquoise) color in the Siemens logo represents the serenity, freshness, nature, energy, and environmental production of the company.
The use of round shapes and unusual coloring was enforced, as an effort to maximize the emotional appeal and visual recognition of the overall design.
Learn more about the Siemens logo history.
The Disney signature is meant to evoke a sense of fantasy and imagination.
Disney company name origins
The Walt Disney Co. was originally known as the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio, with Walt Disney and his brother, Roy, as equal partners.
However, with Roy's suggestion, the company changed its name to Walt Disney Studio.
What is the history of the Walt Disney logo?
In 1995 the Walt Disney Co. introduced its most well-known logo, the famous Cinderella castle with an arcing line overhead.
The Disney logo is really a script that looks like the founder's signature.
The logo is not, however, based on Walt Disney’s real signature because Walt had been dead for nearly twenty years before the familiar script was even used as the logo.
The Walt Disney signature was is in fact of Hank Porter, not Walt Disney… and is completely legal and legit as a Walt Disney signature.
Hank Porter, who worked in the promotions department at Disney, was one of a few people authorized to sign Walt’s name at the studio.
Learn more about the Disney signature.
The Toyota Ellipses symbolize the unification of the hearts of our customers and the heart of Toyota products.
What does the name Toyota stand for?
Toyota originated from the family name of the founder, "Toyoda" and the "d" was replaced with the "t" to facilitate pronunciation in the U.S.
What's the meaning of the Toyota logo?
The two smaller circles within the larger circle form the letter “T” and this represents “Toyota”, along with “trust” between the brand and the driver.
The larger circle completes the look and symbolizes technological innovation and globalization.
Learn more about Toyota logo meaning.
The star was marked on a postcard depicting the town of the founder.
Where does the Mercedes name come from?
Mercedes was the daughter (Mercedes Jellinek) of German businessman and gentleman racer Emil Jellinek.
The founder's inclination to name things after his daughter – like his yacht and all of his homes – would eventually work its way around to the cars he sold, raced, and drove.
What does the star in the Mercedes logo mean?
You’ll be surprised to discover Mercedes-Benz’s emblem isn’t just an innocent star.
The founder's sons recalled an 1872 picture postcard sent by their father with a three-pointed star marking the location with an explanation on the back that one day a star would shine over the factory and bring prosperity.
Learn more about the Mercedes-Benz logo meaning.
The BMW logo shows the colors of the Free State of Bavaria (part of Germany).
What does the name BMW stand for?
BMW stands for Bayerische Motoren Werke which roughly translates into "Bavarian Motor Factories".
Bavaria is a part of Germany. The BMW automaker is noted for quality sports sedans and motorcycles.
What is the meaning of the BMW logo?
People think that the BMW white and blue checker boxes are supposed to be a stylized representation of a propeller blade spinning against a clear blue sky.
The BMW company indeed started as a builder of aircraft engines, but the logo inspiration is different.
BMW's checkered logo design is in fact a combination of the logo of the Rapp Motorenwerke, from which the company grew, and the colors of the Bavarian flag.
Learn more about the BMW logo history.
The Nike logo has a check mark shape that is fluid and indicates movement and speed.
Where did the name Nike come from?
Nike was founded in 1964, as Blue Ribbon Sports, and the company initially served as a U.S. distributor of running shoes made by Onitsuka Tiger (now known as Asics).
In 1971 the founders launched an effort to manufacture and distribute their own shoes.
The company officially became Nike, Inc. in 1971 when they manufactured shoes under their own new brand - Nike.
The company takes its name from the Greek goddess of victory, Nike.
What does the Nike swoosh stand for?
The Nike logo is a checkmark, an abstract mark that stands for speed and movement.
The Nike logo was designed by Carolyn Davidson, while she was a graphic design student at Portland State University.
She charged for the iconic logo only $35 back in 1971.
Years after she was also given over 1,000,000 in stock as well as a diamond and gold ring featuring the Swoosh design.
The Nike swoosh logo is a glaring example of how a visual turn a business into a trustworthy brand.
Learn more about the Nike logo's history.
How did Louis Vuitton get its name?
The Louis Vuitton company got its name from the founder.
The fashion label was founded by Vuitton in 1854 on Rue Neuve des Capucines in Paris, France.
Who designed the Louis Vitton logo?
The logo was designed by Louis’ son, Georges Vuitton, who came up with the symbol by printing his father’s initials on the canvas.
The company is widely known for its LV monogram.
The font used in the Louis Vuitton “LV monogram” is a custom, handmade typeface.
The use of black color in the LV monogram as well as in the full Louis Vuitton logotype embodies the excellence, innovation, elegance, and dynamic attitude of the company.
Learn more about the Louis Vuitton logo.
A feature that makes the Honda logo so popular is its bold slab-serif font.
How did Honda get its name?
The Honda name is its founder, Soichiro Honda, last name.
Soichiro Honda felt a great passion for cars since he was a little boy.
Honda grew from manufacturing bicycle motors to a multinational automobile and motorcycle manufacturer.
What is the history of the Honda logo?
The Honda logo depicts the attractive and stylish letter ”H” inscribed in a Roman style which gives it a simple yet eye-catching look.
Honda also uses its famous Honda wing symbol which is linked to its founder Soichiro Honda.
Their first image appeared in 1947 when Soichiro was visually inspired by the sculpture of the goddess Nike (Ancient Greece goddess of victory).
Learn more about the Honda logo and name history.
What does the name Hermes stand for?
The name Hermès comes from the Greek god of messengers and commerce and the name was taken from its founder Thierry Hermès.
What's the meaning of the Hermes logo?
The Hermes logo comprises a carriage attached to a horse - interpreting the company’s humble origins as a horse saddlery manufacturer.
The Hermes logo uses a modified form of the Memphis - a slab serif typeface originally designed by Dr. Rudolf Wolf in 1929.
The tagline highlights the company’s origins and the orange color gives the brand its distinctive style and authentic edge.
The carriage attached to a horse manifests Hermes' humble origins as a horse saddlery manufacturer.
Learn more about the Hermes logo history.
The oval shape has been introduced to the brand as the “hallmark for reliability and economy”.
What does the name Ford stand for?
The Ford Motor Company was founded by Henry Ford, therefore it's the founder's last name.
What's the meaning of the Ford emblem?
The Ford logo is a script-based calligraphy wordmark that has undergone various modifications.
Nonetheless, it is widely regarded as one of the most memorable car logos ever created.
The use of blue color in the Ford logo symbolizes the strength and excellence of the company, whereas the white color depicts elegance and purity.
Learn more about the Ford logo evolution.
The slanted, stylized “H”, symbolizes the handshake of trust between the company and the customer.
What does the Hyundai name mean?
The word “Hyundai” is the Korean 現代 (“hanja”), which means “modernity.”
An exact transliteration into English would be “Hyeondae.”
It’s a fitting name considering the brand’s current slogan: New Thinking. New Possibilities.
What does the Hyundai logo stand for?
The oval shape of the Hyundai logo is considered to be a symbolic representation of the company’s aim to flourish in the global market.
The blue color in the Hyundai logo typifies reliability, and excellence; whereas the silver color stands for its sophistication, creativity, and perfection.
Learn more about the Hyundai logo history.
The four rings of the Audi logo are reminiscent of the four car makers that merged together.
Where does the name Audi come from?
The company name is based on the Latin translation of the surname of the founder, August Horch. "Horch", meaning "listen" in German, becomes "audi" in Latin.
Why does Audi have 4 rings?
The Audi logo comprises four 3D overlapping rings which appear strikingly sharp.
The four rings of the Audi logo each represent one of the four car companies that banded together to create Audi.
The chrome color of the Audi logo is bright and slick, which lends it a very modern and sophisticated touch; the red is used only for the “Audi” logotype.
The Audi logo features a San-serif font which exemplifies style as well as simplicity.
Learn more about the Audi logo history here.
The silver sign is associated with Japanese quality, innovation, and elegance.
What is the meaning of the word Nissan?
The name Nissan is a combination of Japanese characters “ni” (“sun”) and “ssan” (“product” or “birth”) - thus, Nissan is a product of Japan, the land of the rising sun.
What does the Nissan logo badge represent?
The chrome-colored theme in the Nissan logo represents the sophistication, modernism, creativity, and perfection of the company’s products.
A horizontal rectangle with a Nissan inscription and a circle overlapping it has been a trademark shape of Nissan logos since its inception back in the 1930s.
Learn more about the Nissan logo evolution.
Volkswagen means "People's car" in German. The “Volks” stands for people and “Wagen” stands for car.
What does the VW logo mean?
The logo comprises of the company’s initials – a “V” placed over a “W” – and both these letters interact with each other.
The logo of Volkswagen is a simple representation of the initials of the company.
What’s the shape and color of the VW logo?
The beauty of the logo lies in its simplicity, it contains only two letters, which seem to be interacting with each other.
The letters are held together with a circle of the same line weight, effort has been made to include just the right amount of “air”.
The logo is a culmination of two colors, blue and white.
The blue color represents class, excellence, and reliability while the white outlines charm, nobility and purity.
Learn more about the VW logo history.
The horse in the Porsche logo was taken from Stuttgart's Coat of Arms.
What's the meaning of Porsche's name?
The name comes from its founder Ferdinand Porsche (1875-1951).
What are the origins of the Porsche logo?
The origins of the Porsche logo trace back to the coat of arms of the state of Württemberg of former Weimar Germany, which was once called Stuttgart (where Porsche's headquarters is located).
The Porsche logo elements symbolize the coat of arms of Stuttgart, a city located in southwestern Germany that was built on a stud farm.
The center of the crest bore a black horse rampant on a yellow shield, which symbolizes forward-thrusting power and the distinctive seal of Stuttgart.
The Porsche logo incorporates an elongated and modernistic custom typeface.
Learn more about the Porsche logo history here.
Gucci was founded by the Italian fashion designer - Guccio Gucci.
What does the Gucci name stand for?
The name is actually the last name of the founder, Guccio Gucci, an Italian fashion designer.
Gucci is perhaps the most recognizable luxury brand nowadays.
What's the font used in the Gucci logo?
A font called Granjon Roman is very similar to the serif font used in the Gucci wordmark.
Gucci is probably best known for its interlocked double Gs, which is a form of a monogram, representing the initials of the founder, Guccio Gucci.
Learn more about the Gucci logo meaning here.
The unique alignment and stroke make the logo more eye-catching
Where does the name American Express come from?
The original company was founded through the consolidation of three companies active in the express transport of goods, valuables, and specie between New York City and other parts of the US.
Herein the name American Express, a merger of three American companies operating in express transport.
American Express is also called Amex in short.
What does the Amex logo stand for?
The Amex logo consists of a blue square-shaped structure with the first part of the name aligned to the left and the second to the right.
The company name assumes the mid-section while the rest of the area is deliberately kept empty.
The American Express logotype also features a stroke applied on it.
Both the stroke and the word arrangement are an attempt to make the logo more eye-catching and visually distinctive to the audience.
The custom typeface used in the Amex logo has much in common with the Handel Gothic Bold typeface developed by Don Handel.
Learn more about the American Express logo.
The shield is a traditional symbol of integrity and reliability.
What does the name UPS stand for?
The UPS acronym stands for United Parcels Service.
The UPS brand name is used to denote many of its divisions and subsidiaries that not necessarily deal with parcels. Besides the name is too long and it was shortened similarly to FedEx.
What's the meaning of the UPS brown shield logo?
The brown color embodies trust, reliability, and loyalty and has been closely associated with the UPS logo.
The use of yellow color, on the other hand, stands for joy, passion, and precision.
The brown shield is incredibly distinctive and the dark colors manage to stand out in a world where brighter is usually better.
This simple logo has helped propel UPS the top of the delivery world and UPS is sure to be a powerful company for many years to come.
Learn more about the UPS logo history.
The JP Morgan serif font projects a stately look & feel.
What does the name J.P. Morgan stand for?
The company was founded by John Pierpont Morgan, an American financier and banker who dominated corporate finance of late 19th and early 20th century in the US.
What are the aesthetics of J.P. Morgan's wordmark?
J. P. Morgan's name is written in a stately serif font.
The stately wordmark was designed to separate two identities: one for the consumer (Chase Bank) and institutional businesses (JP Morgan).
Learn more about the JP Morgan wordmark redesign.
The red slash in the AXA logo signals a move to “draw a line under the past”
What does the acronym AXA stand for?
The word AXA is not an acronym.
The name was chosen since it can be pronounced easily by people who can speak different languages.
Aside from this, the name was also ideal since it starts with the letter A, making it appear at the top of all directories.
What’s the meaning of the red slash of the AXA logo?
The red diagonal strengthens the dynamics of the graphic design, giving it a strong and impetuous character.
The red slash appearing in the Axa logo signals a move to “draw a line under the past”.
The blue color represents security, order, peace, and technology.
Learn more about the AXA logo history.
Goldman Sachs name origins:
The company was named after the founder, Marcus Goldman, a prominent banker and financier.
What does the Goldman Sachs logo feature?
The Goldman Sachs logo features a blue square that contains the company’s name in lowercase characters using itemized serif typefaces (Univers and Sabon).
The logo uses only two colors: light blue and white.
Blue portrays the company’s optimistic attitude to life and work and thirst for further evolution and prosperity.
White stands for purity, which expresses the company’s striving to use lawful, fair, and honest methods in reaching maximum prosperity.
Learn more about the Goldman Sachs logo history.
The hexagonal emblem originates from the house flag of the bank
What does the acronym HSBC stand for?
The HSBC acronym stands for The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation.
What's the meaning behind HSBC hexagonal logo?
The HSBC logo comprises a hexagonal figure, expeditiously drawing up a uniform and legible brand identity.
Inspired by the house flag of the bank, it incorporates a white rectangle broken up diagonally to create a red hourglass symbol.
The logo was designed by Austrian graphic artist Henry Steiner.
Learn more about the HSBC logo history.
The Citi logo was designed by Paula Scher in 5 min on a napkin for 1.5 mln dollars
The history of the Citi Bank name
Citicorp and Travelers Group merged in 1998 to form Citi Bank.
What does the umbrella in the Citibank logo mean?
The red arc over the letter “t” is a visual nod to the Travelers Group umbrella and the merger of both brands into one.
The red-arched Citi logo makes a catchy and instantly recognizable brandmark.
$1.5m for a logo might sound like a lot of money, but the reality is that for a company as large as Citi the value of the logo justifies the cost.
Learn more about the Citi Bank logo here.
The three stripes in the Allianz logo feature analogies to the German imperial eagle.
What’s the meaning of the Allianz logo?
The bars also symbolize the Allianz's three key fields of business: insurance, retirement provision, and assets.
The blue color in the Allianz logo represents the excellence, supremacy, and magnificence of the firm.
The Allianz logo features a custom typeface which is known as Allianz Sans font.
Learn more about the Allianz logo story.
The use of red color symbolizes such qualities as passion, love, courage, joy, and youthfulness.
What does H&M stand for?
The acronym stands for Hennes & Mauritz, the two Swedish founders of the company.
What does the H&M logo stand for?
The company's logo has been often been criticized for being too generic and even less efficient in conveying what H&M actually stands for.
H&M sports a simple and free-spirited typographical logo as the company’s target customers are mainly youth and students.
Learn more about the H&M logo history.
The black color and the serif typeface in the Zara logo represent elegance, style, and excellence.
What does the Zara name stand for?
The fashion chain Zara was named after a bearded Greek man, according to the company's communications director, Jesus Echevarria.
It was after owner Amancio Ortega watched the 1969 film, Zorba the Greek, that he decided on the name Zorba for his first shop.
After learning there was a bar with the same name two blocks away, Ortega rearranged the letters and molded it into 'Zara.'
What's the meaning of the Zara logo?
The black color in the Zara logo symbolizes the style, elegance, supremacy, and brilliance of the brand’s luxury, high-end products.
The Zara logotype is based on a custom typeface and it's a supreme example of a simple yet successful corporate identity.
Learn more about the Zara logo history.
The yellow and blue colors in the IKEA logo are influenced by the Swedish national flag.
What does the name IKEA stand for?
The company’s name “IKEA” is actually inspired by the Swedish founder’s initials “Ingvar Kampar” plus the first letter of his family farm “Elmtaryd”, and his birth place “Agunnaryd”.
Why IKEA logo is blue and yellow?
It's no accident that the IKEA logo is blue and yellow. These are the colors of the Swedish flag.
In Sweden, nature and the home, both play a big part in people's lives.
In fact, one of the best ways to describe the Swedish home furnishing style is to describe nature - full of light and fresh air, yet restrained and unpretentious.
The IKEA logo incorporates the Ikea Sans typeface which originates from the Futura font family.
Learn more about the IKEA logo history.
The negative space between “G” and “i” forms two blade-like shapes on top of each other.
Where does the Gillette name come from?
It's the founder's last name - King Camp Gillette.
Gillette was an American businessman who invented the best-selling version of the safety razor.
What are the aesthetics of the Gillette logotype?
The slightly italic positioning of the font gives the overall design a unique feel of speed and the extra thickness makes it appear less threatening.
The characteristic angle cuts in the "G" and "i" letters resemble the product itself - the safety razor.
The use of black and white color in the Gillette logo stands for the purity, prestige, perfection, and excellence of the company’s products.
Learn more about the Gillette logo history.
The name origin of the Pampers brand
The name is simply taken from English dictionary - it's a descriptive name:
To "pamper" means to look after someone very kindly, for example by giving them the things that they want and making them feel warm and comfortable.
What's the meaning of the Pampers logo?
The logo is supposed to look very safe and friendly
The Pampers logo is a typical example of a warm, instantly recognizable mark that reflects attributes such as love, light, sunshine, and care.
The Pampers logo features green (turquoise) and yellow colors which exemplify happiness and purity.
The Pampers wordmark incorporates a custom typeface.
Learn more about the Pampers logo history.
The company started as a hair dye called Auréole sold to Paris hairdressers
Where did the name L'Oreal come from?
L'Oreal is a variant of the original company name, Auréale, likely derived from the Old French aureole.
Aureole is derived from the Medieval Latin aureola, from the Latin aureolus "made of gold, golden; adorned, covered, or decorated with gold.”
What does the Loreal logo represent?
The Loreal logo comprises a simple logotype that features the company’s name in an exceptionally stylish yet legible style of typography.
Each letter in the name of the company is capitalized and the "O" letter is slightly larger than the rest.
This elegant and classic combination symbolizes the inborn sense of style, as well as purity (white) and mystery (black).
Learn more about the history of the Loreal company.
Coca-Cola logotype is based on the Spencerian Script typeface widely used in 1850' in the USA
What does the name Coca-Cola stand for?
The founder's bookkeeper, Frank Mason Robinson, came up with the name to represent the main ingredients the "coca" leaf and the "kola" nut.
He changed the "k" for "c" in the "Kola" part, because he believed that the two Cs would look well in advertising.
What's the typeface used in the Coca-Cola logo?
Frank experiments with writing the company's name in Spencerian script – a popular writing style back then.
The Spencerian Script was considered the American de facto standard writing style for business correspondence prior to the widespread adoption of the typewriter.
Learn more about Coca-Cola logo meaning.
Originally, the real golden arches were part of the McDonald's restaurant design.
How McDonald's got its name?
McDonalds was founded by Ray Kroc, so why is it called McDonalds? Kroc bought the rights to the name and the service from the McDonald brothers.
The name comes from the Brothers Richard and Maurice McDonald who opened the first McDonald's in 1940 in San Bernardino, California.
How was the McDonald's logo created?
McDonalds' golden arches were taken from the original restaurant design and incorporated into the logo to resemble letter "M" like McDonalds.
In 1962, designer Jim Schindler was hired to create a more “corporate” logo that we can see Today.
The McDonald's logo has become a cultural icon synonymous with capitalism, globalization, and the widespread proliferation of American culture.
Learn more about the McDonald's logo story.
The Pepsi logo was revamped by New York-based Arnell Group for $1 million
How Pepsi got its name?
In 1893, Caleb Davis Bradham, invented a drink in his drugstore and called it “Brad’s Drink”, later changing the name to "Pepsi-Cola".
Despite its name and hearsay, pepsin was never an ingredient of Pepsi-Cola.
The inventor believed the drink was more than a refreshment but a “healthy” cola, aiding in digestion, getting its roots from the word dyspepsia, meaning indigestion.
What's the meaning of the Pepsi globe?
The Pepsi Globe is the icon and logo for Pepsi, called such because of the swirling "red, white, & blue" design in a sphere-like shape.
The current present Pepsi logo was created in 2008 when the company started revamping its brand as part of its global re-branding strategies.
The logo still comprises of a globe painted with two completely opposite colors: red and blue, but the new design also features a “smile” in the center that separates the two disks of the globe.
Learn more about the Pepsi globe logo.
The bow-tie design of the logo conveys an idea of sophistication and elegance
What does the word Budweiser stand for?
The name Budweiser is a derivative adjective, meaning "of Budweis" - city in the Czech Republic, where the American founders travelled and got inspiration from.
What does the bow tie in the Budweiser logo mean?
One of Budweiser’s key slogans is “The King of Beers”, and this is an idea that the Budweiser logo is able to convey by featuring a gold crown on the top of the label.
The clever usage of the crown, the signature-styled brand name, and the red bow tie define refinement, elegance, royalty, and gracefulness.
The red color is known to stimulate the appetite, while the white color stands for purity, cleanness, and vitality.
Learn more about the Budweiser logo history here.
The “E” letters in the Nescafe logo have been modified to resemble a mug’s handle.
What are the origins of the Nescafe name?
The name Nescafe is a compound of "Nestle," the company that developed the first commercially successful water-soluble coffee powder, and cafe, the Italian word for coffee.
Nestle + Cafe = Nescafe (Instant coffee).
What’s the Nescafe logotype and its red accent?
The Nescafe logo comprises of a simple wordmark inspired by the Nestle logotype but is based on uppercase characters instead.
The Nescafé red accent is taken from the modernized Nescafé brand mark and is made to look like steam coming out of a coffee mug.
The bright red color adds to the warmth and lively appearance of the overall corporate identity.
Learn more about the Nestle logo evolution.
The founder W.K. Kellogg used to sign each product personally with his signature.
How was Kellogg’s company started?
The company was started by W.K. Kellogg, and his brother, Dr. John Harvey Kellogg.
The brothers kept experimenting until they flaked corn, and created the delicious recipe for Kellogg’s Corn Flakes in 1898.
Who designed the script for Kellogg's logo?
According to company legend, the founder, William Keith Kellogg, initially signed each Corn Flakes package personally.
He did so to show that it was a genuine Kellogg product and soon his signature became the company logo.
Kellogg's logo evolved slightly over the years but is still based on the original signature.
The company uses a custom font called Kellogg’s Sans.
Learn more about Kellogg's logo history.
Logos are an important part of establishing your brand and they play a major role in how consumers perceive brands.
In this article, we have discussed the best 50 logos of all time to help you understand how they were created and the ideas behind them.
Creating a logo by yourself can be overwhelming if you don’t have an established process.
Therefore I suggest hiring an experienced logo designer to bring your ideas into reality.
Looking to hire a professional logo designer to create an outstanding logo?—Just shoot me an email.
Also, check out my logo design portfolio.
