How Logos Evolve
We often get asked for a logo design that can stand the test of time. Something that will last forever. I mean, we look at all these “Mega Corporates” and their logos never change. Do they? Well, actually and surprisingly, they do….a lot.
This illustration depicts some of the biggest global brands and highlights the evolution of their logos from humble beginnings to the present day. It might strike you how some of the designs started out looking like their biggest rivals and others appear to of hardly changed at all. Timeless is certainly not the overriding characteristic of most of these early creations.
Often the brand takes a leap forward with the logo design and modernizes to cater to a changing world but this is not always the case. Notice for instance how one or two of the brands seem to take a step back in time to a more retro or vintage style. During the lifespan of a brand there may be certain external factors that make it more appropriate to look back to better times rather than looking forward to the unknown. It´s possible that these backward looking brand changes are influenced by a poor run of results or something else that makes them feel more comfortable with the past. Instead of looking to innovate and take a big stride forward, it might be easier at the time to consolidate and regroup based on previous results.
Tell us what you think of the way these global brands have evolved and whether you think their latest incarnation is an improvement on their starting point.