Greatest Logos of All Time

Apple

Rob Janoff's rainbow apple debuted in 1977, then Steve Jobs stripped it to monochrome in 1998 as he stripped the company back to basics. That single-color silhouette became shorthand for an entire design philosophy: less is more. Few logos have ever done so much by removing so mu

Year Introduced: 1977 (approx.)Still In Use: ✓Major Redesigns: 3Global Recognition: 10/10Design Simplicity: 10/10Colors Used: 1

added by IJRin 4 rankings

Nike Swoosh

Designed by student Carolyn Davidson for $35 in 1971, the Swoosh has barely changed in over fifty years — proof that a single confident brushstroke can outlast every trend. Paired with 'Just Do It,' it became less a logo than a cultural verb. Nike later paid Davidson stock worth

Year Introduced: 1971 (approx.)Still In Use: ✓Major Redesigns: 1Global Recognition: 10/10Design Simplicity: 10/10Colors Used: 1

added by IJR

McDonald's Golden Arches

What began as literal architectural arches on 1950s drive-ins was distilled into the freestanding 'M' by designer Jim Schindler in 1968. It's arguably the most geographically recognized logo on Earth, visible from highways in over 100 countries. The arches turned a hamburger stan

Year Introduced: 1968 (approx.)Still In Use: ✓Major Redesigns: 2Global Recognition: 10/10Design Simplicity: 9/10Colors Used: 2

added by IJR

Coca-Cola Script

Bookkeeper Frank Mason Robinson hand-lettered the Spencerian script in 1886, and remarkably it still looks almost identical today. That unbroken continuity is the whole story — a wordmark so consistent it became a symbol of American culture itself. It's often cited as the most re

Year Introduced: 1886 (approx.)Still In Use: ✓Major Redesigns: 1Global Recognition: 10/10Design Simplicity: 8/10Colors Used: 1

added by IJR

Mercedes-Benz Star

The three-pointed star, symbolizing land, sea, and air dominance, was patented in 1909 and merged with Benz's laurel wreath in 1926. Encircled in chrome atop a hood ornament, it became the ultimate shorthand for automotive prestige. Few emblems have so successfully sold status th

Year Introduced: 1909 (approx.)Still In Use: ✓Major Redesigns: 2Global Recognition: 9/10Design Simplicity: 9/10Colors Used: 1

added by IJR

Adidas Three Stripes

Adi Dassler's three parallel stripes started as a shoe traction pattern in 1949 before becoming a brand identity in their own right. The later trefoil and 'mountain' logos came and went, but the stripes endured as the true icon, appearing on everything from tracksuits to sneaker

Year Introduced: 1949 (approx.)Still In Use: ✓Major Redesigns: 3Global Recognition: 9/10Design Simplicity: 8/10Colors Used: 1

added by IJR

NASA Insignia ("Meatball")

The circular 1959 'meatball' logo, packed with a red vector, blue sphere, and stars, was briefly benched for the sleek red 'worm' wordmark from 1975 to 1992. Public nostalgia forced its comeback, and the worm itself was later revived in 2020 for SpaceX crewed launches. A rare cas

Year Introduced: 1959 (approx.)Still In Use: ✓Major Redesigns: 2Global Recognition: 9/10Design Simplicity: 6/10Colors Used: 3

added by IJR

Google

Sergey Brin's original 1998 logotype used free clip-art fonts before Ruth Kedar's serif redesign gave it personality. The 2015 switch to a geometric sans-serif signaled Google's shift toward mobile-first simplicity. Its playful primary-color palette has become instantly recogniza

Year Introduced: 1998 (approx.)Still In Use: ✓Major Redesigns: 4Global Recognition: 10/10Design Simplicity: 8/10Colors Used: 4

added by IJRin 2 rankings

Shell Pecten

Shell's scallop emblem dates back to early 1900s roots as an oil importer trading actual seashells, but it was Raymond Loewy's 1971 redesign that gave it the clean, flattened form still used today. It's one of the oldest continuously used trademarks in the world. Few logos wear t

Year Introduced: 1971 (approx.)Still In Use: ✓Major Redesigns: 3Global Recognition: 9/10Design Simplicity: 7/10Colors Used: 2

added by IJR

Target Bullseye

Introduced in 1962, the bullseye was chosen because 'we'll hit the bullseye with pricing, quality, and service.' Its bold red-and-white simplicity has barely wavered in six decades, making it one of retail's most stable identities. It proves a name-free icon can still say everyth

Year Introduced: 1962 (approx.)Still In Use: ✓Major Redesigns: 1Global Recognition: 8/10Design Simplicity: 9/10Colors Used: 1

added by IJR

FedEx

Lindon Leader's 1994 redesign hid a forward-pointing arrow in the negative space between the 'E' and 'x' — a piece of design trickery so beloved it's taught in every branding course. That arrow, whether noticed consciously or not, subliminally communicates speed and precision. It

Year Introduced: 1994 (approx.)Still In Use: ✓Major Redesigns: 1Global Recognition: 8/10Design Simplicity: 8/10Colors Used: 2

added by IJRFedEx

Olympic Rings

Pierre de Coubertin sketched the five interlocking rings in 1913 to represent the five inhabited continents united in competition. Over a century later, the design has never needed alteration, appearing unchanged at every Games from Antwerp to Paris. Its universality makes it arg

Year Introduced: 1913 (approx.)Still In Use: ✓Major Redesigns: 0Global Recognition: 10/10Design Simplicity: 7/10Colors Used: 5

added by IJROlympic rings

WWF Panda

Sketched in 1961 based on Chi Chi, a giant panda at the London Zoo, the black-and-white silhouette was chosen partly because it required no expensive color printing. That practical constraint produced one of conservation's most powerful symbols. It turned an endangered species in

Year Introduced: 1961 (approx.)Still In Use: ✓Major Redesigns: 1Global Recognition: 8/10Design Simplicity: 8/10Colors Used: 1

added by IJR

Twitter Bird

Nicknamed 'Larry' after Boston Celtics legend Larry Bird, the bird logo debuted around 2006 and got its final simplified form in 2012. It became one of the 2010s' most ubiquitous digital icons, representing an entire era of instant, public conversation. Its 2023 replacement by 'X

Year Introduced: 2012 (approx.)Still In Use: —Major Redesigns: 2Global Recognition: 9/10Design Simplicity: 8/10Colors Used: 1

added by IJR

Chanel Interlocking Cs

Coco Chanel debuted her mirrored double-C monogram around 1925, and it has remained essentially untouched ever since, a rare feat in the fast-churning fashion world. Its geometric restraint mirrors the brand's own philosophy of understated luxury. Nearly a century on, it's still

Year Introduced: 1925 (approx.)Still In Use: ✓Major Redesigns: 0Global Recognition: 9/10Design Simplicity: 8/10Colors Used: 1

added by IJR

Pepsi Globe

Pepsi has redesigned its logo more than almost any major brand — over ten times since 1898 — chasing relevance against Coca-Cola's stability. The circular red-white-blue globe, especially its 1973 'bottle cap' version, remains the most beloved iteration among fans. It's a case st

Year Introduced: 1898 (approx.)Still In Use: ✓Major Redesigns: 11Global Recognition: 8/10Design Simplicity: 6/10Colors Used: 3

added by IJRPepsi Globe

BMW Roundel

Often mistaken as a stylized airplane propeller referencing BMW's aviation-engine roots, the blue-and-white roundel actually echoes the Bavarian state flag colors and dates to 1917. It's remained a circular badge of engineering precision for over a century, only recently flattene

Year Introduced: 1917 (approx.)Still In Use: ✓Major Redesigns: 2Global Recognition: 8/10Design Simplicity: 7/10Colors Used: 3

added by IJR

Rolling Stones Tongue and Lips

John Pasche designed the smirking tongue-and-lips logo in 1971 for a mere £50, inspired partly by the Hindu goddess Kali and Mick Jagger's own pout. It became rock's first great merchandising icon, printed on everything from t-shirts to skateboards decades before band logos were

Year Introduced: 1971 (approx.)Still In Use: ✓Major Redesigns: 0Global Recognition: 7/10Design Simplicity: 8/10Colors Used: 2

added by IJR