14 Logos That Looked Completely Different When They First Launched
The logos we instantly recognize today often started as something entirely different. Big brands rarely nail their visual identity on the first try. Instead, these iconic symbols evolved through decades of refinement, shifting with changing design trends and expanding business visions.
Most corporate identities go through awkward phases before reaching their polished modern forms. Here is a list of 15 famous logos that underwent dramatic transformations from their first iterations to the recognizable symbols they’ve become today.
Apple
Apple’s first logo in 1976 was a detailed illustration of Isaac Newton beneath an apple tree, framed with an ornate border and banner. While charming, it was complex and impractical for branding.
Just a year later, the iconic rainbow-striped apple debuted—symbolizing creativity and approachability. This shift marked Apple’s embrace of simplicity and innovation in both design and technology.
Shell
Shell began in 1900 with a modest black-and-white drawing of a mussel shell, reflecting its origins as a small trading company. Over time, the logo evolved into a bold, stylized yellow-and-red scallop.
The transformation mirrors Shell’s rise to a global energy powerhouse, with each redesign becoming more geometric and vivid to suit an increasingly modern, global identity.
Pepsi
Pepsi’s earliest logo in 1898 featured ornate script typical of the Victorian era, with no sign of its now-famous circle. The circular red, white, and blue emblem didn’t appear until 1950.
Today’s version has been distilled into an abstract, smiling globe—offering a friendlier, minimalist visual identity that aligns with contemporary design trends and broad consumer appeal.
Starbucks
Starbucks launched in 1971 with a brown logo depicting a twin-tailed mermaid in full, echoing the brand’s nautical and exotic roots.
Through multiple refinements, the siren became greener, more abstract, and closer-cropped. The modern logo spotlights just her face—streamlining the myth while retaining mystique.
Nintendo
Nintendo’s original 1889 logo, rendered in kanji, reflected its roots as a playing card manufacturer in Kyoto. The modern logotype—clean, oval-framed, and Romanized—is a far cry from those beginnings.
As Nintendo shifted into toys and eventually gaming, its branding evolved dramatically to keep pace with its changing business identity and global expansion.
BMW
The core of BMW’s logo—Bavaria’s blue and white within a circle—has remained consistent since 1917. But the original design featured a gold outer ring and a flat appearance.
Over the decades, refinements have introduced 3D effects and sleeker fonts, keeping the brand elegant and modern while respecting its origins.
Walmart
Walmart’s 1962 logo was plain and utilitarian: “Wal-Mart” in basic frontier-style text. It reflected the company’s no-frills discount store identity.
Today’s friendlier lowercase “walmart” and radiant sunburst icon aim to express warmth and approachability—mirroring a shift toward customer-centered branding.
Canon
Canon began as “Kwanon” in 1934, with a flame-styled typeface inspired by a Buddhist goddess. As it reached for international markets, the brand simplified its name and logo.
The clean, modern “Canon” logo signaled a move from spiritual symbolism to global accessibility—matching the company’s tech-focused ambitions.
IBM
Before IBM was IBM, it was the “International Time Recording Company,” with a highly decorative 1888 logo. That ornate style gave way to Paul Rand’s sleek, striped logotype in 1972.
The updated identity aligned with IBM’s transition into modern computing—symbolizing speed, clarity, and innovation in the digital age.
Microsoft
Microsoft’s debut logo in 1975 sported a funky disco-style typeface with double-lined letters—a nod to the graphic styles of the era.
Since then, the brand has matured into the crisp, four-paneled window symbol we see today—reflecting the company’s polished tech evolution.
FedEx
The first Federal Express logo in 1973 had inconsistent casing and a forgettable font. The current “FedEx” logo, introduced in 1994, hides a subtle arrow between the E and x.
This ingenious design choice speaks to movement, speed, and precision—hallmarks of the company’s global logistics identity.
Volkswagen
Volkswagen’s original 1937 logo had a gear-toothed border and reflected authoritarian design aesthetics of pre-war Germany. The logo has been dramatically reimagined over time.
Today’s simple blue-and-white circle presents a modern, neutral identity—carefully distanced from historical associations and focused on global appeal.
Lego
Lego’s 1934 branding was basic: a serif font with no frills. The company’s explosive growth in the 1950s brought a brighter, friendlier, and rounder logo.
As Lego became a household name, its logo kept pace—maintaining core playfulness while streamlining for digital and global markets.
Coca-Cola
One of the few logos to resist radical change, Coca-Cola’s original 1886 design already bore the Spencerian script style we still see today.
Over time, the curves have softened and details refined, but the core identity has remained intact—showing that sometimes, great design needs only gentle evolution.
Visual Evolution Stories
These logo transformations tell stories of growth, reinvention, and identity shifts. They’re more than design changes—they reflect milestones in a company’s journey.
From ornate beginnings to minimalist mastery, each redesign captures where a brand has been—and where it’s headed. In every stroke and color, there’s history, strategy, and purpose.
More from Go2Tutors!
- The Romanov Crown Jewels and Their Tragic Fate
- 13 Historical Mysteries That Science Still Can’t Solve
- Famous Hoaxes That Fooled the World for Years
- 15 Child Stars with Tragic Adult Lives
- 16 Famous Jewelry Pieces in History
Like Go2Tutors’s content? Follow us on MSN.
