Logos are used frequently. Logo designs are all around us, from the products to the clothes we wear. Many of us are unaware that there is more to these logos than what the eye can perceive, even though we may encounter them every day.
Prepare to have your mind blown as we examine a few well-known logos with secret messages. Have fun deciphering the logo’s hidden meanings and use that inspiration to design your company’s logo right now.
Why are there hidden messages in logos?
Logos are meant to have significance. These designs allow brands to tell customers as much as possible about their business in a single, concise image. Even while you might not always see the message concealed in every logo you encounter right away, you can be sure that it was thoughtfully created to accomplish a particular objective. Everything, from the hues used in company logos to the selection of shapes and typography, has a distinctive impact.
An additional layer of significance can be added to a design by arranging specific elements in a logo or adding hidden features to the whitespace. As with the Tobler one bear, the secret message may reveal information about the company’s past or shed light on the product’s genesis. Of course, the overarching goal of this message is to forge a stronger bond with the audience the company is trying to reach.
Apple
Although Sir Isaac Newton appeared in the original Apple logo, the choice of the fruit to represent the computer firm had nothing to do with the inventor of gravity. The origin of the name Apple can be boiled down to one simple factor: Steve Jobs loved how it sounded.
The Apple logo is the subject of numerous urban legends, one of which states that the bite mark represents the apple of knowledge from the Garden of Eden. However, the logo’s explanation is just as straightforward as the company’s name. The company is called Apple. Hence the logo is in the shape of an apple. The bite mark serves solely to scale the design; otherwise, it might be mistaken for a cherry.
FedEx
The “hidden picture” emblem used by the shipping industry is arguably one of the most well-known. Notice how the negative space creates an arrow between the “E” and the “X.” The logo’s creator, Lindon Leader, noted in an interview with Fast Company that the arrow “might connote forward direction, speed, and precision, and if it remained hidden, there might be an element of surprise, that aha moment.” The logo was named one of Rolling Stone magazine’s top eight logos of the past 35 years and has garnered more than 40 honours.
Baskin Robins
Everyone loves ice cream, right? Since 1945, the renowned Baskin Robbins has been supplying this delectable delight to satisfy the sweet tooth cravings of many people across America. When you look at the logo, you would immediately feel like eating something sweet because of the colour scheme! But it goes beyond that; if you look closely at the logo’s purple tint, you can make out the number 31 in the centre. Why 31? This ice cream shop provides 31 distinct ice cream flavours. Very clever, no?
Tour De France
Did you realize that the Le Tour de France logo has two secret messages? The first is a cyclist that is concealed and is made out of the letters “R” and “U”. The wheels of the bicycle that the biker is riding are formed by the letter “O.” In keeping with the colour theme I mentioned before, the “O” is yellow, the same shade as the sweater that will be given to the event winner.
MacDonald’s
The infamous McDonald’s logo’s meaning is actually pretty bizarre, and it wasn’t done on purpose. In the 1960s, McDonald’s decided to update the appearance of its logo and enlisted the help of designer Louis Cheskin. However, Cheskin really urged against changing the logo since he claimed that many people instinctively associate the golden, rounded “M” with a pair of breasts. There is a claim that this has a Freudian impact that makes customers hungry. Who would’ve guessed it?
Adidas
It wasn’t always like this to see the Adidas logo. It had three stripes before, but they were straight rather than slanted. They decided to make a small adjustment to the emblem because it had never previously stood for anything. But now that the three stripes are angled, they more closely mirror the challenges that people face. And having said that, I believe the stripes do so.
Tostitos
The dot over the letter I, which you may have assumed was there to add colour to the logo, is a component of a cleverly hidden message. A bowl of salsa is the red dot. The yellow triangle between the two Ts represents a chip, and the two Ts represent people. It’s meant to symbolize a group of people enjoying a great snack like chips and salsa (or queso, if you prefer).
Want to give the logo for your company a secret meaning? With the aid of professional logo design services, you may redesign your logo to experiment with negative space or add a play on your brand name.