The History of Logos and Their Modern Types

For centuries, logos have been known to represent the heart of a brand. A well-designed logo is also seen in many quarters as a vital part of running a business because it is more than just a mere symbol – it represents the essence of the business as a whole.

The iconic partly bitten apple symbol, for example, immediately brings to mind the innovation and exquisite minimalistic design of Apple products. Likewise, if you see the logo of your favorite casino online site, it will immediately evoke the exciting gaming sessions you enjoy on the platform. Essentially, logos invoke the powerful attachments that many customers have with their brands of choice.

While the logos we have today are often considered a modern phenomenon, human beings have been using logos in the form of emblems and signature marks for centuries. They have a rich past that has laid the foundation for some of the most iconic designs we have today. So, when did companies start designing logos? What are some of the earliest designs, and how have they influenced our current designs? Get comfortable; you are about to find out.

Logos Can be Traced Back to Ancient Egypt

The invention of logos can be traced back to Egypt – the famous cradle of civilization. Ancient Egyptians came up with hieroglyphs represented by a series of symbols like hooks and circles to communicate. In the same way that modern logos epitomize brands, the hieroglyphs represented ideas that the people wanted to convey.

Further along the line, ancient Romans designed hot iron brands as emblems that would mark ownership of livestock. This practice has lived on to be used by many pastoral communities in the world. Meanwhile, ancient Greeks at around 520BC would mark another era of logos with their use of owls to symbolize knowledge and wisdom. This motif was mainly in bronze coins that they used as their currency then.

The first recognizable brand to use a logo was Stella Artois in 1366. The wildly popular brewer became one of the first-ever brands to use a logo that simply had its name engraved on its products. It marked a monumental occasion in advertising which had not picked up to the levels we are used to today.

The 1600s to 1800s would mark another era of logo designs, with newspaper ads becoming a thing. As a result, famous brands like Colgate had to come up with logos to represent their brands, and these logos would be placed in the ads section of the newspapers. Moving on to the 1900s, one iconic symbol that cannot go without mention is the Olympic games logo, designed in 1912 by Pierre de Coubertin, a French scholar. To date, the rings are one of the most exemplary logos representing the unification of all nations devoid of discrimination.

The 1920s and 30s unleashed a wave of big movie studios, each coming up with great logos. However, none has managed to be more iconic than the Metro Goldwyn Mayer (MGM) logo consisting of a roaring lion.

The Creative Thoughtful Era of Logos

Much of the mid and late 90s is considered to be the age when more deliberate and thoughtful processes went into designing logos. Some of the most impressive logos from this era include the like of:

• 1956: The IBM logo designed by Paul Rand featured a pictographic representation of a green eye, a bee, and the letter M featured on a blue backdrop.
• 1976: NASA’s inspiring symbol that evokes feelings of patriotism came to life, designed by Danne and Blackburn in New York.
• 1977: The design of the iconic “I Love NY” logo by Milton Glaser.
• 1977: This year also saw the unveiling of the US National Highway Traffic Safety Symbol Administration’s (NHTSA) logo, which was represented by a six-pointed star with the rod of Asclepius imposed on it against a blue background.

The Digital Age – A New Era of Possibilities

As things have continued to advance, logos nowadays seem to focus on simplicity. However, most of these older brands have maintained similar outlines to their initial logos and have since styled them depending on different occasions. All the remarkable progress can be attributed to the advancement in creativity and software like Photoshop, which has brought forth sophisticated graphic design tools for the masses.

For instance, the MTV logo initially launched in the 80s has changed so much over the years to the point that many other brands have embraced this dynamism. Google is an excellent example of this. The renowned tech giant maintains a similar logo outlook with frequent changes in calligraphy and colors to celebrate different days, e.g., valentine’s day, world cancer day, and Independence Day, among others.

While the logo history shows just how deep the logo’s roots lie, the digital age has opened doors to a new box of possibilities that makes these logos more evocative. For instance, the introduction of 3D logos to represent the technological metamorphosis we are undergoing is something to behold. Are there any modern-era logos you particularly find interesting? Let us know right here in the comments section!