A logo is arguably the most identifiable feature of a brand or a business. When a logo has been etched into the minds of the consumers, it will probably live for eternity. A good logo is created by encapsulating all the aspects that make the brand including what it stands for. Making a recognizable brand logo is an art and there are many artistic examples for us.
Whether you are a business owner, upcoming entrepreneur, graphics designer, or design student, learning and knowing about the most impactful logos ever created would serve as an inspiration. We are presenting you the top 20 inspirational and iconic logos we see almost daily.
Top 20 Inspirational Logos
Here are our top 20 picks of inspirational logos. You can also read up on the inspirational stories behind them. So, read on and find out whether the brands you use daily have made it to our list.
1. Apple
Apple is an obvious choice. This article about the most inspirational logos wouldn’t even be complete without mentioning the iconic and minimalistic Apple logo. However, the partially bitten apple that we see today was not the first logo designed for the company. Originally, they had a complicated logo that depicted Albert Einstein sitting under the Apple tree, symbolizing innovation and science.
Later, Steve Jobs (former CEO and founder) felt the need for a new and easily manageable logo, which ended up in the iconic seven-colored 2-dimensional apple designed by Robin Janoff. Since the design resembled the appearance of a cherry, the designer added a bite.
The bite was then interpreted as a word-play on a byte (a unit of computer memory). Since then, the logo has gone through several small transformations and ended up in the clean and sleek look we see today.
Also Read: The Best Logo Design Resources
2. Nike
Nike has one of the most distinctive and peculiar logos a brand has ever had. It is literally just a swoosh or ‘tick’ mark. But behind this seemingly simple design, Nike has hidden some secrets.
You may have heard the story of the birth of the swoosh logo. Apparently, the founder selected Carolyn Davidson, a graphic designer student from Portland State University. The emblem she designed was a swoosh with Nike written in the middle of it.
The logo is inspired by the wings of the Greek goddess Nike, symbolizing speed and agility. The designer got paid about $2/hour for their service at the time which came down to about $35.
Even though the logo went through slight alterations after its initial design, the woosh became Nike’s identity. This inspiring story reminds us that you don’t have to spend millions of dollars on logo creation if you have the right vision and the team.
3. Air Jordan
While talking about Nike, how can we forget about the “Jumpman” logo of Air Jordan? The logo was created by taking inspiration from the photograph of Micheal Jordan taken by Jacobus Rentemeester.
The logo is a silhouette of Michael Jordan with extended feet and a basketball in hand leaping to make a basket. The design is the perfect encapsulation of the Jordan-endorsed basketball shoes, which later became a staple in many American households.
4. Audi
Audi, the German luxury car manufacturer has an interesting logo design. The logo is made up of four interlocking rings. While car enthusiasts and people who follow German history might know the meaning behind this, many are not aware of its significance and symbolism.
The Audi we see today is a merger of four different companies including Audi, DKW, Horch, and Wanderer. Each company had its own logo and initially, each ring contained the logos they represented. After going through several periodic changes, it became what we know today in 1995.
5. Chanel
Chanel is a premium fashion house famous for their accessories, fragrances, makeup products, and more. The brand founded by Coco Chanel has one of the most iconic logos in the fashion industry. Many speculate that the logo has contributed in some way to the impressive success of Chanel.
The symbol has two intertwining Cs facing opposite sides. It is believed that the design was inspired by the interlaced curves Coco Chanel has seen on the glass windows of the Church Aubazine Church. Coco might have spent a lot of time in the church since she spent a lot of her childhood in the church’s orphanage.
6. Bluetooth
If you have seen the movie, “Kingsman: The Golden Circle”, you might be already familiar with the story behind the name “Bluetooth” and its most recognizable yet simple logo. The name Bluetooth came from the Danish king Harald Bluetooth who united Denmark and Norway.
The creators of the technology that united two different devices together, felt that the name Bluetooth was most apt. The logo is a bind rune that combines the two runes (ᚼ & ᛒ) from the runic alphabet that stands as the initial of King Harald Bluetooth.
7. Porsche
Porsche is another German automobile manufacturer known for their high-performance sports cars, SUVs, and sedans. The logo is a coat of arms that includes a golden shield, stylized antlers, red and black stripes, and Raised letters that read “Stuttgart”.
This logo is an homage to the birthplace of the brand. The city of Stuggart was originally the center of horse breeding and stud farms. So, its seel contained a horse symbol, which was incorporated into the logo of Porsche. Well, it worked out great for the company since, the horse symbol can be interpreted as speed and strength, which Porsche stands for.
8. Disney
The logo of the Walt Disney Company is one of those things that has been engraved in our minds since childhood. It has gone through several changes over the years, the basic design was always the same. The logo comprises the word “Disney” written in the foreground of a picture of a castle inspired by fairy tales.
While the castle on the logo has had dramatic changes over the years, the written letters remained the same, only with different colors. Well, it is not just a calligraphy, but a stylized version of Walt Disney’s autograph. This definitely adds a bit more weight and character to the logo.
9. Mercedes-Benz
The global automobile brand Benz has been a staple of luxury for many decades. The German automotive brand has one of the most recognizable los. You would recognize the three-point star logo even from a distance.
The three points represent the company’s drive to venture into all kinds of automotive environments such as land, sea, and air. The company sends the message that it will try to be the dominant automotive brand in all three environments through its logo.
10. Amazon
Though it had very humble beginnings Amazon is arguably the biggest online shopping service today. The company that started out in a garage now has become more successful than any other retailers that existed before.
You can rely on Amazon for almost anything you need, even entertainment such as movies and TV shows. You can almost say that the brand stands to provide A to Z things that the customers need. Which is exactly what you will see in their logo. There is an arrow mark starting from A and ending with Z in the Amazon logo.
11. McDonald’s
The fast food restaurant chains, McDonald’s have the most interesting but at the same time the most simple logos. It is golden on a red background. While it may feel like there is nothing more to it, here is why this simple logo is so effective.
The yellow m on the red background gives it a distinctive look that is noticeable from far away. It would get easily noticed by the passersby. It is also important to point out that though on paper, it is just an M, the golden arch of McDonald’s is so distinctive that you will never mistake it for anything else.
12. Lamborghini
Lamborghini sometimes referred to as Lambo, is an Italian luxury car manufacturer. Lamborghini’s cars are famous for their aerodynamic design, vibrant colors, and sporty capabilities. Owning a Lambo is one of those check boxes that many car enthusiasts would like to tick off.
Considering the fan following that the Lamborghini cars have, it is not surprising that its logo has become iconic. With the symbol of a raging golden bull, the brand sends the message of speed and strength. It reflects luxury and the brand’s advancements towards innovations.
13. Starbucks
Starbucks is one of the most successful coffee places in the world. It is safe to say that the brand has revolutionized how the world consumes coffee. Many people cannot even imagine starting their day without having a Starbucks cup in their hand.
The logo of Starbucks follows a green and white theme. The logo is based on a famous marine tale, that described a special entity called sirens. It is said that the sirens were creatures capable of luring sailors with their beautiful voices causing shipwrecks. The brand sends the message that Starbucks can lure coffee lovers.
14. FedEx
FedEx, is a global transportation company based in the United States. It stands for convenient and faster transportation and logistic services. The FedEx logo is simple and very efficient at first glance. But if you look a bit closer there is something hidden in there.
Looking between the E and X in the FedEx logo, you will see an arrow mark, encapsulating the brand’s identity simply and effectively. The logo has won multiple awards over the years. This use of white spaces to convey the message has been inspiring for many and we have seen imitations.
15. X (Formerly known as Twitter)
X has famously gone through a dramatic change, still, many people cannot erase the iconic and beloved blue little bird. While Twitter had many logo iterations before, the bird that appeared on the social media site in 2010 is going to live eternally in the minds of the people who got used to Twitter.
The new logo X came after Elon Musk acquired Twitter and rebranded. Elon Musk is famously known to be obsessed with the letter X, which you can see in the businesses that he owns including Space X. The X logo of the X platform can be interpreted as the crossing of ideas, which the platform stands for.
16. Target
Talking about simple and effective logo designs, how can we forget Target? Target is a retail store chain operating across the United States. With a red bullseye, the logo has made it right to the hearts of their target audience. The red and white color theme and the simple design really make a homerun for its ingenious and simplistic design.
17. Shell
Shell is a multinational oil and gas company from England. The company formed at the beginning of the nineteen hundreds, has had several logo iterations. However, it had a basic theme, a sea shell.
The logo in yellow-red theme as we know it today was first introduced in 1999. In addition to embodying the overall philosophy of the company, the logo has become one of the most recognizable icons.
18. Mastercard
Mastercard is an American multinational payment card service. It is one of the most used and accepted payment methods worldwide. The logo of the MasterCard is very minimal and hasn’t had any dramatic changes over the years.
The logo is a Venn diagram of two colors merging, representing the interbank association that became today’s MasterCard. The color theme and the two merging circles of master cards are so highly identifiable that they have started to appear without the text.
19. Tesla
You may have different opinions about the Tesla cars. But we all can acknowledge that they are one of the pioneers that fueled today’s electric car craze. With its self-driving capabilities, distinctive features, unnatural car handles, and more, the Tesla cars have created a wave.
While the logo might just seem like a stylized T with a cap, there is so much more to it. The logo is inspired by an electric motor. The top part is the air gap, and the lower part is the motor’s stator. The logo embodies a futuristic look and feel, which is what the brand stands for.
20. Pinterest
Pinterest is the go-to place for getting inspiration and ideas. People use it for recipes, updates in home decor, designing wedding venues, fashion designing, and more. So, we believe we should also consider the logo of Pinterest when we are talking about the 20 best inspirational logos.
The logo of Pinterest a first glance is just a stylized P in a red circle. But look closely and you will notice that the logo is designed to resemble a pin. This elegant and on-to-the-point design serves as an inspiration for aspiring entrepreneurs and designers.
Read More: Top 15 Most Popular Website Design Sites 2024
Conclusion
Logos are one of the most identifiable features of a business. It is one of the key things used for marketing and creating a positive association in the consumer’s mind. So, having a distinctive, and noticeable logo can be pivotal in the success of the business entity.
To serve as an inspiration, we have examined the most iconic logos of 20 brands in this article. We have included a range of brands operating in various industries including fashion, automobile, restaurant, social media, and more. If you think we have missed any inspiring logos, do let us know in the comments.
