Most influential logos of all time

Discover the stories behind iconic logos like McDonald's, Nike, Apple, and Starbucks.

When done well, logos can instantly communicate a brand’s name, image, and identity to consumers through just a visual cue.

Think of Mc Donald’s’ golden arches, Coca-Cola’s elaborate script logo, or Nike’s simple yet iconic ‘Swoosh’ – all these brands have been incredibly successful in creating impactful logos that have become synonymous with their brands.

Logos are a crucial part of a brand’s identity. They help consumers to not only recognise the brand name, but also what’s behind the brand.

Whether it’s a professional, sophisticated, adventurous, or fun identity the brand is trying to convey, logos help to make the connection between the brand and consumers, and to make a statement, without even needing to say a word.

Here are just some of the most influential logos of all time:

McDonald’s

No influential logo list can overlook the classic golden arches of McDonald’s. It’s undoubtedly one of the most universally-recognisable logos of all time.

The famous golden arches were based on the global chain’s original restaurant design – created by architect Stanley Meston in 1952.

The initial idea for the now iconic golden arches had reportedly been inspired by a stylised sketch of what was the two arches adorning the original restaurant placed together, resembling an ‘M’.

Nike

Nike’s ‘Swoosh’ design was created by then-university student Carolyn Davidson in 1971. The simple yet globally iconic design was meant to convey motion, and today it’s worn alike by both world-class athletes and everyday consumers around the world.

The ‘Swoosh’ logo is perhaps one of the greatest examples of how powerful a logo can be in conveying a brand’s image and identity without the need for letters or words.

Apple

Apple choosing an apple as its logo and visual brand identity shouldn’t really come as a surprise. But what may perhaps come as surprising is that the bite depicted in the apple has been rumoured to be attributed to everything from the reportedly cyanide-laced apple bitten by Alan Turing to the visual representation of the word ‘byte’.

As legendary as the myths surrounding its design, the Apple logo itself was originally designed by Rob Janoff in 1977.

Starbucks

Another logo that conjures up myths is the Starbucks logo. The founders of Starbucks reportedly chose the name of the brand based on the character ‘Starbuck’ in the classic novel Moby Dick. They then went on to research historical marine books to discover a mythical creature that they felt best represented their brand – and landed on a siren.

From that, the ‘Starbucks Siren’ emblem logo – now synonymous with the brand all over the world – allegedly came into being.

How an MA Graphic Design can help you succeed in the commercial graphic design industry

As is evident from these examples of the most influential logos of all time, graphic design is a crucial element in not only creating a brand’s logo, but also in communicating its identity visually to consumers. An effective logo builds a connection and trust between a brand and its consumers.

That’s why highly-skilled graphic designers with an impressive portfolio of impactful commercial designs are consistently in demand in the global job market. 

An MA Graphic Design can empower you with the highly-sought-after skills you need to excel as a graphic designer. It can also equip you with an extensive portfolio of professional designs you can showcase to potential employers to help boost your job success.

Falmouth University offers a flexible online MA Graphic Design that will help you discover yourself as a designer: