Nestlé got its start as a small Swiss company in 1866 that marketed milk-based baby food. Once they began focusing on making milk chocolate, their business quickly grew. In modern times, Nestlé is an international food and drink company that owns popular brands such as Stouffer’s, Maggi, Nesquik, and Kit Kat. All of the various Nestlé products can be identified by the Nestlé logo. Keep reading to learn more about the interesting history and design of the logo.

Nestlé Logo Design Elements

Nestlé’s logo is a simple black line drawing above black lettering that spells the brand name, and its background is transparent. The drawing at the top of the logo is a branch with three leaves that is holding a nest. A mother bird perches on the right of the nest, and she is bent down to feed the two baby birds that are sitting in the left side of the nest.

At the bottom of the logo is the word “Nestlé.” The N is capitalized, while the rest of the letters are lowercase. A line extends from the left top corner of the N over the first E and the S. This line briefly stops to make room for the T and the L, and then it continues over the last E. As the line ends on the last letter of the word, it thickens and angles upwards slightly.

Changes and Evolution

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1. Shape

Nestlé’s logo shape has undergone quite a few changes, even though it keeps the same overall theme. The first logo dates all the way back to 1868, and it was a detailed drawing of a mother bird feeding three babies in a nest. In 1938, the brand name, “Nestlé” was placed over the bird drawing. Over the next few decades, the line drawing was slightly simplified, while the brand name became bolder and larger.

Beginning in 1988, the company started simplifying their logo to make it easier to print. They moved their name underneath the bird drawing, and one of the baby birds was removed. The logo has received updates two more times since then, and each update further simplifies and clarifies the bird drawing.

2. Color

Nestlé’s logo has always officially been black and white. When the brand name was first moved underneath the image, the letters were white with a black outline, but this has since changed to a solid black color.

3. Font

Until 1988, Nestlé used a classic Roman font with thick slab serifs and a traditional accent mark over the E. When they moved the name to the bottom of the logo, they changed to a more modern font that looks like a modified Helvetica, and uses the slanted line over the E to signify an accent.

Influences/Inspiration

Much of the inspiration for the current company logo is actually from founder Henri Nestlé. When Nestlé began marketing his baby formula, he decided to create a logo that used his family crest, which showed a bird in a nest. This image was combined with the idea of a mother feeding her young to create the first Nestlé logo.

Nestlé’s current logo still uses the same basic image, because they want to remind customers of their proud past. The bird in a nest image is one of Nestlé’s most iconic images, so the company kept it, even though it is much busier than most modern logos. To update the logo for the digital age, Nestlé removed a lot of the shading and texturing. Nestlé made this decision because they wanted the logo to still look good on smartphones and other small screens.

Trivia

• Since “Nestlé” means “a small bird’s nest” in a high German dialect, the Nestlé logo does a great job of referencing the company’s German heritage.
• The three birds in the Nestlé logo represent Hans, Heinrich, and Samuel Nestlin, three brothers in the 1400s who founded the family.
• Due to the accent mark on the logo, the company ought to be pronounced “nes-lay,” but most Americans call it “nes-lee” due to their unfamiliarity with accented pronunciation.

Conclusion

The Nestlé logo has gone through some subtle changes to make it work in the digital age, yet it still retains the appearance of the original logo. This historical logo reminds people of Nestlé’s origins as a baby food company, while also being broad enough to work as labeling for other products. It has been around for over a century, and Nestlé will probably keep the nest logo for years to come.

Recommended Read: Starbucks Logo Design History and Evolution

Budweiser was founded over 140 years ago in St. Louis, Missouri in 1876. This brand of beer is known for its lager beers that have a light, neutral flavor and an affordable price. Each can and bottle of Bud contains the famous company logo. Despite many minor changes, Budweiser’s logo has remained very similar over the years. This creates a nostalgic effect that encourages consumers to remain loyal to their favorite brand of beer. In this article, we will take a look at how the Budweiser logo has changed to promote the brands beverages.

Budweiser Logo Design Elements

Budweiser employees often call their logo “the bowtie” due to its signature shape. A bowtie shape is achieved by creating a shape that looks like a slanted rectangle with a triangle removed from its top and bottom. The bowtie is a solid red hue that contains a white outline when it is placed on the red Budweiser bottles.

On top of the red bowtie shape is the word “Budweiser” which appears in bright white lettering. The wordmark for Budweiser is written with a curling script font that uses elaborate loops on the uppercase B. In areas where the white of the font overlaps or extends past the red bowtie, red shading is used to make the text stand out. Overall, the Budweiser logo is quite different from the logo of their most famous brand, the Bud Light logo.

Changes and Evolution

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1. Shape

For many years, Budweiser did not even have their own logo. At first, the company just used the Anheuser Busch logo that contained an eagle flying through an A. Eventually, the brand of lagers became famous enough to warrant their own logo. They started out with a red rectangle that said “Budweiser” in white script that had a gold crown over the top of the B. This was meant to signify that Budweiser was the “king of beers.” The crown theme was carried over to the next logo shape, that was the famous bowtie symbol. It had a gold crown above the bowtie, and the bowtie itself contained a subtle striped background. All of these superfluous elements were removed in the updated version.

2. Color

Most of Budweiser’s logos have used a combination of red, white, and gold. The red is bold and appetite-stimulating, while the white is crisp and refreshing. Gold was used on many past logos to add a luxurious touch, but it was removed when the crown emblem was removed.

3. Font

Budweiser’s logos all use classic script fonts with a lot of loops and curls. This font has been slightly modified over the years. It was originally more italicized, and slightly less round than the modern version.

Influences/Inspiration

Budweiser’s bright red logo color helps to distinguish the brand from other competitors like Heineken and Coors. The complex shape and curling script reference past logo shapes without looking too busy. Vice President Rob McCarthy says that the logo is meant to be “very bold but also not too bold. It says we are a confident brand but also not too in your face.”

The Budweiser logo Budweiser follows a recent marketing trend of simplifying past logos to create a cleaner look that still references traditional logos. This logo simplification helps to ensure that the logo still looks nice on tiny phone screens or in Instagram pictures. The decision to keep the traditional script and bowtie image ensures that it is still elaborate enough to decorate a beer can and appeal to traditional drinkers.

Trivia

• Budweiser means “of Budweis” because the company founder was inspired by a style of lager from the Budweis region of Bohemia.
• Despite extensive documentation on their marketing history, Budweiser has no record of why they first chose a bowtie shape for their logo.
• Due to copyright disputes, the logo just says “Bud” on all bottles of beer sold in European Union countries.
• The Budweiser logo appears on a rather unusual type of beer. Unlike most lagers, which are made with wheat or barley, Budweiser is made with a 30 percent rice recipe.

Conclusion

Budweiser’s most recent logo manages to combine modern graphic design trends with company tradition. The Budweiser logo is a clever design that makes the brand stand out from other popular beers. Its clean lines, bold colors, and distinctive shape allow the logo to look aesthetically pleasing on all types of drink containers and marketing campaigns.

Since 1954, Burger King has been cooking and selling tasty burgers. They proudly display their logos on billboards and signs to encourage more people to visit their restaurant. Though the Burger King logo has changed quite a bit over the years, all of its incarnations have managed to reference the company’s famous flame grilled burgers. Keep reading to learn more about all the design decisions and changes that went into making the modern logo.

Burger King Logo Design Elements

The Burger King logo employs a circular design that includes many different elements. At the center of the circle is the text “Burger King” written in thick, red, all-capital letters. These letters are a customized font that has curved corners, no serifs, and uniform line thickness. “Burger” is written on the top line, and “King” appears on the bottom line in a slightly larger version of the same font.

Burger King cleverly makes their logo look like a burger, so consumers feel hungrier when they look at it. The text is slightly skewed and slanted, so it mimics the shape of two patties of beef. Dark yellow semi-circles on the top and bottom of the brand name look like stylized versions of hamburger buns. To create a more defined look, the burger symbol is surrounded by a blue swooshing line that thins out gradually as it curves to the left.

Changes and Evolution

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1. Shape

In the first few years, Burger King used very simple logos. It started out as a stylized sun, depicted by an arch and some triangles, over the brand name. The sun was then removed as the company decided to stop focusing on their Floridian origins. Once the company turned into a franchise, they updated their logo as part of a rebranding plan to create a cheerful theme for their restaurants.

Starting in 1957, Burger King had a logo that featured a smiling king sitting on a burger and holding a cup of soda. In a sign below the king was the phrase “Burger King Home of the Whopper.” This logo was used until 1969 when the company made the decision to simplify the logo. They changed it to the word’s “Burger” and “King” stacked together between two bun shapes. This logo style was used until 1999, making it the company’s longest last logo. In modern times, the logo is quite similar, but it is slightly slanted and contains a swoosh around it.

2. Color

Burger King’s original logo was a simple black and white design, but the company decided to add color with their 1957 logo. This logo used red, yellow, blue, and brown for the drawing of the king. The next logo used a dark yellow and an orange-red color to depict a bun. It was slightly updated in the 1990s, when the colors were slightly lightened and brightened. The modern logo is even brighter and more colorful.

3. Font

Burger King originally used a thick, skewed font with a lot of angles and curves. This style was very common in the 60s and 70s, but it was not updated until 1994. At this time, Burger King switched to a smoother font with thick, even, regular lines.

Influences/Inspiration

Of course the most obvious influence behind the logo are simple the tasty Burger King Whoppers, but the actual shape of the logo is mostly influenced by a desire to appeal to modern aesthetics. The modern Burger King logo is somewhat unique among fast food brands because it was a drastic change that went almost unnoticed. Burger King completely updated its colors, fonts, and shape without confusing or annoying loyal customers. The decision to keep the classic burger shape allows Burger King to appeal to nostalgic fans. At the same time, the slightly lighter colors, cleaner lines, and more unified design allow the company to look bold and modern.

Trivia

• The Whopper sandwich that was the original inspiration behind the logo has been in production since 1957. It originally sold for 37 cents.
• Burger King was originally called “Insta-Burger King” because the company used insta-machines to broil their burgers. This name was later shortened to its current state.
• Hungry Jack’s, an Australian subsidiary of Burger King still uses a version of the old logo from 1999 in their restaurants today.

Conclusion

Burger King’s bright primary colors and burger-themed logo do an excellent job of making people crave their food. Their brilliant logo manages to look like a burger without including too many design elements or patterns. Its simple, fun style works well for wrappers, signs, billboards, and a variety of other marketing at Burger King.

As the number one fast food restaurant in the world, McDonald’s has one of the most ubiquitous logos. Since the restaurant was founded in 1940, its logo has undergone quite a few changes. Though the precise shape and color of the logo change regularly, all versions since the 1960s have contained the signature golden arches. Keep reading this article to find out more about how this iconic logo came into being.

McDonald’s Logo Design Elements

The current incarnation of the McDonald’s logo has only been in use since 2006, but it is quite similar to older logos. It is a very simple design that only contains one color. This logo is two yellow arches joined together to look like an “M.”

The bottom of the arches are slightly thicker, but the top of the arch thins out. Both of the arches have a slightly shorter side, so the middle point of the M does not touch the same plane as the outer arch edges. The entire design is completely flat and two dimensional. It technically has a transparent background, but the golden arches are occasionally displayed on a white or red background.

Changes and Evolution

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1. Shape

The very first logo was just a sign saying “Mcdonald’s Famous Barbecue.” As the company moved from selling barbecue to other food styles, this logo was shortened to just the word “McDonald’s” in 1953. The golden arches first showed up in 1961 as part of a design with two intersecting arches, a diagonal line, and the restaurant name beneath the design.

In 1968, this was simplified to the classic arched shape with the restaurant’s name intersecting the M. This logo remained consistent until the nineties, when McDonald tried to make the logo more modern. Over the next decade, the logo was shaded, made three dimensional, turned into a smiley face, and put inside of a speaker bubble. Eventually, it was simplified into the modern logo.

2. Color

Almost all versions of the McDonald’s logo have used a mixture of red, black, yellow, and white. The first logo with the arches used a red outline and a red font. This was then changed to yellow arches on a white background with black font. In 1975, McDonald’s moved to a logo that kept the same basic shape, but added a red background with a white restaurant’s name. In the 1990s, thick black shading was added behind the M, but this was eventually removed to create the plain yellow logo of modern times.

3. Font

Though the old logo’s from the 40s and 50s used a lot of typewritten and script fonts, McDonald’s quickly settled on the Helvetica font. Since the 60s, any McDonald’s logo that contains the restaurant name uses a slightly modified version of the classic Helvetica font.

Influences/Inspiration

The inspiration behind the McDonald’s golden arches logo actually comes from an architect. The founders were working with Stanley Meston to create a red and white restaurant with a modern architectural style. Meston suggested that the restaurant have yellow arches running along either side of the building.

This became so popular that the design was used on all McDonald’s franchises, and the owners eventually decided to create the 1961 logo. This logo was originally supposed to look like a stylized representation of the restaurants. Over time, the logo was simplified more until the arches looked like the first letter of the restaurant’s name.

Trivia

Though McDonald’s arches are normally yellow, a few cities with strict decorating regulations have managed to change this. In Sedona Arizona, McDonald’s is required to use turquoise arches that complement the red rock environment. The arches are black in Monterey, California because the city felt that the bright yellow color was too unsophisticated.

There is a lot of confusion about what McDonald’s logo means, and many people are mistakenly convinced that the logo is supposed to look like two of McDonald’s tasty fries. According to the company, any resemblance to french fries is just a happy coincidence.

Conclusion

McDonald’s logo appears on their restaurant’s, advertising, and packaging, so it is one of the most frequently viewed logos. Despite a few slight alterations, McDonald’s has retained the same iconic shape for over fifty years. The logo’s bright colors work well at encouraging food cravings anytime a McDonald’s fan views the logo.