If you’re a fan of reasonably-priced furniture with devilishly complex building instructions, you’re probably familiar with IKEA. The furniture giant is known as much for its enormous stores as it is for its inexpensive furniture, becoming somewhat of a fixture in major cities in North America and Europe. As the company has grown, so too has the familiarity with the IKEA logo. It’s actually possible to track IKEA’s growth into its present-day form by taking a look at its unique logo. It’s also just as possible to take a look at the changing perception of the company itself.

IKEA Logo Design Elements

Much like the company’s furniture, the IKEA logo is incredibly functional. Just a name inside an oval inside a square, there’s nothing terribly complex about the logo as it stands. Even so, it’s very easy to identify just at a glance. That’s partially to do with the name, of course, but the simple logo does stand about even among other furniture companies. It’s almost more similar to the logo of a big-box store, which makes sense when you think of the degree of thrifty utility that IKEA presents to its shoppers.

The color scheme of the logo actually serves two purposes. First and foremost, it’s the colors of the company’s native land. Beyond being the colors of the Swedish flag, the colors are also supposed to represent trust and happiness, two factors that are very important to consumers. The font, on the other hand, is a custom font called IKEA Sans, which is not only very easy to read but that also looks quite inviting.

Changes and Evolution

1. Shape

The earliest version of the IKEA logo was created in 1951. This version of the logo looked more like a wax seal than a modern logo, though it did still feature the name of the company in the center. This logo only lasted for a few years, though, at which time it was replaced by the company’s name within a brown, splotchy shape – something that wasn’t too uncommon among retail brands during the 1950s. By 1967 the logo would reach its familiar shape, albeit with a white outline around the rectangle.

2. Color

IKEA has cycled through a few different logo colors over the decades. The original logo was a waxy red, an appropriate enough color for the time. In just a few years, though, the logo would turn brown. It’s not a terribly attractive color by today’s tastes, but it did work well as compared to other similar logos during that time. When the logo assumed its more familiar shape in 1967, it would go monochrome – something that worked well with the more formal look, but that was a bit boring. IKEA would bring back the red coloration in 1981 before it embraced its national identity as part of its marketing strategy in the 1990s.

3. Font

The original IKEA logo used a looping, cursive script. It was a solid font for the early 1950s, but one that was clearly outdated. The company would move to an italicised version of its Futura font by the end of the decade, before finally making the formal move over to the IKEA Sans that it uses today in 1967. The only major font change came in 1981, at which time the font was made bold and it has stayed that way ever since.

Influences/ Inspiration

The big influence behind IKEA’s current logo is the Swedish flag. Being a Swedish company is a huge part of the brand’s identity at this point, so it makes sense that it would choose a logo remniscent of the Swedish flag. Before the color change, though, the brand was likely influenced by a number of other furniture companies.

There are few companies that have logos that are direct successors of IKEA. More than a few low-price furniture companies now embrace brighter colors in their marketing, but none have the familiar blue and yellow of IKEA. The European company absolutely stands by itself in terms of color and font.

Trivia

• IKEA’s name comes from the initials of its founder and the villages where he grew up.
• IKEA uses about 1% of the world’s entire supply of wood.
• IKEA actually sells entire pre-fabricated homes.
• IKEA sells about 150 million meatballs per year.

Conclusion

IKEA wears its origins on its sleeve, and that’s a good thing. It has made its country of origin part of the IKEA story, and that has helped to move sales. This simple color choice has made IKEA stand out in a crowded market and has helped spread the word of the quirky, fun company. While the logo may not look like much, it has clearly served its purpose.

If you’re looking to feel safe in the air, you might want to fly El Al. Long considered to be one of the world’s safest airlines, this Israeli airline flies to five continents. It’s a well-known fixture on international airports, with a unique logo that certainly stands out on the tarmac. Taking a look at the rarely-changing El Al logo can tell you quite a bit about how the company has changed over the years, as well as how the company’s identity has become ever more tied into the identity of its company of origin.

El Al Logo Design Elements

The current El Al logo is fairly straightforward, but still unique. The design mixes the name of the company in both English and Hebrew, helping to highlight the company’s home country while still making a fairly unique statement in terms of looks. The logo also features as an element the flag of Israel, which further cements the status of the airline as the national airline of the country. It’s similar, in many ways, to the use of the American flag in several different American companies.

The color scheme is likewise very Israeli. The blue and white are easy identifiers, even if one didn’t already know the country of origin for the company. The letters are forward-facing and bold, showing that the company looks towards the future. The entire look is quite inviting, helping to ensure that passengers will be drawn to the company.

Changes and Evolution

1. Shape

The original logo of El Al was very different than what you see today. The big difference, of course, is the lack of the Israeli flag. Instead, you simply have the words ‘El Al’ stacked together in a box. It’s a very spartan logo, but it worked in the 1940s and 1950s. It’s the kind of logo that spoke to simplicity, but it’s also the kind of logo that puts a company’s name in the forefront. The switch to the new logo was done in order to bring the design to the present, both by embracing the company’s identity and by providing a design that was more or less future-proof.

2. Color

Even the earlier versions of the El Al logo seem to have used a very similar color scheme to what’s in place today. The colors weren’t quite as blatantly taken from the flag, but they were still friendly and welcoming. They were the colors of an airline in ascendance, one that was reassuring passengers of the safety and luxury of air travel. Taken as a whole, the color scheme is simply one that works – perhaps the reason why it is in use today.

3. Font

The most interesting part of the El Al logo is the font. The old font, however, was as basic as it gets. The simple block letters didn’t give the company much of an identity, though they did tend to stack together quite well. The switch over to a mix between English and Hebrew characters is much more unique, helping the company to stand out in a field that is much more crowded than it was when the company was founded in the 1940s. The new font combines the necessity of branding with a firm eye towards the airline’s identity.

Influences/ Inspiration

El Al’s early influences were, as one might imagine, the other airlines in operation at the same time. Simplicity and ease of identification were the watchwords of the day, so the logo followed suit. When the logo was redesigned, though, branding had become much more important. It not only took pages from other modern airlines but largely took its image from the flag of Israel. It’s a common enough tactic to take for a national airline, though, so it’s hard to claim that is was inspired by any one company.

Likewise, the El Al logo is part of a general movement and not necessarily an influencer on its own. The mix of languages and fonts s prevalent in other Middle Eastern countries, but again largely as part of an overall trend. El Al’s logo is, for the most part, a unique piece of work.

Trivia

• All El Al planes are equipped with anti-missle defense systems.
• All the meals on El Al flights were designed by one of Israel’s top chefs.
• It’s now possible to buy a direct flight from Tel Aviv to San Francisco.
• El Al set the world record for most passengers on a commercial flight.

Conclusion

The El Al logo is a good example of a marriage between location and identity. It’s impossible to separate El Al from Israeli, and that’s one of the goals of the design. While the design might be tweaked in the future, parts of the current design scheme are sure to be kept.

Lego bricks are the gold standard in building toys across the world. Available in hundreds of styles and in thousands of different building toys, they are a classic part of the American childhood. A huge part of the company’s success has centered around being a trustworthy brand. That brand has, in turn, relied on a very successful logo. Taking a look at the changes – and lack thereof – of the Lego logo is a good lesson in logo design.

Lego Logo Design Elements

The Lego logo is a true work of art. The name of the company is inside a red square, which is reminiscent of a Lego brick. It’s easy to tell that this is a toy logo at first glance, even if you’ve never seen a Lego brick before. The logo is small enough to fit on virtually any type of packaging, but easy enough to blow up that the logo isn’t deformed when put on larger boxes. It’s an incredibly useful logo that works well for the company’s business.

The colors of Lego are red and yellow, which are also common colors associated with childhood, energy, and imagination. The font is made of unique bubble letters, which also have an exceptionally playful feel. Lego’s entire logo is centered around childhood imagination.

Changes and Evolution

1. Shape

Lego has had a truly absurd number of logos over the years. Given that the company dates all the way back to 1934, though, a few changes of shape can be forgiven. The earliest Lego logos were simple affairs in terms of shape, simple showing off the company’s name. Eventually, though, the logo would begin to gain other elements. Whether it was enclosing the logo within a toy box, putting it in an art-deco circle, or just putting the logo in an oval, the logo changed quite a bit between 1936 and 1956. By 1959, though, the logo would finally go in a rectangle – which, in turn, would soon become a square. The main square shape of the Lego logo has been fairly consistent since 1964, regardless of the elements inside.

2. Color

Lego’s red and yellow are certainly iconic, but they haven’t always been the colors of the company. The original logo, like so many others, was black and white. Red has been a part of several logos, but not all of them – yellow has been prevalent over the years, as has blue. The iconic red Lego block is one of the most important images of the company, though, so it makes sense that it would want to leverage that kind of familiarity with its logo. Instead of turning away from something that works, modern Lego logo has embraced that color.

3. Font

Lego’s bouncy, child-like font has been part of the company for decades. In fact, one can trace versions of the font all the way back to the 1940s. It’s a lovely piece of design work that both automatically identifies the product as a toy and that proudly proclaims the name of the company. A few minor logos have eschewed the bubble letters for block letters, but those have been few and far between. Lego trades on its reputation, and that’s meant keeping the logo identifiable throughout all of its many changes. The bubble letters, it seems, are here to stay.

Influences/ Inspiration

Lego’s logo is most clearly influenced by other toy companies. Though few from the early 20th century are still around, you can still see relics of the bubble-letter font and primary colors in dozens of brands across the world. Lego is, contrary to what some might say, first and foremost a toy that’s meant to be played with and its logo will always be influenced by other children’s products.

At this point, it’s hard to point out companies that are directly influenced by Lego. The most likely are its rivals and knock-offs, which have a vested interest in trying to look as much like Lego as possible. In truth, though, Lego has been around long enough that it’s become part of the design landscape. It’s less a direct influence on other toy brands than it is a part of the background which informs all other toy logo design.

Trivia

• Lego comes from the Danish words “leg godt” which translate to “play well”.
• The first Lego blocks were manufactured in 1949.
• The plural of Lego is LEGO. Multiple Lego are referred to as Lego bricks.

Conclusion

Lego has a logo that speaks directly to its core customers. By being fun and simple, it helps children of all ages to identify the logo on store shelves. When it comes to building, there’s only one Lego – and when it comes to logos, few have the same overall impact.

For a brief moment, Nirvana seemed to change everything. They weren’t the first grunge band nor were they the longest lasting, but they were arguably the band with the greatest impact. Though they ceased to be after the suicide of lead singer Kurt Cobain, the band’s legacy has lived on. Highly commercialized, the Nirvana logo can be found on everything from t-shirts to guitar cases. Looking at this simple logo can give you a bit of insight into the band and what it represented during its brief period at the top.

Nirvana Logo Design Elements

The Nirvana logo, affectionately known as the Nirvana Smiley Face, is fairly simple but still meaningful. The primary shape is a circle, as one might expect, but not in a perfect shape. Instead, it’s deliberately misshapen, with a hand-drawn appeal. The inside of the circle is likewise off-kilter, with two Xs for eyes and a smile accompanied by a tongue. The logo is generally joined by the name of the band, usually with the band’s name written on top of the logo.

Nirvana’s color is yellow, but it’s not one that you’d necessarily associate with the band. After all, yellow is the color of happiness and energy – two elements that seem at odds with the band’s laconic style and dreary lyrics. The font used is strong and striking, helping to ensure that anyone who actually looks at the logo will be able to read the band’s name. It stands in stark contrast not only to the less formal logo but also to the difficult-to-understand lyrics of most of the band’s music.

Changes and Evolution

1. Shape

When you’re looking at shape, it’s a good idea to try to figure out where it comes from. The smiley face has been around since at least the 1960s, and Nirvana’s co-opting of the symbol is meaningful. It’s a baby-boomer symbol, the group against which the grunge movement was perhaps not lashing out, but that it was definitely in opposition against. The band, which was defined by songs that eschewed happy, poppy lyrics, made use of this symbol in an incredibly ironic manner.

2. Color

Yellow, as discussed, is a color of happiness and energy. It is also a color that stands out against a black background – something that’s very useful if you’re looking at a group that primarily uses dark colors. It’s a great color for the grunge movement because it stands out against all the muted colors used by other bands and most people who dressed in that fashion – the color not so much mocking the culture that Nirvana helped to popularize as a color that sticks its tongue out a bit at the self-seriousness of both musicians and their fans.

3. Font

The font choice is interesting because of how corporate it seems. It’s the polar opposite of the rest of the logo, so it’s hard to suss out its meaning. Perhaps the logo font was chosen because of its ease of printing on CD cases, or perhaps because it was just easy to read. It is certainly the only element of the logo that seems like it’s made to make the life of consumers any easier.

Influences/ Inspiration

Who influenced the Nirvana logo? It’s honestly hard to say. While the band might not admit to it, there’s definitely some influence from other bands that actually had logos like The Grateful Dead or The Rolling Stones. The logo itself doesn’t really bear many similarities to those older logos, but the fact that a band has an identifiable mark definitely springs from that same type of thinking.

Quite a few bands likely followed in Nirvana’s footsteps with their logos, especially in the early 90s. As time went by, though, both the popularity of band logos and of the grunge movement began to wane. There are few bands that really embrace the same methods, so it shouldn’t be too surprising to see many bands directly following the same kind of design path as Nirvana.

Trivia

• The Nirvana logo was first used at the release party for the band’s breakthrough album Nevermind.
• Like many other famous musicians, Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain died at the age of 27, making him a member of the infamous 27 Club.
• Future Foo Fighters founder Dave Grohl was the band’s sixth drummer.
• Smells Like Teen Spirit was indeed named after the deodorant.

Conclusion

Looking at the Nirvana logo is a great way of looking at the band. It’s anti-establishment but still easy to copy, whimsical but still pushing back against what came in the past. It’s a great logo for a great band, one that lasted far longer than the band itself. Much like the band’s influence, it’s still possible to see the logo in the musical world today.

There aren’t an awful lot of bands out there who have their own logo. To be fair, though, most bands aren’t The Rolling Stones. The Stones have been around for more than fifty years, continually making and performing music that holds up surprisingly well no matter when it was recorded. A huge reason for the band’s success has been how well the band markets itself. While the Rolling Stones logo is only a very small part of the band’s success, it is interesting to see what the logo says about the band. A deep look at this iconic logo, then, is certainly in order.

The Rolling Stones Logo Design Elements

The lips and tongue of the Rolling Stones logo are about as iconic as anything in the music industry. It’s not a logo that you’re going to see anywhere, for one – and it’s one that is incredibly focused on the band. Those lips and tongue evoke a style that’s unlike any other, one that’s tied as deeply to a spirit of youth and rebellion as it is to the famous mouth of Mick Jagger. It stands out no matter where it’s located, which helps to move a great deal of merchandise.

The color definitely plays a role in the usefulness of the logo. The deep red color plays a number of different roles, suggesting power, virility, and youth. It’s a color that you wouldn’t necessarily expect to see on a logo for a band, but it works all the better for that fact. Most surprisingly, there’s not a font involved – if you see the Rollin Stones logo, you’re meant to understand that you’re looking at the Stones even without any other information.

Changes and Evolution

1. Shape

The Big Red Mouth, as it’s affectionately known, isn’t actually Jagger’s mouth. The shape was designed by British graphic designer John Pasche as something of a tribute to the goddess Kali. Kali, in this case, was meant to be seen as a source of energy and free expression – both things that played very heavily into the image of the band in the 1970s. This is a logo that’s meant to stand out and be different, and the shape has been the single most important aspect over the course of nearly fifty years.

2. Color

The deep red of the logo has, perhaps importantly, never changed. It is just as important as the shape, helping to create a brand identity that can’t be copied. Taking away the vibrant red makes the logo look like just any other mouth and it honestly loses a great deal of the rock ‘n roll look by doing so.

3. Font

The Rolling Stones have never used any kind of font with their logo. It’s a bold statement, one that assumes that the band is so famous that this odd logo will instantly inform everyone of exactly who’s playing. The strangest thing, of course, is that this has worked. Even if you don’t know the Stones, you know that this logo is trying to do something special.

Influences/ Inspiration

The biggest influence on the logo is, obviously, the band. Regardless of the designer’s notes about Hindu goddesses, the mouth clearly looks like that of Mick Jagger. Beyond that, you’re looking at a design that’s very much of an era, one in which bands were more than just groups that played music. Several other bands from the general time period had iconic logos (The Grateful Dead or The Who, etc), and would continue to do so in a similar way to how the Stones did here.

The Rolling Stones logo has been copied, played with, and homaged more times than is easy to count. Oddly, though, few bands have really ever tried to do a logo in the same way as the band. It turns out that you really need to be as big as The Rolling Stones to make this kind of logo work.

Trivia

• Mick Jagger’s youngest son is younger than his youngest grandchild.
• Paul McCartney and John Lennon wrote one of the Stones’ earliest hits.
• Keith Richards and Mick Jagger first met when they were five years old
• The Stones and Beatles were good friends, despite public appearances to the contrary.
• The largest rock concert ever was held by The Roling Stones in 2006.
• The camerman for the 1970 documentary Gimme Shelter was future Star Wars creator George Lucas.

Conclusion

The Rolling Stones’ logo is one that only works because of the band to which it is attached. The lack of font, the odd shape, and the bold color are all indicative of a band that doesn’t really need to advertise. Even so, this remains one of the greatest and longest-lasting logos in rock history.