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
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.
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