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Yahoo Logo Design History and Evolution

At 22 years old, Yahoo is one of the oldest Internet technology companies. It is known for a variety of social media, email, search, video sharing, and news sites that are all united underneath the Yahoo brand. Originally built as a search website in 1994, Yahoo now offers a variety of other products. This article will examine the history of the Yahoo logo and show why it has been so effective.

Throughout the many shifting trends of the world wide web, Yahoo has worked to remain relevant by rebranding their business and their products. In the first years of business, the Yahoo logo was altered five times before the company settled on the basic logo shape that has remained consistent since 1996.

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Yahoo Logo Design Elements

The current Yahoo logo consists of the phrase, “Yahoo,” with an exclamation point at the end of the word. The logo is a deep purple that the company has confirmed to be Pantone Violet C. When examined closely, one can see that the letters in the logo are three dimensional. The font is a custom designed, sans serif, capitalized font with relatively short, wide letters. Both the first “Y” and the last “O” are slightly larger than the rest of the interior letters. The exclamation point is tilted 9 degrees outwards.

Changes and Evolution

1. Shape

Almost all iterations of Yahoo logo history have just consisted of the phrase “Yahoo.” The first 1994 logo was just the word typed out in simple text. In 1995, the logo was briefly changed to a more elaborate text that included an exclamation point at the end. In 1996, the logo was changed to an image of a stylized yellow man jumping over a blue circle with “Yahoo!” written below. This was quickly simplified to just the text and exclamation point with a slight shadow behind the text. Between 1996 and 2009, the logo remained roughly the same. When the company decided to do a massive rebranding campaign, they changed the logo color in 2009. A new font was debuted in 2013.

2. Color

During the early years of Yahoo logo history, the logo shifted from black to burgundy to yellow to purple to black. Eventually, the company focused on red in 1996. This color gave them a bold presence, but caused some confusion since their main email competitor, Gmail, also had a red logo. They decided to shift to a purple shade to stand out, and this is now the iconic Yahoo color associated with all their products.

3. Font

The very first font used for the logo was a simple Times New Roman font. However, all further fonts in Yahoo logo design have been original. Other fonts included the elaborate curlicue font used briefly in 1995 and a handwritten font for the jumping man logo. For a long time, the logo was an uneven, serif style font that is referred to as the “original Yahoo font.” This font is still heavily associated with Yahoo, but the company moved to a san serif font in 2013.

Influences/Inspiration

Yahoo’s branding focuses on being more creative and less professional than other major search engines like Google. Therefore, they decided to switch from a basic red color to an unusual purple hue. This was intended to attract more female users and make the site appear more quirky. In a post from her social media, Yahoo CEO explains “We wanted a logo that reflected Yahoo – whimsical, yet sophisticated”. The winged shapes at the end of the letters is also intended to be slightly reminiscent of the serifs in the original logo. Both the letter shape and the tilted exclamation point are intended to be a nod to the company’s older logos.

Trivia

Though the logo might seem straight, when you view a large version of it, you will see that every single line is slightly curved. This was an intentional choice to make it look more organic. In the United States, Yahoo’s logo was originally red before shifting to purple, but this is not the case in one of Yahoo’s other major consumer markets. The Yahoo Japan logo history is the exact opposite. It was originally differentiated from the American logo due to purple text reading “JAPAN,” but now the entire Japanese version of the logo is bright red.

Conclusion

Yahoo logo history has focused on simple designs that draw attention to their company without needing to state precisely what Yahoo does. This consistency is very helpful since the products and services offered by Yahoo are constantly changing. The distinctive purple shade is not used by any other major tech company, so Yahoo’s logo really stands out amid all the basic blue and red logos of other companies.

Dior Logo Design, History and Evolution

By Tanya O’Donnell Leave a Comment

The fashion house of Dior had its beginnings in 1946 France, just after World War II ended. Designer Christian Dior shot to popularity with his “New Look” that the company developed in the late 40s. The hourglass silhouette with full skirts was a breath of fresh air after all the wartime rationing, and it became the signature style of the 1950s. In modern times, Dior continues to innovate and have a massive influence on popular fashion. The logo boldly declares Dior’s legacy. In this article, we will explain how the Dior logo has contributed to the brand’s success.

Dior Logo Design Elements

The logo for Dior is incredibly simple. No fancy fonts or elaborate emblems show up in the logo’s design. The background for the logo is either white or transparent, depending on the situation. The main focus is the brand name, “Dior.” The first D is capitalized while the rest of the letters are lowercase. The text is written in a deep black color. This shade is elegant and versatile, just like Dior’s clothing. The font used in Dior’s choice of a logo is a modified version of the Nicolas Cochin typeface. It features serifs that slant slightly downwards. The curves of the letters contain both thinner and thicker strokes. The font style chosen for the logo looks traditional and sophisticated without drawing attention to itself.

Changes and Evolution

1. Shape

The shape of the logo at Dior has not changed much throughout Dior logo history. Originally, the company used Christian Dior’s full name in the logo. It was eventually shortened to just Dior but otherwise remained the same. This devotion to continuity has maintained the brand’s reputation through all of the changes it has faced.

2. Color

Dior logo history typically features a black text on a white background. A few exceptions occur when the logo is used in advertising. Occasionally, it appears in a white or gold shade. However, the logo is always a monochromatic color that contrasts sharply with the background. This is a reference to Christian Dior’s most iconic outfit, the Bar suit, which was black and white.

3. Font

Dior continues to use their recognizable font in their logo. Over the years, it has been ever so slightly tweaked to appear more modern and stylized. The differences are so slight that only typography experts will even notice the change.

Influences/Inspiration

The Dior logo design takes its inspiration from many other popular fashion brands’ logos. Competitors’ symbols, such as the Prada or the Gucci logo, also have extremely simple, monochromatic logos that just display the brand’s name. This type of simplistic logo allows the clothing of the brand to speak for itself. Dior’s reason for choosing this type of logo is also that a brand name logo is very versatile. It looks equally well on a discreet clothing tag or a large storefront window. Dior chose to go with an unembellished logo that changes to fit the brands’ needs while still maintaining continuity.

Trivia

Many people make the mistake of assuming the official logo for Dior is the “CD” monogram that appears on the monogram print of Dior bags. However, this is just a design element and is not the official logo. Dior only used this monogram because there was a demand for monogrammed handbags similar to Louis Vuitton’s classic bag. Dior was one of the first haute couture designers to license the use of his logo out to other companies. If another luxury fashion company met Dior’s standards and paid a licensing fee, they were allowed to use the trademarked logo on the item.

Conclusion

In modern times, Dior boutiques and advertisements all proudly display the Dior logo. After Christian Dior’s death, other famous designers like John Galliano and Raf Simons have successfully guided the company. Though Christian may no longer lead the company, the Dior logo still features the name of the man who founded the brand.

Facebook Logo Design History and Evolution

By Tanya O’Donnell Leave a Comment

Facebook originally started out as an online photo directory for Harvard students in 2004. However its creator, Mark Zuckerberg, quickly realized that people everywhere had an interest in the website. In the years since Facebook was first opened to the public, it has changed social media as we know it. A lot of Facebook’s success has been due to its simple, clean website that was instantly easy for new users to explore. The Facebook logo is similarly straightforward and provides a clear depiction of the company’s brand. In this article, you can learn more about how Facebook’s logo contributed to its popularity.

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Facebook Logo Design Elements

Throughout all of Facebook logo history, the logo has remained essentially unchanged. It consists of a simple blue rectangle that contains the company’s name written in white, lowercase letters. The blue shade, a medium, slightly muted blue color, is associated with the design scheme for the entire website. Mark Zuckerberg designed the basic logo for Facebook. He did this using his favorite colors, and he chose the Klavika typeface to write his text. This logo was slightly modified with some input by the Cuban Council design firm, and the iconic logo of Facebook was born.

Changes and Evolution

Shape

All of the logos in Facebook logo history have maintained the same shape. There have been three different iterations of the logo, and each one was a simple, blue rectangle. The only really major change to shape is that the original logo featured two brackets on either side of the text within the rectangle, so that it read “[thefacebook].” When Facebook’s main design elements were finalized in 2005, the short lived original logo had all extraneous material removed so that it just read “facebook.”

Color

The first logo at Facebook had a slightly darker blue background, and the text had a lighter blue shade. After a year with this logo, the company changed the background to the classic muted, medium blue color associated with Facebook and the text color to white. This logo didn’t change for a decade, but in 2015, designers lightened the color of the blue ever so slightly. This color change is barely perceptible, but it helps to keep the logo looking up to date because pastels are trendier right now.

Font

Facebook has always used a modified version of the Klavika font. The only major change to the font occurred in 2015, when the “a” was altered from a double story “a” that had a loop at the top, to a single story “a” that removed the upper loop. Facebook’s creative director felt that this font alteration helped to make the brand look a little more modern and friendly.

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Influences/Inspiration

Zuckerberg, the driving force behind the social media website handpicked most of the key elements of the Facebook logo design. Zuckerberg decided to use his favorite color as the main design element of the website, and this decision would greatly impact the logo. Blue is his favorite color because he suffers from red-green color-blindedness. So, blue is one of the only colors that he can see multiple shade variations in. According to Zuckerberg, “Blue is the richest color for me – I can see all of blue.” The choice of a logo consisting of only the color blue quickly became trendy. Other popular social media sites such as Twitter and Tumblr often share it.

Trivia

The logo might seem like it is just a simple text using a basic font. However, there were actually a lot of very small tweaks. The font of the logo is slightly different from its parent font . This is because they altered the angle between the “f” and the “a” to look smoother. Also, the “k” at the end was squished together to look slightly narrower. Joe, a member of the design team that helped to create the design of the logo, played himself in a scene in the popular Facebook movie starring Jesse Eisenberg.

Conclusion

Facebook managed to grow from a simple website for students socializing to one of the major methods of communication worldwide. This happened because it was easy, clean, and intuitive to use. Unlike the bloated designs of MySpace, Facebook greeted viewers with a refreshingly simple white and blue format. Their logo topped this. The Facebook logo fits into the company’s mission goal perfectly. With its clean lines and straightforward meaning, and it has had a huge impact on other social media website’s designs.

Prada Logo Design History and Evolution

By Eric N. Addams Leave a Comment

Prada started out as a leather goods shop for the Prada brothers in 1913. Over a century later, the company is still in the control of members of the Prada family. The company’s most famous products are their luxury handbags and shoes. A major marketing strategy for Prada has been a conspicuous lack of a logo. The company aims to cultivate an air of discernment and refinement that contrasts with flashy logos like Louis Vuitton. Therefore, customers generally only see the Prada logo on small tags, buckles, and clasps. Though the Prada logo may not be extremely visible, it still makes an impact on fashion connoisseurs.

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Prada Logo Design Elements

The logo used by Prada is just as understated and elegant as the company’s clothing and accessories. It is a simple black logo that references designer Miuccia Prada’s preference for minimalist neutrals. The logo for Prada simply says, “PRADA” in bold, black, capitalized letters. Though it might seem plain, a closer look reveals that the company’s logo is actually very complex . The font chosen for the logo has contrastingly thin and thick strokes. Most of the letters have a serif decor, but the “R” stands out. It has a unique curving, notched line where the leg of the “R” joins to the loop of the letter. The “A’s” also look a little unusual due to the upward flourish at the top of the letter.

Changes and Evolution

1. Shape

The modern Prada logo design is actually just one small element from the entire, original logo used by Prada in 1919. Originally, the logo was a circle of knotted rope topped with an Italian coat of arms. Within the loop of the rope was the signature Prada text. Beneath this text, the logo said “Milano DAL 1913.” This entire logo is still used in some advertising and decorating for the company. The company’s handbags also feature a small triangle that contains the brand name and the crest from the original logo.

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2. Color

All versions of Prada logo history have only had a plain, black color. This helps the logo to remain versatile in a variety of settings. Though it is generally black, the logo sometimes appears in white or gold.

3. Font

The signature Prada font used in the original logo has remained the same throughout the many logo alterations. Every Prada variation contains the custom designed Prada typeface.

Influences/Inspiration

Most of Prada logo history consists of removing superfluous design elements from the original logo. A lot of the design for the original logo at Prada comes from an Italian Royal House. In 1919, Prada received the honor of being the “Official Supplier to the Italian Royal Household.” This honor gave the company the right to use the House of Savoy’s traditional heraldry. Both the coat of arms and the knotted rope in the logo are official designs of the House of Savoy. Prada’s main competitor at the time, Gucci, did not have any sort of royal patronage. Including the royal symbols in the logo helped Prada to further establish a reputation for quality and high-class designs.

Trivia

The founder of Prada, Mario Prada, did not think that women should be allowed to run businesses. However, none of his sons wanted to work for the family company. Eventually, the business was passed down to the founder’s daughter and then his granddaughter. Mario Prada may not have trusted women’s judgement, but his granddaughter, Miuccia, made the successful decision to update the logo and expand Prada’s designs.Before running the international fashion conglomerate, Miuccia was a mime artist. The inexperienced young woman managed to turn Prada from a struggling leather manufacturer into one of the premier fashion brands.

Conclusion

The logo for Prada references the company’s proud past as an Italian leather supplier for royalty. Its updated, more streamlined version also manages to uphold the brand’s reputation for simple, elegant, quality. This logo looks equally well posted over a storefront or discretely engraved on a purse clasp. The understated Prada logo is a well designed, versatile representation for this minimalistic fashion house.

Porsche Logo Design History and Evolution

By Anthony Pena Leave a Comment

In 1931, a Czech engineer named Ferdinand Porsche started designing cars in the German city of Stuttgart. His designs quickly gained popularity. Porsche is now one of the main providers of luxury automobiles, and they are also the largest race car manufacturer worldwide. Porsche vehicles can be identified due to the signature Porsche logo that is fixed on each cars hood. The logo has many historical references, so it helps to promote the quality and tradition behind the brand. Read this article to learn all about the historical origins of Porsche logo.

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Porsche Logo Design Elements

The Porsche logo is a shield shape that has a arched top and a pointed bottom. Along the top of the shield is the brand name, “Porsche.” This name is black letters on a gold background. Gold bars divide the rest of the logo into quarters. The top left and bottom right quarters each feature three black antlers. The top right and bottom left quarters feature red and black stripes. In the center of the quarters is a small gold, U-shaped emblem. This center emblem contains a rearing black horse. It says “Stuttgart” in black letters. The logo normally shows up on stamped pieces of gold metal. When drawn as a flat image, the shading of the logo still makes it look like three dimensional gold.

Changes and Evolution

1. Shape

The main shape of the logo for Porsche has remained the same since it was first created in 1952. Since the logo is so iconic, the brand has not wanted to alter it. All changes have been very minor alterations intended to modernize the brand. Over the years, the horse’s silhouette has become more streamlined. The lettering across the top of the logo is slightly shorter than it originally was.

2. Color

The color of the logo is the most notable change in the history of the logo. Originally, the brand name was just raised gold lettering. In 1994, the company changed the brand name to black. This alteration allowed the name of the brand to look more noticeable. The shade of red in the logo has changed several times. At first, it was a bright, orangey red. Between 1973 and 2008, the red color darkened more and more. Eventually, it was a deep, purplish burgundy. Starting in 2008, Porsche chose to lighten the red so that the logo looked more like the original colors.

3. Font

The font in the logo is a customized font made up of capitalized, sans serif lettering. The company slightly altered the font in 1973. It is mostly the same, but the new font is slightly shorter.

Influences/Inspiration

The Porsche logo history started when the Porsche importer for the United States suggested that the company needed a logo. Previously, the company just engraved their name on car hoods. In response, the founder’s son quickly sketched out a logo on a napkin. Most of the inspiration for the Porsche logo design comes from the history of Stuttgart. The center emblem is the coat of arms for the city of Stuttgart. They feature a horse because Stuttgart was a famous horse breeding center. Stuttgart was also the capital of the political region called Wurttemberg-Hohenzollern. The antlers and stripers are the coat of arms for the state of Wurttemberg-Hohenzollern. The logo for Porsche pays homage to both the city and the general countryside surrounding the first Porsche factory.

Trivia

The metal versions of the logo that appear on the hood of Porsches are handmade. Specialists engrave and mold the signature images onto the gold badges. The artists then carefully fill in each colored area of the badge with a special paint. The Porsche family chose their logo because of its history. However, the decision made the logo look somewhat similar to a few other logos for cars. The horse is the most frequently used automobile logo. A horse also shows up on the Ford Mustang and the Ferrari logo. The Porsche logo manages to remain distinctive because it has an actual historical background.

Conclusion

Due to their reputation for quality engineering and luxurious design, the logo for Porsche is very recognizable. The Porsche logo pays homage to the brand’s hometown while also referencing the speed of the vehicles. The coat of arms design also makes the brand appear older and more reputable. The beautifully crafted logo shows up on some of the most respected and highly coveted cars worldwide.