Sony Ericsson Logo Design History and Evolution

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It might be hard to remember, but there was a moment during which the race for mobile phone dominance didn’t seem to have such clear victors. There were a number of major players in the market, some of whom dedicated a great deal of time and money to dominating the field. One of these was Sony Ericsson, a joint-venture that ceased to exist in 2012. While the company itself may be no more, it left behind an amazing logo. Indicative of 2000s design in all the best ways, looking at the Sony Ericsson logo certainly gives a great deal of insight into the company itself.

Sony Ericsson Logo Design Elements

The Sony Ericsson logo is as much a symbol of the early 21st century as it is a symbol of the venture itself. Vibrant, 3D and infinitely fascinating, it throws a great deal of modern design wisdom out the window to make something that’s truly special. The spherical, 3D design had a number of nicknames like ‘the energy sphere’ and ‘the green lozenge’, but it was always easy to identify. It was one of those designs that seemed so fetching that it just had to be something special.

The color scheme and font were likewise unique. The cool green brought to mind both spring days and cool nights, not to mention a sense of growth and energy. The font was simple but modern, obviously influenced by the tech sector but nonetheless unique in and of itself. This is the kind of design that absolutely only could have been made in a certain place and time.

Changes and Evolution

1. Shape

The single logo for the short-lived Sony-Ericsson venture (ended in 2012) never really had time to grow or change. As such, it was left with a single spherical image. One fun note about the sphere is that it managed to combine the initial of both companies, though not in a way that’s immediately obvious. It’s a neat little design choice that’s fun for the designers but that doesn’t take anything away from the design itself.

2. Color

Color didn’t really change for the logo over the years. Green and silver were incredibly modern at the time, especially coming off of the resurgence of sci-fi films at the turn of the millennium. There was some minor tint change through the various product lines, though, with some logos actually getting more of a glowing green color. There were even a small number of products that swapped out the glowing green for other vibrant colors like pink, though these were incredibly few and far between.

3. Font

The font of the Sony Ericsson line is a bit funny, as it’s probably better known today as Sony’s modern font. While the company may not have survived very long, the initial font choice can still be seen on products today. It’s a testament to how forward-thinking that one aspect of the design was, especially compared to almost every other aspect of the logo.

Influences/ Inspiration

There were quite a few influences on the Sony Ericsson logo. The big ones, of course, were logos from the two companies involved. There were also numerous companies in the tech sector that used circular logos at the time, and it’s hard to say that Apple’s iconic apple design didn’t have at least a little influence on the overall Sony Ericsson design. There are also a number of other contemporary factors that probably had a great deal of influence – the Matrix films, with their emphasis on glowing green, are a likely contributor to the logo as well.

Quite a few companies tried to ape the Sony Ericsson logo while the company was active. The biggest name is probably Microsoft’s Xbox 360, which sported a very similar logo. The logo itself went a long way towards inspiring numerous knock-offs, though, and many different tech companies sported similar logos for quite some time.

Trivia

  • In 2009, Sony Ericsson was the world’s fourth largest phone manufacturer
  • Sony bought out Ericsson’s stake in the venture in 2012.
  • The Sony Ericsson line was succeeded by the Sony XPeria line.
  • The logo has subtle references to both Sony and Ericsson in its design.
  • At the time, it was assumed that Sony and Ericsson were partnering to make a Playstation phone.
  • Ericsson made 1.1 billion dollars when it sold of its stake in the venture.

 Conclusion

While the Sony and Ericsson partnership wouldn’t last, the logo still stands out as a great piece of early Millennium design. It’s vibrant and fun, and it definitely leverages the design technology that become available at that time. While design has certainly moved past this logo, it still stands up. There’s nothing wrong with a bit of nostalgia, especially with a logo like this.

Delta Airlines Logo Design History and Evolution

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Delta is easily one of the best-known airlines in the United States. One of the big names left standing after decades of mergers, it has a tradition of high quality and one of the best reputations of all the domestic airlines. While the company has certainly grown over the decades, it has managed to keep a sterling reputation even as it morphed from a local airline into an international giant. This article will detail the history of one of the company’s major assets – the Delta Airlines logo – as it changed and evolved alongside the company itself.

Delta Airlines Logo Design Elements

The current Delta Airlines logo, which the company refers to as the ‘widget’, is a relatively recent creation. Composed of a simple triangular logo alongside the company’s name, it certainly helps to further tie the brand’s image together. It’s simple but easy to identify at a distance, making it a successful bit of branding that sticks in the minds of consumers.

The main element of the logo is certainly the shape. The ‘widget’ is a stylized red triangle (or, appropriately, a delta) atop another triangle. It helps to rope the company’s name back into the logo itself, further eliminating the need for complicated signage at a glance. It’s a simple bit of marketing trickery, but one that works well.

The other element of the logo is the word ‘Delta’ spelled in all-caps. The word is short, simple and easy to read, spelled out so that it’s likewise impossible to get wrong when reading. It’s another simple visual trick that works very well.

Changes and Evolution

1. Shape

The one thing that’s stayed true across most of Delta’s logos is the triangular shape. Actually the Greek letter Delta, it corresponds to the D in the company’s name. As the company has grown, it has continued to keep the same shape with a number of different design elements. From 1930-1934 it emphasized the company’s crop-dusting roots, while from 1934-1951 it grew wings. Until 1959, the company went with a more circular design until introducing the familiar widget in that year. Variations on the widget accompanied by the company name would continue to be a major part of the company’s visual identification, with the widget finally winning out as the sole design element in 1987.

2. Color

Red has largely been Delta’s color since the beginning. It the early years, the company stuck with a simple red and black before moving on to a multi-colored, busier approach in 1930. After 1930, though, red would become dominant – usually alongside blue, all the way through the modern day. Delta’s color changes have largely been part of major marketing changes and mergers with other companies, though Delta has wisely kept the identifying red throughout every shift.

3. Font

Nothing has changed more over the years than Delta’s font. It’s always been simple, though the company has played around with a number of font designs. The original font was Greek-inspired, though that was quickly dropped. The font would remain simple 1930-1945, at which time it would be replaced with a more art deco design. This would last until 1959, when Delta would design on a font that’s essentially the one that’s been in use ever since.

Influences/ Inspiration

Delta’s logo is clearly influenced quite a bit by other airlines. The first logo change, for example, was influenced by Delta’s predecessor company. Many of its changes over the years have been brought about by mergers and acquisitions, initially bringing in elements from other airlines. Today’s logo, though, is one that really stands alone.

If you want to see the influence of the Delta Airlines logo, you just need to go to an airport. American’s logo, for example, draws heavily from Delta’s. So too did a number of now defunct (or purchased) airlines like Continental. Delta was definitely a major factor in encouraging other airlines to adopt simple, easily-identifiable logos for their planes.

Trivia

  • Delta is the number-one rated airline in the United States.
  • Delta has its own museum in Atlanta.
  • Delta was the first airline to ban smoking on all of its flights
  • Delta started life as the Huff Daland Dusting Company in 1925.
  • More than 180 million people fly on Delta every year.
  • Delta began offering access to Wi-Fi on their flights all the way back in 2008.
  • The name ‘Delta’ almost certainly comes from the Greek letter.

Conclusion

The Delta Airlines logo is one of the company’s best assets. It makes the company easy to identify from a distance, even though the logo itself is fairly simple. It’s changed and evolved over the years that the company has been active, but one thing is for sure – the company’s found something that works.

Lakers Logo Design History and Evolution

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Even if you don’t follow basketball, you know the Los Angeles Lakers. One of the most decorated teams in the NBA, they are always competitive even if they don’t take home a trophy. Frequently home to big stars and even bigger games, the team’s been defined by a single logo for decades. In looking at how the Lakers logo has – hasn’t – evolved, one can see how big a part of the team’s identity it has become.

Lakers Logo Design Elements

It’s hard to overstate both how simple and effective the Lakers logo is. Compared to most sports logos, it’s almost laughably basic – a basketball, the name of the city, and the name of the state. This is a design that has been in place literally as long as the team has been in Los Angeles, with little call for an update or a re-design. The simplicity of the shape itself is largely why the change has been so slow to come, though – after all, the basketball logo is a classic.

By this point, the colors are as much a part of the team’s identity as the basketball logo. Purple and yellow are absolutely Lakers’ colors and you’ll see them on fans of the team around the world. Even the font is unchanging, allowing fans of the team to wear virtually any jersey ever made by the team without looking out of place. If there’s such a thing as the perfect basketball logo, there’s a good chance that it’s worn by the Los Angeles Lakers.

Changes and Evolution

1. Shape

There has only been one major change in shape during the entire existence of the Lakers team, and it came before the team moved to Los Angeles. The original Lakers, based in Minneapolis, still a had logo that is very reminiscent of the logo they wear today. That logo still features the basketball as the main design feature but with a picture of Minnesotta inside the main element. It was a feature that arguably made a great deal of sense for the original team, but it’s also a feature that was very wisely dropped as soon as the team relocated to Los Angeles.

2. Color

Yellow has always been the primary color of the Lakers. Even when the team was the Minneapolis Lakers, the main elements of the logo were still a golden-yellow color. Over the intervening years, the only real changes have been in the specific shades of yellow used. The original Los Angeles Lakers logo featured a darker yellow and darker purple. Both colors were lightened in 1976 before the team eventually settled on a color scheme that was about halfway between the two shades in 2001. Even so, the colors are close enough that merchandise from the three eras looks virtually identical.

3. Font

There has only been one major font change for the Lakers. The Minneapolis Lakers logo featured the letters MLPS above the basketball logo and the word LAKERS below, both written in a font style that was very popular among professional teams in the 1940s and 1950s. When the team moved to Los Angeles, they adopted the iconic font that features the speed lines coming off the first and last letters in the logo. Virtually no changes to the font have been made since 1961.

Influences/ Inspiration

It’s hard to pick a single influence for the Lakers’ logo. On one hand, it’s clearly beholden to the original logo of the Minneapolis Lakers and several other pre-NBA teams. It’s a great throwback to an era gone by, albeit one that doesn’t look out of place on the court today. It comes from the same heritage that spawned many other sports logos, including several MLS franchises today.

On the other hand, it’s hard to say that the Lakers logo necessarily inspired any other franchise. It has some influence on a few sports teams that came after, but it’s such a classic that other teams have moved away from the general design scheme. As such, the major elements – the unchanging color scheme, for example – are so widely used that it’s impossible to find any kind of direct lineage from this logo to another.

Trivia

  • The name ‘Lakers’ come from Minnesota’s nickname ‘The Land of a Thousand Lakes’.
  • The Lakers have scored 16 combined NBA titles.
  • The signature ‘showtime’ offense was created by Lakers’ legend Magic Johnson.

Conclusion

The Lakers logo is timeless. The simple design elements are unchanging and look neither behind the times nor like part of the current zeitgeist. The way the logo was put together was perhaps prescient, but it manages to be one logo that seems impossible to update again. If you’re looking for perfection in logo making, there’s a good chance it will be found here.

Caribou Coffee Logo Design History and Evolution

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While Americans in a hurry have always turned to a cup of coffee on the go, the places providing that coffee have increasingly consolidated over recent years. While some might go for Starbucks or Dunkin, others swear by Caribou Coffee. This coffee chain, which dedicated itself to keeping sleepy patrons awake back in 1992, can easily be spotted by its unique logo. Taking a look at the Caribou Coffee logo elements of its design makes it easier to understand exactly why the company’s brand has become so well-known and so successful in what’s become a very competitive marketplace.

Caribou Coffee Logo Design Elements

The Caribou Coffee logo is clever because you can spot it without having to read a word. The logo features a stylized caribou (or reindeer, depending on where you live) jumping across a stylized background shape. There’s definitely a sense of motion here, something that works well for a company that seems to have a major goal of keeping sleepy workers awake. While the Caribou itself is very stylized, it’s still easy enough to make out that you’ll understand exactly what company’s products you’re looking at when you see a cup or a bag.

The colors are fairly muted, but that works with a company that has rededicated itself to all-natural ingredients. You’re really just seeing brown and a muted blue, both of which look incredibly natural. The text mimics cursive handwriting, which again does a fine job of looking natural. Taken together, you get a very good idea of the company’s goals as well as its identity.

Changes and Evolution

1. Shape

There have only been two logos since 1992, and they’re very similar in terms of shape. The original logo featured a much more detailed Caribou, though, one that jumped towards the left rather than towards the right. The original background shape was also at a ninety-degree angle to the current shape, creating a very different profile. Even the wordmark was a bit different, with a more rugged look that made the initial logo look more woodsy than all-natural. The shift in company priorities was definitely echoed in the change over to a more abstract but more eco-friendly looking shape in 2010.

2. Color

Oddly, the color scheme never really shifted even when the rest of the logo changed. The primary color of the logo is still the same muted blue, one that feels just as reasonable when talking about environmental friendliness as it did when evoking an outdoorsy spirit. The word color has changed, though, from a more corporate black to a warmer chocolate brown. The color change is a reflection of the company’s new commitments, one that also has a great deal to do with the switch over to all-natural chocolates undertaken by Caribou Coffee at around the same time.

3. Font

The font for the logo changed quite a bit from one logo to another. The original font was jagged and off-kilter, bringing to mind the kind of wooden signs you’d see at an old-fashioned campground. It was a good way to indicate that the coffee was natural and old-fashioned, but it didn’t match the new goals of the company. The new font, which looks far more organic, fits in well with many other companies that are concerned with their environmental image and with consumers who are more concerned with hand-crafted goodness rather than industrialized goods.

Influences/ Inspiration

The Caribou Coffee logo stood alone at the time, looking far different than most major chains. While the use of a mascot in the logo was fairly standard, it was much different than what one would see in a corporate chain. In fact, the logo most closely resembles those of many other smaller coffee spots, the kind that you’d see when visiting the downtown of an area in the pre-Starbucks days.

There aren’t a lot of direct descendants of Caribou, either. A few competitors adopted similar logos around the same time (Panera comes to mind), but most logos in the industry are different enough that this one stands out.

Trivia

  • Caribou Coffee was founded after its founders backpacked through Alaska and saw a herd of wild caribou.
  • Caribou Coffee currently operates in ten countries and has over 4500 employees.
  • There is a ‘C’ shape in the antlers of the Caribou Coffee logo mascot.

Conclusion

The Caribou Coffee logo shows how you can change a logo to align with new corporate goals. It’s not such a big shift that the company lost its old branding, but the new logo aligns with the corporate vision so well that it felt like a natural change. If you want to see how a company can change a logo while still maintaining its core, this is a great place to start.

The North Face Logo Design History and Evolution

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If you’re looking for rugged, high-quality gear the first place to go is to The North Face. While it’s expanding far beyond its original climbing gear, you still get the same sense that the products from this company can survive a tumble down a mountain. Just as the company’s goods have stood the test of time, so too has the company’s logo. The simple and iconic The North Face logo is amazing because it, unlike almost all of its competitors, hasn’t changed in fifty years. It’s the ultimate expression of a company’s unwillingness to deviate from its initial spirit or from its initial goals.

The North Face Logo Design Elements

The North Face logo is incredibly simple, but it works on a level that’s very hard to deny. It’s just three words and three curves – nothing more, nothing less. It’s the kind of logo that you’d doodle on a piece of paper during class, but writ large. It’s inarguably one of the easiest to identify on the planet, yet it doesn’t have that many elements that one can point at as memorable. The shape is the thing here, and with those basic shapes the company has managed to create a brand that is not only easily identifiable but one that commits itself to memory.

The font and color are likewise simple. If you see the The North Face logo you’re only going to see a few colors – red, white, and maybe black depending on whether the logo is in greyscale. The font is thick and blocky, with absolutely no denying what’s in front of you. It’s simple, but it works.

Changes and Evolution

1. Shape

What’s amazing about this logo is that it hasn’t changed. You can look at a 1962 The North Face product and see the same shape. There’s something to be said for being iconic, and there’s been absolutely no effort to change up this logo over the years. Other companies may have felt that their logos needed to get with the time, but it’s clear that The North Face will let the world change around it instead. It’s an amazing piece of work, all things considered.

2. Color

The color changes for The North Face have really only come when the company puts out a new line of products. In these cases, you’re getting a new color that doesn’t replace the old color. The black and white logo is timeless, but so too is the black and red or red and white. You’re still getting basic, natural colors that fit on virtually any product. There is no single color associated with The North Fact, which makes it easy to adapt the design to new products. It also keeps the focus on the initial logo and shape, which tends to work very well.

3. Font

The font for The North Face is big and blocky. That certainly works for a company focused on rugged, long-lasting gear. It’s also surprising to see that the company hasn’t changed the font even as the company’s reputation has gone a bit more upscale. It’s clear that this logo means something and that the font is a part of the overall design scheme. Without changing the font, the company shows a commitment to its original principles and an overall lack of unwillingness to change what makes the company so special.

Influences/ Inspiration

At the time, there wasn’t much out there like The North Face. It isn’t that there weren’t speciality stores or outdoor gear, but the logos were simple and incredibly practical. The logo can’t even be said to be a product of its time, because the simple logo stood out even the 1960s. As such, you can call this one a true original – minimalist to be sure, but one that definitely marched to the beat of its own drum.

In terms of current design, you see more knock-offs than anything else. There are dozens of low-cost outdoor gear companies that have logos close to The North Face, but not quite the same. The basic shape and minimalist design, though, did become incredibly popular throughout the 2000s in other industries. While clothing logos settled in, you can see a number of tech companies (Logitech, for example) that have logos similar in design to The North Face.

Trivia

  • The official name is The North Face, not North Face.
  • The half-dome logo represents Half Dome in Yosemite.
  • The Grateful Dead played the opening of the first The North Face store.

Conclusion

A company so important that its name begs an article, The North Face has managed to make it through fifty years with a single logo. That logo is unique, simple, and stands up to the basic tests that make a good logo. If you’re looking for something to study, this is a great logo with which to start.