Hidden Messages in Famous Logos

Every brand has its own logo in order to be remembered by something. Every logo has its own design and nothing in those designs is there by accident. Every single line, number, letter, color or shape is there in the service of marketing. You can see those designs everywhere you look. You can see them in (or on) your car, on your clothes, on buildings, etc. We bet that in 99,99% you don’t know the true meaning of those symbols.

We are going to explain just a couple of those designs.

Amazon

The arrow in the Amazon logo is placed with a very specific purpose in mind. If you look carefully, you’ll see that the arrow connects the letter A to the letter Z, signifying that on the website you’ll find everything you need from A to Z.

McDonald’s
Designers who built the first MacDonald thought that it would be a cool idea to place two huge yellow arches on the building in the shape of a letter M. It would be a good symbol for something that starts with the letter M. But, during the renovation process in 1960’s, managers wanted to get rid of that sign which was immediately dismissed by their design consultant and psychologist Louis Cheskin. According to BBC, he insisted on the possible subliminal message of that sign. He said customers will subliminally recognize that logo as a symbolism for a pair of nourishing breasts.

Audi

The four circles that comprise the Audi logo represent the four companies that made up the Auto-Union Consortium in 1932: DKW, Horch, Wanderer, and Audi. And you’re automobile aficionado, then check out the 21 Worst Cars of the 21st Century.

Coco Chanel
There are two theories about the origin of the Coco Chanel’s symbol. First one is that Coco Chanel designed that symbol while she stayed at Chateau Cremat in Nice. She was inspired by the overlapping arches spread throughout the castle and the symbol itself located on one of the windows. The other theory is that Coco Chanel was inspired with interlacing arches on window frames and the design of windows in Aubazine Chapel. But in the end, it was an obvious choice since the symbol is literally representing Coco’s initials.

Google
The first symbol for Google was made in 1998 when Larry Page created a simple computerized version using the free graphic program GIMP. The symbol itself has gone through a number of cosmetic changes but the base of the design has remained the same. A graphic designer who developed that logo said that there were lots of different color combinations but they ended up with prime colors with one twist. The letter L is an only secondary color in the middle of primes, and that should represent the idea that Google never goes completely by rules.

Apple

Though the designer of the Apple logo had nothing in particular in mind when creating the iconic bitten apple, it’s nevertheless managed to pick up several secret messages over the years thanks to a feverous fanbase. Though there are many hidden meanings, of the most beloved is that the apple is meant to represent knowledge, just like the apple in the story of Adam and Eve.

Gillette
The symbol itself is nothing special. It is just saying the name of the brand. But, if you look closely enough you can notice that letters G and L look like the shape of a razor and a machine.

Mitsubishi
Well if you look at the symbol of Mitsubishi, you can not relate any curve or line with the word itself. But, it is not made to be like that. The symbol itself should be a coat of arms of the Iwasaki family. They are the founders of Mitsubishi. Three diamonds should represent reliability, integrity, and success while the color itself should represent confidence. Besides that, red is a color which we first notice wherever we look. That is a proven fact. Because of that, many brands use red in their symbols to attract their customers.

Goodwill
Goodwill is an American nonprofit organization that helps people in need. They meet the needs of all job seekers by training them and helping them to actually find a job. Target groups are youth, seniors, veterans, people with disabilities and people with criminal background. Their logo is like Gillette just the name of their brand. But is it? If you look at their logo from some distance, you can see that the first letter “G” looks like a smiley face. That should represent the optimism they have.

FedEx
FedEx or Federal Express is an American courier company founded in 1971. Their logo also has a subliminal message in it. You would think that it is just a shortened version of their company name, but nope. If you look closely, you will notice the red arrow between E and X. That symbol should represent their speed and trustworthiness.

Once you see it, it will be the first thing you will notice every time you see the symbol.

Nike
The symbol for Nike is one of the most recognizable symbols in the world. It should represent the wings of the goddess Nike who is a goddess of strength, speed, and victory. Every single thing important for the warriors and people engaged in sports.

The sad thing is that Nike paid only $35 dollars to the designer of this symbol, Carolyn Davidson.

Pepsi
The name of the brand doesn’t actually mean anything but there was one interesting version of their logo, released on the Mexican All Saints Day (day of the dead). On that day, Pepsi released the limited edition bottles with their logo placed upside down. Everyone thought that it was some kind of a mistake, but if you read the logo, you see that it says:”IS ded” or IS DEAD… Strange? We think NOT!

Everything is marketing.

Le Tour de France
The logo says “Le Tour de France” but have you noticed anything else on the logo? Have you ever watched the race and actually look at the logo, and not read the logo? There is a bicyclist hidden in the word “Tour”. O represents a rear wheel, U represents a seat, R represents a rider, and the second O represents a front wheel of the bike.