17 Comments

Was the NIKE one drawn up by an intern?
Dan Clarke
2011-02-04 12:12:05

@Dan Clarke
Thanks, I've added a better version ; )
 Mark Sinclair
2011-02-04 12:16:42

Woolmark is by far my favourite.

Can you imagine another industry awareness campaign having this much longevity?

Brilliant design.
GraphicDesignBoss
2011-02-04 12:33:28

I wish that one of these actually popped when placed in this context, ya know? But putting them all in one place — on one big scrolling page — and by having SO many big, classic and hugely iconic, heavy-hitting brand designs all together like this, you've somehow pointed out a pattern in this sort of design that flattens it all. More of a Pop Art statement ala Warhol than anything else.

Where do the ginormous multinational brands go in the wintertime?
lou suSi
2011-02-04 13:05:18

What I can't understand is we see so few designers attempting strong, simple icons when clearly that is what they aspire to.
Miles
2011-02-04 13:46:14

I'll never forget once in college, at Arizona State, when Paul Rand came to lecture. He pointed out that if the negative space in FedEx formed an arrow, then you'd have to also say that the negative space of the "e" in that logo formed a spoon. "What does a spoon have to do with anything?" he said. Have to admit, he's right. He hated that logo.

The thing about the Obama '08 logo is that, formally, there is noting to indicate whether the sun is rising or setting; whether it's the dawn of a new day or the descent into dark night. I guess it all depends on your politics. :-)
Ken
2011-02-04 14:49:57

All these have endured several decades... except Obama logo. As great as it is, it doesn't have history behind it & therefore doesn't fit this list. (Funny, his political career has little history behind it too... )
andyRespire
2011-02-04 21:49:16

I still feel people are confusing best logos with most successful brands that have a great logos. If you saw these without ever seeing or hearing about the company, would you think it was a great logo? Sure some are but we are having a hard time separating the brand product and brand itself from the logo, or we need to define better what makes a great logo.

Some of the perimeters I would measure a great logo by is aesthetic beauty based on simplicity, balance and timelessness, and does it have a great concept behind the creation that subtly comes through in the design...
Tomi Lahdesmaki
2011-02-05 02:05:05

Why didn't any band logos get any love? The NIN logo is amazing. At the very least, I think both sides of the Atlantic could find common ground with the Beatles...
Scott Hintz
2011-02-05 07:55:33

I agree with Tomi

Also, am I right in saying that the UK and US were asked two different questions? "Best logos" and "Favourite logos" would (with me anyway) provide very different lists. 

As an analogy: I think one of the best films ever made is Vertigo. But one of my favourites is Empire Strikes Back. Neither film would appear in each other's list.
MS
2011-02-05 12:09:28

@Ken

Spoons carry things.
Req
2011-02-05 22:21:20

I agree with Tomi and MS, some of these logos don't belong on this list. How can so many designers feel that the Nike logo deserves the top spot? It baffles me. Surely a logo which effortlessly conveys what a company is through it's simple yet clever design deserves this accolade.

What would have been nice to see was a big list of these type of logos, such as http://www.nabs.org.uk/what.html (Not saying this is the best logo in the world)
Ross Pichler
2011-02-07 09:42:23

Can I just say I actually can't stand the FedEx logo. It's really ugly, the colours grate, and the font is clunking.

So what if it has a bloody arrow in it? I thought that was mildly clever when I was 8, and I can't understand why grown-ups are still impressed by this. Am sure it was accidental anyway. It's an arrow...get over it!!

(Loved the spoon comment btw, lol)
OliOliOli
2011-02-07 12:35:15

Personally I think this tells us little about 'logo' design and much more about emotional connection to some of the world's strongest and most recognizable brands. If people are telling me the IBM or CBS logos are well designed then I guess I need to recalibrate my aesthetics.

N.
Nick
2011-02-08 17:09:09

I agree that the results seem to be about the brands rather than the quality of the logos. The Nike and the flat Apple logos do nothing for me but they do make some of the ones in the opening graphic look classy. The later "polished" Apple logo is better.



The list does have a depressingly North American bias. I wonder if the Obama one would even be there if it was designed for some other US organisation or government body? I like type and love the V&A logo.
Tony
2011-02-10 11:14:00

The I Love New York logo has really grown in the last few years. I agree with the above poster, there's a strong bias to US brands. There's a lot of brands (like Virgin, Ikea, Smirnoff etc) that have been left out.
Araskone
2011-02-10 14:18:46

2D logos are still my favorites
Anderson Manucci
2011-03-24 12:51:16

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