Apple – the history of an iconic logo

Luke Meredith

Apple Inc. is the world’s largest company, and is one of the most recognisable brands of all time.

From its iconic tagline (“Think different.”) to instantly recognisable visual and audio aesthetics across its range of products and services, it’s arguably much harder not to be familiar with Apple’s branding than it is to be aware of it. However, the company’s biggest piece of branding, recognisable across every continent, is the Apple logo.

The image of the apple with a chunk bitten out instantly reminds of us the world’s biggest technology organisation, but how did this come to be? What makes Apple’s apple so iconic, despite being so remarkably simple?

The history of Apple’s logo

Apple Inc., founded in 1976, had its first logo designed by co-founder Ronald Wayne, depicting an image of Isaac Newton under an apple tree.

However, the logo was deemed to be outdated and too complex to print on a wide scale by Wayne’s fellow co-founder Steve Jobs, and was ditched after around a year.

Jobs hired a seasoned logo designer, Rob Janoff, to rebrand the logo, and effectively the entire company. This resulted in the two-dimensional apple we’ve been familiar with for decades. The reason why there is a bite in the logo is that the company didn’t want anybody to confuse its logo for a cherry, which of course is a very similar shape.

Originally designed in rainbow colours, Apple’s logo has seen colour changes since the bitten apple was introduced in 1977. When Steve Jobs returned to the company in 1997, he redesigned an all-black logo. Ever since, the logo has undergone numerous small aesthetic changes, but the simple and iconic image has remain untouched.

The mathematics of an iconic logo

While it may not seem like it at first glance, with its lack of obvious symmetry and the fact that it literally has a bite taken out of it, the Apple logo is formed using a range of perfect circles.

This may contribute to the slick, seamless style of the logo that has helped it become not only recognisable over the years, but immensely fashionable, too.

What can Apple teach us about logo design?

Apple’s logo is simple, easy to understand and can’t be mistaken for another brand. This is why the company has never strayed away from the 2D image seen on its products for numerous decades.

However, what the brand has done is evolve its logo without changing what audiences know it to mean. As technology has developed, so has Apple’s logo, ensuring the company is always at the forefront of style and reliability in technology.

In short, you can absorb a lot about what you should strive for from your own logo by learning from the best. Not everyone will be able to create a logo that’s recognised everywhere from Birkenhead to Baghdad, but if your logo says everything about your brand that you need it to, it can only be a success.

At Engage Web, our logo design experts can help you deliver the perfect logo for your brand. Reach out to us now to get started.

About
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Luke Meredith

Content Editor at Engage Web

At home in both the digital sector and the world of communications, Luke thrives on deadlines and has held roles in healthcare, retail and digital marketing, gaining a sound knowledge of a wide range of sectors. He’s a massive swot as well, holding a first-class degree in BA Communication and Media, and now uses his writing skills and keen editorial eye in his role as Content Editor here. Luke helps to oversee our clients’ content requirements, while also looking after a pool of freelance writers across three continents.

Apple – the history of an iconic logo