The 2012 Summer Olympics are just around the corner. London, the only city in the United Kingdom to have ever hosted the Olympics, will soon become the only city in the world to have hosted the modern Games of three Olympiads.

As the world eagerly anticipates the event and what the future beholds for participating Olympians, one must also appreciate and acknowledge the history of this event. Olympic logos are extremely popular and one of the most anticipated pre-Olympic events that people the world over look forward to. Every Olympic event is associated with its very own logo. Today we will look back into the past at some of the most elegant summer Olympic logos created over the last decade.

Barcelona Olympics 1992

I was only a teenager when the Barcelona Olympics were taking place. This was a very special event for basketball fans. It led to the creation of the ‘Dream Team’ from the United States, which sported their best players from around the country. This logo was my first introduction to the 5 Olympic rings and the first time I learned about Barcelona.

Atlanta Olympics 1996

Atlanta trumped Canada to win the bid to host the 1996 Summer Olympics, marking 100 years for the event. The 1996 Summer Olympic logo bears the number 100 to mark the occasion, as well as the lit torch to commemorate the torch lighting ceremony performed at the beginning of all Olympic Games. “Summon the Heroes” was the official theme for this Olympiad.

Sydney Olympics 2000

Personally, this is my favorite logo. I find it very appealing. The logo keeps up with the tradition of the 5 rings, customary with all Olympic logos. It uses a stylish font and if you look carefully, you can also see the image of a running athlete.

Athens Olympics 2004

The Olympics returned to Greece in 2004 and immediately one of the niftiest of the summer Olympic logos was created. The image in the logo is that of a laurel wreath crown (traditionally a gold-leafed crown) originally worn by King Phillip, the father of Alexander the Great. It was a great way to commemorate the event and an elegant mix of style and history.

Beijing Olympics 2008

China hosted the Summer Olympics in 2008 and like their predecessors; they too had a superb event. The logo is an emblem of the traditional Chinese seal, representing the spirit of the games through the union of the image of an athlete and the Chinese calligraphy style font. This makes it one of the most unique logos.

London Olympics 2012

I have to confess, this is my least favorite logo of the lot and it has made it to my list of logo disasters. In fact, I was in utter disbelief when I first saw it. While the designer tried using the number 2012 in a creative way, I find the logo lacking on many levels. The color scheme is poor, the font unattractive and the style is unappealing. It is certainly not one of my favorite Olympic logos.

There’s a very popular saying that goes, “If it isn’t broke, don’t fix it!” Apparently, the company’s logo designs that we will be discussing today didn’t think much of this old motto. These companies have a massive global fan base and people have grown to love their logos over the years. The re-designed logos of these companies faced criticism. Through today’s post we show new designers the mistakes that made these logos a failure, in hope that they can learn important lessons from these design mistakes.

1. The Pepsi Logo – Never Make the Best Better

This is the mistake Pepsi made with their logo’s re-design. They tried to change make an excellent design better, but it did not have a better impact. People loved the company’s old logo design for decades. It was considered as one of the coolest logo designs because it was chic, timeless and meant for the young generation.

The “new” logo design of Pepsi has earned the company some harsh criticism and has listed them the leader in failed logo designs. Why? It distorts the essence of the company! People no longer consider it chic and trendy, at times calling it a bad representation of a fat man or a rude smirk. If Pepsi was going for a ‘new and trendy’ look with this re-design, they sure missed it by a mile.

2. Kraft Foods Logo – Too Crafty!

I remember falling in love with Kraft’s cheese as a kid. The packaging and bold logo made the cheese stand out from the rest of the products and attracted me every time I went to the grocery store, even when I couldn’t spell.   ;-)

Because of its simplicity, Kraft’s old logo design was popular for decades. It created a strong impact and was easily recognizable among the competitive products. The bold text and color combination made the brand appealing and special, which is what Kraft Foods is all about.

The other day, I came across a listing of some innovative names in the music industry. From The Beatles to Bon Jovi, each of them has millions of fans worldwide who adore their music and looked up to them for inspiration.

While going through the list, it suddenly struck me to check if any of the famous musicians ever thought of personalizing their logo. My research found an impressive collection of unforgettable band logo designs of the world’s leading musical groups. Take a look and enjoy the collection!

1. The Beatles

Founded in the 1960s, The Beatles ruled the charts for decades with a billion records sold worldwide. They were perhaps one of the most successful bands of the 20^th century.

About the Beatles’ Logo

Their logo is a legendary icon in the music industry and was designed by Arbiter, a drummer and saxophone repairer. The “drop T” of the logo is the one element that makes the logo stand out, giving it a completely unique look. Taking a closer look, you can see the word “Beat” formed between B and T. Signifying a musical beat, this is why the two letters are emphasized on strongly. The choice of black color shows supremacy and power.

2. Bon Jovi

Named after its lead singer, Bon Jovi is a well loved American rock band. They are known globally for their outstanding songs. Formed in 1983 in New Jersey, the band achieved fame and recognition with their third album “Slippery When Wet” in 1986. One of their most popular song is “It’s my Life.”

About Bon Jovi’s Logo

The Bon Jovi logo design is a classic and timeless piece that holds a rock star element. Though there is no authentic information available about the logo and its meaning, the images of dagger in the heart represents pain while in love. Typically romantic, it highlights sensitivity which is true for all artists. The logo design also has a gothic element that makes it a more appealing symbol for a rock band.

3. Guns ‘n Roses

Another American band, Guns ‘n Roses, was formed in 1985 in Hollywood, California. The band has sold more than a 100 million records worldwide and has the highest selling debut album produced in the US. Guns ‘n Roses is known for their heart wrenching love songs in their wild and punk style.

About Guns ‘n Roses’ Logo

The Guns ‘n Roses logo was the result of a creative stroke of Steven, one of the band members. Inspired by a picture of a classic revolver, he drew two revolvers side by side with their handles interlocked and bound by two roses. The logo is a clear portrayal of the band’s intense nature and a combination of extreme emotions.

4. Metallica

The heavy metal band, Metallica, was formed in 1981 in California. It came to be one of the most successful metal rock bands in the music industry. They sold over 100 million albums worldwide; one of their most famous albums was “Master of Puppets” released in 1986.

About Metallica’s Logo

Metallica has a simple logo that defines their brand quite accurately. The M and the A are spiked which represents the sharp and jagged quality of their music. Most bands prefer keeping a black and white or gray color theme for their logo. Overall it has a rather simple yet raw look to it and has become a widely recognized band logo.

5. Aerosmith

Formed in Boston, Aerosmith is one of the most cherished rock bands of all time. Aerosmith has reached amazing accomplishments including 150 million albums sold worldwide, winners of four Grammy Awards and ten MTV Video Music Awards. Aerosmith was even honored in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

About Aerosmith’s Logo

The Aerosmith logo is a little complicated if we consider design rules. However, being a band’s visual identity it has a distinctive aura of rock and roll. The wings signify freedom and wild music which is the central theme of Aerosmith’s musical creations. The band’s name is stated in psychedelic art. Throughout time their logo also a preferred tattoo choice by many.

There are many other great names that can be included in this list, but this is all for today. We will bring you more music logo designs in the future.  Let us know what you thought of today’s post!

Have you ever wondered who is behind the FedEx logo design? What about Apple or the famous Google logo? Being in the logo design industry, it’s important for designers to know a bit of history too. So today’s post will be kind of a history lesson.

Here’s a look at the top five iconic logo designers who have given the world not just logos but brand identities.

1. Google Logo Design by Ruth Kedar

Google’s logo is not just a logo; it’s a representation of their impact across the Internet. It was designed by Ruth Kedar, a student of architecture from Israel. Later she received a Masters Degree in design from Stanford University.

Though Ruth designed the Google logo design in later life, her earlier association had been with Adobe Systems. She is also known for designing the award winning Analog Deck and Duolog Deck, a promotional deck of playing cards. Being a recipient of a number of design awards, her art work is an inspiration for designers worldwide.

2. Nike Logo Design by Carolyn Davidson

Another woman to has designed one of the most popular logos in the world is Caroyln Davidson. Nike, the company known more by its swish mark image rather than by its name, is the leading sports accessories manufacturer.

Carolyn designed the brand’s image in 1971, while she was still a student at Portland State University. She worked with the company until 1983 and retired from her professional life in 2000.

3. FedEx Logo Design by Lindon Leader

Lindon Leader of Landor Associates designed the famous FedEx brand image, which is considered as one of the top 8 best logos made during the past 4 decades. Designed in 1994, it has won numerous awards for its simple and yet effective image.

The hidden message embedded in the FedEx logo is one of the factors making it a model piece of art for logo designers.  If you observe carefully, you’ll see a small arrow between the E and X! This indicates the fast and efficient delivery system for which the company is known for in the industry.

4. Apple Logo Design by Rob Janoff

Apple needs no introduction. Created in 1976 by Silicon Valley art director Rob Janoff, the logo design became popular immediately. Ever since then it has been the official representative of Apple. Rob has also worked with IBM and Intel, but of course his most honorable work is this tempting apple!

The idea behind the image is man and temptation. The bite on it is inspired from the Biblical story of Adam and Eve eating the forbidden apple. No doubt about it, Apple products sure are tempting!

5.  IBM Logo Design by Paul Rand

Paul Rand is not only known for his famous IBM logo, but also for many other graphic works that he has done. He is considered the world’s best graphic designers.

After passing away in 1996, he has left behind an inspiring legacy for all graphic designers. He is also known for ABC’s brand image and for Swiss Style graphic design.

There are numerous other designers who can be listed as legendary designers and we will surely cover more of them in our future posts.  But for today … that’s all folks!