16 FAMOUS LOGOS WITH A HIDDEN MEANING (That We Never Even Noticed)

Howto & Style

Introduction

Adidas, Apple, BMW, Coca-Cola, Toyota—these are some of the world’s most famous brands whose logos are ubiquitous. However, the meanings behind their logos often go unnoticed. Every line, curve, and color in these logos has been meticulously designed to represent more than just beauty. Curious to know the hidden meanings? Here are 16 famous logos with hidden meanings you've likely never noticed.

16. Hyundai

Many people think the logo of the South Korean company Hyundai is simply the first letter of its name. In reality, the letter ‘H’ symbolizes two people—a client and a company representative—shaking hands. Thoughtful, isn't it?

15. Adidas

The name Adidas comes from its founder Adolf Dassler. While the logo has evolved, it has consistently featured three stripes. The current logo, with its three stripes at an angle forming a triangle, symbolizes a mountain, representing the challenges athletes face daily.

14. Apple

Designer Rob Janoff, who created the world-famous Apple logo, explained that he bought a bag of apples and spent a week drawing them. The bite out of the apple was initially an experiment, but the fact that "bite" sounds like "byte," a computer term, was a fortunate coincidence.

Apple

13. VAIO

The first two letters of the VAIO logo symbolize an analog wave, while the last two resemble the numbers "1" and "0," representing a digital signal.

12. Amazon

Amazon’s logo features an orange arrow that looks like a smile, symbolizing customer satisfaction. The arrow stretches from 'A' to 'Z,' indicating that the company sells everything from A to Z.

11. Baskin Robbins

The pink parts of the ‘BR’ section form the number 31, signifying the original number of ice cream flavors Baskin Robbins used to offer.

10. Toyota

Toyota’s logo might look like a cowboy hat, but it actually represents a needle’s eye with a thread passing through it, a nod to the company's origins in weaving machines. The logo's parts also spell ‘Toyota.’

9. Continental

Continental, known for car tires, has a logo where the first two letters form a car wheel.

8. Formula 1

The white space between the ‘F’ and the red stripes in the Formula 1 logo forms the number 1. The stripes represent the high speed of Formula 1 cars.

7. Pinterest

Pinterest, where users collect and pin images, has a ‘P’ that resembles a pin, signifying the platform’s core function.

6. Beats

In the Beats logo, the letter ‘B’ looks like headphones on a person’s head, showcasing simplicity and clarity.

5. Toblerone

Toblerone’s logo incorporates the silhouette of a bear, a nod to Bern, Switzerland, also known as the City of Bears.

4. BMW

While many think BMW’s logo represents airplane propellers, it actually depicts the Bavarian flag, honoring the company's origins in Bavaria, Germany.

3. LG

The LG logo is a stylized human face, symbolizing the company’s aim to maintain ordinary human relations with its customers.

2. Evernote

Elephants, known for their excellent memory, are part of Evernote’s logo, aligning with its function of storing notes. The elephant’s folded ear resembles how people fold page corners to make notes.

1. Coca-Cola

Within the Coca-Cola logo, the space between the letters ‘O’ and ‘L’ forms the Danish flag. Though coincidental, Coca-Cola has used it in marketing campaigns in Denmark.

Keywords

  • Hyundai: Letter H symbolizes handshake between client and company.
  • Adidas: Three stripes forming a mountain representing challenges.
  • Apple: Bite as both a design feature and a pun on "byte."
  • VAIO: Analog wave and digital signals.
  • Amazon: Arrow from A to Z and a smile.
  • Baskin Robbins: Number 31 for 31 flavors.
  • Toyota: Needle eye and hidden letters spelling the company name.
  • Continental: Car wheel.
  • Formula 1: Hidden number 1 and speed stripes.
  • Pinterest: Pin in the letter P.
  • Beats: Headphones in the letter B.
  • Toblerone: Bear silhouette.
  • BMW: Bavarian flag.
  • LG: Human face for customer relations.
  • Evernote: Elephants for memory and folded ear.
  • Coca-Cola: Danish flag hidden.

FAQ

Q1: What does Hyundai's logo represent? A1: The letter 'H' symbolizes two people— a client and a representative— shaking hands.

Q2: How did Apple come up with its iconic logo design? A2: Designer Rob Janoff drew apples and took a bite out of one, discovering that “bite” sounds similar to the computer term "byte."

Q3: What do the three stripes in Adidas’ logo mean? A3: The stripes form a mountain, symbolizing the challenges athletes must overcome.

Q4: Why does Amazon's logo have an arrow from A to Z? A4: It indicates the company sells everything from A to Z and also forms a smile, representing customer satisfaction.

Q5: What hidden element is in Baskin Robbins' logo? A5: The pink 'BR' has the number 31 hidden within, representing their original 31 flavors.

Q6: How does Toyota’s logo connect to its history? A6: The oval shapes represent a needle’s eye and thread, nodding to their past in weaving, and spell out the company name.

Q7: Why is there a bear in Toblerone’s logo? A7: The bear references Bern, Switzerland, which is known as the City of Bears.

Q8: What does the LG logo signify? A8: It stylizes a human face, aiming to reflect the company’s aspirations for human relationships with their customers.