The History of the Pepsi Logo Design Evolution
The Pepsi logo is one of the most recognisable brand emblems in the world. Those swirling red, white, and blue colours undoubtedly spark instant brand recognition in the minds of consumers. But how did this iconic logo design come to be? Let's embark on a fizzy journey through the ages to explore the history and evolution of the Pepsi logo.
Table of Contents
Early Origins: Pepsi Cola Hits the Market (1898 – 1905)
It all began in the late 19th century when Caleb Bradham, a pharmacist in New Bern, North Carolina, started experimenting with flavour combinations in his drugstore soda fountain. After settling on a winning mixture of kola nut extract, vanilla, rare oils, and cola nuts in 1898, Bradham developed what he dubbed “Brad's Drink” – a carbonated beverage to serve his pharmacy patrons.
Buoyed by early success and demand, on August 28, 1898, Bradham renamed his tasty concoction “Pepsi-Cola” and launched it for soda fountain sales. The newly christened Pepsi-Cola moniker indicated the pepsin and cola ingredients, sounding pleasing and unique.
In the early years, Pepsi didn't even have a logo per se. But Bradham did develop some of the first Pepsi branding when he commissioned the first Pepsi-Cola syrup barrels in 1905. The wooden barrels featured the words “Pepsi Cola” printed in a slender, elongated white font against a rich red background. They also displayed Bradham's business address and patent numbers etched below.
While simple in design, these first Pepsi packages laid the groundwork for iconic colour schemes and lettering. The curvy, custom “Pepsi Cola” typeface conveying bubbly energy and excitement would evolve dramatically while maintaining core design elements through a century of logo updates.
Meteoric Rise and Major Rebranding (1906 – 1962)
In the early 1900s, Pepsi experienced explosive growth. By 1910, there were 242 Pepsi bottling franchises operating across 24 states. With Coca-Cola firmly cementing its industry dominance in this period, Pepsi aimed to compete by revamping its brand image several times in just over 50 years. Let's examine some key logo evolutions in this transformative era:
Swirly Red Script (1906) – To stand out from the competition, Pepsi unveiled a new logo in1906 featuring the words “Pepsi Cola” rendered in a signature swirling red script. Flowing stylishly across the logo, this script brought great visual movement and energy while implying the fizz and rush of a freshly poured cola.
Pepsi and Cola Stacked (1940s) – By 1940, the swirling script logo was modified with “Pepsi” now stacked above “Cola” in a balanced, compact arrangement. Keeping brand familiarity, the logo retained the cursive type, red colour, and soda fountain fizz, though in a vertically structured new lockup.
Bottle Cap Shape and Speedy Font (1950s) – Rapid postwar growth called for a logo mirroring Pepsi's charge into the future. Thus, in the 1950s, the emblem adopted a flat bottle cap stylisation holding chunky, modernist speed lines representing fast times. Set in vibrant red, this dynamic logo captured Pepsi as forward-thinking and swift.
Typefaced and Minimalist (1962) – As Pepsi strove for brand maturity and sophistication in the 1960s, it rolled out a dramatically simplified logo in red and blue. “Pepsi” now appeared in a neat, custom sans serif typeface above “Cola” in rounded lettering. Clean, minimal, and serious, this logo supported Pepsi in competing head-to-head with industry titan Coke.
The Globe Makes its Debut (1973 – 1987)
In the 1970s, Pepsi entered a new branding era by introducing perhaps its most iconic design element – the Pepsi Globe. Let's explore the Globe's inception and gradual centralisation of the logo over 15+ years.
Boxed Globe and Wordmark (1973) – Keen to invoke excitement, Pepsi unveiled a boxed globe icon in 1973 as a dynamic new logo anchor. Set against a red rectangle, the sphere comprised wavy stripes conveying fizzy effervescence. “Pepsi” sat boldly on top of the Globe in condensed lettering marked by a slanted serif “P” and elongated “S”.
Bottling with Motion Lines (1975) – Two years later, in 1975, the Pepsi Globe was revised again, now connected to a bottling glass and encircled by circular motion lines. This logo captured both the beverage itself with a bottle visual and dynamic motion/pouring action with the orbiting rings. The wordmark also shifted to a rounded, friendlier type.
More Focus on the Globe (1987) – As the 70s progressed, the Pepsi Globe increasingly took centre stage, growing sequentially over the next decade. By 1987, a new minimalist logo saw the Globe as the focal point with “Pepsi” in a small, basic font underneath. This foreshadowed coming decades, emphasising the dramatic, iconic Globe.
Tweaks and Variations in Later Years (1991 – Present)
Since hitting perfect stride with the solo globe motif in 1991 (which we'll discuss next), the past 30+ years have primarily seen more minor evolutions in shape, finish, and colour treatment:
Iconic Solo Globe (1991) – In its most monumental logo change, Pepsi in 1991 pared everything down to its hero element – that hot red, white, and blue Globe. Stripped of wordmarks and lockups, this solo sphere became instantly identifiable, globally relevant, and undeniably powerful.
Flattened Globe (1998) – While maintaining its iconography, Pepsi dropped dimension from the Globe in 1998, going for a cleaner, pared-back flat design. Simplified and stylised, this artful Globe fit well with sleeker aesthetics, gaining popularity in the 90s and beyond.
Return to Dimensionality (2003) – A few years later, in 2003, some gradients and Dimensionality returned through highlighting and shadows. The Globe popped off the background while remaining flatter than earlier renditions.
Minimalist Variations (2014) – Fast forward another decade, and Pepsi globes took on an even sparer aesthetic resembling a play button symbol. Pepsi also began creating bold campaign variations like Globe X, spanning broader colour spectrums beyond red, white and blue.
Current Refreshed Look (2023)Â – Today, the Pepsi logo features its heroic solo globe as the prime focal point. Contemporary refinements include more dramatic light reflection points on the sphere, conveying glass-like high definition. The transparency and tonal range foster a liquid, dynamic feel.
Why the Pepsi Logo Continues to Work
What key factors have enabled the Pepsi logo to become so beloved and successfully evolve across 120+ years?
Brand Continuity – The logo consistently maintained links to its heritage while undergoing dramatic style shifts. It held onto core elements like script lettering, red, white and blue colours, and drink imaging that kept brand identity intact. Custom fonts and globe motifs threaded continuity through all eras.
Relevance – Pepsi logos have frequently been updated to capture current trends, aesthetics, and consumer sentiments of their particular period. From vintage scripts to streamlined typefaces to minimalist globes, Pepsi logos moved with the times while avoiding feeling dated.
Simplicity and Symbolism – Pepsi has honoured the power of simplicity and symbols since its inception. The sphere encapsulates concepts of global connection, effervescence, and liquid refreshment that are true for all generations. The logo distils complex ideas into an infinitely relatable icon.
Dynamic and Energetic – That fizzy energy first conveyed by the 1905 barrel script persists 120 years later through sphere visuals, motion lines, splash effects, enthusiasm, and more. Across all logo eras, Pepsi exudes high-energy dynamism true to its soft drink spirit.
The Pepsi logo remains effective across vastly shifting eras, balancing continuity, relevance, simplicity, and dynamism. This potent combination of brand legacy and contemporary stylings keeps customers connected, engaged and refreshed across the ages.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Pepsi Logo History
Still thirsty for more knowledge about this famous logo's past? Let's explore some common questions:
What was the first-ever Pepsi logo?
The first semblance of Pepsi branding emerged in 1905 with custom “Pepsi Cola” scripts printed on early syrup barrels. This cursive font and red colouring created initial stylistic associations.
When did the iconic Pepsi globe first appear?
The sphere that became core Pepsi iconography first surfaced in 1973 logos as a wavy, fizzy backdrop for wordmarks. This Globe gained size and centrality throughout the 70s and 80s before going solo in 1991.
How many significant redesigns have the logo undergone over time?
While undergoing tweaks and variations, Pepsi logos have seen about ten key visual transformations through primary era stylistic shifts – including swirling scripts, speedy fonts, solo spheres, flat globes, and more.
Did Pepsi copy elements from the Coca-Cola logo?
While both brands share red, white, and blue colouring in spheres, all core iconography seems independently conceived. Stylistic similarities likely reflect a common heritage in soda fountain beginnings versus intentional copying.
When was the Pepsi wordmark removed from the logo?
After slowly shrinking the wordmark and enlarging the Globe through the 80s, Pepsi stripped branding language entirely in 1991. This left that highly recognisable sphere alone as a dynamic brand ambassador across all global markets.
Refreshing the Future
Like the fizzy drink, the Pepsi logo has maintained effervescent appeal through ongoing evolution. What new stylistic incarnations might this brand sphere assume next as times change?
Could we see holographic globes, reinvented colour palettes, rotating real-time worlds, or beyond? One thing's for sure – this 120-year-old brand continues to make its iconic mark on history. Stay bubbly, Pepsi logo! Here's to refreshing generations past, present, and future worldwide!
