If you are looking to read about the history of Pepsi logo and to understand how it evolved all those years, then you are at the right post. As we know, Pepsi is one of the most popular beverage brands in the world, recognized for its iconic logo and signature red and blue color scheme.
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The combination of red, white, and dark royal blue inside a sphere looks incredible. The white swirl inside creates a “smile” effect.
While the product itself has remained relatively unchanged, the Pepsi logo has gone through several transformations over the years. This reflects the company’s brand identity and marketing strategy changes.
In this article, we’ll delve into the history of the Pepsi logo design and explore the different eras that have shaped its evolution.
So, let’s get started!
Origins of Pepsi
The original Pepsi product was born in 1893 when Caleb Bradham, a pharmacist from North Carolina, invented a new drink that he called “Brad’s Drink.” It was intended as a medicinal aid to help with digestion.
This drink contained water, sugar, caramel, nutmeg, lemon oil, and cola nuts and was sold at Bradham’s drugstore. By 1898, Bradham had renamed his beverage “Pepsi-Cola” after the word dyspepsia, meaning indigestion.
At that time, soft drinks were believed to have medicinal properties, and Pepsi-Cola quickly grew in popularity.
Meaning and History of the Pepsi Logo
Over the past 100 years, the iconic brand has had more than ten redesigns of its visual identity. Initially known as Brad’s Drink, Pepsi has become synonymous with sweet soda water, and it has always been recognized and loved worldwide, no matter what emblem is used.
Now let’s take a close look at its every drastic redesign!
1893
As we mentioned above, the first version of the logo was created in 1893 as Brad’s Drink.
Brad’s Drink’s logo had a blue wordmark on a white background. The font was bold and fairly ornate, reflecting the medicinal properties of the drink.
1898 – 1940
In 1898, Brad’s Drink was renamed Pepsi-Cola, and the first Pepsi-Cola logo was introduced. The logo had spiky embellishments in its font, similar to Brad’s Drink logo.
Over the years, the logo underwent several changes, with longer, fang-like spikes protruding from the tops and bottoms of the letters. The main color of the logo changed to red, and the tagline for Pepsi-Cola was “Exhilarating, Invigorating, Aids Digestion.”
In 1905, the logo was softened with retracted spikes and slightly wider letters. The letters still kept their wavy, swoopy shape, and a long banner was added at the top of the “C” in Cola.
Just a year later, the logo changed again, with the wordmark becoming thicker and condensed, similar to the Coca-Cola logo. The designer returned the spiky serifs, shifted the word “Pepsi” to an incline, and added the word “drink” to the top banner of the letter C.
In the 1920s and 1930s, Pepsi-Cola struggled as Coca-Cola became a global brand. However, in 1933, Pepsi-Cola increased the size of its bottles to 12 ounces while keeping its five-cent price tag. This created a better value proposition for the customers, which was highlighted in their jingle “Pepsi-Cola hits the spot.” Pepsi-Cola stuck with the red and white ribbon logo until 1950.
1940 – 1950
In the 1940s, Pepsi-Cola introduced a new logo that featured a circular design with red and blue stripes running through the center. The logo was meant to reflect the patriotism of the era and to show support for the troops during World War II.
1950 – 1962
In a significant year for Pepsi, they made two major changes: their bottle cap logo became flat, and they dropped the word “cola” from their name, becoming simply “Pepsi.” They also switched to a bold, black, sans-serif font on their logo, abandoning the swirly red font they had used for over 60 years.
Pepsi marketed itself as the soda of the young, targeting the “Pepsi Generation” with its modern, minimalist logo and ad campaigns. In 1964, they introduced Diet Pepsi, a sugar-free option.
1962 – 1973
In 1962, the Pepsi-Cola logo was redesigned to include a more modern, streamlined look. The bottle cap was removed, and the word “Pepsi” was written in bold, blue capital letters with a white swoosh below. The word “cola” was removed from the logo altogether.
1973 – 1987
In 1973, Pepsi introduced a new logo that featured a simpler, more streamlined design. The word “Pepsi” was written in bold, sans-serif letters in blue. The word was in the middle of the Globe. The design was meant to be more modern and futuristic, reflecting the era’s technological advances.
During this time, Pepsi launched its famous “Pepsi Challenge” campaign, which asked consumers to blind taste test Pepsi against its main competitor, Coca-Cola. The campaign was a huge success and helped to cement Pepsi’s position as a major player in the soft drink industry.
1987 – 1991
In 1987, Pepsi introduced a new logo that featured the word “Pepsi” written in bold, capital letters in a new font called Handel Gothic. The font was designed to be more modern and edgy, reflecting the cultural changes of the time.
This logo was also the first to feature the iconic red, white, and blue ball on top of the wordmark, which has since become a key element of the brand’s visual identity.
1991 – 1997
In 1991, Pepsi made another major change to its logo, separating the wordmark from the globe entirely. The new design featured a more stylized, modern wordmark in bold, blue letters, with the iconic ball on top. The globe was still present, but it was now a secondary element positioned below the wordmark.
This logo reflected the increasing importance of brand recognition in the age of globalization, with companies looking to create strong visual identities that could be easily recognized around the world.
1997 – 2003
2003 – 2006
Pepsi’s new logo underwent a slight adjustment in 2003, giving it a flattering look. The globe was redesigned, featuring prominent white spots that resembled vacuum-sealed plastic. Instead of a globe, the background gradient was shifted to the lower left corner, which served as the light source.
The wordmark and globe were outlined in light blue, creating a visual pop against the background. The brand also added tiny serifs and light gray shading to the letters, giving them a more three-dimensional look.
2006 – 2008
When the logo was designed in 2006, it looked cool. This version of the logo turned the now fully three-dimensional globe into a cold soda glass with glistening condensation droplets on its surface. The font remained the same bold and forward-slanted as in 2003.
2008 – 2014
In 2008, Pepsi made a significant change. The 3D globe was flat again, and Gerard Huerta replaced the Pepsi font with Pepsi Light.
The globe was tilted on its side. The band facing upward was wide and thinner toward the bottom. The redesigned logo evoked a smile, conveying a sense of fun and youthfulness while being friendly, engaging, and down-to-earth.
In 2014, Pepsi made slight changes to the logo. It removed the blue outline around the globe. The current version of the Pepsi logo is still in use today.
2023 – Today
Pepsi is embracing its past with its latest logo update. The white stripe in the center of the logo now flows in a wavy formation, taking audiences on a journey through the brand’s 125-year history.
On March 28, PepsiCo announced that Pepsi, its flagship brand, will have an updated logo and visual identity system – the first time in 14 years. The new design includes a bold typeface, an updated color palette, and a signature pulse.
The updated visual identity represents the brand’s unapologetic and enjoyable qualities and will be used across all physical and digital touchpoints. In celebration of the brand’s 125th anniversary, Pepsi will unveil its new look in North America this fall and worldwide in 2024.
The new design pays tribute to its rich heritage while taking a big step toward the future. The visual system incorporates movement and animation, allowing Pepsi to move between physical and digital spaces.
The new design will contribute to the brand’s sustainability goals. Pepsi has already started converting all 20oz bottles of Pepsi to 100% recycled PET.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the history of Pepsi logo is a fascinating journey that spans over a century. The iconic logo has undergone several transformations and has evolved with the changing times, reflecting the company’s vision and values.
The Pepsi logo has undergone numerous transformations over the years, reflecting the changing trends in design, technology, and consumer preferences.
From its humble beginnings as a simple script to its current dynamic and energetic design, the Pepsi logo has become an iconic symbol of the brand’s identity.
Each logo represents a specific era in the company’s history, reflecting its values, goals, and aspirations. The evolution of the Pepsi logo is a fascinating journey that highlights the importance of branding and design in creating a successful brand identity.
Overall, the Pepsi brand is always innovative, reformulating itself to satisfy its fans’ tastes no matter how the world changes.
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FAQs
Who designed the first Pepsi logo?
The first Pepsi logo was designed by Caleb Bradham, the inventor of Pepsi-Cola.
Why did Pepsi change its logo so many times?
Pepsi changed its logo over the years to reflect the changing trends in design, technology, and consumer preferences.
What does the current Pepsi logo represent?
The current Pepsi logo represents a dynamic and energetic brand identity, featuring a bold blue circle with a red and white wave running through the middle.
What’s the significance of the “Pepsi Globe” design?
The “Pepsi Globe” design symbolized Pepsi’s global presence and unity among people around the world.
Why did Pepsi add blue to its logo?
The company added blue to its logo in 1950s to distinguish it from other big players like Coca cola.
