The logo of a 2D bitten apple is instantly recognized to be of the world-famous brand of computers, laptops, mobile phones, and services. In fact, this brand is so famous that there is an Apple logo emoji now.
However, it wasn’t always like that. The company went through a lot of trial and error to develop the perfect logo that is so recognizable today. Learning about the journey of the Apple logo from its origin till today can teach you a lot about how industry leaders think and create.
Marketing Tutor is going to discuss the Apple logo, how it started, how it evolved, and its design elements.
Table of Contents
History of Apple and its Logo
In 1976, when Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne founded Apple Inc, computer technology was just starting to evolve. Back then, computers used to be bulky, ugly, and boring.
At this point, Apple decided to create a USP by developing devices that were more portable and appealing. That’s when they decided to create a logo representing the company and what it stands for.
There are many theories about how the company decided on the brand name “Apple” and its subsequent logo. Here are some of them:
- The apple is a reference to Eve’s apple, and the bite represents the bite she took out of it.
- It may be a reference to the famous quote, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.”
- It may be because the founders wanted a casual, non-technical, and commonplace name.
- The founders wanted the name “Apple” to show before “Atari” (competitor) in phone books and directories.
Of all these theories, one regarded as the most probable is Steve Jobs’ fondness for fruits. He consumed a fruitarian diet and reportedly recommended the name to Wozniak when he visited an apple orchard.
Let’s have a look at the evolution of the Apple logo throughout the years and why it looked the way it did in different years.
Evolution of the Apple Logo
The Apple logo has gone through various changes since its origin. Here is what happened:
1976
Apple’s first logo depicted Isaac Newton reading under an apple tree. The design was created by Ronald Wayne in 1976, but it lasted only a short time.
The logo represented the moments right before the apple fell on Newton’s head, sparking the revolution in the world of science. However, Apple changed the logo because they felt it didn’t fully represent what the company stood for.
The logo was also larger, difficult to print, and illegible on smaller surfaces.
1977
Steve Jobs felt that the original logo was too old-fashioned. At this point, he decided to hire an experienced designer Rob Janoff to rebrand the company into something more consistent with their philosophy.
This was when the Apple logo we are so familiar with today started taking shape. Jobs wanted a logo that would be modern, exciting, and colorful. After rebranding, the first logo was a two-dimensional apple with a spectrum of rainbow colors.
This logo had the word “Apple” written alongside it, representing the Apple II computer, the first-ever colored-display computer in the world.
1984
Macintosh was released in January 1984. Up until this point, the logo remained the same. However, with the release of this newest line of advanced computers, one of the changes in the logo to appear was the removal of the word “Apple” from the logo.
The name was removed because the people were now already familiar with the name, and it took less space. This was when the bitten apple logo famous today came into being.
1998 to Present
In 1997, Apple was nearing bankruptcy. At this point, Steve Jobs decided to recreate the brand image, starting with the logo.
The change was seen in the logo’s colors, as it moved from the rainbow pattern to a translucent sky-blue. This was done to go well with the first iMac.
The company eventually switched to a solid black logo in 1998 to complement the new silver models. This move also positioned Apple as a luxury and modern computing brand.
Elements of Apple Logo
That was a brief history of the Apple logo. Let’s discuss different elements of the design of the Apple logo, such as shape, icon, color, fonts, etc.
Shape, Logo, and Icon
The shape of the apple logo has a “bite” in the apple. It was done to distinguish the apple from a cherry.
The logo also initially included a name. Over time, as Apple established itself more as a luxurious and elegant brand, it made the Apple logo minimal and stylish by removing the name.
The company knew they were now popular enough that they didn’t need to write their name with the logo.
Colors
The current color of the Apple logo has a polished silvery/chrome look. This gives the brand an elegant and sophisticated image.
Even though the company initially introduced rainbow colors in the logo, they removed them to position themselves as a premium computer brand.
Fonts
The current Apple logo has no fonts. The brand is so famous today that it needs no introduction in the form of fonts or names.
When the name appears along the logo, the font chosen is neutral and simplistic, known as SF Pro. Apple also uses this font for its interface across most of its devices.
FAQs
Apple features a “bitten” apple logo instead of a whole apple to distinguish it from the shape of a cherry. One theory also states that it represents the bite Eve took from Eden’s apple (forbidden fruit). From the design perspective, the first theory seems more accurate.
The original apple logo was an image of Isaac Newton sitting under an apple tree. It represented the moments just before an apple fell on him, sparking the scientific revolution of modern times.
Apple changed this logo in a year because it was inconsistent with the brand’s image and identity.
Ronald Wayne, who was also the co-founder of Apple, designed the first logo in 1976. The first logo depicted Isaac Newton reading under an apple tree. The logo was in rectangular form with ribbons around it.
The polished chrome texture or the bold black colors of the Apple logo today represent the class, luxury, and premium feel the brand stands for.
Final Words
Learning about famous brands and how they come up with their logos can give you unique insights into how their business operates. It tells you the efforts that go into positioning a brand in a certain way to reach its target audience more easily.
This subject involves understanding consumer psychology, human behavior, and design elements. Ultimately, the right logo can make a company immortal as it remains recognizable for centuries whether the brand exists or not.
