A visual archive

How the world's most iconic brands evolved

Every redesign tells a story — of ambition, crisis, cultural shift, or simply the passage of time. This archive traces those decisions.

7 Brands · 37 Redesigns Documented

Apple's original 1976 Newton logo
Apple
Est. 1976 5 versions
From Newton under a tree to the rainbow to the minimalist monochrome — Apple's logo tracks its journey from garage startup to design religion.
Nike's original 1971 Swoosh
Nike
Est. 1964 5 versions
A $35 commission that became the most recognized mark in sports. The Swoosh's journey from "Blue Ribbon Sports" to global icon needs no wordmark.
Pepsi's original 1898 script logo
Pepsi
Est. 1898 9 versions
125 years of reinvention — from ornate script to patriotic bottle caps to the controversial $1M "smile globe" rebrand that split the design world.
ADT's 1987 blue shield logo ADT
ADT
Est. 1874 5 eras
America's oldest security company has reinvented its identity multiple times — from telegraphic roots to the blue shield that became synonymous with home safety.
FedEx 1994 logo with hidden arrow Fed Ex
FedEx
Est. 1971 3 eras
The most celebrated hidden element in design history — a right-pointing arrow hiding in negative space between the E and x. A logo that earns attention by hiding what makes it great.
Gap classic navy box logo GAP
Gap
Est. 1969 4 eras
A 24-year-old logo so trusted that when Gap tried to replace it, the internet revolted in real time. The six-day logo disaster of 2010 changed how brands think about social media and identity.
IBM 8-stripe logo by Paul Rand 1972 IBM
IBM
Est. 1911 4 versions
Paul Rand's eight-stripe masterpiece — unchanged since 1972. The story of how Thomas Watson Jr. built a design philosophy that produced one of the most enduring corporate marks in history.

Design Patterns · For brand designers

01
The Simplification Arc
Apple · Nike · Pepsi
Every major brand logo becomes simpler over time. Not because designers ran out of ideas — because restraint is what survives. For clients resisting simplification.
02
The Cost Trap
Nike · Pepsi · ADT
A $35 Swoosh outlasted a $1M rebrand. Budget is not a proxy for quality. For clients who equate spending more with taking a logo seriously.
03
The Case for Change
Apple · Nike · Pepsi
No brand has always had its logo. Every mark replaced something. For clients who believe their current logo is untouchable — and need historical permission to change.
04
The Naming Trap
Nike (BRS) · IBM · ADT · FedEx · Gap
Clients always ask for a descriptive name first. Every major brand that launched with one eventually needed an exit. For clients who want to call their startup "Premium Digital Solutions."