# Company Logos. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 10, 2015, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/company-logos/714719 "2015-03-10T20:12:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Chicago\_Faucet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chicago_faucet/32/13910_2.png) [@Chicago\_Faucet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chicago_Faucet)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2015, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/company-logos/714719/1 "2015-03-10T20:12:47Z")
I guess this falls under “art”. I like to critique company logos. Some of my favorite logos are ones where the name of the company is part of the logo, in a natural way - with a focus on an interesting font. The first that comes to mind as a good logo obviously is Coca-Cola: > **[File:Coca-Cola logo.svg](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Coca-Cola_logo.svg)** Another one that I just stumbled across that I like is from a small company called MaxLinear, up in the upper left-hand corner. [http://www.maxlinear.com/](http://www.maxlinear.com/) Simple. Geometric. Solid font. But one that I absolutely detest as possibly the worst company logo ever has to be for Car Parts Warehouse, again in the upper left-hand corner: [http://carpartswarehouse.net/pages/](http://carpartswarehouse.net/pages/) Ugh. Yuck. I just want to vomit whenever I see that logo. ---
**Author:** ![h.sapiens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e0b2c6/32.png) [@h.sapiens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/h.sapiens)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2015, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/company-logos/714719/2 "2015-03-10T20:49:29Z")
Well, as a graphic designer I see a lot of good and bad logos, but that Car Parts Warehouse thing is a straight-up crime. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2015, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/company-logos/714719/3 "2015-03-10T20:54:25Z")
> [@h.sapiens](#): > > Well, as a graphic designer I see a lot of good and bad logos, but that Car Parts Warehouse thing is a straight-up crime. You’d have a stoke if you were a web designer. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2015, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/company-logos/714719/4 "2015-03-10T21:00:03Z")
Of course, a thread like this calls for [unfortunate](http://www.businessinsider.com/the-15-worst-corporate-logo-fails-2014-1?op=1) [logos.](http://www.qualitylogoproducts.com/blog/14-unfortunate-logo-perspectives-cant-unsee/) My favorite is the [three gear logo.](http://www.ellerman.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/CMRC-gridlock.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Gordon\_Urquhart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/db5fbb/32.png) [@Gordon\_Urquhart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gordon_Urquhart)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2015, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/company-logos/714719/5 "2015-03-10T21:03:22Z")
Microsoft finally updated its logo in 2012 (to the four-square and really plain text), but they kept the one from [1987-2012](http://b2b.cbsimg.net/blogs/microsoftlogohistory_1_web.png) for way too long – it screamed “1990s” well into the 21st century. ---
**Author:** ![Frazzled](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frazzled/32/3368_2.png) [@Frazzled](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frazzled)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2015, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/company-logos/714719/6 "2015-03-10T21:28:25Z")
The Spartan Golf Club logo: [https://www.google.com/search?q=spartan+golf+club&espv=2&biw=1133&bih=542&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=YWH\_VODDL4iNNq-NhAg&ved=0CB0QsAQ&dpr=1](https://www.google.com/search?q=spartan+golf+club&espv=2&biw=1133&bih=542&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=YWH_VODDL4iNNq-NhAg&ved=0CB0QsAQ&dpr=1) I saw this one a while back and loved it. Perfectly captures the name and the image in one logo. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2015, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/company-logos/714719/7 "2015-03-10T21:30:47Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > My favorite is the [three gear logo.](http://www.ellerman.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/CMRC-gridlock.jpg) AAAarrrgghghghghgh. One of my favorites for a long time has been the [FedEx logo](http://img1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20121112030619/logopedia/images/a/a6/FedEx.png). It contains a very special secret that can not be unseen. I also appreciate the [Sun Microsystems](http://goodlogo.com/images/logos/small/sun_microsystems_logo_2385.gif) logo for its cleverness, though it is a little busy. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2015, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/company-logos/714719/8 "2015-03-10T21:31:52Z")
> [@Frazzled](#): > > The Spartan Golf Club logo: > > [spartan golf club - Google Search](https://www.google.com/search?q=spartan+golf+club&espv=2&biw=1133&bih=542&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=YWH_VODDL4iNNq-NhAg&ved=0CB0QsAQ&dpr=1) That’s a good one. ---
**Author:** ![lisiate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f05b48/32.png) [@lisiate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisiate)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2015, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/company-logos/714719/9 "2015-03-10T21:41:15Z")
Thirding the Spartan golf club logo. I’ve always liked the three kiwis in the [Canterbury Clothing Company logo.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canterbury_of_New_Zealand) ---
**Author:** ![Honey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honey/32/5074_2.png) [@Honey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Honey)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2015, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/company-logos/714719/10 "2015-03-10T21:52:53Z")
Amazon’s logo. The arrow/smile that points from a-z. Everything from A-Z. Perfect. ---
**Author:** ![Honey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honey/32/5074_2.png) [@Honey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Honey)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2015, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/company-logos/714719/11 "2015-03-10T21:53:58Z")
> [@Frazzled](#): > > The Spartan Golf Club logo: > > [spartan golf club - Google Search](https://www.google.com/search?q=spartan+golf+club&espv=2&biw=1133&bih=542&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=YWH_VODDL4iNNq-NhAg&ved=0CB0QsAQ&dpr=1) > I saw this one a while back and loved it. Perfectly captures the name and the image in one logo. I love that. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2015, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/company-logos/714719/12 "2015-03-10T21:58:11Z")
[Pittsburgh Zoo](http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://mentalfloss.com/sites/default/files/styles/insert_main_wide_image/public/pittsburgh-zoo.jpg&imgrefurl=http://mentalfloss.com/article/53146/11-hidden-messages-company-logos&h=417&w=620&tbnid=30CjQVYXsxKYBM:&zoom=1&docid=Jnqsc2GpycsjaM&ei=JGj_VPLCK46wogSxhoGACA&tbm=isch&ved=0CCEQMygAMAA) ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2015, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/company-logos/714719/13 "2015-03-10T22:07:16Z")
[World Cup 2014](http://backpagefootball.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/2014FIFAWorldCup.jpg) [Picard face palm](http://neurologues.qwriting.qc.cuny.edu/files/2013/05/picard-facepalm-1.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2015, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/company-logos/714719/14 "2015-03-10T22:09:46Z")
The HBO series _Silicon Valley_–about an internet startup–had a whole episode revolving around their branding. It’s a pretty good show–I recommend it if you have a chance to watch. They poked a little fun at the current trend of “lower-case letters in a square.” ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2015, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/company-logos/714719/15 "2015-03-11T01:12:01Z")
I’ve always liked Sun’s logo. I just came across [this article](http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/can-you-remember-what-apple-logo-looks-like-take-test-see-1491288) that has [a quiz](http://gnodevel.ugent.be/memory-logo/) linked in there. We all know what the Apple logo looks like, but have you been paying attention? People are apparently pretty bad at it. I basically was correct even though I do not use Apple products really. I was almost biased to not pick it though at it was the first, upper left, image (looks like it’s random). My high school made a shirt that was similar to the (computer) “mouse penis” one: a stylized mouse that looked like a sperm. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2015, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/company-logos/714719/16 "2015-03-11T02:12:28Z")
> [@Frazzled](#): > > The Spartan Golf Club logo: > > [spartan golf club - Google Search](https://www.google.com/search?q=spartan+golf+club&espv=2&biw=1133&bih=542&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=YWH_VODDL4iNNq-NhAg&ved=0CB0QsAQ&dpr=1) > I saw this one a while back and loved it. Perfectly captures the name and the image in one logo. Except for the hideous version with the added type in a circle. The circle is distorted, the font is all wrong, and the kerning is atrocious. But I love the 3 gears. It sorta defeats the purpose of . . . well . . . gears. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2015, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/company-logos/714719/17 "2015-03-11T02:42:11Z")
[Logos Galore](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OeTaWZLtDP4) ---
**Author:** ![Isamu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7c8e57/32.png) [@Isamu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isamu)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2015, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/company-logos/714719/18 "2015-03-11T03:51:34Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > One of my favorites for a long time has been the [FedEx logo](http://img1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20121112030619/logopedia/images/a/a6/FedEx.png). It contains a very special secret that can not be unseen. Which is? oh the arrow! ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2015, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/company-logos/714719/19 "2015-03-11T04:30:11Z")
> [@Isamu](#): > > Which is? > > oh the arrow! The arrow and fnord. ---
**Author:** ![Harvey\_The\_Heavy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Harvey\_The\_Heavy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harvey_The_Heavy)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2015, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/company-logos/714719/20 "2015-03-11T06:52:59Z")
Many U.S. gas station/oil company logos are among my favorites, like [Mobil](http://fontmeme.com/images/Mobil-Logo.jpg), [Shell](http://www.voluntaryarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Shell-logo1.jpg), and even [Union 76](http://millersvinylgraphics.com/images/76fuel.gif), who look like they’re switching it back to orange from the hideous red they’ve been using for a while. [Arco](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e1/ARCO_Logo.png) could stand to refresh their logo, and [Valero](http://www.pfeoilco.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/valero-logo.jpg) needs to just start over from scratch. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/company-logos/714719.md?page=2)