The group of isotonic drinks and sports nutrition is represented by a brand from Chicago, whose emblem is executed in a minimalist style. The Gatorade logo emphasizes the name and direction of the product, symbolizing energy and speed and its connection to sports.
Gatorade: Brand overview
Founded: | September 9, 1965 |
Founder: | PepsiCo |
Headquarters: | United States |
Website: | gatorade.com |
Meaning and History
The original logo looked different from the modern one. After a redesign in the 1970s, it took on a completely different appearance, which was known until 2008. The only thing that remained unchanged in it was the lightning bolt.
What is Gatorade?
Gatorade is a brand of drinks that maintain water balance. In addition to fluids, they contain nutritious electrolytes, carbohydrates, and antioxidants necessary for replenishing mineral and energy reserves. The isotonic drink was developed in 1965 by specialists at the University of Florida, and its commercial production began in 1967. The brand is currently owned by PepsiCo, Inc.
1965 – 1970
The debut logo consisted of a combination of black letters written in different fonts.
1970 – 1986
This year saw the emergence of the iconic lightning bolt image. It was very large and pierced the name and the text beneath it. The brand’s primary colors were orange, aquamarine, and blue.
1986 – 1991
During this period, the owners changed the style of writing for some letters.
1991 – 1994
In this version, the iconic lightning bolt was left unchanged, with only the drink’s name and the phrase “Thirst Quencher” being adjusted. They were angled, and a sharp edge was added to the frame.
1994 – 1998
The 1994 variant received a shaded line to the right and below. The lower inscription was brought outward.
1998 – 2004
Another adjustment to the trademark allowed for a simple and memorable logo recognizable in the modern label. The words Thirst Quencher were completely removed by the designers.
2004 – 2009
The A-shaped frame around the name disappeared from the emblem – the letters received a white background with a figurative frame. The lightning bolt became bright orange, almost red.
2009 – today
Designers completely reworked the brand logo, enlarged the capital letter “G,” and placed the full brand name above it. The lightning bolt was reduced and placed in the center.
Gatorade: Interesting Facts
Gatorade is a drink that a lot of athletes drink to stay hydrated and full of energy. It has a cool story and has become more than just a drink.
- How It Started: In 1965, some smart people at the University of Florida made Gatorade to help the university’s football team, the Florida Gators, keep their energy up during hot games.
- Big Moment: Gatorade got famous after the Florida Gators won a big game in 1967, and the other team’s coach said they lost because they didn’t have Gatorade.
- Who Owns It: First, Stokely-Van Camp sold Gatorade. Then, in 1983, the Quaker Oats Company bought it. PepsiCo, a big company, bought Quaker Oats in 2001, so now they sell Gatorade.
- Science Stuff: In 1985, Gatorade created a special place called the Gatorade Sports Science Institute to learn more about what athletes need to drink to perform at their best.
- Different Kinds: Gatorade has made many different drinks, like Gatorade Zero with no sugar, G2 with less sugar, and even some snacks and protein for athletes.
- Ads with Athletes: Gatorade was one of the first companies to feature famous athletes in its ads, showing how Gatorade helps them play better.
- Gatorade Shower: There’s a fun tradition where players pour Gatorade on their coach when they win a game. It started with the New York Giants football team in the 1980s.
- Around the World: Gatorade is available in over 80 countries. They also make special flavors for different places.
- Made by Science: Scientists help ensure that Gatorade keeps you hydrated and gives back the electrolytes, like sodium and potassium, you lose when you sweat.
- Beyond Sports: Gatorade isn’t just a sports drink anymore. It’s appeared in movies, songs, and TV shows, and its logo and slogans are known worldwide.
So, Gatorade started as a way to help football players stay strong during games and has grown into a big deal in sports and culture worldwide.
Font and Colors
All versions have their fonts with serifs – there isn’t a single identical spelling. Therefore, the logos differ in letter thickness, angle of inclination, and color. Some of them have something in common with Rory Oblique.
The international version contains a classic set of colors: white for the outline, orange and black for the lightning bolt, and dark gray for the letter.
The color palette of the special edition emblem, developed in 2015 in North America, is very diverse. In addition to the traditional brand range, it includes yellow, an additional shade of orange, and bright green tones.
The logos of this brand do not have identical fonts: each period has its own writing of the word “Gatorade.” The font has something in common with Rory Oblique. The latest version uses rounded letters with serifs, developed by the advertising agency TBWA\Chiat\Day.
The brand’s palette includes a white background, black lettering, yellow and orange colors for lightning bolts, dark gray for letters, and the company name. Earlier versions also used blue for edging and green for the inscription.
Gatorade color codes
Sandy Brown | Hex color: | #f8a350 |
---|---|---|
RGB: | 248 163 80 | |
CMYK: | 0 34 68 3 | |
Pantone: | PMS 715 C |
Deep Carmine Pink | Hex color: | #ee3d42 |
---|---|---|
RGB: | 238 61 66 | |
CMYK: | 0 74 72 7 | |
Pantone: | PMS Warm Red C |
Black | Hex color: | #000000 |
---|---|---|
RGB: | 0 0 0 | |
CMYK: | 0 0 0 100 | |
Pantone: | PMS Process Black C |
FAQ
What does the Gatorade logo represent?
The modern Gatorade logo contains the first letter of the brand name – a large G in dark gray. Inside it is an orange lightning bolt, complemented by red stripes and a black outline. This iconic element symbolizes energy and speed. The word GATORADE is written above the letter G, aligned to the right edge, for which designers used a font with long rectangular serifs.
Has the Gatorade logo changed?
The Gatorade logo has changed many times. The first time this happened was in 1970, when the brand acquired a symbol in the form of a lightning bolt. The last redesign (as of 2021) was done in 2008, when developers completely changed the structure of the logo, making the main element a gray letter “G,” placing a small lightning bolt in the center, and moving the brand name to the upper right corner.