Pepsi is one of the most popular soft drinks with its iconic logo. It belongs to the eponymous company PepsiCo and has changed its name several times. Until 1898 it bore the name Brad’s Drink, until 1961 – Pepsi-Cola, and now – Pepsi. The drink’s creator is Caleb Bradham, who, in 1893, mixed several unique ingredients to create a product with an authentic taste.
Meaning and History
What is Pepsi?
Pepsi is a brand of carbonated drink without alcohol. It is owned by PepsiCo, which has been producing it since 1893 (but it was under a different name at first). The developer of the drink is Caleb Bradham. The pharmacist suggested treating gastrointestinal diseases directly indicated by the name because “pepsis” is translated from Latin as “digestion.”
The logo appeared in 1903. It, like the drink itself, was personally developed by the founder of the company Caleb Bradham. The iconic version of the Pepsi Globe dates back to the early 1940s when it began to evolve towards the actual modification. The current version appeared only at the end of 2008 – at the beginning of 2009. Its authors were the designers of the New York studio Arnell Group.
1893 – 1898
The logo consisted of “Brad’s Drink” lettering in blue uppercase serifs and a decorative rectangular frame. At the same time, a red version appeared with graceful curves and ornate lines resembling a monogram.
1898 – 1905
In 1898, the first emblem was proposed, composed of the main components of the drink – “Pepsi” and “Cola.”
1905 – 1906
The developers used for the logo bold type with elongated legs “C” and “P.” They connect to form a loop-like line where the rest of the letters are.
1906 – 1940
It was replaced by a laconic version, from which small and insignificant details have been removed. The letters have become smoother and extended into one diagonal line. The word “Drink” appeared on the tape “C.”
1940 – 1950
After 1940, designers removed elements from the logo that were not related to marketing promotion. Moreover, this version was the last in the line of red and white colors.
1950 – 1962
The corporate symbol of that time has a white-red-blue cap on the edge. It contains the name of the company from the previous version.
1962 – 1973
The developers turned the bottle cap over and placed black lettering across it. The color palette was left the same.
1973 – 1991
In 1973 saw the beginning of the tricolor emblem era, consisting of a stylized circle, rectangle, and the word “Pepsi” in sans serif capital letters. This period includes several intermediate stages.
1991 – 1998
A rectangular plaque appeared with the name of the brand, a ball, and a solid red stripe. The sphere resembles a globe, highlighting the overall popularity of the drink.
1998 – 2003
In 1998, the visual identity of the brand was simplified. The light font was made slightly slanted and shaded with a blue outline.
2003 – 2006
This logo is fully consistent with the previous version. The difference between them is only in enhanced shadows and saturated color.
2006 – 2008
This period was characterized by a change in the location of the company’s name. It is now moved down and colored blue.
2008 – 2014
In 2008, the designers presented a completely new logo, in which the inscription is located to the left of the word “Pepsi.” The letters are executed in a thin, rounded type in the lower case, and the colors form a semblance of a good-natured smile. The updated emblem has become the most minimalistic in all the years of the brand’s existence.
2014 – today
What does the Pepsi logo represent?
The modern Pepsi logo is a circle consisting of three blue, red, and white fragments. They are arranged in such a way that they form a slight smile. To its right is the drink’s name, in lower case, a smooth and rounded grotesque.
The current version almost repeats the previous one, since only the letters’ thickness has been changed in it.
Font and Color of the Emblem
Why is the Pepsi logo effective?
The effectiveness of the Pepsi logo is hidden in its shape and color. First, there is the cap of a drink bottle, enticingly depicted from above, as if it is being looked at when it is about to be opened. Secondly, it is painted in blue, red, and white, which convey the colors of the US national flag, affecting the patriotic feelings of buyers.
Why did Pepsi add blue to their logo?
Blue was added to the Pepsi logo in 1950. The reason for its appearance was the support of the patriotic spirit because it was blue that was missing in the emblem to convey the palette of the US national flag.
Who designed the Pepsi logo?
The design agency Arnell Group worked on the Pepsi logo. Typographer Gerard Huerta created the Pepsi Light font.
In general, the famous brand has changed over ten logos for more than 100 years of history. Initially, the adjustments were forced and related to the competition between the Pepsi Coca and Coca Cola branding. But the modern logo is completely different. Because of its similarity to the globe, it is called the Pepsi Globe: it symbolizes the original drink’s global popularity.
The word section uses a custom-made Roman-type italic type called Pepsi Light. The emblem also uses a typeface vaguely reminiscent of Harry Plain. The color scheme of the trademark has always been unchanged and represented a multivariate combination of blue, white, and red. Moreover, the color stripes form a prepossessing smile. It appeared after a recent redesign (in 2008) by Arnell Studio. The agency received $ 1,000,000 for its innovation.
