We are used to see logos and brand identity creations everywhere. However, a long time ago it wasn’t as usual as it’s today. Some of those logos have nothing to do with nowadays logos, but I’ve selected the 5 oldest brands in the world for you. Enjoy having a look at these extange pieces of the past, the present and the future of logo design.
The two oldest brands in the world are beer company logos. It’s no coincidence.
Stella Artois Beer(1366)
It’s known that one of the most ancient business in the world was brewery. Anno 1366 is written on the Stella Artois logo. It refers to the origin of brewing in the city of Leuven. The name Artois was added in 1708, when new owner S. Artois achieved the title of Master Brewer. The frame surrounding the company name on the label of their bottles refers to the traditional style of window frame, typical of old Flemish architecture.
Bass Ale Beer (1876)
There’s no wonder that beer has been one of the most popular produccts sold over the world in. So, the two oldest brands in the world are beer company logos. Since there were very few brand identity designs representing companies and business it seemed very practical to use basic shapes as circles, triangles and squares to make logos easier to remember. Bass ale chose a red triangle to symbolize rising prosperity and energy. And they added the handwritten letters are to emphasise the elegace and authenticity of their beer.
Levi Strauss & Co (1886)
The Two Horse logo was designed as a graphic evidence of the unusual strength of Levi’s clothing. In 1886 this brand identity symbol was first branded onto the back leather patch of the Levi’s jeans. And it’s still used today as everybody knows.
Sometimes logos are the most ovbious expression of the brand name
Twinings (1887)
Twinings’ brand is dynamic, it matches product and tells us its historical background succesfully. It’s one of the most regonized, simple and timeless serif fonts. Twinings Tea has used the same emblem continuously since 1887, what means it’s world’s oldest unaltered logo.
Shell Oil Comapny (1904)
Choosing a shell drawing as an emblem was not very surprising. Sometimes logos are the most ovbious expression of the brand name. The Shell icon has changed over the years in line with new trends in graphic design; the current logo was introduced in 1971. And, what about the colours? It was in 1915 when the Californian division built its first gas stations and they were forced to compete against other competitors. Red and Yellow colours were the solution.
