The purpose of a logo is to help identify a company, product or other commercial entity to the public. Effective logos do this by combining graphic and text elements in such a way that the public recognizes it and equates the logo with the entity it belongs to. While any list of the most recognizable logos can be subjective, some logos are undeniably among the most recognized logos throughout the world.
Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola has several logos the company uses, but the round red button with the classic green Coca-Cola bottle on it is a highly recognized logo used throughout the world. Whether the words "Enjoy Coca-Cola" are imprinted on the logo in one of the many languages of the countries where Coca-Cola is available or not used at all, this logo is recognized throughout the world, made more distinct by the Coca-Cola font and the red and white colors; the C in particular has a recognizable, almost calligraphic flow.
McDonald's
There's no need to have the word "McDonald's" written on the logo at all. The golden arches, often with the words "I'm lovin' it" written beneath it per the current campaign (as of March 2011), signify there is a McDonald's nearby. The golden arches are so recognizable they are often used with no identifying text.
AT&T
A 3D circular blue and white striped ball representing the world is the logo for AT&T, a communications company specializing in phones, Internet and other areas of communication. The AT&T logo is a common logo seen often in TV commercials. The initials AT&T are typically written beneath the logo.
Apple
Regardless of its color, another famous logo is that of Apple. The concept is simple: an apple with a bite taken out of the right side of it. The image has gone from rainbow striped to the silver version, both of which are immediately associated with Apple products ranging from Mac computers to iPods to iPhones.
Olympic Games
Baron Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympic Games, designed the Olympic games logo in 1912. Each ring represents a continent. Blue is for Oceania, yellow is for Asia, black is for Europe, green represents Africa and red represents America. The logo is often used to identify the Olympic Games in many situations where there are no accompanying words.
Nike
The name of the company with a simple black checkmark beneath it is one of the most recognized brand of sports clothes.The checkmark is actually called a "swoosh" and was designed in 1971 by Carolyn Davidson, a graphic design student at Portland State University.
Tags: Olympic Games, throughout world, golden arches, most recognized, often used, written beneath
