Coins of the 1990s

Sanford University grad student Jens Molbak was sitting in his room one day glancing at his jar of coins on the table and came up with a brilliant idea–the development of ca oin machine that converts coins into cash, Alas Coinstar was formed in 1991. Molbak formed this company after conducting a survey about loose change for a school project at the university and realizing that many people had change, but did not know what to do with it. Coinstar is headquartered in Bellevue, Washington. Aside from converting coins into cash, many of these machines also sell prepaid items, such as prepaid wireless airtime  from major carriers and long distance cards. Typically, Coinstar kiosks are green and can be found in your local grocery store.

Sources

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coinstar

http://www.coinstar.com/CoinstarStory.aspx

http://logos.wikia.com/wiki/Coinstar

The company’s logo has undergone some change during the years, apparently.

1991-2000

2000-2011

2011 (Current)

The first ever logo was like a turquoise color. The second one was green like the kiosk. The current logo is like a sea blue-green. All in all, the 1990s and the 2000 logo both had slanted lettering and a star. The difference is that the 1990s one also had a coin within the star and its star was in the middle, not at the end like the 2000 logo. The current logo is a big shift from the previous two. The colors changed and the ‘C’ in Coinstar is no longer capitalized. Also, the star is gone, or at least reincarnated into a flower, and there is no TM at the end of it. I do not think the current logo reflects Coinstar at all. To me, the flower reminds me of the flower like thing from the current Walmart logo.

Applebees and 1980s

On January 1, 1980, Brothers Bill and T.J. Palmer started Applebee’s in Decatur, Georgia. Before being known as ‘Applebee’s Neighborhood Bar and Grill,’ the restaurant was called, ‘Applebee’s Rx for Edibles and Elixirs,’ which does not sound that edible at all. However, in 1986, its name was changed to ‘…Neighborhood Bar and Grill,’ as we all are familiar with today to reflect the Palmer Brothers’ idea of the restaurant being a place where people could name their very own. “Today, with more than 1,900 restaurants, Applebee’s is the world’s largest casual dining restaurant chain.” Currently, the restaurant offers a two for $20 deal–one appetizer and two entrees.

Sources:

http://www.underconsideration.com/brandnew/archives/applebees_insert_name_here.phphttp://www.applebees.com/History.aspx

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Applebee%27s

http://www.applebees.com/History.aspx

Applebee's logo from 1980 to present

There are not too many Applebee’s logos floating around, meaning not a lot was created. The logo on the left was used from 1980-2007. Some Applebee’s still use it nowadays. The logo on the right is the current one. The 1980s logo has like a Storybookish font, the apple centered, and the words ‘Neighborhood Grill and Bar’ underneath. The green color in which the white lettering is on top of is like a chalkboard green. The letters are kind of clunky.

Applebee’s current logo took another pathway in appearance. The letters are much thinner and the chalkboard green background is gone. Instead of being white, the letters are green. Also, the slogan, not the rest of the restaurant’s name, is underneath the word ‘Applebee’s.’ The apple looks more 3-D like, more shiny and more digitalized than the old one. On top of that, the new apple shifted its way more towards the left onto the double ‘Ps.’ This logo looks more corporate and not as fun, in my opinion. The letter ‘A’ swoops.

Many Many Layouts of Ads!

Let’s Get Funky Tonight Say Yeah!

Can ya dig it? This is a Burger King ad from the 1970s advertising the delectable Whopper. The font resembles Bellbottom Laser. It looks like the ad is a Big Picture layout mixed with Big word layout.  There was a lot of funk music during the 1970s as well as afros. Those elements may have inspired the psychedelic font used in the advertisement. I presume the concept of the advertisement is that the Whopper make people smile and brighten up their day.

The Tummy Files: Successful Scrumptious Subs

College can be a difficult expense many students struggle to pay for. Many people dream of furthering their education to attain a more fulfilling and successful life. Seventeen year old Bridgeport, Connecticut high school graduate Fred DeLuca was one of those college dreaming individuals until, with a little help from a family friend, he developed an absolutely yummy idea–forming a sub, or submarine, shop.

Nuclear Physicist and family friend of DeLuca Peter Buck made this sub shop possible by loaning DeLuca $1,000. In 1965, DeLuca and Buck partnered up and created, “Pete’s Super Submarines.” Fred no longer had to worry about not affording college because the very afternoon the restaurant opened, a plethora of hungry customers ordered food. Hence, the sub shop was a success, so DeLuca enrolled himself in the University of Bridgeport Connecticut, a private college.

When people heard the name of the restaurant on the radio, they thought it was called, “Pizza Marines,” thereby assuming it was mainly a pizza shop. To ease the confusion, DeLuca and Buck changed the name to, “Pete’s Subway.” Eventually, the name was simplified to just plain, “SUBWAY,” as we are familiar with today. Apparently, SUBWAY’s main product is the sub sandwich.

All of the SUBWAY locations are franchises, which means that one can expect the same products in each. “As of March 2011, Subway operates 34,246 stores in 95 countries and territories.” SUBWAY is owned and operated by Doctor Associates, Inc. (DAI), which was formed by founders Fred DeLuca and Peter Buck for the purpose of overseeing SUBWAY chains of restaurants as the franchise expanded.

Sources:

http://www.subway.com/subwayroot/AboutSubway/history/subwayHistory.aspx

http://www.subway.com/StudentGuide/history.htm

http://www.subway.com/subwayroot/AboutSubway/history/timeline.htm

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/345246/fun_facts_about_subway_pg2.html?cat=22

http://www.delish.com/food-fun/fast-food-history

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subway_(restaurant)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_DeLuca

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Buck_(restaurateur)

The Evolution:

(1965) How the restaurant looked when it first was established. Named after Peter Buck, the one who made it possible for Fred DeLuca to further his education. Started as a simple loan to a simple success. To me, this looks like a fish market.

(1968) This was the fifth restaurant. Before SUBWAY became SUBWAY as we currently know it. Fist time the word SUBWAY was incorporated into the title.

Used from late 2003-2006

In use since 2008

As one could see, the 2003 and 2008 logos are pretty much similar to the 1968 one, excluding 1965 since SUBWAY was not incorporated into the title at the time. All three of these logos have arrows at the end of the letters ‘S’ and ‘Y.’ Disregarding the 1965 logo, logos 1968-current are wordmarks with a little symbol usage–the arrows. According to a SUBWAY representative, the logo pretty much remained the same style despite color changes and the arrows represent direction. All in all, one could observe that the real change of these logos is the drop of the black background behind the lettering–difference between 2003 to current–as well as the letters of the current logo being sharper and closer to one another.

Fun facts:

• One of the chain’s best-known sandwiches is the BMT, which originally stood for Brooklyn Manhattan Transit, but now stands for Biggest, Meatiest, Tastiest
• The 6-inch sub was once known as the ‘Snak’ sub around 1977
• New York transit-themed murals are in many SUBWAY restaurants. The first transit-themed mural was introduced in a restaurant in Ithaca, NY in 1980
• By 1989, SUBWAY restaurants were present in all 50 states. Also that year, the first SUBWAY restaurant opens inside a grocery store
• 2002-SUBWAY chain surpasses the number of McDonalds in the U.S. and  2,027 restaurants are opened.

The Great Hotel

Tired? Feel fatigue as if you are going to crash into a tree? Well, look no further because Holiday Inn is there for all of your resting needs. Memphis entrepreneur and home builder Kemmons Wilson founded this lovely hotel. In 1951, Wilson took a roadtrip to Washington, D.C. with his wife Dorothy and their five children. The family stayed at a local roadside motel whose quality and consistency was inadequate–the hotels were greasy and filled with encyclopedia salesmen. Dissatisfied with his experience, Kemmons Wilson wanted to provide a better, more comfortable and  less costly place for other families and travelers–people in general.

In 1952, Wilson teamed up with builder Wallace E. Johnson and architect Eddie Bluestein and created the first four Holiday Inns in Memphis, Tennessee. Originally, the name of the popular hotel-motel chain was a joke in which Bluestein provided. The name was a reference to the 1942 movie, “Holiday Inn,” starring Bing Crosby,, which Bluestein was a fan of. Upon the formation of his blueprints, Bluestein wrote the name on the very bottom and it clinged. Toward the 1970s, Holiday Inn went international and over 1,400 hotels were worldwide. In the 1980s, the hotel chain went under new ownership and changed its name to Holiday Corp. Later on–closer to the 1990s–the name was reverted back to Holiday Inn.

“Holiday Inn is the world’s largest hotel chain with 238,440 bedrooms and 1,301 hotels, globally.” Currently, the Holiday Inn chain is owned by InterContinental (IHC).

Sources:

http://dir.salon.com/story/ent/masterpiece/2002/04/29/holiday_inn/index.html

http://www.travels.com/vacation-ideas/family/history-holiday-inn-hotels/

http://encyclopedia.jrank.org/articles/pages/1168259/Holiday-Inn.html

http://www.dinesh.com/history_of_logos/hotel_logos/holiday_inn_logo_-_design_and_history.html

http://www.ehow.com/about_5064160_history-holiday-inn-hotels.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holiday_inn

” The Great Sign”

This logo was used during the era of the hotel’s expansion–roughly 1950s-70s. Holiday Inn was in script font. The sign was large and neon. It is said that the colors green and yellow were used because they were Kemmon’s mom’s favorites. This chunky, loud neon sign was popular into the 1970s, but was phased out because it became too expensive to operate. However, the phased out sign still retained the white colored script. It did draw a lot of attention though.

This logo was used from 1985-1990 when the hotel chain underwent a change in ownership. I presume a map was used to signify that the chain was very global and vastly popular.

This logo is the non-chunky neon version of “The Great Sign.” As one could see, the script was retained. Used from 1989-2009.

This is the updated and current logo, which came out in 2009. It still retains the overall green theme. Instead of being inside, the words, “Holiday Inn,” lay underneath a sharp letter, “H.” The text is no longer prominent. Emphasis is on the letter, “H.”  Cursive is no longer a part of the logo and it is a lighter shade of green–like lime green compared to the old forest green logo.

A Company before its Products

Inside a workshop in Billund, Denmark is where the Lego Group began. The year was 1932 and the company’s founder was carpenter Ole Kirk Kristiansen. At the time, Kristiansen started making wooden toys for children to make ends meet since he lost his job during the Great Depression. Interest in Ole Kirk’s work increased, so he had to hire people to help him make these wooden toys. Alas, in 1934, Kristiansen’s company became known as “Lego,” taken from the Danish words, “lego godt,” which means, “play well.”

Around 1947, the company shifted from wood to plastic thereby making the toys out of plastic. In 1949, the Lego Group began producing the now renowned interlocking blocks. These blocks are manufactured from cellulose acetate, which is also used in items, such as glasses frames and playing cards. Legos are tradmarked in capitals as LEGO. LEGO bricks can be assembled and connected in various ways to form objects, such as buildings and vehicles. These works of art can be deassembled hassle-free.

The Lego Group has been passed down from daddy to son. Currently Ole Kirk Kristiansen’s grandson, Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen, is the owner. The Lego Group is the world’s fifth manufacturer of toys, in terms of sales. Today, there are LEGO theme parks, competitions, movies, games, and even LEGO block people. The interlocking pieces are universally loved and celebrated.



Logo throughout the years

Throughout the majority of the years, the logo has consisted of red and black. White was incorporated in 1957. The 1999 LEGO logo is the current logo that is used for LEGO products.

*Fun facts:

LEGO in Latin means, “I put together”

in Italian means, “I tie together”

Sources:

http://aboutus.lego.com/en-US/group/default.aspx

http://legozz.tumblr.com/post/2928278874/evolution-of-lego-logo-by-twin-thornes

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lego

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ole_Kirk_Christiansen



The UPS Then and Now

The United States Parcel Service, or UPS, is a package delivery company which is headquartered in Sandy Springs, Georgia. In 1907, the company was founded by 19-year old Jim Casey and 18-year old Claude Ryan under the name, ‘American Messenger Company.’ It was not until 1919 that its current name United States Parcel was adopted. The word ‘United‘ serves as a reminder that the company’s operation in each city were part of the same organization. ‘Parcel‘ identifies the nature of the business and ‘Service‘ indicates what the company offers.

1919-1937

Throughout the years, UPS has undergone four logo changes. Released in 1919 was the company’s first logo. It shows an eagle carrying a package in its talons within a brown shield. 1937, eighteen years later, marked the development of UPS’ second logo. The eagle was replaced by the letters ‘U-P-S.’ This time, the shield had two brown bow-tie strings on the bottom side of it. Graphic designer Paul Rand (also known for other logos, such as IBM and Westinghouse) designed UPS’ third logo in 1961, which consisted of a black and white shield with UPS on the inside and a bow-tied box right above it. The company’s fourth and current logo was developed and designed in 2003 by  international brand consultancy Future Brand. The current logo replaces the package with a golden arc on the top of the shield as well as reverts back to being brown.

1937-1961

*Fun fact: UPS founder Jim Casey originally wanted the UPS trucks to be yellow, but one of his partners said that a yellow truck would be impossible to keep clean. This is one of the main reasons why UPS trucks are brown.

Sources:

http://www.ups.com/content/corp/about/history/1929.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ups (for pictures)

http://www.dinesh.com/history_of_logos/worlds_best_brands_and_logos/ups_logo_-_design_and_history.html

1961-2003

2003-Present

Beneath the surface of Shell

The Many Transformations of the Shell logo

The origin of the Shell oil company lies within a small London business named Marcus Samuel and Company. The business originally dealt with antiques and oriental seashells. Marcus Samuel saw a trend of people using shells for interior decorating. In 1891, the word ‘shell’ first appeared as the trademark for kerosene being shipped to the Far East by Marcus Samuel and Company.When he died, his sons Samuel Marcus Jr. took control of the company. In 1897, the word ‘shell’ was elevated to corporate status when Samuel Jr. formed the ‘Shell Transport and Trading Company.’

The shell as ‘Shell’s’  logo is not surprising since each of Samuel’s tankers carrying kerosene to the Far East had been named after a different seashell. The first logo in 1901 was a mussel shell. By 1904, the emblem changed to a scallop, or ‘pecten’ shell. 1915 marked the emergence of service stations in California. The Shell Company had to compete against other gas companies, so it turned to bright colors; however, the company did not choose colors that would have offended Californians. It is said that the colors red and yellow were selected because they are colors of Spain, where many early Californian settlers were born. Perhaps Shell Oil Company thought that the display of Spanish based colors would create an emotional bond amongst the people. The basic format of the 1971 logo is still used today. French-born engineer Raymond Loewy, who also created logos for BP and Exxon, designed the 1971 logo. The Shell logo has become so renowned that, often, it appears without the company’s name to identify it.

Sources:

http://www-static.shell.com/static/aboutshell/downloads/who_we_are/pectenhistory.pdf

http://www.boredpanda.com/21-logo-evolutions-pepsi-cola-apple-nike-nokia/

http://kereta.info/shell-logo-design-evolution-from-a-scallop-shell-to-todays-bold-shape-with-distinctive-colours/

http://www.logodesignlove.com/shell-logo-design-evolution

http://worldsbestlogos.blogspot.com/2007/08/shell-pecten-logo-history.html

http://perpenduum.com/2007/11/evolution-of-the-pecten-shell-logo/

Behind the lines of Coca-Cola

Coca-Cola, often referred to as Coke, is an extremely popular soft drink. Pharmacist John Pemberton invented the soft drink in the late 19^th Century, roughly around 1886, with the intention of the beverage being a patent medicine. Although Coca-Cola has been consistent with its logo style, the Spenserian Script we see on many bottles and cans present day was not the same in 1886. In fact, in 1886, the soft drink appeared in the Atlanta Journal Constitution as both slab serif and chunky san serif.  The bold and pretty simplistic font transformed to Spenserian Script when Coca-Cola’s bookkeeper Frank Mason drew the first traces of the script onto bottles and advertisements in 1887.

Around 1885, Coca-Cola attempted to alter its formula developing “New Coke.” However, the taste tests failed, so the company returned to a mixture of its old formula under the name Coca-Cola Classic. From time to time, the Coca-Cola Company produces labels with ‘classic’ added under the scripted logo. Nevertheless, the current company logo uses just the words, ‘Coca-Cola.’ Throughout the development of Coca-Cola logo, the colors were usually black, red and white. All in all, one can agree that not much about the logo’s designs has changed.



Coca-Cola logo throughout the ages

Sources:

http://www.logoblog.org/coca_cola_logo.php

Coca-Cola vs. Pepsi, Revised Edition

http://www.graphicdesignblog.org/pepsi-and-coca-cola-logo-evolution/