History of the Apple Logo

Summary

In this video, Greg from Apple Explained delves into the fascinating evolution of the Apple logo, from its intricate 1976 design featuring Isaac Newton to the iconic and minimalist symbol we know today. He explores the logo’s transition through various iterations, including the introduction of color in the 1977 Apple II logo, the impact of Steve Jobs' design choices, and the eventual shift to a flat, unified logo in the 2010s. With insights into typography changes and the logo's symbolism, this video uncovers how Apple’s visual identity reflects its ever-evolving brand, while questioning if the logo should change again in the future.

Takeaways

• 😀 The original Apple logo from 1976 was a complex illustration featuring Isaac Newton under an apple tree, designed by Ron Wayne.
• 😀 Steve Jobs didn’t like the original logo, finding it too complicated and intellectual, which led to the redesign by Rob Janoff in 1977.
• 😀 The first simplified logo featured a black apple with a bite taken out to clarify it was an apple, not a cherry, and possibly symbolized knowledge.
• 😀 The rainbow-colored Apple logo was added to reflect the Apple II's color capabilities but was expensive and complicated to print, causing issues in production.
• 😀 Apple initially used the Motter Tektura typeface for its logo but switched to Garamond in the 1980s to make it look more sophisticated.
• 😀 Steve Jobs’ return to Apple in 1997 led to the use of a monochrome logo on the PowerBook G3, marking the first time Apple used a simple, solid-color design.
• 😀 A key decision in the 90s was whether the Apple logo on laptops should face up or down, with Jobs originally preferring it upside down for user experience but later reversing the decision.
• 😀 The Bondi Blue iMac in 1998 introduced a translucent, colorful Apple logo, which led to some inconsistencies between Apple’s products and branding.
• 😀 The introduction of Mac OS X in 2001 helped unify the brand with the aqua-style logo, which was used across Apple's platforms and products.
• 😀 By 2007, Apple shifted to a chrome logo, which was more uniform across platforms, aligning with Apple's push for a sleek, modern aesthetic.
• 😀 In 2013, Apple moved to a flat, monochrome logo as part of its shift towards minimalist design, creating a consistent visual identity across all products.

Q & A

Who originally created Apple's first logo, and what did it depict?

Apple's first logo was created by Ron Wayne, Apple's third co-founder. It depicted Sir Isaac Newton sitting under an apple tree, reading a book, with a quote from William Wordsworth surrounding the image.

Why did Steve Jobs dislike the original Apple logo?

Steve Jobs disliked the original logo because it was too intellectual and complicated. He believed it was not stylish enough and that it could have contributed to the slow sales of the Apple I.

Who designed the new Apple logo in 1977, and what was its initial form?

The new Apple logo was designed by Rob Janoff in 1977. Initially, it featured a black apple silhouette on a white background.

Why did Rob Janoff include a bite in the Apple logo?

Rob Janoff included the bite to give the logo scale, ensuring that people could distinguish the apple from a cherry. Some believed it symbolized the acquisition of knowledge, referencing the biblical story of Eve and the tree of knowledge.

What issue arose with the colored stripes on the Apple logo, and how was it addressed?

The colored stripes on the Apple logo were difficult and expensive to print because each strip had to be printed separately. Rob Janoff suggested separating the stripes with thin black lines to make printing cheaper, but Steve Jobs insisted on keeping the original design.

What typeface did Apple initially use for its logo text, and how did it evolve over time?

Initially, Apple used the Motter Tektura typeface for its logo text. Over time, they switched to Apple Garamond in the 1980s, then to Gill Sans, and later to Myriad before adopting the San Francisco typeface in 2015.

What change in logo design occurred when Steve Jobs returned to Apple in 1997?

When Steve Jobs returned in 1997, Apple switched to a solid white logo, marking a departure from the colorful rainbow logo. This was featured prominently on the PowerBook G3 and its packaging.

What was the issue with the placement of the Apple logo on laptops in the late 90s?

In the late 90s, Apple placed the logo upside down on the back of their laptops, which led to confusion. Steve Jobs initially wanted the logo facing users when the laptop was closed, but later reversed the decision after realizing the upside-down logo caused more problems for onlookers.

How did the Apple logo design change with the release of Mac OS X in 2001?

With the release of Mac OS X in 2001, Apple introduced the 'aqua' style for their logo to match the operating system's aesthetic. This marked a shift towards a more streamlined, modern look for the logo.

What was the Apple logo’s appearance during the iMac era in the late 90s, and how did it differ across products?

During the iMac era in the late 90s, the Apple logo was embossed in translucent colors, matching the Bondi Blue iMac. The logo appeared monochrome on some products like the PowerBook, while the rainbow logo still appeared in software and branding materials, leading to inconsistencies.