Over 150 People Tried To Draw 10 Famous Logos From Memory, And The Results Are Hilarious
Companies spend millions to earn a tiny space in our heads that would help instantly recognize their brand logo design. But how well do you think that money is actually spent? To find out a custom signage firm Signs.com has conducted a fascinating memory test, asking 156 Americans between the ages of 20 and 70, to draw 10 famous logos as accurately as possible. The only trick was that they have to do it without any visual aids, simply from their recollections.
The results are waiting for you below, and be ready to be at least a little bit surprised at how the image of these famous brand logos vary from person to person. Despite the differences, most participants did manage to get the color palettes right, which shows the importance of the right color combo for a memorable logo.
A fact also pinpointed by Karen Haller, a leading authority on color psychology, who had this to say while talking about using color in branding: “People have an emotional connection with color first. Then we take in the shapes, the logo, and we read the words,” says Haller. “If we sense a mismatch, it’s the color we don’t believe, despite the beautifully crafted words.”
Scroll down to check what logo ideas these people had!
More info: Signs.com (h/t: demilked)
Apple Logo
Adidas Logo
Burger King Logo
Starbucks Logo
Ikea Logo
Domino’s Pizza Logo
Foot Locker Logo
Target Logo
7-Eleven Logo
Walmart Logo
Here are some statistics on which logos are the easiest to remember:
2.8Mviews
Share on FacebookInteresting how so many people remember the old logos better or end up mixing the old one with the newer ones. Shows how much effort it takes to rebrand a big company, how ingrained those old logos were in the first place, and how hard it is for people to adapt to changes in things they were used to. Here where I live there are some supermarket chains that changed names quite a few times in the last 30 years or so, and every time there are people who will go to the new stores, understand when you call them by the new name, but continue to call them by their old name for years.
we have the same thing. there are like "orientation points" (used-to-be significant restaurants or shops) that have been rebranded countless times, and people still call them by the name used 30+ yrs ago :D i find it nice and in some way calming or reassuring <3
Load More Replies...I think they got a low percentage just because their logo is too complicated for most people to be able to draw without reference. Most of the drawings show that people do know what the logo looks like but have no idea how to draw it.
Load More Replies...After looking at the word 'Burger' so many times I started think it was spelled wrong.
I think experiments like this are very useful to help designers create new logos and branding. Focus on what matters and spend less time on details that people might forget. If I was still teaching Design, I would show this to my students.
I would fail them all. And I'm an artist! (Hangs head in shame)
Maureen Zappellini, You're not alone. I'm just as bad, if not worse. Thanks for the company.
Load More Replies...This is a very interesting post and research! Helped me understand how important branding, colors and a logo is for your brand!
wait you forgot nike snapchat and mcdonalds also NASA and android and also spotify and pepsi
Wow! This is an amazing research. I think somebody should try this in India. Suggestion for the logo: 1. Tata 2. SBI 3. Airtel 4. Wipro 5. HDFC 6. Parle 7. IRTCT 8. Flipkart 9. Google 10. Saavn Hahaha... This would be fun! Stainless Steel 316L Pipes & Tubes SS 316L Pipes & Tubes
Well, we usually say that people can remember more colors than shapes but seems like not. I was personal still stuck with the logo of Adidas in the 70's did not realize it changed. branding is an exercise which we need careful to rethink when we change it or maybe even simplify it which is the experience everyone goes for ... more simple, easy to remember and recognize. Starbucks, for example, looks like 5 other coffee companies and the confusion is wanted.
i Actually like some of the logos that people have drawn, then the actual logos, lke IKEA and 7-Eleven
I think this highlights the difference between recognising a brand (like Starbucks new logo) and remembering the details.
I wonder what would happen with the Pepsi logo? Because I still associate the one from 30 years ago. download-5...665963.png
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Hm... Does a logo really have to memorable? I tend to think most want it to be recognisable, rather then memorable. I can remember what a cerain logo looks like but it doesn't matter if I can remember the adidas logo when it gets lost in a sea of other logos that use 3 stripes (I'm not saying it actually does, I just needed an example). A logos purpose is association. If I would come out of the jungle and saw the adidas logo for the first time I would have no clue what it stands for or what the brand is about. But the brand behind it is sooooo good that we associate the logo with it and it makes it instantly recognisable. I'm rambilng a bit so my thoughts are all over the place, I may have phrased some things a bit weird :P.
indeed the drawing skills arent great, not even the best ones. But that is a known thing, drawing logo's aint that easy as it looks and a real technical hand is a rare thing. HOWEVER i am really impressed by the brand knowledge of 99% of the people. I myself would have get the drawing straight and right, if i would have known any. But even with my photographic memory i would only be able to draw the apple one. Now i see it i know IKEA but would not have remembered it. The rest i would have not a slightest clue about them. Maybe it reflects my interest?
qwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwert
The Starbucks mermaid is actually spreading her two tails open for drunken sailors. True Fact
Now I know that I have no memory. I was content at not being able to remember these logos UNTIL I saw what others, even the "bad" ones, could do. I might as well shoot myself.
Simple logo and easy to draw - doesn't mean much, at least for me. So what if you don't know the exact logo of starbucks, you still know they make the coffe that you enjoy and you will go and buy one. This articles proves nothing more complicated logos are hard to be drawn. Cheers. www.fb.com/metahumandesign
I don't think I'd have gotten a "good drawing" on any of them except for maybe target
I would love a poster size picture of the Apple logos, framed it and put it on the wall
I liked some of the logos people got wrong. I think they would work so well! Like the domino's one what it's 2 triangles (red and blue), among others.
I was the same, I thought that one with the triangles was really striking! I'm gonna go and Trademark it ;)
Load More Replies...Hilarious indeed!! As Hans pretty regularly says on the internet: ‘what are those??’
Interesting how so many people remember the old logos better or end up mixing the old one with the newer ones. Shows how much effort it takes to rebrand a big company, how ingrained those old logos were in the first place, and how hard it is for people to adapt to changes in things they were used to. Here where I live there are some supermarket chains that changed names quite a few times in the last 30 years or so, and every time there are people who will go to the new stores, understand when you call them by the new name, but continue to call them by their old name for years.
we have the same thing. there are like "orientation points" (used-to-be significant restaurants or shops) that have been rebranded countless times, and people still call them by the name used 30+ yrs ago :D i find it nice and in some way calming or reassuring <3
Load More Replies...I think they got a low percentage just because their logo is too complicated for most people to be able to draw without reference. Most of the drawings show that people do know what the logo looks like but have no idea how to draw it.
Load More Replies...After looking at the word 'Burger' so many times I started think it was spelled wrong.
I think experiments like this are very useful to help designers create new logos and branding. Focus on what matters and spend less time on details that people might forget. If I was still teaching Design, I would show this to my students.
I would fail them all. And I'm an artist! (Hangs head in shame)
Maureen Zappellini, You're not alone. I'm just as bad, if not worse. Thanks for the company.
Load More Replies...This is a very interesting post and research! Helped me understand how important branding, colors and a logo is for your brand!
wait you forgot nike snapchat and mcdonalds also NASA and android and also spotify and pepsi
Wow! This is an amazing research. I think somebody should try this in India. Suggestion for the logo: 1. Tata 2. SBI 3. Airtel 4. Wipro 5. HDFC 6. Parle 7. IRTCT 8. Flipkart 9. Google 10. Saavn Hahaha... This would be fun! Stainless Steel 316L Pipes & Tubes SS 316L Pipes & Tubes
Well, we usually say that people can remember more colors than shapes but seems like not. I was personal still stuck with the logo of Adidas in the 70's did not realize it changed. branding is an exercise which we need careful to rethink when we change it or maybe even simplify it which is the experience everyone goes for ... more simple, easy to remember and recognize. Starbucks, for example, looks like 5 other coffee companies and the confusion is wanted.
i Actually like some of the logos that people have drawn, then the actual logos, lke IKEA and 7-Eleven
I think this highlights the difference between recognising a brand (like Starbucks new logo) and remembering the details.
I wonder what would happen with the Pepsi logo? Because I still associate the one from 30 years ago. download-5...665963.png
hjjkjkhhjkkjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhgggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggg
Hm... Does a logo really have to memorable? I tend to think most want it to be recognisable, rather then memorable. I can remember what a cerain logo looks like but it doesn't matter if I can remember the adidas logo when it gets lost in a sea of other logos that use 3 stripes (I'm not saying it actually does, I just needed an example). A logos purpose is association. If I would come out of the jungle and saw the adidas logo for the first time I would have no clue what it stands for or what the brand is about. But the brand behind it is sooooo good that we associate the logo with it and it makes it instantly recognisable. I'm rambilng a bit so my thoughts are all over the place, I may have phrased some things a bit weird :P.
indeed the drawing skills arent great, not even the best ones. But that is a known thing, drawing logo's aint that easy as it looks and a real technical hand is a rare thing. HOWEVER i am really impressed by the brand knowledge of 99% of the people. I myself would have get the drawing straight and right, if i would have known any. But even with my photographic memory i would only be able to draw the apple one. Now i see it i know IKEA but would not have remembered it. The rest i would have not a slightest clue about them. Maybe it reflects my interest?
qwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwert
The Starbucks mermaid is actually spreading her two tails open for drunken sailors. True Fact
Now I know that I have no memory. I was content at not being able to remember these logos UNTIL I saw what others, even the "bad" ones, could do. I might as well shoot myself.
Simple logo and easy to draw - doesn't mean much, at least for me. So what if you don't know the exact logo of starbucks, you still know they make the coffe that you enjoy and you will go and buy one. This articles proves nothing more complicated logos are hard to be drawn. Cheers. www.fb.com/metahumandesign
I don't think I'd have gotten a "good drawing" on any of them except for maybe target
I would love a poster size picture of the Apple logos, framed it and put it on the wall
I liked some of the logos people got wrong. I think they would work so well! Like the domino's one what it's 2 triangles (red and blue), among others.
I was the same, I thought that one with the triangles was really striking! I'm gonna go and Trademark it ;)
Load More Replies...Hilarious indeed!! As Hans pretty regularly says on the internet: ‘what are those??’
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