Since its founding in 1976, Apple has undergone a number of significant brand changes, including the adoption of several different logos.
From Sir Isaac Newton’s original logo to the iconic hooked apple we know today, each logo tells a unique story about the evolution of Apple’s identity.
Over the years, the Apple logo has undergone many changes to reflect the company’s evolving vision and products.
In this blog post, we explore the history of the different logos that Apple has adopted over the years, including the stories behind their creation and the meaning of their designs.
What you need to know first about the Apple logo
Many of us are part of the Apple consumer community, but have you ever thought about how the logo was created?
Indeed, we can say that Apple’s apple is in tune with the times, because although its shape has not changed since 1977, its color and texture effects have been updated.
The apple was originally “rainbow” colored, but is now “mirror”. The Apple logo has gone through several phases of change, including “translucent”, “monochrome”, “aqua”, and “chrome”.
Contrary to what one might think, the Apple logo has not always been so minimalist. It has undergone several changes during its existence. Let’s take a look back at the different Apple logos over the years.
The history and evolution of the Apple logo
The Apple logo has become one of the most recognizable logos in the world, with a rich history and evolution spanning more than four decades. Founded by Steve Jobs in 1976, Apple has become a leading designer and marketer of electronic products.
The logo, which represents a crunchy apple, has become a symbol of the brand and has undergone several transformations over the years. One theory about choosing the apple as a logo is that Steve Jobs was a big fan of the Beatles, and their record label “Apple Corps” inspired the name.
However, since the record company already had an apple as its logo, the Apple logo was transformed into a crunchy apple. According to another theory, the logo was inspired by the famous mathematician Isaac Newton.
The latter had a revelation about universal gravitation after an apple fell on his head. The very first Apple logo, designed by Ronald Wayne, depicted Newton leaning against an apple tree.
But the shape of the Apple logo we know today was designed by Rob Janoff in 1977 and depicts a colored apple in honor of mathematician Alan Turing, who was gay.
If this form is maintained, the Apple logo will have undergone various modifications during its existence, both in terms of color and design. In 1998 it became black and more subdued, and from 2001 to 2007 it featured the “aqua” effect with highlights.
Today it is white with new highlights and a clean, modern design. Despite these changes, the Apple logo has remained one of the best logos in the world, a testament to the brand’s enduring heritage and commitment to innovation.
The logo’s heritage is firmly rooted in the company’s history and has established itself as an emblem of distinction and ingenuity in the technology sector.
Factors that influenced the design of the Apple logo
According to Apple logo designer Rob Janoff, he drew inspiration from his study of fruits of all kinds to create the logo, and chose to use an apple as a guideline since the brand name was already Apple.
He wanted to differentiate the fruit from a tomato, and that’s how the apple shape in the logo was born. Steve Jobs, the boss at the time, did not give specific instructions on the design of the logo, other than to avoid making it too childish so that it would not harm the image of the brand.
Janoff was given free rein to create the logo, and he even incorporated some pun suggestions, such as references to “byte”, a computer unit, and “cock”. The multicolor version of the logo was chosen for its original appearance, just like the chrome version.
The final touch was the placement of the color green at the top of the apple to represent the leaf, thus promoting an image of nature. Janoff’s intention was not to make a pun with the apple, but rather to create a unique and memorable logo for Apple.
The different Apple logos and their meaning
Over the years, Apple has had several logos that have evolved with the growth and development of the company. Here are the different Apple logos and their meaning:
Source : Quora
The Apple logo in 1976
As we mentioned earlier, the first Apple logo was proposed by Ron Wayne and designed in 1976. It depicted a detailed drawing of Sir Isaac Newton sitting under a tree, with an apple hanging above his head .
The goal of this logo was to embody the connection between Apple and its commitment to innovation and creativity.
Source : Creads
The Apple logo in 1977
In 1977, Rob Janoff created the second Apple logo. It was a rainbow-colored apple, bitten with both teeth. This logo was intended to be playful and fun, and represented the company’s mission: to make computers accessible to everyone.
Source : 1000logos
The Apple logo in 1998
In 1998, Apple introduced the monochrome logo, depicting a bitten silver apple. This logo was meant to reflect the company’s emphasis on simplicity and elegance.
Source : logos
The Apple logo in 2001
In 2001, Apple introduced a new version of the monochrome logo with a cleaner appearance, which reflected the company’s emphasis on innovation and design.
Source : pngimg
The Apple logo in 2007
In 2007, Apple introduced the iconic “sunset” logo, which depicts a monochrome apple bitten against a sunset-colored background. This logo was meant to represent the company’s move toward mobile devices and evoke a feeling of warmth and familiarity.
Source : pngimg
The Apple logo in 2013
In 2013, Apple introduced the current flat logo, which depicts a monochrome apple bitten into its teeth, without shading or shine. This logo was meant to reflect the company’s evolution toward simplicity and minimalism in design.
Source : pngimg
Overall, Apple’s various logos have represented the company’s evolution over time, from its origins in the personal computer industry to its current focus on mobile devices and cutting-edge design.
The PNG format of the Apple logo
PNG (Portable Network Graphics) is a popular file format for digital images that allows lossless compression, meaning that image quality is not compromised when the file size is reduced.
So Apple logo in PNG format can be expected to have high quality, sharpness and color accuracy, while having a relatively small file size.
When using the Apple logo on digital media, it is important to ensure that the image is of high quality and resolution to avoid any pixelation or blurring.
Using the PNG file format is a good choice because it preserves the quality of the image while reducing its file size, making it easier to download and share online.
In summary
The Apple logo is an iconic symbol that has evolved over the years, reflecting the growth and transformation of the company.
From the original image of Isaac Newton sitting under an apple tree to the modern minimalist design, the logo has always represented innovation, creativity and simplicity.
Over time, the apple logo has evolved to represent Apple Inc. and its products, and today it is universally recognized. Overall, the Apple logo remains a timeless symbol of technological advancement and creativity. To learn more about visual identity changes, see our article on brand identity.
