Colors and the Transformation of the Apple, Inc. Logo

Apple, Inc. has changed hier logo completely from 1976 up until now. A shown above, the first logo started off with a very detailed, heavy, and black and white illustraiton of Isaac Newton sitting under and apple tree. Then, that same year, the logo was changed because it was beleived that the slow sales were due to the logo. The new logo became a very simplified bitten apple with rainbow stripes running horizontally. In 1998 the logo was changed again. The current one is similar to the last one in shape, though it is a bit smaller in size. The major change to the logo is in the color. The current one is even more simplified with monochromatic tones of grey and white for shading and a curved grey streak arcross the middle of the apple.

From Josef Alber's book, Interaction of Color, we learned that colors are subjective. Each person views colors in their own ways. Also, the colors we percieve are never truly at thier purest; they are constantly being affected by the colors around them. The 1976-1998 logo was a rainbow of solid, bold colors laid side by side. This design is very eye-catching, and no matter who is looking at it or from which ever perspective, the colors simply stand out because of the order they are in, which contrasts them. This pop of bright colors probably made Apple, Inc. stand out and become a memorable symbol.

Even today, the Apple, Inc. logo is easily recognized and remembered. However, as stated before, the current logo is much less bright, and is much more monochromatic. This lack of color shifts the focus of the design from the color of the apple to the apple itself. This shows how Apple, Inc. is now a well-known and stable brand, and they intend to stay a modern, forward-thinking company, as the smooth, sleek streaks on the apple illustrate. Moreover, the monochrome greys and whites are reminiscent of strong, sure metals, such as steel and iron.

Colors, and the lack of colors, can have a huge impact on design, and the Apple, Inc. logo is just one example of many.

Photo Credit:
Neatorama