Superman logo refresh from 1938 to 2013 by Maurice Mitchell.
Subtle changes, but updates make a difference.
Found this info graph when I was reading an article comparing Tim Tebow to Superman. I don’t know why I was looking for this, but it really is interesting. It makes you realize just how iconic these symbols are for the characters, for their brand, their ideals, and their purpose. No wonder Superman is the favorite of the most amount of states, with such a wonderful and beautifully simple design and logo. As soon as that shape was set with his emblem, you can see just how striking and original it is.
The thing that’s different is the background color. When I checked Brands Of The World, I found this familiar logo. It’s easy to ignore the factor that the blue gives it, the way the red and yellow pop so beautifully against it makes it stand out much more than on its own. I think seeing it on the field of royal blue makes a difference. It just wouldn’t be the same without it, don’t you think? It makes a great example of how a brand is used, and how the context around a logo can change the feel of it so much. On its own, it almost seems alarming, but the blue grounds it back to the caring and protective, and noble, influence that the character is meant to show. There are lessons to learn from this logo when it comes to branding, that’s for sure.
