The Pepsi logo stands out as one of the most recognizable images in the beverage industry. Compared to its main rival, it has gone through quite a few transitions over the years. From its early handwriting style to the sleek, modern globe we know today, Pepsi’s visual identity has constantly adapted to the changing nature of culture and consumer preferences.
In this article, we take a look back at the evolution of the logo, what resonates with audiences now, and whether the brand should stick with its current design. If you’re in the process of creating a logo that’s longing to be recognizable and expand, Rabbit is here to help you with clearly defined steps to get it right.
The Origin of the Pepsi Logo
The Pepsi logo has a long and varied history, dating back to 1898. Did you know that the brand was originally called “Brad’s Drink”? But within a year, it was renamed Pepsi-Cola (later known as Pepsi-Co), and thus the first logo was created. Like many brands of that period, it began as a decorative wordmark logo, highly stylized in font.
Pepsi underwent a major transformation in the 1940s, when they announced their now iconic red-white-blue color scheme. But don’t think it was just for aesthetic reasons. It was actually a patriotic move during World War II to align with American sentiment.
The circular logo inspired by a bottle-cap also appeared for the first time. Over the next few decades, that same circle evolved, flattening and simplifying with each refresh. And finally, 2008 was a pivotal year for Pepsi company, when it introduced a major redesign: the lowercase wordmark paired with a simplified, asymmetrical globe that was meant to represent a smile, movement, and youthful energy.
Such frequent logo changes represent nothing more than Pepsi’s strategy to remain current and culturally significant. While some variants of the redesign caused mixed reactions among people, the constant reshaping clearly represents the trust and confidence of the brand itself in the adaptability of its symbol.
What Type of Logo Is It?
The Pepsi logo can best be described as a combination mark logo, fusing symbol and typography. The word “Pepsi” and the distinctive globe are often used together, but each can also stand alone, as the situation dictates. It is this adaptability that allows the brand to maintain a strong presence on packaging, in commercials, and across digital platforms.
Compared to Coca-Cola’s consistent wordmark, Pepsi still relies on change and modularity. The combined trademark enables the evolution of the brand without allowing it to lose the basic idea. The globe carries a visual identity, and the lettermark adapts to design trends. This dual structure supports both global consistency and local creativity, making it ideal for a brand that operates across many generations and cultures.
Design Elements and Symbolism
Pepsi’s logo consists of three accompanying brand elements: the globe icon, the red-white-blue color palette, and a minimalistic typeface. It is true that the globe has changed over time from a bottle cap to a swirling sphere and more recently to a fluid, off-centered wave. The current shape should mean nothing but a smile – which clearly correlates with the brand’s messages of happiness and optimism.
If we go back in time, it is important to emphasize that the red, white and blue colors originally symbolized patriotism during the Second World War. Now these colors also have a wider meaning. Red evokes energy and excitement, blue represents confidence and refreshment, and white provides clarity and balance. A lowercase sans-serif typeface, Pepsi announced in 2008, with the aim of appearing youthful, accessible and modern, despite facing mixed criticism for its simplicity.
These elements work together to create a logo that feels fast, fresh and global. The new design relies heavily on movement and emotion – which is in line with Pepsi’s energetic brand positioning aimed at young people in a new era.
Logo Variations: Full vs Short Version
Pepsi skillfully uses both a full logo (the globe together with the wordmark) and the simplified version (just the globe). You can find the full logo on most of their packaging, advertisements and brand campaigns. Taking this approach improves clarity in global markets, as well as increasing brand recognition, especially in regions where people may not even be familiar with the globe itself.
If we take a closer look at the Short Version – the standalone globe – we’ll notice that it’s used on Pepsi bottles, social media avatars, app icons, and promotional products. The current iteration of the globe is actually bold and clean enough to work on small touchpoints without losing its identity. And this two-layer system allows Pepsi to maintain a bold presence while also adapting to the demands of each platform.
How It Performs in Small Sizes
We have to admit that the Pepsi logo performs quite well at small sizes, especially the globe icon. Its bold, geometric shape and limited color palette make it easy to work on small surfaces like bottle caps or mobile apps. Unlike older logos that focused on intricate fonts or gradients, the current design focuses exclusively on simplicity and legibility. The small letterform also scales relatively well, but its role becomes secondary in small formats. In these scenarios, the globe becomes the hero – and it holds up well. And that’s exactly the key advantage of the combination mark logo style: if you build it right, the symbol itself can become and effectively represent a brand regardless of its boundaries.
Brand Recognition & Global Impact
Did you know that the Pepsi logo is recognizable in over 200 countries, playing a central role in sports sponsorships, pop culture, and global media campaigns? Interestingly, in a recognition test conducted with 50 participants, 49 immediately recognized the logo the first time. While that percentage is slightly lower than Coca-Cola’s near-perfect recall, it’s certainly remarkably strong for a logo that has undergone frequent changes.
What does the Pepsi brand presence encompass? From those well-known vending machines, concerts, festivals, to TV commercials and digital platforms. The adaptability of the logo has certainly helped it evolve with each era of consumer generation, and the globe icon remains a shorthand for youth culture, entertainment and refreshment around the world.
Comparing Design with Other Brands
Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola uses a wordmark logo that has remained almost unchanged since the 19th century. Its consistency builds trust and nostalgia, in contrast to Pepsi’s more experimental and modern approach.
Dr Pepper
Dr Pepper’s wordmark logo uses strong, bold typography but lacks an accompanying symbol, limiting its adaptability. It feels more rigid than Pepsi’s dynamic combination mark.
7UP
7UP’s combination logo features bright green and red elements with playful typography. While energetic and youthful, it lacks the global visual clarity and symbolic weight of Pepsi’s globe.
Should They Change the Logo?
Pepsi’s journey through countless redesigns is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it highlights the brand’s willingness to adapt and stay in tune with cultural changes. On the other hand, all of this constant change can sometimes cloud the brand’s recognition in the long run. Many Pepsi consumers still feel nostalgic for its older globe design or more traditional typography.
From this perspective, Pepsi could benefit from holding off on a redesign. The current version is clean, scalable, and symbolically strong. By avoiding repeated changes, the brand should focus on embedding the existing design more deeply into its touchpoints. That would be a wise decision – building long-term recognition rather than constantly chasing something new.
Conclusion
Let’s face it, the Pepsi logo is a fascinating study in contrast: it evolves frequently, yet manages to remain globally recognizable. Its combination of characters, vibrant globe iconography, and color symbolism help it scale easily across platforms while remaining culturally flexible. For all those brands looking to strike a balance between consistency and evolution, Pepsi offers a bold blueprint. And Rabbit is here to help you create a breathtaking design strategy, a logo that keeps up with the times – without losing your essence.
