The Best 50s Logos of All Time

When you think of the 1950s, what comes to mind? Maybe it's classic cars, the birth of rock and roll, or neon-lit diners. But the 50s also gave us some of the world’s most unforgettable logos. These designs did more than represent brands—they became symbols woven into the fabric of daily life. They shaped shopping habits, set trends, and brought color to a recovering postwar world. In a decade hungry for optimism and modernity, designers crafted images that could inspire, reassure, and instantly identify products on crowded shelves. Today, these logos aren’t just relics; they are timeless, still shaping how brands connect with people everywhere.

Why 1950s Logos?

The 1950s marked a turning point in graphic design history. After the hardship of World War II, businesses needed to stand out in a booming, hopeful marketplace. Designers stepped up, giving brands faces that were memorable and modern. With television on the rise, logos now had to look good not just in print, but also on screens and storefronts.

A unique blend of optimism and innovation powered this creative burst. Clean lines, bold shapes, and cheerful colors became the new standard. Logos needed to be simple enough to be recognized at a glance, yet flexible enough to work on everything from business cards to billboards.

The Best 50s Logos That Stay Timeless Even Today

This era set rules still followed today: keep it simple, make it meaningful, and design for everywhere. Even without digital tools, designers of the 50s used skill, intuition, and a little bit of magic to capture the spirit of a brand. The result? Logos that outlasted their own time—remaining instantly recognizable decades later. This golden age showed that good design isn’t just about looking nice. It’s about telling a story, building trust, and becoming part of everyday life. Here are the best 50s logos on our list:

Coca-Cola: The Script That Refreshed the World

No other logo captures the 50s quite like Coca-Cola’s flowing script. Even though Coca-Cola introduced its now-iconic script in the late 19th century, it was during the 1950s that the brand polished and promoted it to a new level of global fame. This was a decade of refrigerators in every home and the rise of convenience culture, and Coke’s logo appeared everywhere—on glass bottles, metal coolers, and neon signs.

The distinctive Spencerian script was already familiar, but in the 1950s, the brand streamlined the swirl, making it bolder and easier to reproduce in mass media. The red-and-white color scheme was meant to evoke feelings of joy, refreshment, and youth. While many companies chased modern, geometric looks, Coca-Cola kept its classic curves and doubled down on tradition, using consistency as its secret weapon.

Why does this matter? It’s simple: the Coca-Cola logo is more than just a name. It’s a promise. Every time someone opened a bottle in the 50s, that logo reminded them of good times, family, and celebration. Today, it remains one of the most recognized and loved logos on earth—a lesson in how a simple, joyful design can outlast trends and become part of our shared culture.

McDonald’s: The Birth of the Golden Arches

Few symbols are as powerful as the Golden Arches. While McDonald’s opened its first restaurant in the 1940s, it was in the 1950s that its now-famous logo began to take shape. Architect Stanley Meston designed the first set of arches for a drive-in in San Bernardino, California. These glowing yellow arcs were visible from a distance, acting as beacons for hungry travelers.

But the real breakthrough came when Richard and Maurice McDonald, along with Ray Kroc, turned those arches into a defining feature. By the end of the decade, the two arches were merged to form the iconic “M” we all recognize today. The golden color wasn’t chosen by accident—it radiated warmth, cheerfulness, and approachability, all qualities that helped McDonald’s become a household name.

What made the logo so effective? It was both a landmark and a logo. You could spot it from down the street, instantly connecting the sight of those arches with hot fries and quick service. In the crowded fast-food industry, the Golden Arches gave McDonald’s a friendly, welcoming face that stood out in a sea of neon. Today, the logo represents more than a restaurant—it’s a symbol of American pop culture.

Volkswagen: Simplicity on Wheels

The Volkswagen logo stands as a masterclass in simplicity. Originally created in the 1930s, the famous “VW” roundel became truly iconic in the 1950s as the Beetle gained popularity around the world. The postwar boom saw families looking for affordable, reliable cars, and the Beetle’s distinctive logo helped Volkswagen win hearts everywhere.

What set the logo apart? Its minimalist design: two simple letters, interlocked inside a perfect circle. In a time when flashy fonts and illustrations were common, Volkswagen’s mark was clean and unpretentious. It could be stamped onto car hoods, steering wheels, and even advertisements without losing clarity.

The logo became more than just a brand—it was a sign of dependability and a new way of thinking about transportation. The bold lines and balanced shapes reflected German precision and the brand’s promise of solid engineering. For many, seeing the VW badge on a Beetle or Bus was a sign of freedom and adventure, especially as the vehicles became associated with youth culture and road trips.

Even today, Volkswagen’s 50s-era logo is a lesson in how less can truly be more. It’s proof that a simple idea, well-executed, can last for generations and become a universal symbol.

Pepsi: Drink Up!

The 1950s were a decade of change for Pepsi. Eager to set itself apart from rival Coca-Cola, Pepsi updated its logo to fit the times. The result was the now-famous bottle cap design, complete with bold red, white, and blue waves. Introduced in 1950, this logo was more than patriotic—it was perfectly suited to America’s growing love of soft drinks and easy living.

What made the new design so powerful? For starters, it signaled freshness and modernity. The swirled lines evoked a sense of motion, making Pepsi feel like the cool, up-to-date choice. Unlike Coke’s traditional script, Pepsi’s logo was circular and modern, designed for the new age of television and fast advertising.

The logo’s patriotic colors helped the brand connect with American families, while its playful look made it appeal to a younger generation. Bottles and vending machines across the country carried the cap logo, ensuring that Pepsi was as much a part of summer picnics and ballgames as the snacks themselves.

The 50s Pepsi logo showed how a fresh design could help a brand break from the pack. Decades later, the red, white, and blue cap is still remembered as a symbol of energy, youth, and a taste for something new.

NASA: Reaching for the Stars

‍NASA’s logo is the ultimate symbol of 50s-era ambition. Founded in 1958, NASA was the face of America’s push to conquer space. To match its forward-thinking mission, the agency needed a design that felt modern, inspiring, and filled with possibility. That’s how the “meatball” logo came to life—a bold blue circle with a red vector, white orbital path, and crisp block lettering.

Every detail was chosen with care. The round shape represents planets and exploration. The white stars speak of distant galaxies. The red swoosh, meant to evoke both aeronautics and rockets, slices through the logo, making it dynamic and energetic. Even the typeface, sturdy and geometric, was selected to look both technical and friendly.

NASA’s meatball quickly became a cultural icon. It appeared on spacesuits, launch pads, and mission control rooms, symbolizing hope and curiosity. In an era marked by Cold War tensions, the NASA logo gave Americans something to rally around—a vision of progress that everyone could share.

Decades later, the meatball still stirs the imagination. It’s more than a badge; it’s a call to dream big. For anyone who watched the moon landing or saw rockets take flight, NASA’s 50s logo stands as a tribute to human ingenuity and wonder.

CBS: The All-Seeing Eye

The CBS eye is one of the most enduring images from 1950s graphic design. Created in 1951 by William Golden, the logo was inspired by Pennsylvania Dutch hex signs and old Shaker art. It was designed to give the television network a look that was both simple and mysterious—something viewers would remember after the screen went dark.

Why an eye? In an age when TV was still new, the symbol of sight made perfect sense. It suggested that CBS was always watching, always bringing the latest news and entertainment into your home. The design itself is deceptively simple: a bold black pupil, white iris, and a surrounding oval, all perfectly balanced.

This logo didn’t just work on TV—it looked great on everything from microphones to camera vans. The CBS eye set a standard for broadcasting, showing that a good logo doesn’t need flashy effects. Instead, it needs meaning and memorability.

Over the years, the CBS eye has become a symbol of trust and authority. It reminds viewers that what they’re watching is credible and important. In the 50s, this logo helped make CBS a household name, and even now, it remains a classic piece of branding—one that proves less really can be more.

Playboy: The Iconic Bunny 

When it comes to cultural impact, few 50s logos match the Playboy bunny. Launched in 1953, the men’s magazine wanted a playful yet sophisticated look. Designer Art Paul was tasked with creating something unforgettable—and he nailed it with a simple, stylized rabbit head sporting a tuxedo bow tie.

The bunny wasn’t just cute; it was clever. It suggested wit, style, and a sense of fun without saying a word. The clean lines and bold silhouette were easy to spot on newsstands, making Playboy instantly recognizable even in a crowded market. More than that, the logo managed to be cheeky without being crass—an image that walked the line between respectable and rebellious.

In a decade known for conformity, the Playboy logo represented freedom and a new kind of cool. It became a status symbol, appearing not just on magazines but also on club doors, merchandise, and even luxury cars. The bunny spoke to a generation that was ready to push boundaries and try something different.

Today, the Playboy bunny remains one of the most recognized logos ever. It’s a reminder of the 50s spirit: bold, imaginative, and unafraid to have a little fun with tradition.

Lego: Building Blocks of Imagination

Lego’s story began in Denmark, but its logo became a global symbol of creativity in the 1950s. At first, Lego made wooden toys, but the postwar era’s excitement about plastic led the company to create its first interlocking bricks. Alongside this innovation came a logo that would inspire children everywhere.

The early Lego logo was simple—just the company name in friendly, rounded letters. But it was the 1950s redesign that made it pop. Moving away from an old-fashioned script, Lego switched to a bold, industrial sans-serif. The design was clean, easy to read, and captured the spirit of modern play.

Why does the Lego logo matter? Because it mirrors the product: simple, colorful, and full of endless possibilities. The cheerful red and white color scheme matched the company’s playful mission. As Lego bricks found their way into homes across Europe and the United States, the logo became a promise of fun, learning, and imagination.

Today’s Lego branding traces its roots to these 50s designs. It’s a perfect example of how a logo can be both timeless and fresh, sparking joy for kids (and grownups) year after year.

CND: Peace for a New Generation

The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) logo stands out for its message as much as its design. Created in 1958 by Gerald Holtom, the symbol combined simplicity with deep meaning. Three straight lines within a circle, forming the semaphore letters “N” and “D” for nuclear disarmament, became an icon for peace movements everywhere.

Why did it catch on? The logo was easy to draw, easy to share, and spoke to a global longing for peace during the Cold War. Marchers carried banners with the symbol at huge protests across Britain and beyond. By the 1960s, it had become an international sign of protest and hope.

Even today, the CND logo (often called the peace symbol) remains one of the most powerful protest images. It’s seen on shirts, buttons, and posters at rallies worldwide. The design’s roots in the 1950s remind us how a simple, thoughtful logo can inspire change and give people a way to unite around a cause.

The peace symbol shows that logos aren’t just for companies—they can also give voice to movements and shape history for the better.

IBM: The Tech Revolution

IBM’s journey as a global tech giant took off in the 1950s, and so did its branding. While the now-famous striped logo would be refined later, the seeds were planted during this decade with a simple, strong wordmark. The bold lettering projected strength, reliability, and modernity—qualities the company wanted to share with business clients.

The 50s IBM logo set the tone for what would follow: straightforward, authoritative, and easy to spot on everything from computers to paperwork. This was a time when computers were as big as rooms, and the logo needed to match that sense of scale.

IBM’s early logo taught the world that technology could be trusted and even friendly. Its evolution in later decades only reinforced the foundation built in the 50s: a brand that means progress, innovation, and a promise to solve problems with logic and skill.

Polaroid: Capturing Moments

Polaroid changed how people captured memories, and its logo played a big part in that story. In the 1950s, Polaroid’s wordmark appeared on cameras and instant film, using a clean, unadorned font that felt modern and trustworthy. It fit perfectly with the excitement of snapping a photo and seeing it develop right before your eyes.

The simple design meant the logo could appear anywhere—on tiny film packs, camera bodies, and advertising. The clear, friendly lettering matched Polaroid’s message: anyone can be a photographer and keep memories close.

As instant photography took off, the Polaroid logo became a symbol of fun and connection. It’s a reminder of the 50s belief that technology could make life better. Even today, the logo evokes nostalgia and the joy of sharing a moment in real time.

Ford: Blue Oval in the Fast Lane

By the 1950s, Ford’s blue oval was already a familiar sight on roads everywhere. But in this decade, the logo took on new energy. As car culture exploded, Ford’s branding shifted to match America’s hunger for speed, style, and adventure. The script “Ford” inside the bold blue ellipse became a badge of quality and excitement.

The logo worked because it was both traditional and forward-looking. It promised reliable engineering, yet it also fit perfectly with the optimism of the postwar years. The color blue represented trust and stability, while the swooping script added a sense of motion.

From tailfins to convertibles, Ford’s cars and their logo defined the open road. The 50s Ford mark endures as a symbol of freedom and the thrill of possibility.

RCA: Sound and Vision

RCA was a leader in music and television in the 1950s, and its logo reflected that star power. The famous lightning bolt and simple, strong lettering signaled a company at the center of the entertainment revolution.

The RCA mark became a household name, appearing on radios, record players, and black-and-white TVs. Its straightforward style matched the brand’s promise: bringing sound and vision into American homes.

This decade saw RCA’s logo associated with famous artists and historic broadcasts. Even now, it brings to mind the excitement of a living room filled with music and laughter. The 50s logo captures the spirit of a time when technology, entertainment, and family life came together like never before.

Shell: The Pecten Becomes Pop Art

The Shell pecten shell logo received its most enduring redesign in the 1950s. With bold lines and a simplified, bright look, the shell was easy to recognize at busy gas stations and along highways.

Shell’s branding shift reflected a decade that valued clarity and boldness. The logo’s shape—instantly recognizable as a scallop shell—stood for reliability and energy. The vibrant yellow and red colors made it stand out against the competition.

In the postwar boom, road trips and car ownership soared, and Shell’s logo became part of the adventure. Today’s version traces its roots back to this era, showing how the 50s style still drives brand recognition around the world.

How Did the 50s Logos Influenced Modern Branding?

The influence of 50s logos can still be seen everywhere. Today’s brands still rely on the same principles: clarity, emotion, and universal appeal. The best 50s logos proved that you don’t need clutter or complexity to make an impression. Instead, a logo should capture the spirit of a brand in the simplest way possible.

The 1950s gave rise to ideas that are now second nature in design: use color wisely, choose typefaces carefully, and build trust through consistency. Logos from this era also set a standard for versatility. They had to look great in print, on products, and even on the small screens of early television sets. This flexibility is just as important now, with brands appearing on phones, tablets, and every digital platform.

Another lasting lesson is the emotional connection these logos create. The Golden Arches make us hungry, the Coca-Cola script sparks nostalgia, and the peace symbol inspires hope. Modern designers still look to the 1950s for inspiration, borrowing from the bold lines and big ideas that defined the decade. By understanding what made these logos timeless, today’s brands can still build connections that last for generations.

Conclusion

The 1950s were a golden age for branding. The logos created during this time continue to shape how we see, feel, and connect with brands. From soda bottles to car badges and peace marches, these designs have become more than just symbols—they’re part of our history and culture.

Whether you’re an artist, a business owner, or just a fan of good design, the stories behind these 50s logos offer inspiration and timeless lessons. As long as people care about style and substance, the bold creativity of the 1950s will never go out of style. 

Check our logo design ideas for more inspiration. If you’d like to make your own 50s logos or add a new spin to the older ones, try out Logome.