Saturday, February 28, 2009

What's In, Or Not In, a Logo?

New Claussen Pickle Lid
Old Claussen Pickle Lid
New Starbucks Logo

Old Starbucks Logo

13 comments:

Vanda said...

In "I Dream of Jeannie" Barbara Eden wasn't allowed to show her belly button. It's nice to know that now, half a century later, we still keep the youngsters safe from the source of moral decay that is the belly button.

gistag

Dinah Brooks said...

Well, the pickle is now in his left hand, the scarf is wider and there is a trademark. Are they still Kosher? I hope you grade on the curve!

Mister Earl said...

Fintippivot:

Try again.

Hint: the old logos were replaced for very specific reasons.

Margaret said...

That Vanda is so observant. I didn't even notice the belly button, I was too busy trying to figure out what the Starbucks lady seems to be holding onto. And what is the deal with her? Is she a mermaid?

Mister Earl said...

You guys are all around it. Vanda is right there, or close. The Starbucks lady is a mermaid, but unlike most mermaids that I've ever seen, and believe me, I've seen a lot, her fin is like two legs, instead of one. But the key is the change from the old logos to the new logos.

Cafe Pasadena said...

MH, that picture link is too much! You've outdone yourself.
I'd better not look too closely...or too hard!

Dinah Brooks said...

Mr. Earl, thank you for the hint. I am trying this again. I think the holding of the pickle is far more suggestive in the older logo. And the tag-line, whatever they call it, has certainly changed. Both new logos are now trademarked... so, duh! Too obvious! Any logo as recognizable as these are would only change because it is now seen as politically incorrect, or the packaging has changed & the logo along with it... somehow. So what am I missing? I'm intrigued & still working on it!

Mister Earl said...

Fin:

You're right about Pickle Man. The older logo made it into Playboy because of what it appeared he was doing. Hence, he now holds "it" away from his body.

The Starbucks logo was too suggestive as well, with her leg-fins spread, so they cropped the view. Recently, Starbucks celebrated its early days in Pike Place and for awhile used cups with their original logo, complete with spread legs. I guess they figured we could deal with it in 2008.

pasadenapio said...

Zillions of dollars for subtle differences that only a marketing focus group can decide.

Mister Earl said...

I think you're right Miss H. Apparently the Starbucks logo is based on a twin-tailed siren from the 15th century.

http://www.deadprogrammer.com/starbucks-logo-mermaid

Starbuck was Captain Ahab's First Mate on the Pequod, the only one who resisted Ahab's turning the mission into a quest for the White Whale.

Anonymous said...

If Starbucks stock stands any chance these days, they must try full frontal nudity.

And the pickles -- lots of options there.

Vanda said...

I never read that whale book, so I had no idea it had a character named Starbuck. Hold on a second, I'm having symbolism overload. How does Starbuck from the book relate to Starbuck from Battlestar Galactica?

Sudiacai!!

Laurie Allee said...

This is fascinating!