{"id":8436,"date":"2022-08-05T12:30:57","date_gmt":"2022-08-05T16:30:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wordpress-715453-3009179.cloudwaysapps.com\/?p=8436"},"modified":"2022-08-05T12:48:26","modified_gmt":"2022-08-05T16:48:26","slug":"90s-logos","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wordpress-715453-3009179.cloudwaysapps.com\/blog\/90s-logos\/","title":{"rendered":"22 Memorable 90s Logos to Take You Back in Time"},"content":{"rendered":"

The 90s aesthetic is making a comeback. While minimal logos<\/a> like Google, Airbnb, and Spotify reigned supreme for the last decade, logos are trending toward a more colorful look recently.<\/span><\/p>\n

Logos today err on the side of simplicity. Think of Google, Airbnb, and Spotify\u2019s sans-serif wordmarks<\/a> and flat designs, and you can see that \u201cless is more\u201d is a popular branding approach.<\/p>\n

The 1990s were a time of bright colors, bold geometric patterns<\/a>, and snazzy typography. From hit TV sitcoms to beloved candy brands, we\u2019ve gathered 21 of our favorite 90s logos to jumpstart a trip down memory lane.<\/p>\n

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1. MTV<\/b><\/h2>\n

MTV\u2019s iconic logo consisted of similar design elements seen in graffiti art. With shared concepts of freedom and rebellion geared towards youth, MTV did a great job appealing to its young audience.<\/p>\n

The size and prominence of the \u201cM\u201d signified the network\u2019s exclusive focus on music in its early days, living up to its name \u201cMusic Television.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"MTV<\/p>\n

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2. Cartoon Network<\/b><\/h2>\n

The Cartoon Network\u2019s seven-by-two-square grid with the company\u2019s name was one of the most recognizable logos in the television space in the 90s (the squares have since been reduced to \u201cCN\u201d).<\/p>\n

The alternating black and white blocks featured a playful yet strong custom typeface, reflecting the fun nature of the network.<\/p>\n

\"Cartoon<\/p>\n

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3. Nickelodeon<\/b><\/h2>\n

With a target audience of children aged six to 17, Nickelodeon\u2019s 90s logo featured an orange splat with the company\u2019s name. The bright color depicts cheerfulness<\/a>, youth, and energy.<\/p>\n

A rounded, sans-serif custom typeface<\/a> with character features (see the \u201cO\u201d) was the obvious choice, as a serif typeface would have been seen as too sophisticated.\"Orange<\/p>\n

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4. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air<\/b><\/h2>\n

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air logo featured a graffiti-inspired display font<\/a> paired with a more traditional serif font. The wordmark is illuminated by a pink bleed, creating a spray-can effect.<\/p>\n

The graffiti elements represent Will, a street-smart teenager from West Philadelphia; the serif font represents his well-off family members. The contrast reflects the differences between the two.\"Fresh<\/p>\n

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5. Friends<\/b><\/h2>\n

The logo for the hit 90s sitcom consists of an all-caps wordmark, separated by six colored dots, believed to represent each of the six friends (these dots are also the color of the umbrellas the cast holds in the show\u2019s title sequence).<\/p>\n

The custom typeface looks as though it were handwritten with a permanent marker, reflecting the show\u2019s playful personality and the friends\u2019 lasting bond.<\/p>\n

\"Friends<\/p>\n

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6. Seinfeld<\/b><\/h2>\n

The Seinfeld logo features a softly italicized serif font<\/a> against a slanted yellow oval, representing the mature yet quirky nature of the show, following the comedic (and relatable) situations of young adults living in New York City.<\/p>\n

The yellow oval signifies the spotlight on Jerry Seinfeld, who tells his stories to an audience in a comedy club.<\/p>\n

\"Seinfeld<\/p>\n

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7. Saved by the Bell<\/b><\/h2>\n

Saved by the Bell followed the lives of six teenagers in the Pacific Palisades area. The circle logo<\/a> consists of multiple typefaces in bright colors, communicating the lighthearted nature of the show.<\/p>\n

The word \u201cBell\u201d is yellow, resembling the gold of a handheld school bell. The letters are slanted towards the right in a jagged, overlapping arrangement to illustrate a ringing effect.<\/p>\n

\"Saved<\/p>\n

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8. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles<\/b><\/h2>\n

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles followed the adventures of four anthropomorphic turtles named after Italian Renaissance artists. The green, muscular lettering mimics the look of the turtles.<\/p>\n

This logo was used to illustrate the first mainstream TV appearance of the franchise. In contrast to other edgier logo variations that came afterward, this one best represented the essence of the characters.<\/p>\n

\"Teenage<\/p>\n

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9. Sweet Tarts<\/b><\/h2>\n

The Sweet Tarts candy logo is made up of a bubbly wordmark with the words \u201cSweet\u201d and \u201cTarts\u201d spliced together with a split-toned \u201cT,\u201d which emphasizes the sweet and tart flavor profiles of the Willy Wonka candy.<\/p>\n

Above the wordmark sits the descriptor \u201ctangy candy\u201d in a lowercase typeface, with capital \u201cN\u201ds to show playfulness. The current version of this logo doesn’t include the descriptor, but the rest of the design has remained the same!\"Sweetarts<\/p>\n

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10. Bubble Tape<\/b><\/h2>\n

This Wrigley\u2019s candy logo consisted of a bubbly typeface contained in a purple gradient bubble<\/a>, with a funky typeface underneath. The extended \u201ce\u201d on the end of \u201cTape\u201d wrapped around the logo, to mimic the length of the famous tape-like bubble gum.<\/p>\n

Multiple bright colors were used to elicit youth and excitement, and the slogan<\/a>, \u201cIt\u2019s six feet of bubble gum\u2013for you\u2013not them” (“them” as in adults) helped appeal to their target audience.\"Hubba<\/p>\n

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11. Baby Bottle Pop<\/b><\/h2>\n

The Baby Bottle Pop logo consisted of a bubbly neon typeface accompanied by a baby bottle cap, and the word \u201cBaby\u201d appropriately sized at a smaller scale. The wordmark is surrounded by a messy chalk-like line, as though drawn by a child, matching the interests of the brand\u2019s target audience.<\/p>\n

Baby Bottle Pop\u2019s marketing communicated the playful, silly spirit of the candy\u2019s \u201cexplosive experience.\u201d\"Bottle<\/p>\n

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12. Hot Wheels<\/b><\/h2>\n

The Hot Wheels logo has stayed relatively the same over the years, using red and yellow-orange to mimic a flame. In previous logo variations, \u201cHot Wheels\u201d was displayed in plain white lettering, however, during the 90s, the logo featured a custom font in a horizontal gradient.<\/p>\n

During this time, the company strayed away from a 3D appearance and opted for a flat design and a thin black outline. The parent company Mattel acts as a sub-logo within the overall design.\"Hot<\/p>\n

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13. Barbie<\/b><\/h2>\n

Barbie\u2019s lighthearted logo has stayed consistent since its launch in 1959. The hot pink embraces the sweet, feminine, and innocent characteristics of the brand. Throughout the 90s, the wordmark logo featured a bold custom font with close-set letters, a mix of angular and curved edges, and an upwards slant.<\/p>\n

Today\u2019s Barbie logo remains the same shade of pink, written in cursive script<\/a>. This logo has seen a resurgence of interest with the widely anticipated release of the live-action film<\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n

\"Barbie<\/p>\n

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14. Toys R Us<\/b><\/h2>\n

The Toys R Us logo of the 1990s was as colorful and playful as it is today, suiting the nature of the brand and appealing to its young demographic. The backward \u201cR\u201d mimics young children\u2019s writing and communicates the authenticity and youth of the brand.<\/p>\n

Today\u2019s logo is similar in layout, with alternate colors and the addition of a star in the bowl of the \u201cR.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Toys'r'us<\/p>\n

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15. Tamagotchi<\/b><\/h2>\n

The 90s Tamagotchi logo included a custom, scrawled typeface, appearing as though written by a child with chalk. The mix of both lowercase and uppercase letters signifies the brand\u2019s youthfulness and innovation, as Tamagotchi was the<\/em> breakthrough of the digital pet trend. The hot pink letters created excitement and a standout look for store shelves.\"Tamagotchi<\/p>\n

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16. Nerf<\/b><\/h2>\n

The Nerf logo featured a bright yellow wordmark sitting atop a blue circle and hot pink dot pattern. The logo itself is high energy, reflecting the nature of the product and the brand\u2019s target demographic of children aged 8 to 17.<\/p>\n

The all-caps typeface aligns with the brand\u2019s bold personality, and the text leans to the right, evoking a sense of movement and forward-thinking.<\/p>\n

\"Nerf<\/p>\n

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17. Walkman<\/b><\/h2>\n

Sony\u2019s Walkman logo featured a custom typeface paired with an abstract shape resembling a \u201cW.\u201d All letters (minus the \u201cL\u201d) are joined, which signified the connection of people with music they could take anywhere.<\/p>\n

And with a target demographic of teenagers, the detached \u201cL\u201d represented the freedom experienced when plugged into your Walkman (you can listen to whatever you want!).\"Sony<\/p>\n

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18. Microsoft Windows<\/b><\/h2>\n

The Windows Microsoft logo has had its fair share of changes throughout the years; however, the most memorable was the one they had in the 90s. With the instantly recognizable four colorful quadrants and pixelated elements, this logo was ahead of its time.<\/p>\n

\"Microsoft<\/p>\n

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19. Super Nintendo<\/b><\/h2>\n

Nintendo\u2019s gaming system went through several changes over the years. During the 90s, Nintendo opted for a vibrant color scheme consisting of mostly primary colors. The company\u2019s name was displayed in a bold red and italicized font, quickly grabbing consumer attention and standing out on its products.<\/p>\n

\"Super<\/p>\n

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20. Blockbuster<\/h2>\n

There was nothing quite like the tradition of popping over to Blockbuster on a Friday night and roaming the aisles looking for a flick to watch that weekend.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A watering hole for film junkies before the golden age of television, the Blockbuster logo is burned into the memories of folks who lived through the 90s. Simple in its blue and yellow color pairing, this iconic 90s logo shows off its product with a bold and unique shape that reflects its VHS rentals.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Blockbuster_logo\"<\/p>\n

Interesting to note how quickly the VHS shape went from reflecting reality to being nostalgic as we transitions from videotapes to DVDs. <\/span><\/p>\n

21. ICQ<\/b><\/h2>\n

Derived from the phrase \u201cI Seek You,” ICQ\u2019s logo was simple, like the service it offered. The online chat platform went for a rounded sans-serif font in lowercase letters, accompanied by a flower just to the left of the wordmark.<\/p>\n

Interestingly, the flower had green petals except for one, colored in red, which symbolized an ICQ chat notification.<\/p>\n

\"ICQ<\/p>\n

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22. Apple<\/b><\/h2>\n

Today, Apple\u2019s 90s logo looks markedly different from what it was in the 90s. Two decades ago, the company sported a cheery, rainbow-colored logo, which stood out amongst many other brands in the industry.<\/p>\n

Apple has since gone along the minimalist route with an all-black apple shape.\"Apple<\/p>\n

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Elements of 90s logo designs<\/h3>\n

Logo design in the 90s was fun and over-the-top, yet meaningful and authentic to the brands being represented. To recreate the 90s aesthetic for your brand, use some combination of the following:<\/p>\n