You must have seen many logo designs carrying different values and emotions, connecting to the company, its owners, or any remarkable story. But did you know there are many worst logo designs that are symbols of big companies today, carrying sense but irrelevant in terms of design, poor color choice, confusing elements, brand identity, and lack of modernity? These logos will make you wonder, from confusing ideas to the worst designs.
In this blog, you will learn about the top 10 worst logo designs of all time. Get ready to see some designs that make you scratch your head and laugh!
Here Are the Top 10 Worst Logo Designs of All Time:
1. KIA
I know it is hard for you to accept KIA on the list of worst logo designs of all time, but it is. Kia is a well-known car manufacturer from South Korea and has a logo that is simple yet memorable. To get a proper look at the logo you have to come in the spotlight. Because most SUVs and other cars look the same today. Then you got to your destination and hit up your brain with “What is this KN car? ”, but it’s KIA. It has changed multiple times in the past 70 years. The latest logo has three main elements:
- Red-color, text of company name “KIA” represents the passion and energy of the auto brand.
- White background represents the loyalty of the brand toward its consumers.
- The oval shape around the text represents the global presence of the company.
[Source-Dribbble]
Why KIA logo called one of the worst logo designs of all time?
The KIA logo is often called the worst because it is hard to read and sometimes looks like KN. It doesn’t stand out anything related to KIA’s history or reliability. It looks more like a tech company than a car brand logo.
Also Read: 5 Design Tips for Your Company Logo
2. PS5
Senior art director Yujin Morisawa led the design of PS5 (PlayStation 5) inspired by the term five dimensions and crafted the design around circles and squares that would make players comfortable in the game. PS5 is a home video game developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment. First, it was launched on November 12, 2020, in Australia, Japan, New Zealand, North America, and South Korea to test its performance in the market. Gamers everywhere were excited with the logo, and new features of the game, like haptic feedback and 3D audio.
[Source-gamerant]
Why PS5 logo called one of the worst logo designs of all time?
The PS5 logo is criticized because it looks almost the same as the previous logo PS4. The simple change disappointed gamers not meeting their high hopes of fresh, exciting design.
3. KPMG
It was created in 1987 as a logo of one of the largest accountancy firms in the world, today it has subsidiaries in more than 150 countries across the world. The logo, KPMG, stands for the first letter of its founders’ surnames, Klynveld, Peat, Marwick, and Goerdeler. The 4 letters in the logo are important to the company showcasing one of the big four accounting structures. It is composed of a wordmark, which is placed on the background comprising four vertical rectangles. The four rectangles stand for the main firm’s profiles:
- Accountant
- Audit
- Tax
- Consultancy
The company KPMG logo is simple and modest evokes trust and confidence, and aims to provide the best quality services to their clients.
[Source -theforage]
Why KPMG logo called one of the worst logo designs of all time?
This logo is criticized for its complexity, outdated look, and dull color. It doesn’t give a modern impression of what the company is about.
4. Bing 2009
The logo Bing came into account in 2009, as before this software was known under other names, Msn Search, Windows Live Search, and Live Search. It has a friendly rounded watermark in the lowercase, drawn in bright blue with the yellow dot above the letter “I”. Wide letters make the word look strong and balanced while the blue and yellow color creates a feeling of trust and happiness. The visuals of the Bing logo you see today are based on Microsoft’s corporate style. It features a four-colored square and simple gray letters that spell out “Microsoft Bing”.
[Source-cleanpng]
Why Bing 2009 logo called one of the worst logo designs of all time?
The Bing logo is criticized for its boring look and visually bland design, lacking creativity and a modern touch. They together make a confusing look to establish a clear brand identity with rivals like Google.
5. Pepsi 2008
In 1903, the original script logo for Pepsi was created by Caleb Bradham inspired by the success of Coca-Cola. The combination of red, white, and dark blue inside a spherical shape looks incredible due to the “smile” effect created by the white swirl inside the sphere. Since its foundation, Pepsi has gone through 6 logo changes to shift its style to keep up with the trend and look classic. With the red logo and similar font to Coca-Cola, the company always struggled under the shadow of the competing brand.
[Source-wikipedia]
Why Pepsi 2008 logo called one of the worst logo designs of all time?
The Pepsi 2008 logo was criticized because it looked similar to other brands like Coca-Cola, lacked a clear design theme, and didn’t change with time.
Also Read: Pepsi reveals a New Logo to celebrate its 125th Anniversary
6. IHOP
In 1958, the logo was introduced under the name “The International House of Pancakes”. It was composed of a complicated brown structure, resembling the wooden entrance with a street lamp on top. The banner placed under the light had a fancy orange border and stylish serif letters in cursive writing. Till now this logo of an American restaurant chain has made a long way from a detailed multicolor logo to a friendly badge. Since its foundation, IHOP has gone through 5 versions. The current one is something unique from the logos introduced at the beginning.
[Source-.wikipedia]
Why IHOP logo called one of the worst logo designs of all time?
In 2018 IHOP changed its logo to IHOb (International House of Burgers) as part of a marketing campaign to promote its burger offerings. These temporary changes confused customers to recognize the brand familiar with IHOP.
7. KUMON
The KUMON logo carries a lot of meaning and each part was carefully chosen to express the values that are important for each one who works in the company KUMON.
- The face in the logo is recognized in the world as the “Thinking Face”, the company members believe it is the face of Kumon staff.
- The blue color reminds me of all the different children who are learning and growing through Kumon programs. This color signifies intelligence, wisdom, and honesty.
- The logo Kumon gets its name from the founder of the Kumon Method of learning, Toru Kumon, who was a maths teacher in Japan.
[Source-.wikipedia]
Why KUMON logo called one of the worst logo designs of all time?
There are many controversies or criticisms in calling the KUMON logo, worse or not. The logo is generally recognized for its simplicity in representing the KUMON educational method. It is added on the list because of those controversies.
Also Read: The Best WordPress Logo Designs of 2023
8. 2012 London Olympics Logo
For the 2012 London Olympics, Wolff Olins designed a logo symbolizing the energy and diversity of London as a vibrant city hosting the Games. But things didn’t work well, some saw it as dynamic and forward-thinking, while others found it controversial.
[Source-.dancampbell]
Why 2012 London Olympic logo called one of the worst logo designs of all time?
The 2012 London Olympics logo was bold and modern. It had a pink color and a sharp, abstract design showing number 2012 in an angular, geometric style. Some people find it dynamic and eye-catching while others say it was confusing and hard to understand. Despite mixed votes about it, it gave the London Games a unique and memorable identity.
9. Tropicana 2009 Logo
Tropicana started using the logo in the 1970s, and it quickly became iconic. The bright colors and simple design make it easy to recognize and remember. Over the years, Tropicana has made some changes to the logo, but the orange with the straw remains the same highlighting the brand’s commitment to fresh and pure juice. This design makes people think of drinking juice directly from a fresh orange.
[Source – 1000logos]
Why Tropicana logo called one of the worst logo designs of all time?
In 2009, Tropicana changed its logo and packaging. They made lots of changes – replacing the iconic orange with a straw in it to plain glass of orange juice and a new font. Many customers faced lots of trouble recognizing the brand, and sales dropped quickly. Tropicana switched back to the old logo to improve their mistakes and get their customers back.
10. Verizon
Starting in 2000, the Verizon company logo represents telecommunications and digital services. It featured Verizon’s logo featured a stylized “V” with a red checkmark, showing the reliability, and commitment to keeping customers connected.
[Source-verizon]
Why Verizon logo called one of the worst logo designs of all time?
The new Verizon logo is termed one of the worst logo designs of all time because of its oversized red check mark and gradient combo that looks simple and boring.
Conclusion
To make any business strong, its logo should be easy to recognize. A simple, clear logo helps people remember the name and trust the brand. A complex logo with text and too much emblem makes it hard and confusing to identify. If you design a simple and easy logo for your brand, the chances of your growth than other brands increase rapidly. I hope now you’re clear on how worst logo designs of all time affect the market value of any brand.
Above all, calling a brand logo, the worst logo designs of all time comes down to your personal choice as well. Sometimes they may be liked by you while not by others, and vice-versa.
