{"id":5799,"date":"2019-09-04T13:31:05","date_gmt":"2019-09-04T13:31:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.branex.ae\/blog\/?p=5799"},"modified":"2024-05-08T06:52:58","modified_gmt":"2024-05-08T06:52:58","slug":"superman-logo-evolution","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.branex.ae\/blog\/superman-logo-evolution\/","title":{"rendered":"Design Lessons We Can Learn from 75-years of the Evolution of Superman\u2019s Logo"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>If you\u2019re as old as I am, you might have heard this voice like a thousand times on your television set in your childhood.<\/p>\n<p><iframe width=\"1200\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ySvAs5ppkRw?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Superman was my first childhood superhero that gave hope in tough times. I was fascinated by his powers.<\/p>\n<p>How can someone be so powerful?<\/p>\n<p>The ability to fly at lightning speeds, eyes that shoot a laser that cuts through anything and the strength of a thousand locomotives that can beat anyone in the universe.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019ve started following Superman comics or movies in the past 30 years you might be surprised to see the first Superman identity that appeared in the comics.<\/p>\n<p>This is how it all started in 1938.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-5801 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.branex.ae\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/superman-logo.jpg\" alt=\"superman logo\" width=\"419\" height=\"460\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.branex.ae\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/superman-logo.jpg 280w, https:\/\/www.branex.ae\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/superman-logo-274x300.jpg 274w, https:\/\/www.branex.ae\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/superman-logo-133x146.jpg 133w, https:\/\/www.branex.ae\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/superman-logo-46x50.jpg 46w, https:\/\/www.branex.ae\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/superman-logo-68x75.jpg 68w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 419px) 100vw, 419px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Shocking, right?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Since then the logo has been updated25 times in its 75-year history to match the tastes and design language of the era. However, all the changes were mostly stylistic and did not impact the visual metaphor of the logo. Despite all the iterations, the Superman emblem has always remained the same: the letter \u201cS\u201d inside a shield.<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_83 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\"><p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<\/div><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.branex.ae\/blog\/superman-logo-evolution\/#What_can_we_learn\" >What can we learn?\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.branex.ae\/blog\/superman-logo-evolution\/#The_Grand_change_in_Superman_logo\" >The Grand change in Superman logo<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.branex.ae\/blog\/superman-logo-evolution\/#What_can_we_learn-2\" >What can we learn?\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.branex.ae\/blog\/superman-logo-evolution\/#Shape\" >Shape<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.branex.ae\/blog\/superman-logo-evolution\/#What_can_we_learn-3\" >What can we learn?\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.branex.ae\/blog\/superman-logo-evolution\/#Color\" >Color<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.branex.ae\/blog\/superman-logo-evolution\/#What_can_we_learn-4\" >What can we learn?\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.branex.ae\/blog\/superman-logo-evolution\/#Fonts\" >Fonts<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.branex.ae\/blog\/superman-logo-evolution\/#What_can_we_learn-5\" >What can we learn?\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.branex.ae\/blog\/superman-logo-evolution\/#Inspiration\" >Inspiration<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/www.branex.ae\/blog\/superman-logo-evolution\/#What_can_we_learn-6\" >What can we learn?\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/www.branex.ae\/blog\/superman-logo-evolution\/#Trivia\" >Trivia<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/www.branex.ae\/blog\/superman-logo-evolution\/#Conclusion\" >Conclusion<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_can_we_learn\"><\/span><strong><u>What can we learn?\u00a0 <\/u><\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Although Superman logo received scores of facial uplifts\u2013 the letter \u201cS\u201d enclosed in a shield has always been there from the first logo till the last.<\/p>\n<p>Why?<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s Superman\u2019s identity.<\/p>\n<p>The \u201cS\u201d in the shield has been registered in the minds of the audience. Overhauling it would be the end of Superman. The character might become far more exciting and superior, but he won\u2019t be Superman.<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s why whenever you hire a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.branex.ae\/logo-design\/\">professional logo design agency<\/a> to craft a logo for your brand, it\u2019s necessary to see whether they will be able to align your brand values consistently.<\/p>\n<p>Let\u2019s talk about the transformation Superman\u2019s logo went through.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Grand_change_in_Superman_logo\"><\/span><strong><u>The Grand change in Superman logo<\/u><\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>There were four iterations between 1938 &#8211; 1940, but the first significant change in Superman logo was made in the year 1941 when the colors were switched. The inner shield went jet black, and the border of the shield was made yellow.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-5802 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.branex.ae\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/superman-symbol.jpg\" alt=\"superman symbol\" width=\"455\" height=\"347\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.branex.ae\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/superman-symbol.jpg 455w, https:\/\/www.branex.ae\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/superman-symbol-300x229.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.branex.ae\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/superman-symbol-191x146.jpg 191w, https:\/\/www.branex.ae\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/superman-symbol-50x38.jpg 50w, https:\/\/www.branex.ae\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/superman-symbol-98x75.jpg 98w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 455px) 100vw, 455px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>It was an abrupt change, so Superman fans didn\u2019t fully accept the change with open arms. They started hating it. Which is why the logo was reverted to its original color the next year.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-5803 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.branex.ae\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/superman-emblem.jpg\" alt=\"superman emblem\" width=\"460\" height=\"298\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.branex.ae\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/superman-emblem.jpg 460w, https:\/\/www.branex.ae\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/superman-emblem-300x194.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.branex.ae\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/superman-emblem-225x146.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.branex.ae\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/superman-emblem-50x32.jpg 50w, https:\/\/www.branex.ae\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/superman-emblem-116x75.jpg 116w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 460px) 100vw, 460px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_can_we_learn-2\"><\/span><strong><u>What can we learn?\u00a0 <\/u><\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>As designers, you have to come to term with the fact that your work will receive criticism. There might be times when you burn the candle at both ends, but still, your client will not be happy. And this will frustrate you.<\/p>\n<p>Let me tell you this. To succeed as a designer, you must understand the needs of your client. Set up a meeting and brainstorm ideas, concepts and ask them what they are looking for in the finished logo?<\/p>\n<p>Now, let us examine the individual elements of the Superman logo.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Shape\"><\/span><strong><u>Shape <\/u><\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The first superman logo was encapsulated in a police shield. However, in the year 1940, the shape was changed to a diamond. Maintaining the letter \u201cS\u201d at the center of the Superman symbol. Throughout the \u201840s, apart from some minor changes in the shape, the diamond shape was retained.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_can_we_learn-3\"><\/span><strong><u>What can we learn?\u00a0 <\/u><\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Since diamond shape was working well, no one thought of changing or replacing it all.<\/p>\n<p>Also, that is what you need to do as a designer. Project after project, some things might turn out to be good for you \u2013 retain those things. For instance, if you\u2019re facing issues with the design brief, make a template that covers all the necessary elements and uses that with a little iteration with every other client.<\/p>\n<p>There is no harm in using what is working for you. If the website design is enticing users, it\u2019s not necessary to change it or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.branex.ae\/blog\/website-redesign-conversions\/\">redesign your marketing collateral or website<\/a>. I am telling you this because one of my friends is a fanatic when it comes to website design. Out of nowhere, he plans and redesigns his website. I am still unable to understand why he does that.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Color\"><\/span><strong><u>Color <\/u><\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Since it\u2019s inception, Superman was seen in the same old clothes with Red and Yellow. The Superman logo went back and forth between Red on Yellow and Yellow on Red. The first diamond shape introduced a Red outline around the letter \u201cS\u201d with a Black diamond outline along with Yellow color. (Check the Grand Change subhead).<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-5804 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.branex.ae\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/superman-logo-evolution.jpg\" alt=\"superman logo evolution\" width=\"624\" height=\"447\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.branex.ae\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/superman-logo-evolution.jpg 624w, https:\/\/www.branex.ae\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/superman-logo-evolution-300x215.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.branex.ae\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/superman-logo-evolution-204x146.jpg 204w, https:\/\/www.branex.ae\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/superman-logo-evolution-50x36.jpg 50w, https:\/\/www.branex.ae\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/superman-logo-evolution-105x75.jpg 105w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 624px) 100vw, 624px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>In 1948 the logo was changed with Black \u201cS\u201d with a white background. In 1996 the Superman emblem was iterated to Red on Black. Despite these occasional deviations, the logo always returns to its classic color scheme.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_can_we_learn-4\"><\/span><strong><u>What can we learn?\u00a0 <\/u><\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Not everything will work all the time. It is okay to shovel the old concepts in the ground.<\/p>\n<p>One concept might work with one client but not with others. If you\u2019ve developed some theories, it is necessary that you upgrade those concepts from time to time. There is no room for slow-moving designers. Either grow your skills or stay in your cocoon for the rest of your life.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Fonts\"><\/span><strong><u>Fonts <\/u><\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The \u201cS\u201d symbol in the logo has no specific font. The style changed depending upon who drew the Superman logo. At times, it was rounded, other times it looked like a figure 8,\u00a0 and sometimes it is an angular slash of three lines.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_can_we_learn-5\"><\/span><strong><u>What can we learn?\u00a0 <\/u><\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Just stick to 1-2 fonts in your website. If you use more fonts, it will confuse the audience.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Inspiration\"><\/span><strong><u>Inspiration<\/u><\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The colors of the logo were kept simple because Red and Yellow colors were easy to print in old printing presses, and the colors suited the personality of the Superman character. The creators used the letter \u2018S\u2019 which symbolize his name and diamond is the representation of his impenetrable skin.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_can_we_learn-6\"><\/span><strong><u>What can we learn?\u00a0 <\/u><\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Inspiration can come from anywhere. Keep a notebook with you at all times. Whenever you feel something is worth jotting down, note it down. Try to merge more than one ideas and see what you can come up with<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<h3><strong><u>Trivia<br \/>\n<\/u><\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The first Superman logo appeared in a serial that ran for a short time in the forties.<\/li>\n<li>Do you know that the curve in the logo depicts Superman\u2019s muscular physique?<\/li>\n<li>It was the film that changed the meaning of the letter\u201cS.\u201d It represents Kryptonian family crest (The House of El)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Conclusion\"><\/span><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The Superman logo is one of the most iconic and most recognizable logos that not only appears on Superman&#8217;s chest, but also shirts, hats, and household goods. The image is widespread across the globe.<\/p>\n<p>At this point, the logo has become so iconic that no artist would even dream of altering anything. That\u2019s the thing about designing. The design world is full of clich\u00e9s. So if you want to come up with a truly epic design, take notes from the \u201cWhat we can learn?\u201d and go sink your teeth in your designs.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you\u2019re as old as I am, you might have heard this voice like a thousand times on your television set in your childhood. Superman was&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":5800,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[49],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5799","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-logo-design"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.branex.ae\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5799","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.branex.ae\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.branex.ae\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.branex.ae\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/16"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.branex.ae\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5799"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.branex.ae\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5799\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.branex.ae\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5800"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.branex.ae\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5799"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.branex.ae\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5799"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.branex.ae\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5799"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}