Hidden Images in Logos That Prove Companies Are Actually Pretty Clever | 22 Words

We know that companies try to trick us all of the time, whether it’s with “new and improved” claims or just bright, shiny packaging. But there are also more subliminal — and clever — ways that they go about hoping to win your brand loyalty.

Some of the world's biggest companies pay big money to designers, advertisers, and psychologists to dream up creative logos that convey an image you might not initially see.

How many of these “hidden” images revealed in plain sight did you initially miss?

FedEx

from DesignPorn
This is one of the best-known logo images, but just in case you’ve missed it, look between the “E" and the “x." In the white space, there's an arrow that subliminally represents speed and precision.

FedEx (in Arabic)

Interestingly enough, FedEx made sure to include the arrow in the logo used in Arabic-speaking countries, too. You probably noticed that this arrow appears to point backward. That's because Arabic is read from right to left.

Wendy's

via: Shutterstock

 This Wendy's logo appears to say the word "Mom" in Wendy's collar, suggesting that their cooking is like Mom's home-cooked meals. You know, if mom made square hamburgers and served ketchup in small paper cups.

Pittsburgh Zoo

via: Shutterstock

 The white space in this logo pops out and reveals a gorilla and a lion staring each other down. While the ape is quite a beast, my money would still be on the lion. He is the king of the jungle, after all.

Chick-fil-A

via: Shutterstock

 The Chick-fil-A logo incorporates a chicken into the "C." Although this isn’t very hidden, it is still pretty clever, more so than their attempts to have people believe that their meals are nutritious.

Datingly

What I admire about this logo from a dating app is that, yes, they stuck in a heart (the universal symbol for dating). But also? that little chip off the D at the bottom makes it look almost pixelated — a very cool touch for an app.

Clover Learning

Of course a company called Clover Learning would have a clover hidden in its logo somewhere, but I think placing it on top of a diploma is a pretty perfect spot.

PhotoCake

This is another one of those rabbit-duck type logos — if you look at it thinking it's a camera, it looks like a camera. I f you look at it thinking it's a cake, it looks like a cake. It can even shift mid-look if you start thinking of the other option.

The Talk

This logo is for a foundation that helps fathers have "the talk" with their sons. It's a perfect visualization of both sex and a conversation. Plus, it kind of makes you feel uncomfortable, just like having the talk is for ever single dad out there!

Brickwork Productions

This film production company leveraged their name to create a logo that conveys the workman-like nature of making movies. (Just because it's art doesn't mean it's not hard to make!)

Lionbird

While the lion part was, to me at least, pretty obvious, I won't lie to you. It took me a minute to find the bird. I wonder if other people saw the bird, and then had to work backwards to see the lion?

Movie Mummy

Another movie production company hiding strips of film in their iconography, Movie Mummy imagines a long-dead Egyptian Pharaoh wrapped in celluloid.

Dragonfly Barbershop

Is this the coolest icon of all time? It very well could be. Here we see a dragon fly being built out of barber tools. If you'd told me this icon was made before the company was named, I'd believe you.

Coffee House

Doesn't this just look cozy? Not only is this a striking logo, but it has a coffee bean hidden in its background. This logo absolutely makes me long for a cup of joe on a rainy day so I can snuggle up inside with a good book.

Dream Family Dental

Yo, this logo is both a bunch of teeth and a family. If this dentist's office could promise my family would be close enough that our bodies could be mistaken for a molar, I know where I'd take my oral-care business.

Pyre

There's a play button tucked into that flame, and not only does it convey the music player functionality of the app, it also lets the viewer know not to be afraid of the flame. Unlike most fires, this one is nice to touch.

Key Elite

This logo depicts a king's crown with a prominent jewel at its fore that secretly doubles as a key. Do you think actual kings ever did that — hid keys in their crowns? It would make it easier to slip into their secret kingly wine studies.

Bird Travel

I just love fascinating logos like this one. The interesting use of negative space — in this logo depicting a location pin — immediately draws my attention, making my brain do a little bit of light, fun puzzle-solving to figure out what exactly I'm seeing.

The Musical Dog Show

On the other hand, sometimes it's fun to just see an obvious idea articulated well. This dog, with his music notes for paws, looks fun and makes me feel good about the idea of going to see the Musical Dog Show (which is about all you can ask for from a logo).

Parrot Location

Another logo combining a bid with a GPS pin, this logo would simply look like a cool (if not weird-looking) parrot if we weren't being told there was a location aspect also in play.

Fly High Creative

This is less a hidden logo — it's clearly a brain being flown through the sky. But what I think is so cool about this mark specifically is that it's done in this illustrative, comic book-y style. To me, that just screams "creativity!"

Nomad Infrastructure

An incredible mark from an infrastructure company, Nomad used the "N" in their name to act as sides of buildings — the same kind of buildings they presumably build.

Flight Cover

Any goofball with a trial version of Photoshop can put an airplane in an umbrella. It takes a real designer to make it look this aesthetically pleasing.

Chat Cat

Is this the cutest logo you've ever seen or what? It's got everything: a cat, a word bubble, and an aesthetically-pleasing way to put them together.

Statera

Listen, I'm not going to try to convince you this is the coolest or most intricate logo ever designed. but it does contain that weird "S" shape we all used to draw in middle school, interlocked with another weird "S" shape we all used to draw in middle school. And I will always be glad to see that weird "S" shape we all used to draw in middle school.

Rocket Scale

This housing company drew a little house, but didn't stop there. In adding the rocket, they not only referenced their name, but also hinted at the upward trajectory this company hopes to achieve with its work.

Coffice

The best logos seem so obvious in retrospect, and this logo is a clear example. They did nothing but add loops to some letters, but in doing so, they made viewers think of both coffee and community — exactly what the company is trying to achieve.

Love Pulse

To be honest, I never realized how much headphones look like the letter "P." I will never make that mistake again.

Lighthouse

You ever see a logo that can only be described as "tasty"? This is exactly that — the placement of the dot and color shift indicating an actual lighthouse is absolutely, unequivocally tasty.

Grill Bear

Here's another logo that I very well could have overlooked its second hidden item. It sort of just looks like a bear with a few gray hairs on its chin, doesn't it?

Matador Coffee

This is perfect. I wouldn't have thought this logo was anything but a bull if I wasn't being told it was coffee, but that coffee cup would be nice-looking all on its own.

Paris Pizza

Again, any company that has anything — and I mean anything — to do with France simply must contain the Eiffel tower in its logo. Sorry, I don't make the graphic design rules.

Fox Printing

Boy oh boy do I ever love this design. Somehow, they are both subtle and in-your-face about the fox element? I don't know how they did it, but it makes this the kind of logo you have to pay attention to.

Green Door Restaurant

Another example of the power of design, all this creator did was line up the type just right, change some colors and angles on a few of those letters, and they would up with something lovely.

Trash talk

We've all read enough comics to know what that little tail means, haven't we? What better way to symbolize talking trash than to add to a garbage can a well-understood icon for talking?

NBC

via: Shutterstock

 Considering they’re often referred to as “the Peacock Network," among other things, this one is rather obvious. But the symbolism of the colored feathers represent each division of NBC (from when the logo was first designed, as there are more now) and the head of the peacock is looking right, meant to symbolize looking forward (to a show that can compete with “Mad Men" and “Modern Family.")

Amazon

via: Shutterstock

 Not only is the Amazon logo smiling, but there’s also an arrow starting at the “a" and ending on the “z" to indicate that Amazon has everything from A to Z that you don’t need but will buy so you spent enough to qualify for free shipping.

Baskin Robbins

via: Shutterstock

 Here's the scoop: Famously known for its 31 flavors (supposedly so that a customer could have a new flavor every day of the month) Baskin-Robbins makes it known in their logo.

Cisco

via: Shutterstock

 Hidden within the waveforms in the Cisco logo, you'll find a subtle little representation of the Golden Gate bridge — a clever nod to the communication company's San Fransisco roots.

Nintendo Gamecube

via: Shutterstock

 Maybe this one isn't necessarily hidden per se, but man if Nintendo's wonderful little console the Gamecube didn't have a clever logo. It's a "G" that is also a cube! That was, like, the Gamecube's whole deal — that it was a cube!

Hope for African Children Initiative

Not only does the logo for this Africa-focused charity show the continent it's looking to help, it also shows a silhouette of a grown-up and a child. As the Hope for African Children Initiative is working to help children orphaned by AIDS, this imagery is a quiet nod to the group's motivation.

Adidas

via: Wikimedia Commons

 We've all either worn or seen someone wearing Adidas shoes in our lives, but it's very possible you never took in the hidden meaning of the three stripes the athletics company uses as its logo. Well, those stripes are arranged to look like a mountain — the kid of obstacle its customers will be able to overcome, so long as they buy Adidas shoes.

Google

via: Shutterstock

 Google's original logo breaks a pretty important design rule — never use more color than you have to. Indeed, there is one green letter in the word that could very well feel off, since there's no green anywhere else to compliment it. But that was Google's plan all along — the "L" is green because Google wanted everyone to know they weren't afraid to break the rules.

Subway

via: Shutterstock

 In the Subway logo, there's an arrow going one way and another arrow going the other way. And you know what else goes one way and also another way? Actual subways.

Minnesota Wild

I'm from Minnesota and saw this logo for the state's hockey team, oh, I dunno, 800 times before I realized it wasn't just a collection of trees at night — it was in the shape of a mountain lion-esque beast. Now that's wild.

Toyota

via: Shutterstock

 The Toyota logo is doing a lot of work conveying multiple meanings. Not only do these two rings form a "T" — like "Toyota" — they also hint at the interconnectedness of Toyota's products.

Museum of London

from MapPorn
This one's for the map-lovers — the logo for the Museum of London has color splotches behind it, but those color splotched tell a story. Each shape is a different outline of London from different points in its long history.

Levi's

via: Getty Images

 The Levi's logo is secretly shaped like a pair of Levi's jeans' pockets. Did you ever notice that? I didn't, and I wear a lot of Levi's jeans. (They're great for painting.)

Spartan golf club

from logodesign
If you try to see a golfer in this logo, you will, and easily. If you try to see a spartan warrior in this logo, you will, similarly easily. But you can't see both at once. Go ahead, try it. See? Can't be done.

Sony Ericsson

There is both a hidden "s" and a hidden "e" in this logo — just check out the gray space that the orb is making. Almost makes you want to buy a mid-2000s phone, doesn't it?

Uniliver

from DesignPorn
The brand Unilever does a lot of stuff, so instead of deciding what one product they wanted to be defined by, they threw in every damn product they make. Go ahead, try not to buy something from Unilever! I dare you!

Continental

via: Wikimedia Commons

 The "C" and the "O" of "Continental" make a tire. Since Continental is a tire retailer, you have to give it u to them for putting their product right there in the logo.

Slack

from logodesign
Hidden within the Slack logo, you'll see not only multiple colors (for the different people theoretically using it) but also speech bubbles and hashtags — the lifeblood of any productivity app!

Patreon

from logodesign
Patreon's hyper-simple logo forms a "P" out of a circle, representing the product being created, and a sturdy, solid line, representing the backers who make the product happen. And wouldn't you know it, that's exactly what Patreon does!

Elefont

It's both an "e" and an elephant trunk! I both love it and am terrified by it. (Whenever an elephant's around, we are all in danger of being stepped on and therefore crushed into people mash.)

Ed's Electric

Such a simple plug and receptor are represented in this logo, and the negative space forms an "E" without having to alter anything about the original design! Pretty incredible.

Circus of Magazines

This logo, which turns an open magazine into a circus tent, has finally pushed me to admit that I am not a smart person and could never think of something like this.

Barcode

Psst! There's a beer hidden in that barcode! Okay, so you knew that. Of course you did. You're smart. And it wasn't particularly well-hidden. But still, it's cool to point out, and this is a super tasty logo.

Nintendo Wii

via: Wikimedia Commons

 If Nintendo's Gamecube had a logo that told you what it was, the Wii has a logo that tells you what it wants you to do. The two "i"s represent two people, sitting side-by-side, doing what Nintendo was hoping you'd do with your Wii: playing games together.

Iron Duck Clothing

Not only is this logo understated and lovely, not only is it representative of the service this company is promising to provide, but it's also very very cute. Talk about a triple threat.

Killed Productions

Yo, that "i" fell to the ground, as though it was... murdered. (Would "killed" have been more a more appropriate word to use there? Maybe. But is that really what's important here? A letter was just murdered.)

Pencil

Designed by reghardt, this logo for just, like, the general concept of pencils is so beautiful. I love it. It makes me want to buy 100 pencils.

AirBnB

via: Wikimedia Commons

 There is a lot going on in this here AirBnB logo. First of all, that loop in the middle? It functions both as a head (for an AirBnB user) and a map pin (for the location of the place that user will be staying). Going father, that loop is part of a heart (implying users will love their stay), and the whole thing is turned upside down to make it the letter "A" (for AirBnB, natch).

National Geographic

via: Shutterstock

 If you've ever spent any time in your school's library, you've paged through a National geographic. But have you ever thought about that little gold rectangle they use as their logo? The idea behind it is that it is a doorway into another world... (A world of learning!)

Eagle Consumerables

While it does make it slightly harder to read, the super-cool use of an eagle's outline as an "E" makes this logo so engaging. It's hard not to look at it!

San Diego Zoo

via: Shutterstock

 What is it about zoos and incredible, subtle logos? The San Diego Zoo continues the trend by turning the letters "Z" "O" and "O" into an animal's paw print. These zoo guys are just killing the logo game over here.

Eighty 20

Maybe you don't know binary perfectly (hey, don't feel bad, I didn't either), but if you did, you'd see that the logo here for Eighty 20 actually contains the binary patterns for 1010000 and 0010100... otherwise known as eighty and twenty.

Formula 1

from formula1
Zoom your eyes over this racing logo and you’ll see the empty space in the middle creates a number “1″ for “Formula 1.″

Tostitos

via: Shutterstock

 While you were shoving chips in your face you might have missed that there was an actual fiesta going on in the Tostitos logo. Yes, the two t’s are partying over a bowl of dipping sauce that dots the “i." Olé!

Atlanta Falcos

via: Shutterstock

 The NFL team's logo is much more than a really cool looking bird. Rather, it’s a really cool looking bird in the shape of a big letter “F" for Falcons and other four-letter words disgruntled fans might utter throughout the season.

Goodwill

via: Shutterstock

 Because giving (and saving) should make you happy, the “G" in “Goodwill" is zoomed in and cropped to form a smiling face.

Sun Microsystems

via: Shutterstock

 In this case, look directly at the sun (and only in this case, unless you want to burn your eyes out). Actually, look directly at the diamond and you’ll see it says “Sun" in every direction.

Le Tour de France

via: Shutterstock

 There is a cyclist in there, literally, on "Tour." Notice how the “o," “u," and “R" all come together along with the yellow dot to form the image. Immediately after posing for this logo, he was taken in to pee in a cup to be tested for performance-enhancing drugs. Results are pending.

Hershey's Kisses

via: Shutterstock

 Want a free Hershey Kiss? Check the front of the bag. OK, it’s a bit disappointing that it’s not actually a piece of chocolate, but if you look between the “K" and the “I" you just might find an extra one, at least visually.

Pinterest

via: Shutterstock

 Considering the point of Pinterest is for users to “pin" things like projects and recipes they’ll never create to virtual boards, it makes sense that the logo incorporates a pin into the letter “P."

VAIO

via: Shutterstock

 At first, all you see is modern typography, but there is actually a hidden meaning of Sony’s VAIO logo. The first two letters represent an analog signal and the last two are the 1 and 0 of the digital world.

Hartford Whalers

from DesignPorn
This former NHL team is no longer in existence, but the logo was so clever that it warrants a mention. The “H" can be spotted in gray and the “W" in green, but did you notice the blue tail of the whale? They shoot, they score!

Toblerone

from pics
The Toblerone logo contains the image of a bear hidden in the Matterhorn mountain, which is where Toblerone originated. And because if you live in the mountains with bears, you need good chocolate to survive.

McDonald's

via: Shutterstock

 Everyone knows about the Golden Arches and that the “M" stands for “McDonald’s." But what you might not know is that in the 1960s design consultant and psychologist Louis Cheskin said customers unconsciously recognize the logo as “symbolism of a pair of nourishing breasts." I think the dude just needed a date. Pretty clever, if you ask me.

The Bronx Zoo

from DesignPorn
The negative space in this logo reveals New York’s iconic skyline of tall buildings between the legs of the giraffes which, quite honestly, looks a little painful to me.

Beats by Dre

via: Shutterstock

 Here's a logo you've undoubtedly seen all over the place. Can you see the hidden image in it? It's a happy person wearing beats headphones! I can only assume those headphones also have a clever logo, and so on, and so on...

Northwest Airlines

from DesignPorn
This logo is actually brilliant in three different ways: First, there's an "N" that stands for "Northwest." Second, there's a "W" (because NW means "northwest"). Last (and most clever of all), the tiny triangle to the left of the "N" is pointing — you guessed it! Northwest! Here's another logo that makes brilliant use of white space...

Kölner Zoo

The hidden logo with an elephant’s silhouette is defined by a giraffe and rhinoceros; the negative space of the animal’s hind legs are cleverly shaped by the twin spires of Cologne Cathedral. There is no explanation as to why the elephant has a star for an eye, but I suppose it’s a nice touch.

Coca-Cola

via: Shutterstock

 This one might take some work since the hidden image is not one most Americans would be familiar with. But hidden in the Coca-Cola logo is actually the flag of Denmark. This wasn't the original intention, but once they discovered the Danish flag, which has been named the happiest country on Earth, they set up a media stunt in Denmark's biggest airport where they welcomed people with flags. Why they didn’t welcome them with Coke is still a mystery.

The Guild of Food Writers

from logodesign
What do you see when you look at this minimalistic logo? A spoon, or the nib of a fountain pen? Trick question! They're both there.

CNN (in Arabid)

Here's another example of a logo that works in Arabic. They seamlessly integrated the CNN logo you recognize into the Arabic version.

Hyundai

via: Shutterstock

 Obviously, the Hyundai logo is a stylized letter H, but that's not the only meaning behind the logo. It was designed to resemble two people — the customer and the dealer — shaking hands. And that's not the only vehicular logo with a hidden meaning...

Subaru

via: Shutterstock

 Subaru also has a meaning that you might not have realized. "Subaru" is the Japanese name for the Pleiades star cluster, also called "The Seven Sisters." That's why the stars are there. But you might have noticed there are only six stars in the logo. That's because according to tradition, one of the Seven Sisters is always invisible.

Galeries Lafayette

I'm guessing you probably could have spotted this hidden image without the bright red rectangle, but it's included just in case. This logo is for a French department store chain. As you may have guessed, its flagship store is located in Paris.

Gillette

via: Getty Images

 Using your “razor sharp" focus, you will notice that the “G" and “I" have been perfectly cut to represent the sharpness and precision of the razors.

Milwaukee Brewers

from Brewers
This is the logo the Milwaukee Brewers used from 1978 to 1993. At first, you probably see a baseball mitt catching a ball. Look closely, though, and you'll see that the mitt is actually made out of two letters: M and B (for Milwaukee Brewers, obviously). I'm gonna call this logo a home run.

Quiksilver

via: Shutterstock

 This is another logo with multiple interesting details. First of all, the Quiksilver logo itself is a stylized version of the famous woodblock print "The Great Wave off Kanagawa." Secondly, here's what happens when you put two Quiksilver logos together...

Roxy

from logodesign
It forms the logo for Roxy (whose parent company is Quiksilver). Also, it's a heart. Isn't that nice?

London Symphony Orchestra

I know what you're thinking. It's an L, an S, and O. Stands for London Symphony Orchestra. Nothing too special, right? Not so fast. It's actually a stylized image of a conductor raising their hands to conduct the orchestra! How do people think of these things?!

LG

via: Getty Images

 Feel like playing Pac-Man? All you have to do is tilt it a little to the right and then shift the “nose" upwards. Life is good.