Hidden meanings in famous logos you've probably never spotted

Hidden brand messages

Instantly identifiable and just about everywhere, the world's most famous logos are pretty much imprinted on our brains. But many of the familiar emblems you see around you contain mysterious symbols and hint at hidden secrets that may have escaped your radar. Here are 30 of the most intriguing. 

Sony Vaio

One for the math geeks, Sony's Vaio logo is a masterclass in clever icon design but its meaning may have gone over your head. The 'V' and 'A' form an analog symbol, while the 'I' and 'O' combine to make a binary digital signal, neatly representing Sony's transition from analog to digital.

Pepsi

Pepsi's latest logo, which cost several million dollars to revamp in 2009, may look like a simple asymmetric version of the previous incarnation. However, according to the company it references everything from Feng shui and Renaissance art to the philosopher Descartes and the architect Le Corbusier... 

Apple

Several urban myths are still doing the rounds – that the apple is a tribute to science pioneers Sir Isaac Newton and Alan Turing for example, or represents the fruit from the tree of knowledge in the Bible. In reality, logo designer Rob Janoff doesn't even remember why he chose the specific shape. 

Unilever

The Unilever logo is a letter 'U' made up of 24 icons, which each represent a different aspect of the company's values and goals. For instance, the bee signifies the firm's pledge to protect the environment and the heart denotes its commitment to improve people's health and wellbeing. 

Lacoste

In 1927, world-renowned tennis player and company founder René Lacoste famously wagered for an alligator skin suitcase, and was nicknamed the Alligator by the American press. Translated as the Crocodile by media in his native France, the nickname stuck and the reptile was a natural choice for a logo design when Lacoste launched his first sportswear collection in 1933.