This isn’t the first time we’ve been wowed by the iconic search engine. Check out some of the beautiful, sometimes quirky, always impressive logos of the past.

Aug 30, 2010: Mary Shelley’s 213th Birthday

 Aug 12, 2010: 71st Anniversary of The Wizard of Oz

 Nov 02, 2010: Day of the Dead

226th birthday of John James Audubon

What’s your favorite Google Logo?

The history of the famous Coca-Cola image begins in 1887 when the company’s bookkeeper, Frank Mason Robinson, selected a trendy and distinctive script for the beverage’s logo. The typeface, which is referred to as Spencerian Script, was introduced in the 19th century and quickly became the most popular style of formal handwriting during that time. The red and white color scheme was viewed as youthful and was intended to lure young minds.

Though the logo has undergone slight changes throughout the years (tiny tweaks of the script, an added wave beneath the letters, script placed within a shape, etc.), it has mostly remained consistent over the span of 3 centuries. That’s quite a bragging right and shows a stability that its largest competitor Pepsi has not yet achieved. For comparison’s sake, let’s take a quick look at Brand New’s chart documenting the evolution of both designs:

 As you can see, Coca-Cola’s overall look is much more consistent than Pepsi’s ever changing identity. So what exactly makes this logo so loveable? For one, the color is bold yet cheerful. Two, the letters flow in an appealing way. Three, the overall look is distinctive as no other logo looks like Coca-Cola. And when your brand is recognizable in over 200 different countries, you know you’re doing something right!

In sum, there’s something to be said about maintaining a stable identity for one’s brand. While the idea of revolutionizing your company by constantly re-inventing itself sounds great, it might not build the strong customer connection that brands like Coca-Cola have achieved. When branding your company, take the time to develop a solid and timeless image that can grow with your company.

What are your thoughts on the Coca-Cola logo?

Without further ado, here are 3 common mistakes to avoid with logo design according to Smashing Magazine:

1. You can’t afford to go cheap- Sure we live in the age of coupons, but tiny prices equal big problems in the world of graphic design. Whether your amateur friend offers to create a design, you do it yourself, or you find a  company online that is practically giving away their services, cheap is not good. If your logo looks second-rate and amateurish, so will your company.
2. Stay out of stock- Nothing is more impersonal than a stock image. In addition to risking possible copyright infringement, you’re also using images that have been utilized by others. Authenticity is everything in logo design, and stock images will zap originality in the blink of an eye.
3. Don’t Follow the Leader – Along the same lines as stock images, a logo should represent a business and help to distinguish it from all others. If you’re assigning your client the same look and feel as another business, you’re not truly capturing its identity. How exciting can you be when you look like everyone else?

In sum, companies seeking logo creation should hire a professional who will create a  personalized, high quality, unique and classic design. Remember, first impressions are lasting impressions!

Read the full Smashing Magazine Article

To demonstrate how easily logos can fall flat and how well planned and executed logos can rise to the top, here are the best and worst designs of 2010 according to Brand New.

The Worst:

Just like the state’s most well known commodity, this logo is pure cheese. The colors are not pleasing and the hand stand figure is reminiscent of a poster found in a 1990’s elementary school.

There’s just too much going on with this logo. Too many colors, fonts, messages and doodles. The end result? A visual circus.

While this company may be the future of search engines, its logo is behind the times. The yellow and blue palette along with the typography leave much to be desired. The overall effect is outdated and very plain jane.

The Best:

The New York Public Library’s sleek new design is both classy and interesting. And as Brand New points out, it looks great at any size.

While some of us may have sentimental attachments to the Nickelodeon splat logo, the updated design still maintains its youthful appeal and looks less dated.

Syfy created its own fresh start in 2009 with a new name and impressive logo redesign. While some may have objected to the new spelling, almost everyone loves the new graphic.

What do you think of this list? What logo designs would you add to the best and worst lists?