20 Yellow Company Logos from Famous Brands
6 Aug 2024 | 7 min readWhen we think about famous brands, colours play a big part in how we recognize them. Yellow is one of those colours that stands out. It’s bright, cheerful, and grabs our attention. But why do so many companies choose yellow for their logos?
Yellow is a colour that makes us feel happy and cheerfulโlike a little ray of sunshine. This is why brands use yellowโthey want us to feel good about their products.
Psychology Behind Yellow Colour in Branding
Yellow is an exceptional colour in branding. It’s bright, warm, and catches your eye quickly. But why do so many brands choose yellow for their logos? Let’s look at the reasons behind this choice.
Happiness and Positivity
Yellow is often linked with happiness and positivity. It’s the colour of sunshine and smiles. When people see yellow, they can feel cheerful and optimistic. Brands use yellow to create a happy feeling around their products.
Attention-Grabbing
Yellow stands out. It’s easy to see, even from a distance, which is why it’s used in warning signs and taxis. Brands also use yellow in their logos to grab your attention quickly, helping them stand out in a crowded market.
Warmth and Energy
Yellow is a warm colour. It gives a feeling of warmth and energy, like the sun. Brands want to share this warm and energetic feeling with their customers. It makes the brand feel welcoming and lively.
Youthfulness and Fun
Yellow is also a playful and fun colour. It’s often used in products for kids because it feels youthful and lively. Brands that want to show they are fun and energetic often use yellow in their logos.
Confidence and Optimism
Yellow can also be a colour of confidence and optimism. It’s bright and bold, showing that the brand is confident and forward-thinking. Brands use yellow to show optimism about the future and are ready to face new challenges.
Company Logos: 20 Examples from Well-Known Brands
Let’s explore these 20 well-known brands’ logos in more detail. Each has a unique story and reason for choosing yellow, which helps them connect with their customers and stand out in the market.
McDonald’s
McDonald’s golden arches are one of the most recognizable logos worldwide. The yellow arches represent joy, warmth, and friendliness. They aim to make customers feel welcome and happy, which aligns with their goal of providing a cheerful dining experience.
Shell
Shell’s logo features a bright yellow shell with a red outline. The yellow colour symbolizes energy, positivity, and optimism, which is fitting for an energy company. It reflects the bright future of sustainable energy and innovation.
Ferrari
The Ferrari logo, featuring a prancing horse on a yellow background, stands for luxury, speed, and excellence. The yellow background adds a touch of prestige and excitement, making the brand synonymous with high performance and elite status.
Dennyโs
Dennyโs is a well-known American diner chain that has become famous for its 24/7 service and wide variety of comfort foods. The yellow in Dennyโs logo plays a significant role in its branding, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. Hereโs a closer look at why Dennyโs uses yellow and what it means for the brand.
Snapchat
Snapchat’s ghost logo on a bright yellow background is playful and fun, ideally targeting its young, dynamic user base. The yellow background represents creativity, joy, and spontaneity, core aspects of Snapchat’s brand identity.
IKEA
IKEA’s blue text on a yellow background represents their Swedish roots and commitment to affordable home furnishings. Yellow signifies happiness, positivity, and comfort, reflecting IKEA’s mission to bring joy and practicality into homes.
National Geographic
The yellow rectangle frame of National Geographic is a symbol of exploration, discovery, and knowledge. Yellow represents curiosity and the endless pursuit of learning about our world, aligning perfectly with National Geographic’s adventurous spirit.
CAT (Caterpillar)
CAT’s logo, featuring a yellow triangle, signifies strength, durability, and reliability. Yellow reflects their machinery’s industrial and construction nature, conveying a sense of trust and dependability in harsh conditions.
Post-it
The yellow Post-it sticky note logo is practical, easily visible, and associated with creativity and organization. The bright yellow ensures that notes stand out, making them effective reminders in personal and professional settings.
Subway
Subway’s green and yellow logo promotes freshness, health, and energy. The yellow colour helps convey the idea of fresh and fast food, making it appealing to those looking for a quick yet healthy meal option.
Chupa Chups
Chupa Chups’ yellow flower-like logo, designed by Salvador Dalรญ, is playful and eye-catching. Yellow represents joy, delight, and fun, perfectly matching the sweet, enjoyable experience of eating Chupa Chups lollipops.
Lay’s
Lay’s logo features a yellow sunburst behind the text, symbolizing joy, warmth, and flavour. The yellow background makes the brand look inviting and tasty, encouraging consumers to enjoy their chips.
DHL
DHL’s red text on a yellow background stands for speed, efficiency, and reliability. The yellow indicates its commitment to fast and dependable delivery services, making it a trusted choice for shipping and logistics.
Best Buy
Best Buy’s yellow price tag logo concerns deals, savings, and affordability. Yellow catches the eye and conveys a sense of urgency and value, clearly showing that Best Buy offers excellent products at competitive prices.
Bic
Bic’s yellow background with the pen character stands for reliability, simplicity, and everyday use. Yellow makes the brand look friendly and approachable, aligning with its goal of providing dependable writing tools.
Toblerone
Toblerone is a well-known Swiss chocolate brand famous for its unique triangular shape and distinct logo. The Toblerone logo features a yellow background, which plays a significant role in its brand identity. Letโs explore why Toblerone uses yellow and what it signifies.
Hertz
Hertz’s black text on a yellow background stands out clearly, symbolizing energy, movement, and accessibility. The yellow background reflects their service in the car rental industry, highlighting their commitment to providing fast and easy transportation solutions.
Stanley
Stanley is a well-known brand in the world of tools and hardware. Their logo, which features a bold yellow background with black text, is instantly recognisable and carries significant meaning. Letโs explore why Stanley chose yellow for their branding and what it represents.
Kodak
Kodak’s iconic yellow and red logo is iconic in the world of photography. Yellow stands for innovation, creativity, and the bright memories its products capture. It emphasizes the brand’s long-standing commitment to helping people preserve their precious moments.
Warner Brothers
Warner Brothers is one of the most iconic names in the entertainment industry. Their logo, featuring the famous WB shield, has become synonymous with quality films and television shows. While the primary colours of the logo have varied over the years, the use of yellow in some versions has played a significant role in its branding. Let’s explore why Warner Brothers chose yellow and what it means for their brand.
Do you know How Top Brands Use Color Psychology in Logo Design?
Creating the Perfect Pairing with Yellow Company Logos: What Goes with Yellow?
When designing a logo, choosing the right colour combination is crucial. Yellow is a bright, cheerful colour that grabs attention, but pairing it with the right colours can make it even more effective. Let’s explore some colours that go well with yellow and why they work.
Yellow & Black
Black is a strong and bold colour that pairs well with yellow. The contrast between yellow and black makes the logo stand out. It’s easy to read and catches the eye. Brands like CAT and Hertz use this combination to show strength and reliability.
Yellow & Red
Red is a vibrant colour that complements yellow nicely. Together, they create a sense of urgency and excitement. This combination is perfect for brands that want to convey energy and action. DHL and McDonald’s use red and yellow to create a lively and engaging logo.
Yellow & Blue
Blue and yellow create a harmonious and balanced look. Blue is calm and trustworthy, while yellow is warm and cheerful. This pairing is great for brands that want to show they are dependable and friendly. IKEA’s logo is a perfect example of this combination.
Yellow & Green
Green and yellow together represent growth, freshness, and positivity. This combination is ideal for health, nature, or food brands. Subway uses green and yellow to highlight the freshness and healthiness of their food options.
Yellow & White
White is a neutral colour that makes yellow pop even more. It gives the logo a clean and modern look, making it simple yet striking. National Geographic uses yellow and white to keep its logo clean and focused on exploration and knowledge.
Yellow & Grey
Grey is a subtle and sophisticated colour that pairs well with yellow. It tones down the brightness of yellow while maintaining its cheerful vibe. This combination is good for brands that want to appear professional yet approachable.
Yellow & Brown
Brown and yellow together give a warm and earthy feel. This pairing is great for brands that want to convey a sense of nature, tradition, or reliability. The combination creates a grounded and comfortable look.
In conclusion, the color yellow in company logos isn’t just a bright and eye-catching choiceโit’s a strategic decision that communicates warmth, energy, and optimism. This roundup of 20 famous brands utilizing yellow in their logos demonstrates how this vibrant color can be harnessed to capture attention and evoke the emotions companies want associated with their brand identity. From the fast-food giants to tech start-ups, yellow proves to be versatile and effective in creating memorable and impactful branding. As we’ve seen, whether it’s standing alone or complemented by other colors, yellow has the power to lift a brand’s visual appeal and leave a lasting impression on consumers. When considering color in your own brandโs logo, think about what yellow could symbolize for your company and how it might be used to forge a deeper connection with your audience.