The evolution of Dr Pepper Logo

Did you know that the famous Dr Pepper logo is 135 years old? It’s hard to believe but it’s true! Read on to find out how the iconic emblem has been shaping the company over the years. 

1. Logo backstory
2. Logo evolution
3. How would Dr Pepper logo look like if it were made in ZenBusiness?

Logo backstory

Back in the 19th century, the pharmacist named Charles Alderton invented a fizzy drink. In 1885, he put the slogan “Dr. Pepper, King of Beverages” on its label. It’s still unknown how the name “Dr. Pepper” was related to the beverage. Here are some of the most popular versions:

• the pharmacy owner Morrison named the beverage after his friend Charles Pepper. 
• it’s a fictional name that was supposed to make the brand look more solid and convince the buyers that the beverage was good for their health. 
• “pep” is an abbreviation for “pepsin”, a digestive that makes a part of the beverage.  

Logo evolution

In the 1920s, the company logo was painted red. Since then, red has become the signature color of the brand. On top of that, Dr. Pepper got a new slogan, “Good for life”.   

In the 1950s, a third version of the emblem went through two major changes:

• The old handwritten serif font was replaced with a massive sans-serif typeface.
• To avoid legal problems, the full stop after Dr was removed. Many people erroneously thought that the drink possessed medicinal properties.  

In 1956, designers tried to find a way to incorporate yellow into the logo, but without success. Eventually they got back to red and played around with its shades over the next few decades.   

In 1997, to portray the invigorating energy of the beverage, the decision was made to spice up the logo with tiny bubbles. In 2005, the design started to look like one big bubble, with white letters on the dark red background.  

Ten years later, Dr Pepper made a strategic decision to invert its logo. Nowadays, the emblem features red letters against a white background. The “tail” of the first letter draws an oval line around the brand name. Beneath it, the words “Since 1885” are written in a fine font.

How would Dr Pepper logo look like if it were made in ZenBusiness?

Conclusion

It took Dr Pepper almost 150 years to gain a strong position in the market. The brand has succeeded due in no small part to its smart branding. The company has never deviated too far from its original visual identity, doing its best to keep and enhance its universally recognized elements.