09/22/2026
Story by Charlie Jones & Jess Flaherty & Natalie King
Oct 01• 3 min read• Updated 11mo ago
Key takeaways
- Secret Symbol: The second ‘C’ in the logo symbolizes a smile, reflecting Coca-Cola’s messaging on happiness and joy.
- Logo Evolution: The iconic logo has undergone various design changes since its inception in 1886, with the current version known as the Arden Square logo introduced in 1969.
- Cultural Impact: The revelation has sparked discussions online, with users appreciating the logo’s timeless design and its ability to translate across different languages.
Story by Charlie Jones & Jess Flaherty & Natalie King
Oct 01• 3 min read• Updated 11mo ago
Lau added: “This subtle message may go unnoticed, but it subconsciously creates a positive association with the brand in the minds of consumers.”
Coca-Cola openly shares its origin story, especially how its famous logo was created, and offers details about its development through the years on its website.
The legendary beverage’s recipe was mastered by Dr John S Pemberton in May 1886.
He served as a pharmacist in Atlanta, Georgia, and managed to create the syrup for Coca-Cola. The beloved drink mixed carbonated water with the groundbreaking syrup to produce a beverage called “delicious and refreshing”.
Based on the Coca-Cola website, Dr Pemberton “carried a jug of the new product down the street to Jacobs’ Pharmacy in Atlanta. There, it was sampled, pronounced ‘excellent’ and placed on sale as a soda fountain drink for five cents a glass”.
His accountant, Frank M Robinson, proposed the name “Coca-Cola” and “penned the flowing script that is famous today”. His motivation for the memorable brand name came from his belief that “the two Cs would look well in advertising” – a tactic which also proved successful for Coco Chanel when she launched her iconic fashion house in 1910.
Frank attempted to design the company’s name in Spencerian script, which was a trendy handwriting style during that era. Several variations of the logo appeared, showcasing dramatic makeovers and new designs, all the way into the late 1960s.
In 1969, the iconic design we know and love today was born. Known as the Arden Square logo, it was “presented in a red box, with [Robinson’s] Coca‐Cola script underlined with a white ‘wave’, or ‘Dynamic Ribbon Device’.”
This design is still in use today.
The topic has sparked heated discussions on Reddit since its revelation. One user recently lauded Coca-Cola’s timeless design.
Another noted: “Also cool to see how it translates across different languages.”
A third confessed: “Ever since someone told me about the faces in the logo I can’t unsee it whenever I look at it.”
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Original Coke is my favorite drink.
It reminds me of my high school days. When I was in high school I worked at Harold Scarborough’s Pharmacy after school. It was a fun job. One of the fountain drinks was a syrup called COKE and we added cherry syrup and a cherry to make it a cherry coke or adding vanilla for a vanilla coke. I also loved the banana splits.
Mr. Scarborough was one of my mentors. One of my horrors was I was pouring a milk shake into a glass at the counter and my hand slipped and the shake went into the People State Bank’s President Mr. DuPlantis’ lap. Mr. Scarborough came to the rescue to clean up the mess. I offered to pay for his business suit slacks; but, Mr. Scarborough said he would take care of it. That ordeal gave me a life-time friend. In those days, we were called SODA JERKS. Boy, did I live up to my name that day.
kommonsentsjane
