Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

These are 15 of the most questionable corporate logos in history

That’s one happy satellite dish.

AN ORGANISATION’S LOGO is the first thing a prospective customer sees. And when it’s bad, it can scare people away for good.

Below are some of the worst logo fails of all time – ones that unintentionally (or sometimes intentionally) reminded consumers of sex acts, lewd behavior and other things that make 13 year olds hysterical.

The English press had some fun with the London 2012 Summer Olympics logo, saying it resembled both Lisa Simpson performing a sex act and a punk swastika. The Iranian government even claimed the stylised 2012 spelled out ‘Zion’ and entertained boycotting the event in protest. The logo ended up looking better in action in its various stylings, but the damage was done.

London2012 London 2012 Olympics London 2012 Olympics

Brazil’s Federal University of Santa Catarina’s Institute of Oriental Studies was going for a Japanese temple against the Japanese rising sun. As soon as someone saw the uh, roof, in a butt, the logo achieved meme status in 2005 and the school took it down.

Rising Sun Federal University of Santa Catarina's Institute of Oriental Studies Federal University of Santa Catarina's Institute of Oriental Studies

Kostelecké uzeniny is a popular Czech sausage company that has been around since 1917. It’s easy to see why non-Czechs find it so amusing, but it’s been on all the company’s products since the ’20s.

Sausage Kostelecké uzeniny Kostelecké uzeniny

Mont-Sat is a Polish company whose technicians are more than happy to install a satellite in your home or business. It has kept this logo for its entirety.

Mont-sat

The AIGA association of design has archived the 1974 Catholic Church’s Archdiocesan Youth Commission logo as an example of great design. Subsequent scandals have turned the logo around and made it seem quite dark indeed…

Youth Commission The Archdiocesan Youth Commission The Archdiocesan Youth Commission

In 1991, the Italian clothing company A-Style created a stylised ‘A’ that intentionally looks like two people having sex to create provocative buzz. More than 20 years later, many people still don’t realise the company’s in on the joke.

A-Style A-Style A-Style

The State of Vermont specially brands all of its pure maple syrup, which is some of the best in the world. But in this long-standing logo, the state looks more man than a maple tree.

Vermont State of Vermont Pure Maple Syrup State of Vermont Pure Maple Syrup

The Japanese company Kudawara Pharmacy once decided to play with the English alphabet for its logo, but the dots turned a decent design into a raunchy one real quick. The company is no longer in business, at least under this name.

Kudawara Kudawara Pharmacy Kudawara Pharmacy

The Arlington Pediatric Center in Virginia is a great organisation for low-income families, but anyone who saw this old logo may have had second thoughts. It made it onto the organisation’s doors and awning before the company decided to pull it.

APC Arlington Pediatric Center Arlington Pediatric Center

Mama’s Baking is a small bakery in Greece that has a logo with an Oedipus complex. It has kept the symbol even after it became widely mocked online.

Baking Facebook / MamasBaking Facebook / MamasBaking / MamasBaking

An old photo of the Kid’s Exchange consignment shop in Georgia proves the importance of proper punctuation and spacing in a logo. This one is now long gone.

Exchange

The Computer Doctors was a small business that could have avoided internet infamy with a better graphic design budget.

Computer Doctors

Once you see a woman’s naked torso in this old flyer for some local Junior Jazz Dance Classes, you won’t be able to un-see it.

Dance

When the British Office of Government Commerce unveiled its sleek logo redesign in 2008, the English press flipped it 90 degrees to show it as a man ‘enjoying’ himself, forcing the embarrassed OGC to scrap the design.

OGC OGC OGC

The sign for the late MegaFlicks video rental store in a Florida mini mall was passed around by designers online as a perfect example of why kerning, the spacing between letters, is so important. It stayed up until the streaming era killed video stores several years ago and a bank took over the location.

MegaFlicks MegaFlicks MegaFlicks

By Richard Feloni for Business Insider

READ: Amazon pulls Nazi ads following backlash in New York >

READ: A supermodel has been ‘begging’ me for sex: Tinder’s CEO >

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Published with permission from
View 14 comments
Close
14 Comments
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
    JournalTv
    News in 60 seconds