Analyzing Everyday Rhetoric: Hidden messages in logos

Being the nerd that I am, I get such a kick out of logos that contain hidden messages. Click here to read an article all about hidden messages in everyday logos!

A couple of my favourites are the hidden kiss between the K and the I in the Hershey’s Kisses logo:

kiss logo…the arrow in the FedEx logo:

arrow in logo(We learned about this one in one of my rhetoric courses a couple years ago, and I’ve had a special place in my heart for this particular logo ever since. The arrow is between the E and the X if you’re having trouble finding it :)).

…and the conductor in the London Symphony Orchestra logo:

(Very stylized).

Know of any other logos with hidden messages? And can anyone else find the fish in the Presbyterian Church logo (I can see all the other symbols, but can’t for the life of me figure out where the fish is!)? Share in the comments section below!

3 Comments

  1. I think the fish is the body of the bird.

  2. I was about to say the same thing but another Liz has beaten me to it! I loved this article – thanks for the link. Some of them are really clever, especially the LSO one and the airline one with the compass pointing north west. What ‘s the point you / they are making, though – do we absorb the hidden info subliminally, or do the more observant customers just get to feel smug?

    1. …and I’m still failing to see it. Darn.

      “do the more observant customers just get to feel smug?” – hehe. No, I don’t think that’s the point. I think that it’s more the subliminal absorption that’s important here. For example, we might not register that there’s an arrow in the FedEx logo, but something deeper recognizes it and builds more of a trust in the logo (and therefore the company) that they have that good sense of direction, progress, capability, etc.

      Also, I think part of it is simply that it’s good reinforcement for what the company does if people DO see the hidden messages in the logo. It’s more than just a random graphic… there’s more meaning to it.

      Plus it’s really creative. And I get such a kick out of the creativity that some of these advertising people have. (Also, for the most part I wouldn’t be able to find those hidden messages if they weren’t pointed out to me ;)).

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