These are the best logos of all time.

Looking for logo design inspiration? Then you'll want to learn from the finest examples of the craft. And to help you out, we've compiled this list of the best logos of all time, arranged alphabetically. We've also roped in some of today’s leading design voices to explain why they work so well.

From the Apple logo’s elegant simplicity to FedEx’s ingenious use of negative space, these logos are all memorable, meaningful and built to last. Some date back over a century, others emerged from specific cultural movements, but all deserve to be studied. If you're starting to learn how to design a logo, you could hardly ask for a better place to start.

The McDonald's logo might just be the most globally recognised symbol in commercial history. "For me, it's more than just a piece of design, it is part of the background of everyday life," says Catalina Velásquez González, design director at Amplify UK. "I can still picture it, spotting it in the distance and instantly knowing exactly what it meant. That little spark of excitement still sits somewhere in my memory every time I see it."

Gary Jacobs, creative director at Live & Breathe, is a fan of the golden arches too. "They're a cultural landmark," he says. "Instantly recognisable, emotionally loaded, and cleverly designed to stir appetite and grab attention, thanks to that bold red and yellow pairing. You can see just a corner of an arch on a billboard and still know exactly who it is, where to go, and what to expect. That level of confidence in a logo’s shorthand power is rare, and it’s executed with real finesse."

That power was recently reflected in McDonald's 2018 wayfinding campaign, which featured partial arches directing customers to nearby restaurants. "This clearly showed how a simple, smart idea, anchored in a strong identity, can communicate volumes without a single word,” Abi notes.