Puma Logo Evolution: History and Meaning of the Puma Logo

The Puma logo, a symbol of sportswear excellence, has a remarkable history and evolution. From its inception in 1948 to its iconic modern design, the Puma logo has played a pivotal role in representing the brand’s identity. In this exploration of the ‘Puma logo,’ we will delve into its rich history, meaning, and the fascinating transformations it has undergone over the decades

How well-versed are you on the origins of the Puma logo swoosh? Today, the Puma logo is among
the most recognizable in the sportswear industry. The Puma logo you see today was only
sometimes used to represent the company.

Now, you can see the Puma logo on the company’s marketing materials and various products,
from sports shoes to t-shirts.

If you’ve ever been curious about the history of the Puma logo or how the original Puma logo
evolved into the modern, eye-catching mark, you’ve come to the right spot.

Historical significance of the Puma logo

Along with rivals like Adidas and Nike, Puma has quickly become one of the world’s top
producers of sporting products. The company debuted in 1948 when founder Rudolf Dassler
opened a new shoe factory.

Rudolf amassed a huge fan base with his unique designs and instantly recognizable Puma
logo.

Although Puma has gone under several different names throughout the years, the Puma logo
has always been a part of the brand’s overall identity.

Many other logos for Puma have been introduced over the years, with some emphasizing the
animal theme more than others.

The evolution of the Puma emblem through the decades

Many people thought the first Puma logo was “unremarkable” since it was clunkier than the
current one. Despite this, the symbol stuck with the company for years and inspired many
subsequent designs.
The Puma logo’s jumping cat has been a company staple for many years, even as other sign
elements have evolved.

1948

The first Puma logo appeared in 1948, around the same time the company was founded. The
graphic included a cat in mid-leap over the letter “D,” which represented the initials of the
founder of the company, Rudolf Dassler’s middle name.
This black and white photo was striking for its period, but it lacks the elegance we now
associate with Puma. In addition, the company made a badge with the colours reversed,
featuring a white animal on a black hexagonal background.
Another iteration of the Puma emblem, with many elements, was launched in 1951. The tiger
jumping the “D” was still there, but it was enclosed in a Hexagonal frame, and the word
“Puma” was written in bold letters below it.
The complete name of the company’s founder was included in the makeover of the original
logo. It’s interesting to see how the Puma wordmark in this picture has influenced subsequent
iterations of the logo.

1959

In 1958, the Puma logo was revised to feature the company’s now-iconic footwear as the
focal point of the logo’s design.
Although the Puma mascot had a big role in the brand’s recognition, Puma’s innovative
footwear was also a big deal. The company used a modified form of the wordmark “Puma”
and a white stripe on a black sneaker as its logo.
All of the brand’s footwear eventually had this white stripe.

1968

In the late 1960s, the black cat was brought back as the primary symbol of the Puma brand by
introducing a new logo. At this time, the Puma logo was used alone, without any
accompanying wordmark.
This redesign of the brand’s iconic cat logo was a significant improvement over prior
iterations, reflecting the modern sophistication of the company’s products. The exact image
was only used for a few years, but it was influential enough to prompt a change in the 1970s.

When the cat was used as an independent component in the Puma logo, the alternative design
featured a silhouette of the animal rather than a solid black one. The Puma’s shape was
tweaked to appear leaping upwards rather than moving forward.

1974

In 1974, Puma updated its logo again, creating a silhouette of the black cat by filling in its
shape. A unique sans-serif wordmark for the company’s name was placed next to the leaping
cat.
Many subsequent versions of the Puma logo took visual cues from this original concept.
During this time, Puma tried out a lot of different colour schemes for their logos, but the
black-and-white versions are the ones that have stuck in people’s minds.

1976

In the 1970s, Puma had a logo that didn’t feature its iconic kitty cat. Instead, it featured the
company’s signature swooping line and the wordmark.
The design lasted briefly before being replaced with the current iteration of the Puma brand
that many people recognize.

1980

The Puma in this logo was shown jumping above the Puma wordmark. Most people’s first
impression of Puma is still based on that logo. The corporation tried a few different iterations
of its logo throughout the years.
The brand eventually used only the animal icon without any accompanying wordmark. Puma
continues to use this design on a number of their products.
One design iteration even sought to incorporate the well-known “form strip” of Puma
footwear with the leaping cat emblem. The logotype was modified by adding a subtle
gradient to produce the “form strip” in this variant.

Puma’s logo represents Puma’s updated logo.

Incorporating a puma into the Puma emblem was a natural fit for the company’s name.

When the company’s name was changed from Ruda to Puma, the company’s future visual
identity was formed.

The German firm picked the name “Puma” to reflect the values commonly associated with
the big cat: power, speed, and elegance. These ideas eventually became integral to the Puma
brand itself.

The sleek yet powerful wordmark used to represent the brand in 1988 is still used today.
There is no better logo for a company that sells athletic apparel than the leaping Puma.

The Puma logo is what colour?

The Puma emblem has seen numerous colour changes over the years. Puma has always used
black for their official logo.

While the Puma logo is commonly depicted in black and white, the black portion of the
emblem may be seen through the backdrop colour.

Throughout the years, various branding elements have used inverted versions of the Puma
logo, in which the Puma is shown in white.

Black makes a lot of sense as the company’s designated colour. Puma wanted an easily
adaptable logo that would look well in any medium. Many people also equate the colour
black with power and strength.

Because of its widespread recognition, the Puma logo may be shown in any colour without
losing its impact.

In what typeface is the Puma logo rendered?

Puma’s typography is custom-made for the brand in the style of many of the most
recognizable typefaces in the world. Although the present wordmark’s typeface resembles
r originally employed, the source of the idea is evident.

Puma uses a sans-serif font with a hefty, bold weight and all capital letters. The solid typeface
was designed with rounded corners to complement the curvy features of the Puma logo.
In honour of the Puma mascot

There’s a solid reason why the Puma emblem is so well-known and recognizable. Because of
its stunning aesthetics and profound significance, this image has captivated numerous sports
fans.

The current Puma emblem is a great example of how brand visuals can be modified and given
greater significance over time.