70s Logos: Reliving the Iconic Designs of an Era

During the 1970s bands like The Rolling Stones were living the dream. Hippies were everywhere sharing free love and peace. Women were being given rights and freedom like never before. And corporate branding was getting onboard with the times and taking advantage of the vibrant and groovy times to be had. 

Logos from the 70s are largely inspired by the bold colour themes of the time. They often feature fun or playful fonts. Or they’ll use psychedelic patterns that perfectly capture the free spirited nature of the times. 

Below we explore the world of 70s logos to help you find the inspiration you need for your next branding adventure.

The Heart And Soul Of 70s Logos 

Hippies, counter culture, women’s liberation… These were just a few of the big movements that made a significant impact on 1970s society. 

But these weren’t just movements that changed what people were doing or the rights women had. They also changed many of the design trends from the time. As you’ll see many 70s logos use bold colours, eye catching fonts and references to mythical creatures or ideas, reminiscent of an LSD laced trip into the world of marketing. 

That being said, let’s now take a look at some of the most well known logos from the 70s.

70s Rock Logos

The Rolling Stones’ famous Tongue and Lips logo is probably one of the most influential designs from the time. It was designed by John Pasche and today remains a sacred symbol of rock and roll. But many other bands from the times like Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin also created stunning logos that are still popular today. 

Hopping On A Trend 

Aside from rock band brands like Pepsi also hopped on the design trends from the 70s. Their globe logo was born in 1973 and used a dynamic colour pairing as well as a trippy wave-like pattern. More than 50 years later that logo is still just as recognizable as it was then. 

From Disco To Logo Design 

Other 70s music groups like Bee Gees and ABBA also created great logos that reflected the time and style of the 70s. These designs were completed by their funky bold lettered fonts, disco ball inspired layouts and psychedelic colors. 

Making Retro Cool Again 

Even big corporations like NASA, Volkswagen and Kodak embraced the styles and designs of the time. From business cards and billboard ads everywhere 70s brands were all creating logos and designs that used these same design aesthetics. 

How To Design A 70s Logo 

If you’re a brand that wants to transport your customers to the 70s all you have to do is follow a few simple design guidelines which we’ll explore below.

70s Colour Palettes

The 70s were chock full of groovy colours. So for brands designing a 70s logo make sure to leverage those same colours. Choose different blends of fun and trippy colour palettes and combine them with unique patterns reminiscent of the 1970s. 

Funky Fonts 

70s logos often have big bubbly and funky looking fonts that are reminiscent of the groovy times. So make sure to choose large exaggerated letters or curvy typography. These styles are essential when designing a 70s style logo. 

Retro Design Elements 

A great 70s logo should also incorporate images and icons from the periods such as disco balls, fuzzy dice, lava lamps, records or even more abstract patterns. 

Having 70s Style Fun 

The 70s were characterized by free spirited people. So be sure to play around and have fun with different imagery, image styles, colours and fonts to design a logo that takes you straight by to the wild 70s. 

Here’s a quick roundup of tips for designing a 70s style logo: 

• Your logo needs to be versatile and scalable too. It should look just as good as a smaller icon or a larger icon. 
• Avoid cliches like disco balls or lava lamps that might make your design feel cheesy. 
• Look for inspiration before settling on a design. Search online, check out our AI generated logo galleries, look through books, retro magazines, 70s advertisements  or even album covers to find ideas for your design.  

Time Traveling Back To The 70s – 70s Logo Design

No matter how you look at it the 70s really were a wild time. From psychedelic hippies and women’s rights movement to rock bands like The Rolling Stones and disco groups like ABBA, there’s really a ton of inspiration to be taken from the period. 

The 70s were characterized by bold, funky designs and free spirited colour choices. It was a fun and groovy time. And those years really can provide clever designers with a great opportunity to come up with clever logo design for modern brands. 

So if you’re ready to take a trip back to the past, visit our logo maker page and start designing your own psychedelic logos today.