When’s the last time you had a glass bottle of Coca-Cola? Did you know that bottle design turns 100 years old this year? Find out how this centennial is being celebrated at the High Museum of Art.
You could call it an icon within an icon. “Icon-ception,” if you will. The Coca-Cola bottle design is just about as famous as their logo design. This year, the Coca-Cola bottle design is celebrating it’s 100th year anniversary. To commemorate that, Conran and Partners is celebrating with an exhibit at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta, Georgia. Their exhibit features a dynamic ribbon design based on the Coca-Cola bottle design.
Combining this 100 year old design with the latest in 3D printing, It is genuinely impressive. Because of the ribbon style I’ve wondered if they could have produce a similar result with another medium. Probably not with as much precision and consistency as a 3D printer though. Strung up and lit, it creates a beautiful piece. A true testimony to the recognition the bottle design has gained with age.
Check out a short, sweet video of the exhibit production here.
THE COCA-COLA BOTTLE DESIGN
The bottle shape comes from the mind of Earl R. Dean, of the Root Glass Company in Terre Haute, Indiana. In 1915 Coca-Cola had opened up a contest to their bottle suppliers to create a bottle shape that would set them apart from the competition. Rumors are that the shape was inspired by a woman’s curves, but the truth is a bit more grounded. Like any good designer, Earl did his research on the coca leaf and kola nut. Only finding information on a cocoa pod, this lead to a Coca-Cola bottle design that resembled a gourd. It was heavy in the middle, creating production problems. But it was slimmed down and balance out into the iconic shape we know now.
Coca-Cola is, arguably, a showcase in the pinnacle of logo and graphic design. The logo has remained a very close form of itself since 1887. That’s 100 years of brand recognition! You can’t buy that. Nike is the only company to come close. The product itself is iconic, through the Coca-Cola bottle design and the vertical graphics of the aluminum cans. Plus it’s always been marketed with the highest quality commercials, ads, and campaigns. I’d like to buy the world a Coke, anyone?
Which leads me to something I’ve been very anxious to discuss with you all. Agree, disagree, I’ve thought about this a lot and I would love to hear your thoughts. I can’t seem to find something to top it, maybe you can help me. Here goes:
Redesigning the Coca-Cola logo, and brand, would be the single most difficult job as a graphic designer.
I mean people could try, people have tried. Remember New Coke? It just wasn’t successful, but that had to do with the product too. There is so much history within the brand that can’t be replaced. I’m not ready to say that Coca-Cola is a perfect brand, but good Lord they do have some major elements going for them.
- A logo that’s stood the test of time (100+ years)
- A unique typographic logo that isn’t hindered by peripheral imagery.
- World recognition. You see Coca-Cola all around the globe.
- An Iconic product shape with the Coca-Cola bottle design.
- Creative campaigns celebrating art and life.
- All that money for marketing to put their image out there doesn’t hurt either.
That might be one job I would never take. There are certainly better designers out there than me. I’m sure someone could come up with something creative and edgy to replace their current brand identity. But would ever be successful? Is Coca-Cola a victim as a global brand, that they could never change their logo? I honestly don’t think they ever should. There’s just too much going for it. Especially as they celebrate the 100 year anniversary of a part of their brand identity.
*Photos of Dynamic Ribbon Bottle Design by Conran and Partners