The History of and Story Behind the Pfizer Logo
Pfizer is one of the biggest pharmaceutical companies that can be found in the entire world. As a result, it should come as no surprise to learn that it has managed to hold on to this position through continuing invention and innovation. However, it is interesting to note that Pfizer is very far from the stereotypical image of a technological powerhouse. After all, it has been in existence since the mid 19th century.
For those who are unfamiliar, Pfizer started out as Charles Pfizer and Company, which produced chemicals rather than pharmaceuticals. Its first product was an anti-parasitic drug called santonin that was blended with flavoring before being shaped into candy cones. This carried Pfizer for a time but it was replaced in its position of prominence by citric acid in 1880. During the First World War, the chemicals manufacturer ran into trouble because there was a shortage of the calcium citrate that it needed for its production process. Thanks to this, Pfizer sought out an alternate production method, which resulted in it gaining much fermentation-related expertise. Something that enabled it to mass produce penicillin for use in the Second World War. When the price of penicillin fell, Pfizer sought out more profitable antibiotics, which is how it set foot on the path of becoming a research-based pharmaceuticals company.
How Has the Pfizer Logo Changed Over Time?
Perhaps unsurprisingly, Pfizer has used a number of logos over the course of its existence. However, it is interesting to note that there there was a great deal of consistency throughout the 20th century, which makes sense because of the sheer strength of its brand. Still, it is clear that Pfizer does feel the need to keep up with the times, as shown by the most recent change made in January of 2021.
The first Pfizer logo started seeing use in 1849 and continued seeing use until 1948. It was similar to a lot of other business logos from those times, which is to say, it was a seal. In short, seals were used throughout much of the world because of the need to authenticate documents. A wide range of seal shapes were used in various times and places. For instance, the ancient Mesopotamians were fond of cylinder seals that could be rolled in clay, which was the most common writing material in those times. Meanwhile, other cultures have used everything from ovals to triangles and squares. However, circles were the most common, which is why most seals from more recent centuries come in circular shapes. The first Pfizer logo was an excellent example, seeing as how it consisted of a circle centered upon the initials of Charles Pfizer and Company. Having said this, it is very much a design from an older era meant to appeal to older tastes. From a more modern perspective, it has a number of flaws. For example, the sheer amount of text packed into it makes it seem crowded, so much so that interested individuals have a hard time figuring out what it is supposed to be as well as what it is supposed to represent. Simultaneously, it is monochrome, which might have been more practical in its time but nonetheless robs it of the potential impact of a well-chosen color combination. As such, it is no wonder that the first Pfizer logo was eventually swapped out.
Moving on, the second Pfizer logo is still dated-looking from a modern perspective. However, it has certain characteristics that can still exert some appeal. For instance, it is very simple and straightforward in the sense that it consists of the name “Pfizer” positioned before a flattened oval, though to be fair, it benefited from close to a century’s worth of name recognition. Meanwhile, the flattened oval is actually a representation of the globe, which is a convenient representation of the pharmaceuticals company’s immense reach as well as ambition. Color-wise, the second Pfizer logo is less interesting. Both the name and the globe are in neutral shades, with the name being darker so as to stand out from the globe in the back. Otherwise, there isn’t much to be said.
The third, fourth, and fifth Pfizer logos are what most people would recognize as the Pfizer logo. All of them consist of the name “Pfizer” in white letters upon a blue oval, which is a clear evolution of the globe from the second Pfizer logo. However, there are some minor differences between them. For example, the third Pfizer logo uses a more ornate font than the other two. Similarly, the blue has become lighter with each revision. On top of this, it is worth mentioning that the fifth Pfizer logo has a tilted oval, thus making for a more dynamic feel than its predecessors. Regardless, these versions of the Pfizer logo might be very simplistic in most respects. However, they have managed to become iconic for good reason.
In Conclusion
Very recently, Pfizer made a choice to switch over to a sixth version of its logo, which has seen a significant change. For starters, the name remains but is now rendered in blue rather than white letters. Furthermore, it is situated to the right of the logo rather than positioned front and center. Instead, the most stand-out element is now a more stylized design that is very reminiscent of the double helix structure of DNA. That can sound rather strange, but it makes more sense when one realizes that genetics is integral to a lot of the latest pharmaceuticals and other medical products that are being developed in the present time. Due to this, it seems safe to say that the sixth Pfizer logo is similar to its predecessors in that it is meant to present the pharmaceuticals company as being a leader of its field. In any case, the sixth Pfizer logo is very new. As a result, it remains to be seen how it will be received, which in turn, will determine how long it will last. Even if it doesn’t go through major changes, it is possible for it to go through minor changes. Something that can be seen in the transition from the third through to the fifth Pfizer logos.
