Crush Soda is a brand of carbonated soft drinks. It is known for its fruit-flavored sodas, with the most popular flavor being orange. Over the years, Crush has expanded its flavor offerings to include various other fruit flavors like grape, strawberry, pineapple, and peach, among others. Crush is often marketed towards younger consumers and is associated with fun and enjoyment, making it a popular choice at parties, picnics, and other social events.
Meaning and History
Originally known as the Ward’s Orange Crush Company, the brand was created in 1911 by Neil C. Ward, a beverage and syrup specialist. Crush was one of the first soft drink brands to market its product as a fruit-flavored soda, distinguishing itself from other sodas at the time. By the 1920s, Crush Soda had expanded beyond California, gaining national recognition. In 1989, Crush became part of the Dr. Pepper Snapple Group (now known as Keurig Dr Pepper), which further helped in expanding its distribution and market reach. Crush soda has evolved from a regional product in early 20th-century California, US to a beloved national brand, with a legacy that reflects changing tastes and marketing innovations over the last century.
What is Crush?
Crush is an iconic American soda that comes in a variety of flavors, with orange being the most renowned. The brand gained popularity throughout the 20th century and is recognized for its vibrant packaging and distinctive logo. Its fruity flavors and bright colors contribute to its appeal.
1911 – 1921
It is not surprising to see a black-and-white color palette in the early years. From the very start, though, the brand has chosen to have a distinctive serif font featuring bold strokes. The first and last letters are exaggerated and vertically centered. Right above the “Crush” part of the name, the logo has a beautiful, cursive inscription that says “Ward’s”. The bold, yet relaxed feel of the logo looks appealing and friendly even though the color palette is quite dark.
1921 – 1927
The logo has been slightly rearranged to have “Orange added. This part of the name is added in front of “Crush”. The “Ward’s” line is placed above “Orange”. The logo has the same feel although having three different words printed using different fonts and different font sizes makes it slightly distractive.
1927 – 1929
The shortcomings of the previous version were removed. The logo looks clean and attractive. The “Orange” looks like an enticing, tasty addition to the “Crush”.
1929 – 1938
The logo has been updated to look more cohesive. The designer had both parts of the name printed using the same font. The new font does not have serifs but still looks bold and memorable thanks to high-contrast strokes.
1938 – 1955
This version looks very similar to the previous one. In fact, the font has been just slightly modified to look more playful and fun. No new elements have been added to the logo.
1955 – 1973, 1955 – Today (Mexico)
Thanks to Jim Nash Associates, the Crush soda logo acquired its distinctive and vibrant look reflecting the brand’s playful and refreshing personality back in the 1950s. It features the word “Crush” in a bold, cursive font that conveys a sense of fun and energy. It is also worth noting that there is no more “Orange” in the logo as the flavors have expanded way beyond the orange flavor. Instead, the name is placed on an oval base with straight ends. Its orange color symbolizes the brand’s original orange soda flavor. Glass bottles in the Mexican market still feature this logo.
1973 – 1981
A new color was introduced in 1973. The grassy green has been added as a letter outline and in the form of leaves. The name is placed in the upper half of a bright orange rectangle. Although the font has not been changed, the inscription looks different thanks to the new outline and the fact that the letters have no spacing between them. The bottom half of the base has four white flowers that resemble orange fruit blossoms and two green leaves in the right corner. This version looks very happy and energizing.
1981 – 1990
The Crush Soda logo became recognized for its vibrant colors and playful design, which reflect the brand’s fruity flavors and fun personality. This logo features the word “Crush” in a bold, cursive font seen earlier but placed on a diagonal. Instead of an orange base, the designer added another orange element – a slice of an orange squeezed between the capital “C” and “h”.
1990 – 2000, 1990 – Today (glass bottles)
The logo has been placed back on an orange rectangular base. The decorative element in the form of an orange slice along with the inscription has been preserved. However, both were printed straight and had a yellow line added underneath. The logo turned out much brighter and more joyful. e
2000 – 2007, 2000 – Today (Chile and Guatemala)
This logo is also accompanied by graphic elements. These include illustrations of an orange slice and splashes, emphasizing the fruity flavors associated with Crush sodas. Although the font has not been changed, it has been adjusted to be printed on a diagonal arch. The overall design is eye-catching and energetic. It appeals to a youthful audience and suggests a refreshing and enjoyable drink experience.
2007 – 2017
The design has been redrawn but the logo is still accompanied by an orange slice or citrus-splashes graphic. As for the name, it features a slightly different font and has some golden accents. It is also printed slightly straighter in comparison to the earlier version. The overall design conveys a sense of fun and refreshment, in line with the brand’s image.
2017 – 2021
Since the introduction of a vibrant color palette and orange slice, the Crush logo has undergone various modifications. Yet, it has consistently maintained a sense of fun and nostalgia that makes it memorable in the competitive soft drink market. In this version, the designer made the splashes look a bit more realistic. The color palette is also livelier.
2021 – Today
The Crush soda logo features the word “Crush” in a bold, playful font that was used for over half a century with a few modifications. The grassy green has been replaced by a teal shade of green. Moreover, the orange slice and splashes have been removed. Instead, the white letters are outlined with thin orange strokes and have contrasting, bold shadows in teal and orange colors to make them stand out.
Font and Color
While the background for the logo can vary in color depending on the flavor of the soda, the key colors have remained unchanged for years. For the first forty years, the logo stayed black and white. Then, the company introduced the orange color, later adding green and yellow to the color palette. The bright colors are designed to represent the exciting flavors of the drink and appeal to a youthful audience.
The cursive, flowing script of the word “Crush” is designed to be eye-catching and energetic, emphasizing the refreshing nature of the beverage. It has undergone minimal changes since the 1950s. It closely resembles Sense Black Italic font. In the early years, the company used different variations of bold serif and sans-serif fonts.