Originally designed and patented in 1915 by Alexander Samuelson, a Swedish glass blower, the iconic Coca-Cola bottle first hit the market in 1916. Although Coca-Cola started in a drug store in 1886, by 1899 it had begun being bottled and had already been offered strictly as a soft drink for the decade before.
The shape of the bottle was said to have been inspired by the shape of the cocoa bean. The unique grooves allowed Samuelson to patent the design and made it harder for anyone to produce and offer an imitation version of the soft drink.
The logo as it stands is actually very close to the original logo that was sketched by Frank Robinson, the partner of Dr. John Pemberton who invented the drink.
Over the years the branding and packaging has evolved, but it is still not a far departure from its original form. In 1954 famed industrial designer Raymond Loewy re-designed the bottle and brought it to the next step in its branding. His permutation is arguably the most famous and recognizable version of the bottle for its change it contour. The Coke bottle has been referred to as the “Hobbleskirt” bottle and as the “Mae West” bottle because of its curvy shape.
For many reasons, it has become on of the most iconic and recognizable package designs since its inception. Coco-Cola remains to have one of the strongest branding stories that exists. What will be the next evolution of the bottle?
Greg Cordeiro is a regular contributor to Juxtapoz Design, and is the co-founder of New England Outerwear.
