Ah! It's a mermaid
A QuickBit published on May 13, 2005
Ah! It's a mermaid
The woman in the Starbucks logo is a (cropped) mermaid, or more specifically, a double-tailed siren. This makes perfect sense for selling coffee.
The Grubesteak → www.grubesteak.com
Um, did you just catch on to this?
Josh Williams → www.firewheeldesign.com
Poor Dan. You do know that Nathanial Starbuck was a character (who drank coffee) in Moby Dick?
Dan Cederholm → www.simplebits.com
It’s a whole new world. Let me explain by saying that historically, I don’t drink coffee. However, recently I’ve grown addicted to Starbucks mocha. It’s one of those immediately recognizable logos — but I’ve never really looked at it, closely, ya know? Strange, perhaps. Maybe that’s the sign of a well-designed logo.
But the Moby Dick connection adds relevance. A book I read probably 20 years ago, completely forgetting a character named Starbuck (apparently from Nantucket, even).
I’m learning, folks ;-)
Terry Apodaca → www.wildraiders.com
Don’t worry Dan…I posted this on several message boards I read and there are more posts from people that are just now hearing this news…I was one of them…than those saying they already knew this.
Brilliant!
Ryan Prins → www.lazyi.net
Don’t worry Dan, I walk by the original Starbucks shop in Pike Place Market every day on my way to work and I never gave it a second thought to the origins to the logo. I guess I never really looked into it that much, but it’s pretty interesting to see how it came to be what it is today. I just wonder if all the tourists lined up outside of Starbucks #1 know. I bet they’re there since it’s SB #1 and their crusie boat is down the street.
Conan
Eugh. What’s with the Goatse guy? :O
Jordan Moore → www.devotedfreak.com/
Dan, don’t worry. The “siren” and Moby Dick reference are both news to me. :)
Jason → www.jasonandcodi.com
From Webster Dictionary -
1: any of a group of female and partly human creatures in Greek mythology that lured mariners to destruction by their singing
Ironic that the siren is the Starbucks symbolic logo. Starbucks is named after a mariner, and the logo is of the very creature that lured mariners to their deaths on shoals and reefs.
Following this logic, Microsoft’s letterhead could have an image of the BSOD top center.
Anonymous Coward → google.com/
Wow, I had no idea!
Also, I just figured out that the McDonalds logo is a huge capital letter “M”!!!
Yannick L. → axlelabs.thischick.com/blog/
It’s one of those immediately recognizable logos — but I’ve never really looked at it, closely, ya know?
Same here.
Poor Dan. You do know that Nathanial Starbuck was a character (who drank coffee) in Moby Dick?
I never knew that.
M.e. → www.thebigreason.com
I thought Starbucks was named for Battlestar Galctica. Crap. I’m switching to Pete’s for sure now.
Aaron Gustafson → www.easy-designs.net
If you’re interested in more information about the history of female sexuality in the East and West (the sheila-na-gig, etc.), I highly recommend reading The Story of V: Opening Pandora’s Box by Catherine Blackledge. I would also recommend the UK edition over the US one – US censors hacked out some of the most useful and interesting bits.
Tom → www.thedeplorableword.net
I had to google this a while ago, I was very curious.
Floodguy → floodguy.blogzine.jp
I thought Starbucks was named for Battlestar Galctica. Crap. I’m switching to Pete’s for sure now.
same here. I also was not a coffee drinker for over 20 years, only Tea, Milk and Green Tea. But Starbucks changed this some time ago. Love their coffee mocha very much, but its too expensive around here to went by everyday!
Mike Walker → www.fullduplex.org
I had no idea there was even a mermaid on the starbucks logo, and I drink that over-priced sludge every day! (roommate who works at a starbucks = free drinks).
I’ve noticed this about several logos, they’re just there: you might see them, but you don’t really look at them. I do think that is an indicator of a good logo!
I wish I was decent at creating logos, they’re one of the hardest things to design, IMHO. So much needs to be said with a small picture.
Mike Walker → www.fullduplex.org
Oh, and one suggestion: If you want an iced drink, try a Caramel Frappuccino with a shot of Hazelnut. Mmm mmm good!
Nick Finck → www.digital-web.com
I couldn’t have gotten away with not knowing about that here in Seattle.. the coffee cult would have had my head.
Chad → blaggards.com
That’s really interesting about the Moby Dick character. But like others have said already, for me the only thing that has ever come to mind with Starbucks was Dirk Benedict and Battlestar Galactica.
There’s also an ice skater named JoJo Starbuck. She was sort of a household name in the late ’60s and ’70s… well, at least in my family. In fact when Battlestar first came out, ‘Starbuck’ seemed like an odd name for a guy because it carried such a strong feminine connotation for me. And now on the new remake series, Starbuck *is* female. Hmm. This is getting too weird.
spoiler
In Elizabethan England/Marian Scotland, a mermaid was a symbol for a prostitute.
Amit Karmakar → karmakars.com
So you saying that you’re just as bored talking standards and accessibilty as I am :-) think I will start writing book reviews LOL … and
“In Elizabethan England/Marian Scotland, a mermaid was a symbol for a prostitute.”
Really! Well mermaid’s a sign of virginity I thought. eg — Virgo!
Yeah Right
The stabucks logo is the Goat of Mendes… Note the horns, ears, beard, and hermaphrodite face.
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