Target Logo and symbol, meaning, history, PNG, brand (2024)

Updated: Oct 17, 2022

Target Logo and symbol, meaning, history, PNG, brand (1)Target Logo PNG

Although the Target logo has been updated more than once throughout its history, the core visual metaphor has always stayed the same. The emblem has always been built around a stylized depiction of a target, with a pronounced bullseye. Moreover, the word “bullseye” itself is the nickname for the Target’s registered trademark.

Meaning and history

Target Logo and symbol, meaning, history, PNG, brand (2)

The history of Target started in 1962, when the Dayton Company opened a discount store in Roseville, Minnesota. Prior to it, the company’s team discussed over two hundred versions of the name and the emblem for the new store. As a result of this, the name “Target” was chosen and the first version of the logo was born. It depicted a target with three red circles and white spaces between them. It served as the background against which name of the store was written. The wordmark itself was black and featured a bold italic font.

What is Target?
Target is an American chain of department stores, which was established in 1902. Today it is one of the largest players on the market, with almost two thousand locations offering a variety of products including clothing and accessories, beauty goods, consumer electronics, gadgets, pet supplies, and others.

1962

Target Logo and symbol, meaning, history, PNG, brand (3)
This is definitely the most detailed version of all the logos Target has had so far. You could see the word “Target” written across a target design (three red rings and three white rings). The legibility was a problem because of the choice of typeface and also because the two elements overlapped.

1968

Target Logo and symbol, meaning, history, PNG, brand (4)

The legibility issue was resolved, the emblem grew easier to grasp. To begin with, the type grew more transparent and the elements of the Target logo were separated from each other (it was easier to make out the company name when it was placed over the white background). Also, three rings disappeared making the design simpler.

1968

Target Logo and symbol, meaning, history, PNG, brand (5)

The so-called “Bullseye” symbol was often used without the company name, just as a standalone logo.

1974

Target Logo and symbol, meaning, history, PNG, brand (6)The italicized type was replaced by a regular one. The white letters with black trim were replaced by solid black, which improved the legibility of the Target logo.

2004

Target Logo and symbol, meaning, history, PNG, brand (7)
The company name grew red and smaller in comparison with the Bullseye. It moved below.

2018

Target Logo and symbol, meaning, history, PNG, brand (8)
Once again, the target icon remained virtually unchanged, while the company name was modified. The capitals were replaced by lowercase letters.

Which Target emblem has been most popular?

Target Logo and symbol, meaning, history, PNG, brand (9)

In 2014 the company’s PR team conducted a customer survey in the streets of New York so as to find out which of the logos was the most appealing for the citizens. Here are the results:

  • 20% preferred the 1962 logo, explaining that they liked its “retro” and “less corporate” look
  • 5% opted for the 1975 version
  • 2% voted for the 1989 wordmark

All the rest either liked the current emblem best or refused to choose any of the versions.

Font

Target Logo and symbol, meaning, history, PNG, brand (10)

The current version of the logo is just an emblem that does not actually need the name of the company or any other text to be recognized. However, the previous version did use a wordmark, which was given in the Helvetica Neue Bold font.

Color

Target Logo and symbol, meaning, history, PNG, brand (11)

Red and black have always been the two main colors of the Target logo, while white has been left for the background. The black letters in the wordmark provide excellent legibility, while the red depiction of the target is a perfect eye-catcher. The earliest version sported a lighter shade of red that included rosy and orange hues.

Why did Target change its logo to white?
The management of Target decided to make the iconic logo less red, and the interior design of the chain’s stores was changed accordingly, and the company wants to show its progressiveness and follow the latest trends in the world of consumption and design — minimalism. Also, with white as a prevailing color, the badge became brighter and more eye-catching.

What was Targets original logo?
The original logo of Target was composed of three concentric red rings on a white background, with a shade of red light and muted. The lettering on the first badge was set in a bold black italicized serif font and was placed right over the red and white graphical element.

Did target change its logo?
Target has changed its logo five times. The original version was different from the one, we all know today. As for the iconic Bill’s eye emblem, it was first introduced in the 1960s and has undergone four redesigns by today.

Video

Target Logo and symbol, meaning, history, PNG, brand (2024)

FAQs

What does the Target logo symbolize? ›

The symbolism of the Target logo is based on the ideas of continuity and forward motion. The name of the company and the bullseye are perfectly complementary to the Target logo. In essence, the logo represents the business name.

What is the history of the Target logo? ›

1962: The Dayton's (formerly Target) PR team debated more than 200 possible names for the store and logo design. On a red-and-white whim, they came up with “Target” and immediately envisioned a classic Bullseye logo with three rings. Genius!

What was Target's original logo? ›

In 1968, Target had a logo that consisted of only one word. It was the name of the company, written in large white letters with thin black strokes. For the design, a font similar to ParaType's Pragmatica Shadow Italic was used, only without thickened outlines. Absolutely all glyphs were capitalized.

How does Target inform its brand image? ›

Target's brand position is “design for all.” Although Target never says this directly, it communicates it consistently through its personality, which is cool, fun, trendy and fresh.

What does the Target bullseye mean? ›

The bullseye or bull's eye has, since 1833, been the name for the center of a target and, by extension, since 1857, has been given to any throw, toss, or shot that hits the center.

What do the Target balls mean? ›

On TikTok, safety expert Cathy Pedrayes shared the true reason why the balls are there. It turns out, they are concrete bollards and are placed on the sidewalks in front of the stores to stop a car or truck from driving into the building.

What is the history of Target brands? ›

The company was originally named Goodfellow Dry Goods in June 1902 before being renamed the Dayton's Dry Goods Company in 1903 and later the Dayton Company in 1910. The first Target store opened in Roseville, Minnesota in 1962 while the parent company was renamed the Dayton Corporation in 1967.

What is Target's slogan? ›

Target is a general merchandise retailer with stores in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. ​Our tagline is "Expect More. Pay Less."

Why does Target have a dog logo? ›

The original Target dog who debuted in a 1999 commercial was American Kennel Club Champion Kingsmere Moondoggie, known as "Smudgie". The current mascot is a descendant from the breeder Skyline Bull Terriers, located in Massachusetts.

What was Target's original purpose? ›

On May 1, 1962, Dayton Company opened its first Target store, designed as a discount version of Dayton's department stores.

Why did Target make their logo red? ›

Companies like Target and Kmart use red because it triggers a sense of speed and impulse, which is a beautiful thing for the retail industry. When entering either of these stores, customers expect to quickly find everything they want — and everything they didn't know they wanted.

Is the Target logo trademarked? ›

The first version of the Bullseye logo was released in 1962 and included a simple Bullseye design next to the word ”Target”. The trademark registration applies to the following categories: Retail store services, including grocery services. Snack bar and restaurant services.

What does the brand image refer to? ›

Brand image refers to how audiences perceive your brand and how customers feel about their experience with you. The consumer opinion is influenced by many factors, such as the quality of your brand's products, the impression you make through marketing, and levels of customer service.

What is Target's brand positioning? ›

Our goal is to make every family's Target Run convenient, relevant, affordable and packed with joyful experiences they won't find anywhere else.

What is the Target image? ›

Target Image means any picture, diagram, drawing, tangible item or copyrightable subject matter submitted by Customer to Zygote for development of the Product to permit imaging, animation or reproduction of the Target Image as a Licensed Animation/Video.

What is the bullseye character symbol? ›

Unicode Character “◎” (U+25CE)

What does bullseye mean in slang? ›

Bullseye. To hit the bullseye literally means to hit the center of a target, something I'm clearly not able to do. Figuratively, it means to do something just right, to get the best result possible, to be exactly right.

Why does Target have the bullseye dog? ›

Bullseye made his debut in Target's iconic 1999 advertising campaign “Sign of the Times,” which featured a white English bull terrier with the Target logo over his left eye, set to a reworked version of the 1960s Petula Clark pop tune “A Sign of the Times.” The campaign proved to be a hit—and guests and team members ...

Why did Target get rid of red? ›

"It's bringing the outside in," he said. Target is also being more judicious with its use of red in stores, relying more on neutral colors as a more modern backdrop against which splashes of red are used to have things pop out. "The days of painting everything red are totally gone," said Perdew.

What does 3 balls mean? ›

: relating to or being a golf match in which three players compete against one another with each playing a single ball.

Why do Target have big red balls out front? ›

The giant concrete balls, called bollards, serve as safety precautions for keeping cars from driving onto the curb and potentially harming shoppers. The spheres have been the subject of controversy for years.

What is Target's brand called? ›

MINNEAPOLIS — Target started its slow phasing out of its private label Archer Farms in 2019 and created a new grocery brand called Good & Gather.

What was the old Target brand? ›

Target's First Owned Brand

The Honors clothing line, Target's first official owned brand, launched.

Who invented the Target logo? ›

The Team Behind The Target Logo

The Daytons chose Stewart K. Widdess and his PR team to design a name and logo for their new store. They brainstormed 200 possibilities before, as mentioned on the Target website, going out on a “red & white whim” deciding on the name “Target.”

What are 5 popular slogans? ›

In this next section, we'll take a closer look at 10 popular slogans from some of the biggest brands.
  • Bounty "The quicker picker upper" ...
  • Old Spice "The original. ...
  • AllState "You're in good hands" ...
  • Subway "Eat fresh" ...
  • Dollar Shave Club "Shave time. ...
  • Airbnb "Belong anywhere" ...
  • Dunkin' "America runs on Dunkin'"

What is the culture of Target? ›

We believe diversity, equity and inclusion make teams and Target better. And we live that belief as champions of a more inclusive society by developing a diverse workforce, creating an inclusive guest and team member experience, and fostering equity in our communities.

Why is Target logo now white? ›

Why did Target change its logo to white? The management of Target decided to make the iconic logo less red, and the interior design of the chain's stores was changed accordingly, and the company wants to show its progressiveness and follow the latest trends in the world of consumption and design — minimalism.

Did Target put down the Target dog? ›

Target, a yellow shepherd mix with a gentle face, went on to live with Sgt. Terry Young in Arizona, but a happy ending wasn't meant to be: Target escaped from the family's yard, was captured by animal control and was euthanized by accident.

Why did Target change its name? ›

On Jan. 13, Dayton Hudson Corp. announced it would change its name to Target Corp. to reflect the fact that Target Stores comprise more than 75% of the company's revenues and pre-tax profit. "The Target name makes a lot of sense to the investment community.

Where did Target originate from? ›

Who is Target owned by? ›

Target's parent company, Dayton Hudson Corp., purchased legendary Chicago-based department store Marshall Field's, making Dayton Hudson the largest department store chain in the Midwest.

What does red represent in logo? ›

One of the primary colors, and a universal symbol of passion, anger, and excitement, red is a popular color in branding. If you're looking for a loud, playful, and young brand image, red is an ideal option. If you prefer a more understated, conservative approach, red shouldn't be on your color radar.

What does red represent in branding? ›

Marketing colors like red can capture attention. The red color meaning is associated with excitement, passion, danger, energy, and action. You might've noticed that some brands use red for 'order now' buttons or for their packaging as a way to stand out on the shelf. In color psychology, red is the most intense color.

What does a red company logo mean? ›

Red in branding and marketing is a bold and active color

Many strong, corporate brands use red in their logo. It feels bold and energetic. These brands aren't making specific references to blood, health or food, but they recognize that the color conveys powerful and energetic emotions.

How is the Target logo a rotation? ›

Rotational Symmetry Logos

Target: The symbol of the bullseye target literally represents the loved retail store's name. A simple circle is incased in an outer ring, creating an icon that is the same no matter how you turn it.

Why is there no Target in Puerto Rico? ›

And due to trademark law, Target stores are not allowed to operate on the beautiful island of Puerto Rico, without paying a hefty licensing fee to Target the Puerto Rican rental car company.

Where did the term bullseye come from? ›

The term originated with 1880s shooting competitions in England, either from the idea that the black circle in the middle of the target looks like the eye of a bull, or possibly a five shilling coin that was popularly called a bull's eye.

What does the logo tell about the brand? ›

Logos are a point of identification. They're a symbol people use to recognize your brand and what you stand for. Your core values are visually represented and communicated through your logo. It is the foundation of your brand identity similar to how your values are the foundation for your business.

What is brand identity logo? ›

What Is Brand Identity? Brand identity is the visible elements of a brand, such as color, design, and logo, that identify and distinguish the brand in consumers' minds. Brand identity is distinct from brand image.

Is a brand image a logo? ›

Conclusion. To conclude, a logo by itself is a graphic element that represents the brand, while a brand is a combination of all tangible and intangible aspects that represent the organization. Without the brand, the logo wouldn't have a real meaning, it would be simply a graphical element.

What is targets biggest threat? ›

Threats. Intense competition: Target faces fierce competition from other retailers, brick-and-mortar and online. Companies like Walmart, Amazon, and Costco compete with Target on price, product selection, and convenience, which can pressure Target's market share, sales, and profitability.

What is a design target? ›

A Design Target is a group of customers whom a company can serve better than anyone else can.

How did target become so successful? ›

Target corporation decided to differentiate itself from its other brands. They decided to create their own private-label brands to get more sales. In fact, these brands contribute almost one-third of the company's total revenue.

What is a Target diagram? ›

A Target Diagram displays progress towards a goal. Each layer moves closer towards the centre result. It reminds a bit like a flow chart which moves from the outside to the centre. Each layer can also be divided into subcategories.

What does this is on Target mean? ›

: exactly appropriate : accurate. on-target advice.

What makes a good image Target? ›

Images with bright and dark regions and well-lit areas work well. Employ unique features and distinct graphics covering as much of the target as possible to avoid symmetry, repeated patterns, and feature-less areas.

What is an eye catching logo? ›

An eye-catching logo is an attractive, aesthetically pleasing, and versatile design. A business can reach out to its customers with a brand message and personality with such a logo. Your brand becomes recognizable, and it has a strong brand identity.

What does the white in the Target logo mean? ›

Why did Target change its logo to white? The management of Target decided to make the iconic logo less red, and the interior design of the chain's stores was changed accordingly, and the company wants to show its progressiveness and follow the latest trends in the world of consumption and design — minimalism.

What does the Target dog mean? ›

History of the Target dog

Guests were eager to see more of Bullseye, so the Target marketing team responded by plastering the dog all over print, digital, and direct marketing later that year, even using her for one of the first-ever Target Gift Card designs.

When did Target start using the dog? ›

This is a white plush toy dog represents an English Bull Terrier named Arielle. Arielle quickly became popular among Target customers when introduced in 1999 by the Target Corporation in their advertising campaigns. The dog has a red bullseye, the Target logo, circling one of its eyes and has a red collar and red ears.

What are some facts about Target logo? ›

The 1962 target featured 3 circles and an italic font for the Target logo. This was quickly simplified in 1968 to a single circle and a central dot. Simplifying the image helped Target to differentiate its image from the bullseyes typically used by marksmen.

What does symmetry mean in a logo? ›

Symmetrical logos are logos in which the right and left side are identical. Symmetrical logos give feelings of balance, structure and are often used to represent engineering and trade companies. Companies like Motorola, McDonalds and Volkswagen all have a symmetrical logo.

What famous brand has an eye logo? ›

CBS has used the eye symbol ever since and it currently appears, unaltered since 1951, on no less than ten subdivisions of the brand.

What do circles logo mean? ›

Because of this, circle are universally symbolic for wholeness, perfection, completeness and cyclic motion. They are also representative of community, friendship, inclusivity and strength. So, it is no wonder that circle logos are one of the most popular logo shapes.

What brand has a eye logo? ›

eye logo-print shoulder bag.

Why is Target called Target? ›

The name "Target" originated from Dayton's publicity director, Stewart K. Widdess, and was intended to prevent consumers from associating the new discount store chain with the department store. Douglas Dayton served as the first president of Target.

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