Pringles Logo Redesign: What Changed and How It Compares
A focused visual guide to the Pringles logo redesign, comparing the updated mascot, wordmark, and packaging behavior with the previous version.
Contents
Direct Answer: Yes, Pringles Redesigned Their Logo
Yes, Pringles changed their logo. The most recent global redesign rolled out around 2020 and updated the brand’s primary mascot, Julius Pringles, alongside a refined wordmark and simplified canister graphics. The change is best understood as a modernization of the existing identity rather than a completely new mark. The previous logo had used a fuller, more dimensional character with bushy eyebrows and a wider mustache. The updated logo keeps the same core visual concept but applies flatter geometry, stronger contrast, and more compact facial features.
A key scope distinction is that Pringles still uses a flexible system. The main face logo and the horizontal brand lockup can appear differently depending on packaging size, flavor-specific graphics, and promotional contexts. The 2020 change affected the master identity, not every temporary variant.
How the Logo Developed and What Explains the Redesign
The Pringles mascot has appeared in recognizable form since the late 1960s. Over time, the character moved from a relatively simple, flat cartoon face toward a more detailed, dimensional illustration. The version widely used before the 2020 update showed a glossy, shaded head with detailed hair, expressive eyebrows, and a mustache that merged into the surrounding shape.
The redesign reduced that illustrative depth. The updated Julius Pringles uses a cleaner, more graphic silhouette. The eyebrows became smaller and more separated from the eyes. The mustache was tightened and simplified. The face now sits inside a circular holding shape that creates a clearer focal point. The wordmark also changed: the letters lost some of their previous curvature and now use a more upright, evenly spaced construction.
Observable design rationale points toward legibility and digital adaptability. A flatter, higher-contrast mark reads more clearly at small sizes, such as mobile ads or thumbnail images. The simplification also makes the logo more consistent across packaging materials, including flexible plastic and paperboard cans. The documentation available through brand materials describes the update as a modern refresh, but does not claim any hidden symbolic meaning behind the facial changes. The visible advantage is functional: fewer fine lines, stronger edges, and a more compact character.
Comparing the Old and New Pringles Logos
The old and new logos differ most in geometry, color handling, and typography. The table below compares the two versions using shared criteria relevant to vector design and practical use.
| Criterion|Previous Logo|Updated Logo |
| Face shape|Soft, dimensional shading; less distinct outer boundary|Flatter, cleaner silhouette inside a stronger circular frame |
| Eyebrows|Bushy, wide, connected to upper hair mass|Smaller, separated, more geometric |
| Mustache|Large, blended with lower face and shadow|Compact, simplified, high contrast against skin tone |
| Wordmark|More curved, decorative letterforms|Straighter, tighter, more uniform spacing |
| Color|Gradient-heavy shading and highlights|Fewer gradients, stronger flat color separation |
| Scalability|Fine hair and highlight details can break down at small sizes|Better edge definition holds up in thumbnail and mobile display |
| Editability|More anchor points and tonal regions in vector form|Simplified shapes are easier to isolate and recolor |
The tradeoff is character warmth versus technical cleanliness. The older logo felt more tactile and illustrative. The newer logo feels more systematic and brand-safe. If a project needs a nostalgic or premium illustrative look, the previous version may be preferable. If the work involves small digital placements, flexible packaging mockups, or clean vector editing, the updated logo is generally more practical. These comparisons are based on visual inspection of published specimens; no formal performance testing was supplied.
Practical Implications for Vector Logo Work
When working with either version, treat the file’s actual geometry as the source of truth, not the filename or extension. A file named “Pringles-vector.ai” may contain embedded raster art, outlined text, or distorted paths. Before editing, check for open paths, excessive anchor points, and grouped masks. The updated logo is easier to adapt because its shapes are less dependent on shading and fine highlight strokes. The older logo requires more care when flattening or recoloring because many tonal details are tied to gradient meshes or opacity overlays.
Availability of a logo does not grant permission to reuse it. Pringles remains a protected trademark. Vector assets found in design collections should not be used in client work, merchandise, or public materials without proper licensing or direct authorization.
Common Symptoms and How to Check the Asset
A frequent reported problem is that the Pringles face appears muddy or loses detail when exported at small sizes. A plausible cause is that the old logo’s fine hair lines and subtle gradients collapse when scaled down. A check is to view the logo at 32 pixels wide and compare the old eyebrows and mustache against the updated version. The corrected approach is to switch to the updated simplified mark or remove fine highlight strokes before export. Confirm by exporting at the target size and checking that the eyes, mustache, and outer circle remain distinct.
Another symptom is unexpected color shifts after converting vector files. This can happen when gradients from one color profile are flattened into another. Inspect the document color mode and spot-color usage before conversion. If the file has not been inspected, treat the color mode mismatch as a hypothesis, not a confirmed diagnosis.