Pringles Old vs New Logo: Evaluating the Redesign
A clear comparison of the old and new Pringles logos: what changed in Mr. P's face and the wordmark, why the flat style matters, and what to check before using logo files.
Contents
The Short Answer
When people compare the old and new Pringles logos, they usually mean the 2021 redesign of the brand's mascot-based identity against the version it replaced. The mascot, Mr. P, is the moustached face at the centre of the mark. The new logo keeps him but flattens and simplifies him. His hair is gone, his eyebrows are now the main expressive feature, and the shading of the earlier version has been replaced by solid shapes. The moustache and bow tie were kept, so the character is still recognisable.
In short, the redesign moved from a more dimensional illustration to a flat graphic icon. That makes the logo simpler to reproduce and gives the face more room for expression. The cost is some of the detail and personality that people associate with the older Mr. P.
Which "Old" Logo Is Being Compared
Pringles has changed its logo several times since the brand launched, so "old" can refer to more than one version. This comparison uses the version in use just before 2021, which is the one most readers will remember from packaging. If you are researching an earlier era, such as the original mid-century wordmark or the versions from the 1990s, check those designs separately. Their differences from the current logo are larger than the ones described here.
Observable Design Changes
The table below lists differences you can see by placing the two marks side by side. It describes form only and does not explain why the changes were made.
| Element | Pre-2021 logo | 2021 logo |
| Hair | Visible, parted hairstyle | Removed |
| Eyebrows | Present but secondary | Enlarged; the main expressive feature |
| Moustache | Prominent | Retained, simplified |
| Bow tie | Present | Retained, simplified |
| Rendering style | Shading and highlights suggest volume | Flat, solid-colour shapes |
| Wordmark | Lettering paired with the face | Lettering redrawn to sit with the simplified face |
Gap: this article does not give exact colour values, letterform measurements or proportions for either version. No official brand specification was available for verification. If you need precise geometry or colour codes, use official brand guidelines or assets from the trademark owner, not visual estimates.
Documented Claims vs Editorial Interpretation
Coverage of the 2021 redesign commonly reports that the new eyebrows let Mr. P show different emotions across packaging and campaigns. Treat that as a reported description of the design's intent, not something proven by the mark itself. What you can observe directly is that the eyebrows are larger and that the face has fewer competing details, which leaves the eyebrows to carry most of the expression.
The following points are editorial interpretation, not documented fact:
- Removing the hair makes the face read more as a symbol than as a portrait. It also reduces fine detail that can blur at small sizes.
- The flat style follows a broader shift in consumer brands toward simplified marks that hold up on screens, app icons and small packaging panels.
- Some viewers may find the new Mr. P less characterful. Whether the simplification is an improvement depends on whether you value recognition at small sizes more than illustrative charm.
Practical Implications for Vector Work
Flat, solid-colour logos usually convert cleanly to vector form. Vector graphics describe shapes as paths, so they scale without losing sharpness. A mark built from solid fills tends to need fewer anchor points than one built on gradients and highlights, and it adapts more easily to one-colour or reversed versions. The pre-2021 Mr. P, with its shading, is harder to reproduce faithfully as a clean vector and to simplify for single-colour printing.
Two cautions apply when you work with logo files:
- A file extension does not prove vector quality. A file labelled as vector may contain an embedded raster image, auto-traced paths with distorted curves, or an unofficial redraw. Open it in a vector editor and inspect the paths before you rely on it.
- A downloadable logo is not permission to use it. Both the old and new Pringles marks are trademarks. Commercial or brand-like use needs authorisation from the owner, even if the file is easy to find.
Conclusion
The 2021 logo is a simplification, not a reinvention. Mr. P keeps his moustache and bow tie, loses his hair and shading, and expresses himself mainly through his eyebrows. If you are evaluating the redesign, the main trade-off is practical clarity against illustrative detail. If you need the logo itself, get current official assets from the trademark owner and check both the file's construction and your permission to use it.