People Are Spotting a ‘Hidden Detail’ in the Coca-Cola Logo—But Is It Really There?
Julian ColeI recall when somebody told me they had noticed that the second “C” in the Coca-Cola logo sort of resembles a smile. Once you see it, you cannot help but continue to see it. Suddenly, nearly all the curved flourishes in that classic red-and-white Spencerian script seem to be smiling at you.
Experts say that the second “C” does resemble a smile, and some people online have also caught on to the idea. They suggest that the logo contains a subtle emotional quality as well: friendly, joyful. This made me wonder: Is this an incredible hidden message from the brand, or is this merely creative projection on the part of the viewer?
Let's dive into the history, the psychology, and the truth behind the famous "Coca-Cola smile."
👁️ What People Are Seeing
Take a close look at the vintage Coca-Cola wordmark: the letters flow in a beautiful Spencerian script, but there is something special about that second “C” in “Cola.”
The top curve of the letter extends a little farther than normal, extending outward and then turning under. It is similar to the curve of a smile on a face. If that “C” were slightly tilted upward, it would definitely appear to be a smile.
Today, many eyes catch the curved swoop of that “C” and immediately sense it is warm, happy, and friendly. It’s as if it’s saying: “Hello, I am smiling at you.” Some people even refer to it as a friendly wink, a covert gesture hidden in plain view.
Once you recognize the curve could possibly represent a smile, it becomes an eerie phenomenon, like seeing a face in a cloud. (It would be fun to add a simple happy-face mask over the wordmark to verify).