Campbell’s soup updates iconic can after 50 years

It's always controversial when a heritage brand decides to update its look, and in this case it's one that's also an icon of the art world. Campbell's soup has made the first major update to the design of its flagship cans for the first time since Andy Warhol put them on the wall of a gallery in the early 1960s. Predictably, the internet is divided.

The company's redesigned its cans before, but its three classic flavours (tomato, cream of mushroom and chicken noodle, if you're wondering) had escaped all but minor tweaks until now – perhaps because they were so recognisable thanks to Warhol's screenprints. More than five decades on, the familiar red-and-white colour palette is still present, but the Campbell’s logo has been updated with a “modernized logo scripture” (see our guide to find the best free script fonts for your own designs). 

Campbell's has eliminated the shadow on its script logo and slightly changed the font, which was originally based on founder Joseph A. Campbell’s signature. The word “soup” is in a new font too, and keen-eyed fans may also notice some "hidden" features, including a more pronounced C in the fleurs-de-lis and the retention of a slanted O in the word “soup” – both tributes to the lettering from the company's original labels back in 1898. The company says that "the refreshed label still evokes the same sense of comfort, goodness and Americana."

The response so far has been mixed. Some have praised the redesign for introducing a fresh look while respecting the brand's heritage, while others reckon the nostalgia value of the old can was Campbell's biggest strength. One user commented on Twitter: "My first thought is it looks like a can of beer. Campbell's! Out of respect, couldn't you have waited until all the BabyBoomers were gone?" Another tweeted: "Decades building an iconic brand then dumping the most recognized label in soups. Not smart."

Not wanting to lose its status in the art world, Campbell’s is accompanying the redesign with a foray into nonfungible token (NFT) art. It's brought in artist and illustrator Sophia Chang to create 100 NFT-authenticated artworks, which are available to purchase at NTWRK NFT. There's also a one-off animated version.

Given Warhol's obsession with consumer culture, we think he'd probably approve. Warhol even dabbled in digital art himself. In May, Christie's auctioned NFT-authenticated restorations of Campbell's soup cans that he sketched in a paint programme on a Commodore Amiga 1000 in the 1980s.

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