Design Evolution: Vintage Cereal Boxes

For my latest look at how much logos have changed over the years, it’s time for us to all take a trip back to our childhood. It’s Saturday morning, you’ve got a whole day of cartoons ahead of you, and you need the right fuel to get you started. What’s better than a big bowl of breakfast cereal?

Nothing, that’s what. So here is a look at how ten of the most iconic brands in cereal looked in days gone by. These are not all the original box versions, just ones that I think you’ll find the most interesting. One thing you’ll see is that in many cases the iconic mascots you associate with cereal brands — Sonny the Cuckoo Bird, Lucky the Leprechaun, and — were not around when the cereal first came out.

Grab a spoon and enjoy!


Frosted Flakes (Kellogg’s, 1951)

Frosted Flakes cereal boxes - 1963 & 1974

1963 & 1974 versions

Lucky Charms (General Mills, 1964)

Lucky Charms cereal boxes - 1964 & 1978

1964 & 1978 versions

Cocoa Puffs (General Mills, 1958)

Cocoa Puffs cereal boxes - 1961 & 1967

1961 & 1967 versions

Apple Jacks (Kellogg’s, 1965)

Apple Jacks cereal boxes - 1967 & 1980

1967 & 1980 versions

Trix (Kellogg’s, 1955)

Trix cereal boxes - 1964 & 1970

1964 & 1970 versions

Cap’n Crunch (Quaker Oats, 1963)

Cap'n Crunch cereal boxes - 1963 & 1978

1963 & 1978 versions

Sugar Crisp/Super Sugar Crisp (Post, 1948)

Super Sugar Crisp cereal boxes - 1966 & 1977

1966 & 1977 versions

Froot Loops (Kellogg’s, 1962)

Froot Loops cereal boxes - 1965 & 1979

1965 & 1979 versions

Alpha-Bits (Post, 1958)

Alpha-Bits cereal boxes - 1964 & 1980

1964 & 1980 versions

Sugar Pops/Sugar Corn Pops (Kellogg’s, 1951)

Sugar Pops/Sugar Corn Pops cereal boxes - 1959 & 1977

1959 & 1977 versions

A big bowlful of thanks to the Sugar Frosted Cereal Museum on Flickr for many of these images!