This article was originally published on DailyBee
The world is full of messages and symbols. They might seem hidden at first, but they're all around us when we're exploring, running errands, shopping, or browsing online. You just need to know where to look. From big brand logos you see every day to unexpected images that'll have you doing a doubletake, discovering these little secrets hidden in plain sight will have you seeing the world in a different light.
Tour De France Logo
Unarguably the biggest event in cycling, Tour de France logo is a tribute to the sport. On the face of it, it’s just letters in irregular fonts spelling out what we already know, but the key to discovering the hidden message is by focusing on the word “tour”.
This iconic logo was introduced in 2003 to commemorate 100 years, the “O” in tour stands for the back wheel of the bicycle while the yellow circle represents the front wheel and yellow jerseys worn by winners of each stage of the race. The “R” is transformed to look like a rider.
Baskin Robbins Logo
Baskin Robbins logo is fun to look at, catchy in appearance with colors and fonts which make it look like a kid’s Fine Art homework. You will be surprised to discover there is more to it than all that. If you look closely, you will discover something – the pink isn’t just there to add more color to the logo, it emphasizes the figure 31.
The number ‘31’ represents the number of original flavors that the ice cream company started with in 1948. It was the first ice cream shop to introduce sampling before buying. To this day, Baskin Robbins still pays homage to the original 31.
Toyota Logo
Car logos are not without their own hidden meanings too, and the logo of Toyota will show you that. According to official sources, the three ellipses on the logo represent “the unification of the heart of our customers and the heart of Toyota products” while the white space in the background symbolizes “Toyota’s technological advancement and boundless opportunities ahead.”
However, this is not the only explanation for the logo. Some people believe the logo looks like a thread passing through the eye of a needle and this is to symbolize Toyota’s beginning in the textile industry. Find a more symbolic message in the next post.
Amazon Logo
You can find anything on Amazon and this company wants you to know that once you look at the logo. A simple and effective logo with an arrow moving from A to Z is not a coincidence at all.
Amazon logo wasn’t always like this, the first logo that was used when Jeff Bezos started in 1994 was nothing compared to this in terms of creativity, as the company expanded their products and began offering other things apart from books, the logo was modified. It was not until the year 2000 that they started using this one.
FedEx Logo
FedEx logo is a definition of simple yet ingenious, a capitalization on the negative space between “E” and “x” to create an arrow which points right or forward. The courier service company is a household name everywhere.
It is said that the arrow represents speed and accuracy, a message any courier service company will want to pass across to its customers. Although the company was founded in 1971, it wasn’t until 1996 that this symbolic logo was created.
Pittsburgh Zoo Logo
Pittsburgh Zoo logo is an amazing work of art. In simple colors of white and black, this is a logo with more than one secret hidden within. At first glance, it’s just another tree with birds flying at the top. But look closer.
Have you seen the lion and gorilla staring into each other’s faces in the negative space around the tree? If you saw that, did you see the fishes leaping out of what looks like a stream at the root of the tree? You cannot but give credit to whoever created this.
Hershey's Kisses Logo
If you are looking for a hidden message in any logo, your best bet is to look into the negative space. The logo of Hershey’s Kisses confirms that, but you may be too focused on eating the cookies to notice.
The logo of their Hershey’s Kisses cookies is such that the “K” and the “I” meet to form the shape of one of their chocolate kisses with the negative space in between them. While this logo is a recent development, it matches the shape of a Hershey kiss which hasn’t changed since 1907.
BMW Logo
There are two varying opinions on what the blue and white on the logo of BMW truly represents. The enduring belief is that it represents a propeller due to the origin of the company as an engine manufacturer after the first World War.
Not everyone agrees with this, there is another opinion that the blue and white represents a tribute to the flag of Bavaria where the company started. Either way, the two theories appear to have a certain validity to them and definitely gives the customer something to think about.
LG Logo
The logo of LG Electronics appears to be a winking emoji face at first glance. On a closer look, you will discover that G is the outline of the face while L represents the nose.
According to some fans, LG’s logo resembles a modified Pacman.
A Lookout Atop The Statue of Liberty
Imagine standing in the balcony holding a torch, on the statue of liberty. The glorious feeling of looking at the vast space around you.
Many people have had this chance in the past when there was a staircase leading to the place. However, it was destroyed in 1916 by an explosion but later replaced in 1986.
Delta Airlines Logo
The ingenuity in Delta airlines logo is in the shape of the logo which forms the symbol of the fourth letter of the Greek alphabet – Delta. The white lines within the logo also represent the wings of an airplane, symbolically the DC-8, Delta's first jet aircraft.
The Delta symbol is also a reference to the roots of the airline in the Mississippi Delta region.
Pay For One, Get One Free
Next time you buy a charger with USB port, try and check to confirm if it is what it says it is. One would have thought that the double USB port is an advantage, but this manufacturer thinks otherwise.
Here they are, hiding the second port and making us wonder whether it is cheaper to make two and hide one instead of making just one.
Mickey Mouse From The Skies
Sometimes, you need to go up to see the world better. Here is a picture of a grass spot of Mickey Mouse taken from the airplane.
From up there, it looks like a dirty patch on a tile floor. Whereas, it has a painstakingly groomed field of grass.
Happy Bear In The Mountain
The next time you are enjoying a bite of Toblerone chocolate, take a look at the logo.
We can imagine your surprise when you get to discover a bear inside the mountain image on your favorite chocolate cookie, you didn’t see that coming, did you?
Camera-Flage
Thinking of hiding a surveillance camera in plain sight? This company just made a breakthrough in that.
Disguising the security camera as a brick is a definite way to prevent thieves and burglars from noticing they are being watched. The police could learn a thing or two from this.
Goodwill Logo
The smiling half-face on the Goodwill logo is familiar to most people who have donated or bought second-hand products, but not everyone can recognize the symbolism in this.
The fact that the ‘G’ in Goodwill is the same smiling half-face on the logo but with a different color background. Hiding the logo among the text is a clever way of proving that the message is not always in the image.
Phillip Morris Trademark
Phillip Morris cigarettes want to be recognized, even if all you have is a stick of it or a stub. The image of a man with his dog which is on the packet of the cigarette is also placed at the butt end for you to see.
The only thing is you have to pay close attention in order to notice it.
No Pets Allowed
When the school made the rule that pets are not allowed in class, they definitely didn’t have a lamb in mind. They were probably thinking of cats, dogs or a sassy parrot. Someone here decided to up the ante and god knows the trouble he or she may run into if discovered.
So far, the lamb is being a lamb, but who knows what will happen before school closes, someone might end up in detention.
Find The Phone
How long did you stare at this picture before you finally spotted the elusive phone? Maybe you’re still looking. It took us a while too especially when the phone and the rug appear to share the same patterned design.
By now you should have found the phone but if you haven’t, it is right next to the front right leg of the table.
The Coca-Cola Door
Everyone likes Exclusivity and this sandwich shop known as The Press in Shanghai, China creates its own exclusive bar in style. The entrance to the private bar is hidden with a Coca-Cola vending machine that serves as a door.
You only have open the machine to discover a whole new place, we assume this place is reserved for the royalty among its revelers.
Gillette Logo
Think of Gillette razor and its sharpness, the logo embodies this.
In a simple yet effective way, the logo subtly makes reference to the razor with the negative space in ‘G’ and the ‘I’ which resembles the shape of razors.
The Paradox of Times Square
Times Square is one of the busiest places in the world, with the biggest companies in the world competing for commuters’ attention with their adverts.
Despite the hustle and bustle of this place, the classic building in the square known as One Times Square is completely empty. The building was bought by an advertising agency in 1992 when the company that owned the building went bankrupt.
The Transparent Lake
Does it look like someone is laying on Aladdin’s carpet? No, she is not. She is actually floating on one of the most beautiful lakes in the world. This lake in Glacier National Park Montana is so transparent that you may not notice the water.
It is a very spectacular spot for relaxation and you can just float on the water feeling weightless and without worries.
The Secret Door
A secret passage is a delight to stumble upon, sometimes, it seems you can only find those in movies and people only use them to stash guns and drugs.
But in Admont Abbey Library in Austria, there is a hidden room with a bookshelf as its door. We wonder what is stored inside there, but since it is a library, our guess is more books.
Robo-Scarf
There are robots hidden on this scarf, and if you look well enough you will find them.
The robots form a pattern on the scarf and it is a wonderful gift to keep your significant other warm during the winter months.
The Giant Celtic Cross
This 328-foot long Celtic cross near the border of the United Kingdom, in the Republic of Ireland, was planted by Liam Emmery six years before he died.
One can only imagine the effort and energy that must have gone into this giant cross which can be seen from the skies.
The Fence Crying Wolf
This fence is crying wolf, can you find it? Fences with designs are not strange, but one with a wolf as part of its design is not something you see every day.
Look to the wooden panels on the right side of the fence to find a menacing wolf staring right back at you, this is the kind of fence to scare intruders away.
Siamese Dice
It is not only a cue ball that has its twin in it, but it also appears that this dice does too. The last thing you expect to find inside a dice is another one but it is definitely a good surprise.
You can always play with the other dice instead of using a broken pair of dice or having to buy another one.
The Door of Possibilities
A lot of things hide in the undergrowth – animals, items that you thought was lost or even a secret door leading to a shed – all you have to do is to clear the bush to find out what is within.
Here, it is a door, who knows what else you will find next, maybe a secret passage to Jumanji.
What Is Inside The Cueball?
When playing a game of billiards, have you ever wondered what could be inside the cue ball? Well, looks like someone found out already. A cracked up ball reveals another ball hidden within it.
Now, we only have to wonder if this is an isolated incident or every cue ball has a ball within it, the only way to know for sure is to break every ball open.
The Safest Parking Lot
When you own a car this expensive, it is only right to have a befitting garage too. No car thief is jacking this one easily except he comes with a crane to lift it from its parking lot.
This looks like the kind of car Bruce Wayne drives around at night taking down criminals in Gotham. Even if it’s not owned by Bruce, you definitely don’t want to mess with the owner.
Tunnels In Vegas
Las Vegas is known for its nightlife, casinos, strip clubs and great hotels. Beyond that, it also has an underground life beneath its giant system of tunnels. These tunnels are home to hundreds of people.
Don’t be surprised if you switch on your torch and find an entire community of homeless people staring at you.
Give The Lilliputian A Ride
A cloaked man on the back of a car is not something you see every day. We can’t tell who he is, whether it is sasquatch or Bigfoot, or even a Lilliputian.
Whoever it was, he hid himself perfectly well enough not to reveal his identity, and it doesn’t look like we will be seeing him again.
Floor 103 of Empire State Building
The Empire State Building has a floor 103 that is not open to everyone, in fact, not known to most people.
Unlike Floor 102 which has a lookout platform and is open to the public, Floor 103 is only open to staff and very important personalities.
Hall of Records
Mount Rushmore may be famous for the sculpture of President's heads but it has something else you may not know about. Behind the head of Abraham Lincoln in the Black Hills of Keystone lays a hidden room known as the Hall of Records.
This room was intended by the sculptor Gutzon Borglum to contain America’s greatest historical documents and artifacts.
Cinderella Castle
You may not know this, but the Cinderella Castle in Disney World has secret rooms within it where people can stay as a prize for winning something or after paying a certain sum.
Next time you go with your family to Disney World, you can make your daughter feel like a princess while living in Cinderella Castle, it is an experience she will never forget.
A Secret Bathroom Window
They say what you don’t know won’t hurt you, so we should probably not tell you that this is a bathroom window. Oops, now you know.
At a glance, it looks like a regular medicine cabinet. All you need to create one is to screw the hinges to the frame of the mirror and the window casing and you can tell what is going on in your room while in the bathroom. Sounds pretty cool.
The Mannequin Cat
Look who is hiding in plain sight. If you missed it the first time, go back and check again, and you will find our cute imposter.
Hiding among the figurines, this cat must think it has fooled everyone, well guess who is wrong.
Disney Left You An Easter Egg
Disney is notorious for adding secret clues in its movies and it did it here in this snap of Brother Bear.
A closer look at that snapshot will reveal Nemo from Finding Nemo.
The Curious Case of the MGM Lion
There's been lots of speculation over how the famed lion roar, used as MGM studios' mascot since 1916, was filmed. Dated back to a time long before CGI, there must have been real lions involved - how did the film crew get them to cooperate, and were there any casualties in the process? After all, lions aren't notorious for their ability to roar on cue. Rather, they are known to be vicious, wild animals. So how did they do it?
The above photo that's been circulating the web in recent years seems to explain it - the lion was tied down by the film crew and manipulated until they got the roar on film. However, it turns out that this photo is nothing more than some creative photoshop work - in reality, the MGM lion on the left was filmed the old-fashioned way, and the photo on the right is an edited photo of a lion undergoing a CT scan.
Sir Dice
It’s not every time you look under a chess piece that you find a dice right there, but if you do. Don’t be shocked, it is all explainable.
The major reason for this is to give support to the piece so it can stand straight and firm on the board.
Lilliputian Police Station
The Lilliputian Police Station is the smallest police station in Britain. Situated in the southeast corner of Trafalgar Square, it can be easily missed as it looks more like a neoclassical Tardis than a police station.
It can hold two people and a phone line that connects to Scotland Yard. It was built in the 1920s to serve as a watch-post on the Square but these days, it serves more or less as a storeroom for cleaners.
A Safe Space
Animals are experts at camouflage, it is one of the ways they hunt for food and also protect themselves from other predators and this owl shows that. It will take a closer look to discover it is actually an owl and not the bark of the tree.
It is a guaranteed way to enjoy a day sleep without having to worry about his safety.
Brush and Drink
A brush bottle is a perfect way to sneak your alcohol into any place without being caught, just take caution not to sip from the brush when people are looking or questions that you are not prepared to answer might be asked.
To keep your hair combed and your rum safe, this is a perfect product for you.
Gustave Eiffel Luxury Apartment
Do you know the Eiffel Tower has a secret private apartment within it? Gustave Eiffel, the engineer who built the tower also constructed an apartment for himself within the tower which was accessible to only himself.
The apartment is located in the third level of the tower and he entertained VIPs such as Thomas Edison within it.
Safety First
Hidden compartments can be very exciting, especially when a gun is locked within. This hidden desk compartment is a fun one for any gun enthusiast.
Not only is it safe, but it is also elegant and easy to reach in case of emergency.
The Hidden Hatch
It seems sculptors, architects, and engineers just can’t resist the urge to create a hidden compartment or secret passage in whatever they create. In Fiumicino-Leonardo da Vinci airport in Rome, a 60-foot statue of Leonardo da Vinci was unveiled in 1960.
46 years later in 2006, it was discovered that this statue had a hidden hatch that contains parchments on the history of the area and a list of attendees at the opening ceremony.
A Floor Safe Is The Safest
A secret safe in the floor of your house is definitely the surest way to protect your valuables from burglars.
The chances of anyone discovering it is very slim and even if they realise that there is a secret safe on the floor, they will have to pry open the floor of the whole house to know the exact location.
Be Sure To Pick The Right Hose
In the dark, a hose is not that different from a snake, both are long and smooth and spit something. So next time you want to water the garden, make sure you check the hose before picking it up.
It could be a snake trying to pick a different career like the one in this picture. It is better to be safe than sorry.
Camouflage
You will think its only animals that use camouflage while hunting, it looks like humans do too. You have to take a closer look at the picture to find the man in his ghillie suit, almost completely out of sight among the tall grasses.
It is possible for an animal to stumble into him before knowing it is trapped.
Found
For every rule, there is always an exception. Even age-long ones such as hiding in plain sight may not always be the perfect one, like whoever this was thought the best way to hide something was to put it inside a stapler.
He definitely didn’t consider that someone might want to staple something.
The Laundry-Kitchen Combo
It is the standard for people to build houses with kitchen and laundry, what is not so common, however, is to build a house where the kitchen is also the laundry, but someone just combined the two perfectly.
This ingenious creation saves a lot of space and gives an aesthetic feel to the design. The only thing you have to worry about is the noise if you’re cooking and doing the laundry at the same time.
Keep Your Key Safe
Here is a safer way to keep the key to the house while you’re away. Instead of hiding it under the doormat or a flower vase which is common and less safe, why not put it in one of these.
I will bet it’s the last place people will be looking at while searching for someone else house key.