[Xanta]

In terms of best straight up emblem, I've got to give it to Nike. The fact that a ton of people tattoo that thing on themselves is testament to the power of the image.

If I may go on a tangent, I'm reading a pretty cool book on branding theory and it's effects called 'No Logo,' read by both advertising executive and adbusters alike because it is so damn good at explaining exactly how branding works. Among the most powerful brands outlined in that book are Nike, Coca-Cola, and McDonalds, but the author says that the Mac-Daddy of corporate brand identity is Disney, which curiously hasn't been mentioned here yet.

While their logo doesn't spring to mind as easily as the swoosh or the golden arches, their brand identity is really pretty powerful when you think about it. Growing up, Nike and McDonalds were cool stores, but Disney kind of transcended being a corporation into just being a part of childhood which is really freaky.