Iconography of the U.S.

As an American who has traveled outside of the United States to other countries, I always felt at home with the sight of a Dunkin Donuts. Any of my friends who have traveled outside of the U.S., even those who have studied abroad found that when they got to a Dunkin Donuts while they were away they felt a sense of relief and felt like they were in America, no matter where they were in the world. Dunkin Donuts is an icon of the United States, here in North America and abroad in other countries.

Dunkin Donuts opened in Canton, Massachusetts. This brand became iconic to the United States with the marketing tools they implemented. They started a slogan, “America Runs on Dunkin” in 2006 and this is when it truly began to represent something special to first Americans, and second travelers abroad from America. Currently, Dunkin Donuts can be found in over 30 countries around the world.

The logo of a coffee cup that has the initials “DD” in the well-known orange and pink color scheme has become a mediascape across the globe. The logo has become so well known from this picture that it has become very comfortable to us all. One reason that we have all become so comfortable with the brand, internationally, may be due to the fact that it has been serving coffee across oceans for about 27 years now and has made a lasting impact. The marketing tools are also very inducing and we recognize the orange and pink from afar.

Although Americans will see the brand and immediately relate, they may not recognize the products inside of the store. Like any other product or business, it must change to fit the country that it is in and the people that it is serving. The difference will be seen in the products, like the Choco Nut Donut in Thailand or the Grapefruit Coolatta in Korea. But don’t worry, it will “Keep you running wherever you go.”

The cultural response to the Dunkin Donuts image is pretty positive across the board. The friendly like atmosphere and slogans keep the customers coming back for more, no matter where they are. In America the icon is accepted by many and even a place we can consider ‘close to home’ no matter where we are in the country, or world.

Dunkin Donuts does seem to have an American feel to it and may not be as accepted in Europe or somewhere that would prefer a different feel. Americans are not necessarily loved or hated anywhere but I can say that the eating habits of Americans may have a negative image attached in other countries that may be naturally more healthy or experience a different type of food custom. A coffee house that may be more accepted due to its worldly like experience and coffee from many countries may be Starbucks. It is also located globally, but already has a European coffee appeal in the U.S. Either way, they are both very iconic in America and abroad.