A logo is a powerful aspect of a brand. It needs to represent business values, objectives and reflect the company, but the principles of great logo design vary depending on who you ask. We’ve put together our principles of great logo design here for you based on the foundation of some of the world’s best logos.
Simple
In the digital age, we are bombarded with thousands of brands and messages every day. The question becomes, “how does your brand stand out in a sea of brands and logos?” The best way to distinguish yourself is to keep your logo simple. Overly complicated logos with multiple elements and details can easily be forgotten by consumers, whereas simpler logos are easier for your audience to remember and recognize.
The Apple logo is a great example of how simplicity makes for a great logo.
Memorable
Just like you want to stand out from the crowd, you want your audience to remember your brand and your logo. Using unique colors and graphics, while maintaining simplicity, is a great way to ensure that your logo is remembered.
Social media icons are among the most memorable.
Timeless
Creating a logo that is both modern, yet can stand the test of time is a great challenge. A way to do this is to focus on the brand itself as opposed to focusing on what the latest trends are in the world of design.
One logo that has stood the test of time is the logo for Disney. For more examples on timeless logo designs, check out this article!
Versatile
Designing a logo is more than just creating a cool graphic. A logo will be used in a variety of ways, and the best logos are versatile. You’ll need to be able to resize your logo and create variations so that it can be used on a variety of surfaces and materials, including everything from letterhead to t-shirts.
When working with the designers at TAG, you’ll receive more than just one be-all-end-all logo. The ultimate goal is to have one logo that you can use on everything, but that’s not always realistic. We offer an entire suite to accommodate the needs of our clients, from logos on pens to large-scale signage and everything in between. This allows for flexibility in usage while still maintaining brand consistency and integrity.
Appropriate
Your logo should reflect your business and therefore, make sense to your brand’s communications and strategy. Creating an appropriate logo means knowing your audience and adjusting your design to be appropriate for both the audience and the brand.
Logos are more than just how they look. It’s also important how they make you feel, and what they’re trying to convey. That all comes down to the initial concept. Something that looks simple on paper can actually take hours or days to conceptualize, fine tune, and ultimately perfect to achieve the right effect on the audience. Even though simple logos look easy, there’s a lot of brain power and hard work that goes on behind closed doors.
In order for your logo to be successful, you need to understand these principles of great logo design and apply them to your design. While a logo can never represent everything a company stands for and has to offer, it’s often the first impression a customer will have of your brand. Are you in need of a new logo? The talented designers at TAG can help to create the best logo possible for your brand—contact us today!