Can you imagine our modern world without logos? Quite difficult, right? That tells you how important these little symbols are for us.
There is more about logos than meets the eye. Knowing what goes into designing a logo is a rabbit hole and that goes very deep! Colors and combinations of text and images can have a profound effect on one’s emotions and desires.
Knowing what different types of logos are out there can be an enlightening experience, especially if you’re thinking to design your own business logo.
So, follow us down the rabbit hole as we clarify the main type of logos used today along with some examples.
Logotypes (Google)
A logotype is about company’s name, written usually, in unique and captivating typography. There is no accompanying symbol or image.
This usually works well if your company already has a punchy and memorable name. The logo typography and colors should simply add visual impact to an already catchy name.
Lettermarks (NASA)
Letter marks have the same characteristics as Logotypes with one exception: it uses the company’s initials instead of its whole name.
Lettermarks tend to be a lot more playful in their design than lettertypes due to their simplicity. Often the typography is stylized into shapes and images. For example, the Korean conglomerate, LG’s logo design looks like a happy face winking at its observer!
Letterform (McDonald’s)
Taking it one step further than lettermarks is the letterform logo. It uses just one letter to enhance the essence of the design. C
There’s a lot of emphasis on simplicity and boldness. It’s often a challenge to communicate with this style, so a lot of thinking has to go behind creating a captivating letterform logo.
As Steve Jobs once said, “Simple can be harder than complex.”. This brings us nicely to our next type of logo.
Pictorial/Abstract Marks (Apple)
The objective of a pictorial mark logo is to boil down the brand’s identity into a single image or symbol by eliminating text.
This is usually a style taken by successful brands later in their career. Many businesses like Starbucks and Apple have removed text from their previous logos, essentially boasting that they don’t need help to identify their brand.
This type of logo may be considered a bold move for new businesses. However, if you are in the digital industry, it may be worth thinking of a pictorial version of your logo as you may need to display your brand in low resolution, such as thumbnails and app icons.
Mascot (KFC)
This is a logo type that uses a human, human-like, or animal as the “face” of its brand. This can be a very emotive style. Who doesn’t smile when thinking of the Pillsbury Doughboy or the Michelin Man?
Combination Logos and Emblems (BMW)
This last category includes two styles because the emblem design seems to be going the way of the dodo due to its complexity. Combination logos are more eclectic style because it uses the combination of all abovementioned logo designs.
If you are curious about how to blend these styles together, there are many design logo online free tools out there with a variety of styles for your brand to experiment with and find the best logo type for you.
The Future for Different Types of Logos
Whatever type of logo design you think might be best for your brand, one thing is clear—simplicity is king! Those days are gone when overly-detailed logo drowning in words were used. Logos are now made to capture people’s attention as quickly as possible. So, among all the different types of logos available, ask yourself, “Which ones communicate my brand’s message in the easiest way possible?”
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