Logo Design
There are different types of logo design to take into consideration when deciding to brand your company. They are explained below.
Text-Based Logos
Visually, text logos are very simple, clean logos that aren’t cluttered with heavy visuals and graphics. These logos are often favored by Fortune 500 corporations. The design simplicity of text-based can be misleading as these logos can be enormously difficult to design.
Text-based logos include the company name (and/or URL) in uniquely styled type font that will accurately represents the company, while still appealing to the target audience who will be buying their product or service.
A main reason to consider using a text based logo is for legibility and ease of recognition, even when the size of the logo is reduced (ex: for printing your business cards).
Iconic Logos
Iconic logos feature simplified graphics (symbols) that reflect an aspect of the company. The symbol can be used by itself, with text, or the text can even be intergraded into the icon.
An icon is never a photograph, or a life-like representation of an object. It involves a simple and sometimes clever representation of an item associated with the company name, or a product or service the company promotes. Other iconic logos often include geometric shapes, simple patterns, or initials representing the company or the company name. It may also create an entirely new symbolic meaning (for ex: people did not originally associate the Nike “swoosh” with the company, however people immediately think of Nike when they see the “swoosh” now).
In order for an icon to be a truly effective logo, it should be easily recognizable and memorable, while remaining clear when reproduced in small sizes – see the Fit Pay logo for an example – the puzzle pieces fitting together are not literal, but ‘symbolic’. It is left up to the audience to determine exactly what the symbol is, and what it represents.
Illustrated Logos
Illustrative logos are much more elaborate and detailed than iconic logos that should inspire awe in the audience for which it is intended. Illustrated logos should provide accurate representation of some aspect of the company or product portrayed. This can be the name, the business concept or a character/mascot. Illustrative logo can become a unique marketing and promotional tool, often branding the company just by use of the illustration alone.
