This guide will help you decide

Logo is a part of everyday life. They show up in your refrigerator when you make breakfast, they show up in your car when you drive to work, and you see them on your computer when you sit down at your desk.

When something is everywhere, you probably don’t think much of it. But logos (and logo design) are actually much more important than most people realize.

There are seven types of logos. Each type has unique advantages, so let’s take a look at the various logos here to help determine which one is best for your brand.

1. Badge

Badge logo designed by typohead?, maestro_medak and GT Designs.

Badges are simply the oldest form of logo. Also known as seals or crests, people have been using them since at least the Middle Ages, if not before. A badge is a type of logo that contains text inside the symbol. This is a classic look that gives your logo a sense of tradition and quality. That's why you'll often see them used by schools and government agencies - they make everything look nice and formal.

Logos are typically more detailed than other types of logos, including fine lines and small, detailed images. However, this is not a hard and fast rule. The Harley-Davidson logo is a very simple one, with simple sans-serif text nested within the badge.

Why did you choose such a logo?

Your brand wants to convey a sense of tradition and/or longevity.

You are looking for your logo to convey a sense of grandeur.

2. Font logo

Also known as a "word logo," a font logo is a logo that is composed entirely of the words or words that make up the company name. Obviously, the main focus here is on text layout. This logo style closely ties the brand’s visual image to the company name.

Therefore, you must choose or create your fonts carefully. The shape, style, and color of a word have almost as much meaning as the words themselves. This is even more important if your company's name is a meaningless word, like so many are these days - Google, which is a very prominent example.

The Google logo is impactful because the font is simple and elegant and - like their product - is composed of many colors. The different colors represent the many results you get when you search on Google and the diversity of its product lineup. The bright colors are fun and easy to use, which makes sense when you consider that Google wants their products to be universally available and not intimidating to new users.

Why should you choose such a logo?

You are a new company and want to get your name out there.

Your brand has a short name that doesn’t feel overwhelming when used as a logo anywhere.

Your name is your brand (for example, you are a photographer). Logos help strengthen the connection between visual memory and name recognition.

Why you can avoid a logo?

You don’t want to update your logo regularly. Fonts follow trends. Helvetica might be all the rage these days, but in a few years it might be as outdated as the neon bubble lettering of the '80s. Even Google and Coca-Cola need to update their iconic text to stay fresh.

Your company name is very long.

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3. Floral logo

Monogram logo composed of Platinum78, Mat W and minimalexa

Purpose of floral combination widely! Whether it's an acronym like TASER or a less obvious name like Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing (commonly known as 3M), it's easy to see why your company appears in its initialized or acronym form.

If this sounds like your company, a monogram might make more sense than a logo. This style of logo focuses on the memorable (pronounceable) part of the name.

You might know HBO as HBO, not Home Box Office. If this is what you want to achieve, then this monogram is a great addition to your brand.

Again, typography and monograms (also known as lettering) are key. You can get more creative with the style of your letters because legibility isn't as much of an issue as it is with logos. The fewer letters there are, the less chance of mispronunciation. Many fashion brands use a monogram logo (think Louis Vuitton, Chanel or Gucci), which is an instantly recognizable symbol of the brand.

Why did you choose a monogram?

You want a connection between your name and visual identity, but the name is long.

You work in an industry where shortening initials is common

Why should you avoid using monograms?

You are a new company and have not yet been established. In this case, you can still use the alphabet, but may want to list your full name below until you gain reputation.

4. Brand Logo

Picture brand logo of shaka88, suseno and Roxana.I

When we line up along this type of logo, You may notice that we are moving further and further away from using words. You can think of this as increasing difficulty in video games - the further away from explicit text, the more weight the actual image has to carry.

This brings us to brand marks (also known as "pattern marks"). The image chosen for your company logo must be incredibly iconic for the average customer to recognize. Often, these logos evolve over time from the above types. Think of how the Starbucks logo started out as a badge but is now just a drawing of a mermaid.

This is why a new company may use a brand name alone. Pattern markings are so much fun though! I don't want to discourage you from picking one just because you're new. Keep in mind that you’ll want to have wordmarks associated with the image for a while before giving up on it entirely.

Why should you choose a pattern markup?

Your brand name can be taken literally. For example, Apple's logo is an example of a clear brand name. Their branding is more meaningful using pictorial marks rather than marks or logos.

You want to create a sense of brand personality and an image that you can’t put a name to.

Why can you avoid a graphic markup?

You want to be seen as traditional and serious. It's not impossible if you use image tagging, but choosing the right image is more challenging.

You are still fighting your product or service. Choosing images too early may lock you into a particular way of branding your company. You may want to start with more features and adapt the branding at a later date.

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5. Abstract Logo Signs

Abstract logos by Milos?Subotic, Sign?in and ?Cvele

Stick to pictures , but moving away from literal representation, we have abstract logos. Use this logo type when you want to use an image, but don't want to be limited by textual representation. You can create an abstract logo that evokes feelings that are more important than imagination. This can be difficult because not everyone will interpret the image the same way.

The great thing about these types of logos is that once you take your brand to market, no one else (hopefully) has the exact same logo as your brand. Right from the start, you’ll be well positioned to differentiate your brand from the rest of the market. Nike Swoosh: It's fast, dynamic, and conveys movement and energy. You don’t need to look at the word Nike to know the brand behind a product or ad. Even if you're not familiar with the brand, you know exactly where they stand. This is where abstract logos thrive – immediate and unique recognition.

Why should you choose an abstract markup?

You need a graphic element to identify your logo, but to create a more serious tone than most literal graphic logos.

You want something truly unique.

Why can you avoid abstract markup?

You haven’t fully solidified your brand image yet. Since abstract markers express feelings, you need to know what type of emotion you want to create in your customers before developing images that can achieve this.

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6. Mascot

RaidenD’s mascot

The mascot is different from the above pictures and symbols in that it is A drawing of a specific character (or at least an anthropomorphic character). As humans, we are visually drawn to seeing another human face (again, even if it really is the face of a cute cartoon character). A mascot connects this positive feeling to your logo and brand.

Unlike standard graphic brand marks, mascots are also flexible; Mr. Peanut can have different expressions and expressions depending on the situation. Mascots are often used by sports teams, service companies and food brands as they try to familiarize themselves with potential supporters, customers and consumers.

The biggest danger with a mascot logo is that your logo can become too friendly, and if you want to take your brand seriously, it might make more sense to consider a different type of logo.

Why did you choose a mascot?

You want to appeal to families or children.

Your brand thrives on fun, friendliness, and optimism.

You need something flexible that can grow with your company and be used in different ways.

Why should you avoid mascots?

Your brand needs to give off a serious vibe.

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7. Combination Marks

Combination Marks of CostinLogopus, arkum and ?99Spy

Not everything in the world is Black and white. You don't have to choose just one type of logo. You can combine any or all of the above ideas. You can combine a mascot with a wordmark, or embed your monogram into an abstract logo. Brand identity can be supported by a logo, and these two aspects of the brand can be used separately and used in different scenarios.

Think of the dove - a brand using both a brand logo (the dove) and a wordmark (the dove), with the brand logo printed on its products. Combination marks are literally the "have your cake and eat it too" of the mark world.

Is a portfolio the right choice for your brand? If you lean towards images but feel you need the support of words to describe or share your brand, then yes! If you want a flexible logo that can adapt to different situations, yes. An important aspect of combination markers is that they are adaptable. Depending on the branding change, you can keep your mascot, drop your wordmark, or lose your monogram and keep your abstract logo. We think a combination logo is a great option for new brands starting the logo design process.

Why should you choose a combination tag?

You want the best of several worlds.

You need a future logo that can adapt to your business and adapt to future changes.

Why can you avoid using combining tags?

Your brand focuses on simplicity; combination markup can become busy and more complex to use. (Do you put the entire logo on your business card, or just the wordmark? Where does using your mascot and monogram fit in? Etc.)

Get Inspired

A firm and fast rule of logo design is that there are no hard and fast rules in logo design. Hopefully the above examples give you an idea of ??the pros and cons of each type of logo, but every brand is different. I've seen serious financial brands rock mascots, and children's clothing companies have totally made sophisticated logos. With design, it's all about details and execution.

When it comes to your brand’s future logo, you’re only limited by your (and your designers’) imagination. One of the best things you can do when starting to think about your own logo is to look at a bunch of examples (may I suggest our 99 favorite logos as a good place to start?). Make a note of the ones you draw, and then try to find the most common threads.

Do you really like letters, or the color red? Do you like this image because it's cute, appeals to your personal aesthetic, or because it fits your brand?

Remember: getting a logo is one of the most fun parts of starting a business. Check out the many beautiful pictures. Let your creativity run wild. Always get a second (and third and fourth) opinion before doing anything. And it’s great to see your brand actually come to life!