A company logo is often the first thing a potential customer sees, which makes it an important part of your branding strategy. However, many businesses don't realise that different types of logos are available.
This article will explain 7 different types of logos to consider when starting a new business: abstract marks, mascot marks, wordmarks, lettermarks, combination marks (or compound words), emblems, and pictorial marks.
They're also very versatile in terms of colour and style, which is why they work so well for brands that want their logo to reflect their personality.
Abstract marks are less likely than other types of logos (like words or icons) to be confused with another brand's logo: your customers will know that it's your trademarked design because there aren't any words in it!
However, abstract designs can take longer for people to understand what they mean—so if you want your audience members to immediately recognise who you are and what you do when they see the logo, then initially having a combination of the abstract mark and wording will allow a connection and familiarity.
For example, let's say you own a company that sells pet supplies. Your logo could be a dog or cat with your company name written across it. This would help convey your brand's personality and values by giving it a fun, friendly feel that speaks to people who love animals.
Wordmarks come in all sorts of forms, including single words (Apple), acronyms (NFL), and initials that are pronounced as words (Gap).
Lettermark
For example, if your company name is too long to fit in a logo, you may want to consider creating a lettermark instead. The FedEx logo falls into this category as well as many others with longer names like Bank of America or Siemens.
Combination mark
Examples of combination marks include Apple's apple with a bite taken out of it, Nike's swoosh, Burger King's crown, and flame, Target's target bullseye, and The Weather Channel's weather icon.
Combination marks are great for creating memorable logos that can stand up against competitors in the marketplace because they're more visually interesting than wordmarks or logotypes alone.
For example, Apple uses its apple logo as an emblem because it represents its brand image and identity. It also serves as a symbol for their products (iPad Pro).
For example, you can develop an entirely original image that represents your brand, such as Mcdonalds' golden arches.
There is no right or wrong way to design your own pictorial mark—you just need to find something that best fits your brand identity and values!
A wordmark uses the name of your company as its logo, while a lettermark uses one or more letters from the name in some way. A combination mark is any logo that incorporates multiple elements in its design, such as text and/or graphics (but not a wordmark).
Finally, an emblem is a simple symbol that represents your brand—think Nike's swoosh or Apple's apple with a bite taken out of it.
Mascot marks are particularly popular for companies that want to evoke feelings about their products through imagery rather than words--think Nike's “Just Do It” tagline versus its famous swoosh logo--and they're often used by sports teams because they're recognisable within seconds (even if people don't actually know what sport they're watching!).
The next time you’re looking for a logo for your company, consider these seven types to help you stand out from the crowd. They all have their merits and disadvantages, but they can also be used in combination with one another to create a unique look that will resonate with your audience.
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