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The 13 Types of Logos – Which One Is Right For Your Business?

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A company’s logo is an icon that represents the brand. Did you know that there are 13 distinct types of logos?

Logos are made to be used for a long time. Therefore, they ought to be instantly identifiable by buyers and strongly linked to the product itself. There are numerous factors to think about in order to create a logo that will become the iconic representation of a company and endure throughout time.

Monograms, letterforms, wordmarks, symbols, abstract logos, combination logos, mascots, and moving logos are just a few of the various types of logos that exist.

Let’s examine each and every one of them.

1. Monogram logos

One of the easiest and most basic types of logos are monograms, which are also sometimes called acronyms. You must be familiar with the names of companies like IBM, CNN, HP, HBO, and others, right? These well-known company names are great examples of acronyms that stand for the first letters of companies. With this kind of logo, big business names can be cut down to just 2–4 letters.

Monogram-logos-example

If a name looks and sounds cool, like NASA, it will help people remember the image twice as much. On the other hand, it would be boring if all the words started with the same letter. For example, Music Media Manufacturing (MMM) would be a boring combo because it would be hard to stress personality and uniqueness with those words.

2. Wordmark Logos

Without pictures or symbols, lettering becomes the main focus, and the styled company name needs to be the brand’s visual reference point. Think of Coca-Cola, Google, and The New York Times as well-known examples.

Wordmark Logos example

But even without pictures, there is still a lot of room for artistic style in the fonts, colors, character features, space, and shapes you choose. It takes a lot of skill for an artist to pick the right style for a company or even to draw their own letters, which is called writing.

In short, wordmarks have value and show the personality of a brand, whether it’s fun, artistic, educational, or deep.

3. Letterform Logos

Since we’ve already talked about names that are made up of letters, let’s move on to the letterform. Letterforms are built on a single letter, while monograms use two or more.

It can be official and easy to understand, or it can be exaggerated and have other meanings. Letter-based designs have been around forever and are the best way to brand yourself.

Letterform Logos example

They are a great example of simplicity because they look simple but stylish. They also work! The “M” in McDonald’s and the “N” in Netflix are easy to spot, aren’t they?

Letterform logos have the advantage of being scalable. Since they only have a few parts, they can be easily shrunk down to be used as app or social media icons and so on. Here are a few more examples of good writing.

4. Abstract logos

Abstract logos are the most effective at using images, symbols, and metaphors than any other type. The idea behind them is to show what the brands they reflect stand for.

Abstract logos example

It can be a mix of well-known shapes or pictures, or it can be something completely different. But it’s important for an abstract mark to be simple, because that makes it easy to recognize.

It’s important to remember that even easy things can have complicated meanings if you say them the right way. With the right branding and marketing efforts, abstract logos can work well, giving the brand’s mark more meaning.

5. Symbol Logos

Now, let’s talk about designs that have pictures or shapes that are easy to recognize. Obviously, I’m talking about symbols or parts that stand on their own.

A sign can look like or stand for a real thing, or it can be completely imaginary. However, this logo style doesn’t include the company name, which is a huge drawback for startups.

As a designer, it’s my job to create a logo that captures a brand’s soul. My objective is to produce a logo that captures the brand’s essence and creates a lasting impression.

Mehedi Hasan – Team Lead & CEO of DsgnStory

This kind of image works best for brands that are already well-known. What images come to mind right away when you think about this? Maybe a blue bird that chirps? Or a bite-marked apple?

Symbol-Logos-example

The main goal of these names is to make the picture they use the only way to remember the brand. Most great brands start out with a mixed mark (see below) and only switch to symbols when they’re well-known enough.

6. Mascot Logos

This is one of the more complicated types that is still easy to understand. Mascot logos have a picture of a figure that represents the brand. These logos are often fun and friendly because they are talking on behalf of the brand to the people who see them.

Mascot-Logos-example

Mascots are different from the other kinds because they reflect a certain character. When we see a human face or a known animal picture, our eyes are excited. In this case, the company will be near to its public, and these people can be thought of as business champions.

The Kool-Aid Man, the KFC Colonel, and Mr. Peanut are all well-known figures. Most of the time, mascots are great for businesses that want to make a friendly environment and attract families and children.

7. Combination logos

Many of the traits of the other types of logos are found in combination logos, such as symbols, abstract logos, and wordmarks. The mix designs are great for almost any business.

Combination logos example

They can be used for many different things, are generally very special, and are the most popular choice for big companies. Combination logos show what a brand is about visually and give an idea of what it’s called, so newer or less well-known brands can also benefit from them.

It’s also easy to get a license for these kinds of logos. In these situations, you can protect your image and wordmark separately or together. This gives you more options for how to use them in the future.

8. Emblem Logos

A font is put inside a sign or icon to make an emblem mark. Think of buttons, seals, and crests. These names tend to have a classic look that can make a strong impression. Because of this, many schools, businesses, and government agencies choose to use them.

Logos are also used a lot in the car business. Even though traditional emblems have a classic look, some companies have updated them with logos that look like they belong in the 21st century. Think of Starbucks’ famous mermaid emblem or Harley-Davidson’s famous crest.

Emblem Logos example

But because they tend to have more details and because the name and symbol are always tied together, they aren’t as flexible as the other types of logos.

A complicated symbol won’t be easy to use in all of your branding. For a business card, a busy logo may only be able to get so small before it gets too hard to read. Also, if you want to sew this kind of name onto hats or shirts, you’ll need to make a pattern that isn’t too complicated or it won’t work.

So, as a general rule, keep your design simple. This will give you a strong, bold look that will make you look like the perfect professional.

9. Slime Logos

Slime logos are the brand marks of the future. These types of logos, in contrast to the ones we’ve already discussed, have a comical context, which means that they don’t use a typical font or symbol but rather elements that look like slime.

Slime Logos example

Take a look at Nickelodeon’s image as an example. Its color spreads over the design like slime, and this gives the company a unique brand name.

10. Fonts Inside A Shape Logos

In these types of logos, the name is generally shown in different forms, such as squares, circles, and more.

Fonts Inside A Shape Logos example

There are many marks with a word inside a shape, like those for Levi’s, Ford, Samsung, MasterCard, and more.

11. Dynamic Logos

Just like mixed type, dynamic designs can use different kinds. Logos that are moving can have abstract signs, symbols, or letterforms in them.

This kind of image works better for brands in the digital space—ones that almost never use offline media and do all of their business online.

Dynamic-Logos-example

They’re called “dynamic” because there are so many ways to use them. For example, these names act differently on different sites and at different times, taking on the characteristics of branding.

If you know what you’re doing, you can use this type of logo to show holiday joy, feelings, or even sounds.

12. Negative Space Logos

Negative space icons are a creative way for any brand to stand out from the crowd. The idea behind negative space is to show a symbol, shape, or image in an empty area. Depending on what you want to do, it can have a very subtle or very obvious result.

Negative Space Logos example

Most of the time, negative space logos have two visuals: one that surrounds and one that fits inside. The shape that is enclosed is the one called “negative space.”

To make the negative space effect, you can use any shape you want. It can also be two letters or a letter and a shape.

13. 3D Logos

Make your image stand out even more by giving it a third dimension. Make the letters of your wordmark stand out from the page, make your symbol look like it’s made of metal, or make the shape around your brand name look like a real object.

3D Logos example

To make a 3D image, you need to know a few specific drawing skills. You’ll need to add perspective, coloring, doubling up on shapes, and highlights in just the right places.

Like symbol logos, 3D logos will need a flat version for places where the 3D version won’t fit.

Flat designs with accents that trick the eye into thinking it’s 3D work well for 3D logos. But they look even better when they are moved and made to look like 3D.

You could also make your present image three-dimensional. But if you go with the flow of the business world, you’ll end up in the wrong place.

How to choose the right types of logos

When making a new image, you should think about how flexible and useful the type is. It’s important that it can be resized to look good on both written materials and social media profiles.

Here’s why brands often don’t stick to just one style but instead make different names, with and without a sign (monogram): they want to have a variety of choices available.

A logo’s style (type, pictures, and colors) should mostly show what your brand is about and what it stands for. Don’t copy someone else’s idea. Instead, try to make the image unique. Your business will be more noticeable and recognized if it stands out from other related ones.

As the leader of the design team at DsgnStory, I can say that a well-designed logo is very important for building a strong brand identity. At our company, we think a logo should be more than just a pretty picture. It should show what a brand is about and what it stands for in a way that speaks to the people who will be using it.

So, we take the time to get to know our clients and their businesses well. Then, we use what we’ve learned to make logos that really show who they are and what they stand for. When it comes to designing logos, we don’t just make things, we change them.

Contact us if you want your image to be original and show everything about your brand at a glance. Together, we’ll make something great!

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