Logo Design Blog - Corporate Logo Design - Custom Logo Design

Designing a logo isn’t the easiest job in the world. A designer might mean well, his design may make sense to him and he might even convince the business to go with his logo design. But, some logos are just too loud, too ambiguous, too simplistic or just plain bad. Take a look at the logos below and see if you find some of them as offensive as we did.

Too Bright … Too Busy

The logo for the London Olympics is meant to depict the year 2012 in a graffiti inspired format. However, does anyone who has seen the logo actually realize that at first glance? Most people seem to be really confused by the jagged shapes and bright colors. There were reports that animated versions of the logo actually caused epileptic seizures.

If there ever was an award for the most obscure logo design the IRS logo would certainly be in contention for the top prize. To start, does the IRS really need to brand itself at all? Is there some doubt that people may not be aware of their existence? An olive branch, a pair of scales and an eagle are hidden in the logo somewhere. It seems more like something you’d find in a kid’s activity book – “Find the hidden shapes in the puzzle.” Figuring out your taxes could be easier!

Overly Simple

You would think that shelling out a cool $100 million on a marketing campaign would mean having a great logo at the very least wouldn’t you? Well you would be wrong, because that is the approximate amount that Microsoft reportedly spent to promote its new search engine Bing.  Perhaps this logo was the reason that Microsoft sold its interactive agency, Razorfish, in late 2009? After all, they came up with this over stretched graphic, which is widely considered to be the worst logo of 2009.

If you were to read the Arnell Group’s presentation on the new Pepsi logo your reaction would be a definite “Huh?” followed by a resounding “What?” ending on a “Yeah … right!” The logo is supposed to contain some pseudo-scientific babble on the golden ratio, the Mona Lisa, the Parthenon, the Gutenberg Bible, the earth and its magnetic fields, as a matter of fact the entire solar system/universe. Reportedly costing $1,000,000 to develop, does the change in logo justify the cost, especially in the current economic climate?

Really Bad Choices

Being a visual representation, sometimes a logo can be interpreted by an observer in ways that the designer never intended. Then there are logos that are just wrong where the designer really made poor decisions.

The first logo above is for a dance class. At first glance it looks like a male and female figure dancing. But look at the big picture (may need to squint a little) and a very different image emerges. The less said about the second logo (Institute of Oriental Studies), the better, though it was supposed to be an oriental house in front of a setting sun. Hmmm!!

What’s happening in medicine these days!! The first logo is for a dental clinic. The second logo is for a pharmacy. Seem to be some very different forms of medical examination going on here. We found these logos here.

I’m sure you’ll agree that the examples above bear re-examination at the very least. Some of you may agree and others not that these are cheap logo designs. That is the point of art/design in any case – to elicit strong opinions and to get people talking. Perhaps you have some “best of the worst” examples that you would like to share. We’d certainly like to see them.

Logo design is at best a creative and branding nightmare. A logo designer could have many a sleepless night trying to figure out how best to portray the essence of a company onto a small graphic while using as few colors as possible and keeping things simple. In such hard times, with the competition that exists, some logo design companies choose to be inspired by established brands and logos. Some examples of this inspiration follow.

Ford & Carrier

The Ford logo is one of the world’s classic and most easily identifiable logos. The logo has undergone minor changes since the early 1900s, when it was developed, though the basic structure and color have been consistent.

The similarity of the Ford Logo and the Carrier logo, which was created much later, is uncanny.

Sun Microsystems & Columbia Sportswear Company

The Sun Microsystems logo is a brilliant example of simplicity and symmetry. The use of the letters “U” and “N” to create both an “S” and the company name “SUN” when observed from different angles is remarkable.

In the Columbia Sportswear Company logo the arrangement of the main symbol seems to consist of shoe prints/soles arranged in a similar manner.

Unilever and Świat Zdrowia

The Unilever logo consists of a wonderful collage of icons within the “U” from the company name. Each icon represents an aspect of their business – brands, people and values.

The Świat Zdrowia logo uses a similar concept but within a “+” symbol. The “+” sign being used as “Świat Zdrowia” is Polish for “World Health”.

Chanel and Gucci

The Chanel logo is an interlocking double C – one facing forward and the other backward. This represented the initials of the name the designer was popularly known as – “Coco” Chanel. The logo was registered in 1920s.

The Gucci logo created in the 1960s is quite similar with the use of a double G representing the initials of the designer – Guccio Gucci. The distinction is in the direction of the Gs and the typeface used for the company name.

The interesting fact is that most of the companies above are multi-nationals with the best creative talent and teams of lawyers who are retained to do due diligence on copyright infringement issues.

Nevertheless, the old saying is probably as applicable here as anywhere else – imitation is indeed the sincerest form of flattery!

Nothing screams pure entertainment like a teen sitting in front of his living room TV playing the latest 3D shooter on his gaming console. Gaming consoles are the rage these days and are still evolving both in terms of hardware and software. Some of the major brands over the past few decades have been highlighted below. Many are established electronics and software brands who moved into the gaming market and have since established themselves as major players.

ATARI

They are the grand daddy’s of the video gaming system since the 1970s with the Atari Pong being the first really successful gaming console.

There are two generally accepted meanings of the Atari logo design designed by George Opperman in late 1972. First, it represents a stylized letter “A” to stand for “Atari”. However, the stylized “A” was also meant to represent Atari’s initial claim to fame – Pong. The two sides of the Atari symbol represent two video game players with the center line is the Pong court.

The second explanation reflected the Japanese origins of the Atari name, looking similar to Japan’s famous Mount Fuji. The logo soon became referred to as the Atari “Fuji” symbol.

NINTENDO

The company started out producing Hanafuda premium playing cards (see below) in the late 19th century. It was not until the mid-70s and early 80s that Nintendo established itself as a game software and console developer.

It is currently rated at third position in Japan in terms of brand value. The logo has been standardized ever since the gaming company was created to compliment its image. As most large multi-national companies it too uses a simple yet intelligent design. The company name is rendered within a capsule like casing. The only color used for the logo is a bright attention grabbing red. The simple bold typeface projects a simple, intelligent image.

The company through the ages has also created some professional logos for its game consoles. The Wii logo, for example, is said to represent two people coming together to play a game. Some of these can be seen below.

SONY

The Sony PlayStation has its origins in a joint development agreement with Nintendo in the late 80s. However, after a falling out between the 2 companies Sony went ahead with solo development using advanced hardware and released the first version in 1994-1995. Since then Sony has become a powerhouse in the game console market with sales in the 100s of millions.

As with the consoles themselves, the PlayStation logo has evolved over time. It started off as a colorful symbol … a combination of the “P” and “S” from the console initials using primary colors. Though the logo was attractive and easily recognizable, Sony wanted to develop a logo which reflected the evolving game console’s status as a home entertainment center, not just a gaming console. Recently Sony changed the logo of the PS3 (PlayStation 3) from the earlier “Spiderman” font to a simple curved typeface.

MICROSOFT

The new kid on the block as far as gaming consoles go, Microsoft recognized the growing gaming market and launched its first offering, the Xbox, in late 2001.

Though the original Xbox logo was blue, the company decided to replace it with a glowing green logo to coincide with its popular game Halo as well as to give it a unique extra-terrestrial feel. For the latest console, the Xbox 360, Microsoft continued with the glowing X, but placed it within a 3D steel sphere to highlight the better 3D capabilities of the new model which provided a player a well-rounded gaming experience.

There have been other players in the game console market, but most have been discontinued such as the Sega Dreamcast, which decided to focus on game software. The future of the gaming console market is bright with all the major players in research and development mode currently. We hope to see some great innovations in future as depicted by Microsoft’s Natal project. Hopefully we’ll see some great logo graphics too.

Is your organization an official non-profit?  Could your organization’s website and logo use a facelift?  Look no further!

MyCorporateLogo.com announces its non-profit website and logo redesign contest.  We feel a sense of responsibility to help the community, and the winner of this contest will receive a new website and logo design.

Prizes

• Grand Prize – Five Page Website Package and Silver Logo Design Package (Total value $1,648)
• 1st & 2nd Runners Up – Silver Logo Design Package (Total value $149)

Rules

• Must be an official non-profit organization
• To enter, add this sentence to your website or blog, “Give me a new website and logo design and link logo design to http://www.mycorporatelogo.com.”
• Leave a comment below with the following information about your organization:
  • Name
  • Cause
  • Website
  • Why you deserve to win
• May enter during the period of March 1, 2010 – March 31, 2010
• Top 10 organizations are put to a vote from the public. That means you should tell everyone you know when the time comes – Twitter, Facebook, email, word of mouth – you get the point!
• Voting will be open for 2 weeks

So give us the best reason why your site should be chosen, and help your organization’s website get a facelift!

“Go Green” is no longer a phrase that conjures up images of radical environmentalists waving their cardboard placards and shouting slogans in front of government buildings. Well it still might, but the point is that “Going Green” is now “happening” and almost everyone is making an effort to contribute in an effort to save the planet.  Graphic designers have always been a step ahead of current trends and have been conjuring up some great “Green” graphics for some time now.

#1 – Recycling Logo

Probably one of the most recognizable “Green” symbols in the world today is the Recycling logo above. This was designed in 1970 by Gary Anderson, a 23-year-old college student at the University of Southern California as an entry in a contest for art and design students at high schools and colleges across the country to raise awareness of environmental issues.

#2 – WWF Logo

Though not a “Green” logo in the true sense, the WWF logo perhaps comes in a close second in terms of brand recognition. The world renowned panda logo was designed by its founder chairman, the naturalist and painter Sir Peter Scott, in 1961. The logo is high on contrast and very appealing as it depicts the cuddly, almost teddy bear quality, of the giant panda. This was the intention of the designer in order to bring attention to the animal which was close to extinction at the time. Today the logo is a globally recognized symbol for animal conversation.

#3 – Energy Star Logo

More recently the logo above has become ubiquitous as the international standard for energy efficient consumer electronics, electrical appliances, even buildings. Though there are other standards this is the most common as it can be found on computers and other electronic products around the world. Devices carrying the Energy Star logo, such as computer products and peripherals, kitchen appliances, buildings and other products, generally use 20%–30% less energy than that dictated by U.S. federal standards. When you purchase a product that bears the Energy Star logo, you can feel good about saving energy.

Companies Moving Towards Green

Even companies which one would never have related to the “Green initiative” are looking at a change in brand image and logo design. Case in point – McDonald’s who has recently changed the background of their “Golden Arches” logo from a red backdrop to a deep hunter green to promote a more eco-friendly image in Europe. Though a small step, it is still a major image change for the fast-food giant.

Are you the owner of a business looking to develop a logo? Are you a designer trying to create the perfect logo? Chances are that in the course of logo development you would have asked yourself if a symbol only logo would work better than one with the company name alongside.

There are a couple of facts to consider before deciding on a symbol only logo. The questions you should be asking yourself are:

1. Are you an established business with a strong brand identity?
If your answer is no, it would probably not be in your best interest to select a symbol only logo. The reason for this is quite simple really. As a small business or a start-up your primary aim would be to establish the name of your company. You would need to develop a custom logo design that combines well with both your Company Name, as well as the nature of your business — your expertise. A symbol only logo would not convey the name of the company and as such the viewer not knowing the name would not be able to make any further enquiries regarding the products or services on offer. A logo with a company name beside it establishes trust and credibility with the customer. The symbol forms the “visual” expression of company credibility. The name is the “verbal” confirmation of the same.

Both Mercedes and Shell were established in the early 1900s

Companies such as Mercedes and Shell (logos above) have established themselves as leaders in their businesses – over a hundred years old – and do not need to add their name to their logos due to brand recognition.

2. Can you define your business within a single symbol?
Most companies (even well established ones) would find it difficult to project the vision and essence of the organization within a single symbol. The goal of any logo is to be able to associate it with the nature of business. The goal of the symbol becomes all the more important as there is no company name or text to describe the business. As a designer the task of designing such a logo becomes even more difficult. Even if you are able to come up with a symbol which does just that:

• Will the observer interpret the symbol correctly?
• Will they understand the meaning of the symbol?
• Or will they be alienated?

There is a lot left to chance and in the current economic climate one cannot leave much to chance. One has to be confident that the consumer gets what the logo conveys without a shadow of a doubt.

The IBM logo is instantly identifiable. IBM also nicknamed “Big Blue” has simplified its logo and company name gradually over the years. What started as “International Business Machines” is now just “IBM”. In the early 70s the company introduced a new version of the logo to include horizontal stripes replacing the solid letters to suggest “speed and dynamism” thus encapsulating their vision of the company.

3. Is the symbol easily recognizable and memorable?
The symbol, apart from conveying the message, must also be instantly recognizable. An observer must be able to recall the symbol and replicate it with simple outlines: the mark of a perfect symbol only logo. Companies that use symbol only logos that are both recognizable and memorable usually have massive advertising budgets to back their decision by getting the word out in various media, across the globe if necessary. Logos such as those of Apple and Nike below are instantly identifiable as these brands have been developed over time and no longer have to be related to the actual company name.

Both Apple and Nike have annual advertising budgets close to $500 million dollars.

In short, it is not advisable to exclude a company name from a logo, especially for start-ups or small businesses. A company name alongside the logo symbol promotes the credibility of the company while depicting the company’s expertise at the same time.

Sony Ericsson is all set to refresh its brand identity. Thanks to its decision of changing the green color of its ‘liquid density’. The brand will now be featured in pink, blue, orange, and purple.

Dave Hilton, UK marketing director at Sony Ericsson, said there was ‘clearly a desire to freshen up our advertising’. The revamp comes right ahead of the company’s ‘biggest-ever’ £8m campaign, promoting its Entertainment Unlimited proposition.

The above is just an example of how even big brands need to re-evaluate their branding strategies to keep up with changing trends. Modifying your logo with changing trends is good but too much of it can backfire. While revamping your brand, make sure it does not leave out its basic elements and that it should still be recognized as the same brand.

If you thought car logos meant nothing, think again! A series of incidents in Mumbai have set the police on their heels. One a fine day, Rohan Desai’s 11 lakh silver Chevrolet emblem went missing. He was disappointed and shared the news with his friends. Imagine his surprise when he found that his friends, too, had faced such incidents in recent times.

Car logo theft is the newest activity making inroads in the crime zone. What makes matters worse is that the thieves are actually young college-goers and even school children.

In January 2009, police arrested 3 schoolboys in Dadar who stole car logos for pocket money. In a similar incident, two teenagers were arrested in Chembur early in February while in May 2009, police nabbed two college students who were stealing a Mercedes car logo in Powai.

“Logos of big cars are often stolen and then sold at Kurla for a decent price like Rs 2,000 to 4,000,” senior police inspector Rajdoot Rupwate said.

Even car showrooms are reporting a surprising trend where the logo maker actually manufactured more logos with the demand rising by as much as 15%.

Police claims that the stolen car logos are sold at lower rates in the grey market, while some are even sold to the car manufacturers. So the next time you purchase a new car logo, you might be buying the one stolen from you.

Logos build up your online identity and as such should reflect your business objectives as well as effuse professionalism. Without these, your brand might sink into oblivion. Over the years, the logo designing industry has been significantly expanding. A good logo designer is one who combines his artistic skill with good business sense.

Designing a logo requires skill and method. An amateur might consider the logo design job as a mere simple one. The task is essentially simple for good artists. Before designing a logo, make sure you have the following:

• Knowledge of the company/organization/business.
• The company name or initials; ask the client whether he needs a symbolic logo or a text logo.
• Check if the company has a tagline.
• Know the color preferences of the client. Many clients prefer specifying the logo color while some leave it to the imagination of the graphic artist. Color choice may also depend on the industry. For instance, an eco printer business will essentially need a touch of green in its logo to emphasize on its environmental aspect.
• Style of the logo- Logo style depends generally on client choice; they might opt for an illustrated logo, a vector logo, or a 3D logo.

This knowledge is enough to proceed with the first draft of the logo design. Once you get the concept right, you can be assured of moving on the right track. The rest becomes easier with client feedback. A good logo designer thus works on a step by step process to design an eye-catching logo.

It’s not always product quality that decides the success of a business. More often than not, a brand becomes pivotal towards deciding the performance of a product in the market. Well known brands always have the upper edge as people trust them for their quality.

Every brand needs some time to sink into the minds of the consumers. A corporate identity is ideally an organization/company personified. It is the first medium by which a person views the company. As the saying goes, “first impression is the last impression”, absolute care should be taken before releasing a company’s identity into the market. The impression created by a corporate identity thus decides the fate of a company.

A good corporate identity, aided with quality products, helps to etch its name on the minds of the customers. To create the first impression, a corporate identity should be able to catch the eye as well as effuse professionalism and quality.

Corporate identity is not confined to one element alone- it includes all those means by which a company/organization can be represented. Some of them include- logo, business card, letterhead, envelope, etc. These form a part of your corporate identity and as such should imbibe your company’s essence and objectives.

The task of creating a corporate identity should be always assigned to professionals. An amateur can create graphics but on account of inexperience, often fail to infuse the much required professional look and feel into the designs. Most people think the design companies are expensive but they fail to realize that quality can never replace cost. Design companies having years of experience in the corporate industry can be completely relied upon to come up with innovative yet professional brand image. So expand the strings of your purse just a little more to avoid compromising on your corporate image.