8 Types Of Logos And Their Example

There is a lot of work when establishing a brand. But how helpful is the hard work behind creating an ideal product if no one knows about it? Advertising and marketing contribute significantly to establishing a particular brand. And you know what contributes significantly to advertising? Your logo. Your brand’s logo is its identity. It is the first thing people see. So you have to make sure to choose the right one. 

8 Types Of Logos And Their Example

Here’s a list that can help you sort through different types of logos your perfect logo:

1. Lettermarks logos (or Monogram)

These logos consist of letters only, they may play around with the font and make it quirky. Also known as acronyms, initials and monograms they mean the same thing. These logos feature the initials of the company They are used so that the consumers can remember the brand name at the tip of their tongue. The trick works best when you are bringing your work to the mainstream. 

These types of Logos are best suited for brands that have a long name. For example, not many people know about the Home Box Office but we have all heard of HBO. An advantage with logos like these is that they a super easy to edit to fit whatever document you want to attach them to. In logo tyles like these the font and colour you choose will be very important. Make sure it is eye-catching and legible

Example: 

• NASA
• HP

2. Wordmarks 

It is an ideal logo if your brand name in itself is distinct. It features the entire name of the brand. Just like Lettermarks font and colour play an important role. But even more so in this type of logos because unlike Lettermarks, this will contain the entire name of the brand. It works best if your brand has a catchy name. Many Newspapers use this type of logo since it best depicts their brand. 

Example: 

• Google
• Netflix
• Subway
• eBay
• Prada.

3. Pictorial marks 

A rather common type of logo that is often used by many well-established brands. These are a little more tricky then word or letter based logo. For one, the image you choose must stick with the brand. It is very difficult to change them mid-way. Changing the logo might create confusion as the brand name is not mentioned anywhere on it. Another thing that needs to be remembered is that if it is a start-up and you want your brand name to be recognized, pictorial logos do not feature brand names. And, hence, might not be the best way to establish a name. 

Example: 

• Apple
• Twitter
• Tinder
• Puma

4. Abstract logo marks

These are so similar to pictorial logos that you can call it a subsect of pictorial logo. However, pictorial logos feature pictures we might recognize from our day-to-day lives. Although abstract logos contain shapes or forms unique to the brand. They give more freedom to the creator as you can make something that truly carries the essence of your brand. They come in very handy in you are doing business but don’t want to hurt public sentiments in any way and play safe. 

Example: 

• Pepsi
• Nike
• Adidas
• Olympics

5. Combination logo

These are a lot more tricky and complicated than simply font-based or corm-based logos. Since these logos feature both they can be a little harder to work with. They might give you hard time when editing them to fit a particular purpose. They do, however, give you the best of both worlds. They are catchy with the images they feature and also feature the brand name. It makes the consumers aware of your brand and what it stands for at the same time. And unlike pictorial and abstract logos you can change them without making an absolute commotion about the brand name. They are very easy to trademark than other pictorial or abstract logos.

Example: 

• Burger King
• Doritos

6. Emblems

These are the oldest types of logos. It consists of fonts inside a shape or crest. They are still popular among brands as they have a traditional feel to them. These are mostly chosen by formal institutions like schools, universities etc. And in most cases symbolize a long heritage of the brand. There are a lot of details that go into an emblem logo making them trickier to compress and resize. Thus if you were to use this type of logo for your organization make sure to keep the font and shape simple. This way every time you have to use it for business cards, letterheads of even emails it will be easier to edit. 

Examples:

• Starbucks
• BMW
• Harvard.

7. Mascot logo

These include exactly what the name says – mascots. Mascots don’t always need to be a completely human form they can include anything find a reasonably human form or action. Such types of Logos are not as easy to make or work with. They require knowledge of basic dimension and forms and colours. And they also increase print costs for business cards and letterheads.

Example: 

• KFC

8. Slime logos

These are a sub-sect of combination logos. They include combination logos that feature a childish and cartoonish edge to them. These are mostly used for companies that have a younger consumer base.

Example:

• Nickelodeon.

FAQs

What is the most important thing when selecting a logo? 

The most important component is that the logo should capture what your brand stands for. An example of this is the Puma logo. It signifies agility and strength something we appreciate when looking for sportswear. Or on a more academic level the Harvard logo/emblem. It reads ‘Veritas’ meaning truth on the seal with gold leaves making it look regal and distinguished something the university stands for. You should choose what is best for you based on the emotion you want to elicit when people see it.

How do I determine what font and colour to use for my logo?

Now apart from conveying what the brand is and stands for it should also be eye catching. Typography, shape and colour play a key role in this. Thus, make either one element impossible to miss. Make sure not to make it an overload of catchy font and shape and colour. Pick one or two elements and make is over-the-to and keep the rest demure. With all the content available online it can be difficult to sort out what kind of logo you want. We hope this article helped to understand the different types of logos and how you can use them.