What Your Logo Doesn't Need. Trim the Fat!

How do you decide on how a logo should look? Is it based on what’s popular or trending? On the profession or industry? Logos are one of the most integral parts of your brand and creating the right logo that will withstand the test of time can be challenging.

When designing a great logo there are many things to keep in mind, such as fonts, colors, and how it will look when printed. With everything to think about when designing a great logo, try looking at it from a different angle. Consider what the logo doesn’t need.

A logo doesn’t need to convey what the business is or does. While that certainly works in some circumstances, logos are capable of adding meaning to the brand and keeping the brand top-of-mind without an immediate connection to the brand’s product. The relevance of a logo to the product or business can be unique and different, which will only help to add intrigue, interest, and engagement.

Think of a brand like Nike and their logo. With just a simple, curved line, that one little swoosh represents motion and speed, which are synonymous with athleticism. This is what Nike stands for. The brand is so popular with this logo that there really isn’t even a need for the tag “Nike” to be seen anywhere – you see the swoosh, you know it’s Nike. Nike doesn’t need a shoe as their logo to connect with their potential buyers. Here, the swoosh is just as relevant.

Although Nike uses a symbol for its logo, your logo doesn’t need a symbol. Having only a symbol for a logo design doesn’t always serve its purpose, and sometimes, a wordmark logo is the much better fit. Some examples of popular wordmark logos include eBay, Coca-Cola, and Disney.

You may wish to consider your preference for a wordmark or symbol logo. One may potentially connect the audience with the brand better than the other. Again, think about how the logo will look when printed on shirts, cards, and other items to make sure the message and meaning are clearly understood.