Different Types of Logos and How to Use Them

If you know one thing about branding, then you know that you can’t create a powerful brand without a unique and appropriate logo. However, logos can be of different kinds- abstract, mascots, brandmark logos, etc. So, how do you know which one is right for you? Well, if you are able to understand the various categories, then you can find the perfect option for your own brand. So, let’s just get right into it, shall we?

1. Brandmark

Brandmark logos are some of the most common types of logos which use “brand marks” i.e. pictorial marks. These icons represent what a company is all about or at least give a general idea of the same. Some good examples to consider include Apple, Twitter, Nike, etc. Note that these logos by themselves don’t represent the industries of the brands, but they do encapsulate the brand values. For instance, Nike’s swoosh logo aptly represents the brand’s “Just do it” motto.

2. Mascots

Mascots are virtual characters or real individuals/entities that are used to promote a business. More often than not, they are able to do a lot more than the static visuals that logos generally are. This is because mascots can be animated or incorporated in short and interesting videos. They can also have the “cuteness element” that can work really well for some brands, especially those that cater to small children.

There is no dearth of good brands that use mascots instead of standard logos. These include Cheetos, Appy Fizz, KFC, Pillsbury, etc.

3. Wordmark

Wordmark logos are pretty easy to identify as they are based on the names of the brands alone. You can use them when you want to leave little to the imagination- anyone who sees these logos can know instantly which are the brands behind them. Plus, if your brand name is already unique and interesting, then you want to focus on that rather than using an icon or mascot.

4. Abstract

Abstract logos work on principles that are opposite to wordmark logos. This is because rather than making the brand straightforward and clear, they use abstract shapes, icons, lines, etc. in the design. Two good examples of these logos are Pepsi and Adidas which don’t really suggest what the actual brands are all about, at least not directly. However, the ambiguity and mystery have also worked in their favor. If anything, the abstractness has made these logos unique and iconic, and the same can be made possible for your own brand.

Logo Design Resources

Now that you know about the different kinds of logos, you may want to create a perfect one for your business. The following are some of the best platforms to consider for the same if you don’t want to pay a huge fee to a professional logo designer:

1. Tailor Brands

Tailor Brands is easily one of the best online logo makers on the Internet today. This is because unlike other traditional graphics editing software in which you have to create the designs yourselves, it uses artificial intelligence and automation to do the work for you.

Tailor Brands allows the users to create new and unique logos in minutes by understanding their requirements with inputs like name of the brand, industry-type, design preferences, etc. and using its massive content library of fonts, colors, and icons for creating the perfect designs.

Even though Tailor Brands uses advanced technologies, it costs way less than you can imagine. In fact, you can get a premium design at the price of a medium size pizza!  

2. Fiverr

Fiverr is one of the biggest online marketplaces for different kinds of services. Here you can find excellent social media managers, virtual assistants, and writers for your blog on a budget. You can also find some of the most talented logo designers across the globe.

On Fiverr, you can either contact the designers yourself or post a listing in which you can put the design brief and other requirements that you may have regarding the logo. Most of the freelancers on the platform offer competitive prices. So, you can find the right candidate within your budget without a problem. 

3. 99Designs

99Designs is an online community of graphic designers that are located in different corners of the world. Here, you can get your logo designed in either of the following ways: you can either work with a graphic designer under an exclusive 1-to-1 communication arrangement, or you can host a logo design contest on the platform and have dozens of designers compete with each other by designing different kinds of logos based on your requirements.

Platforms like 99Designs that offer logo design contests have their advantages. However, they can cost a lot- you can easily expect to shell a few hundred dollars or even more depending on your needs.

4. DesignCrowd

DesignCrowd is another platform where you can host logo design contests to get the perfect logo for your brand. However, compared to 99Designs, it has around 50% fewer number of registered designers (99Designs has 1.4 million and DesignCrowd has 640k, at the time of writing). If you will look at the prices, you will realize that DesignCrowd also offers a more affordable solution compared to 99Designs.

5. CorelDRAW

CorelDRAW is a vector graphic design software which offers a slew of interesting and useful tools like stylus enhancements, custom node shapes, vector previews and handles, etc. If you have some experience with other advanced programs like Adobe Photoshop, GIMP, etc. then you can use this program to create an attractive logo yourself.

Bottom Line

Whether you are designing a logo for your website or online business, it’s important that you take your time and pick the right format. You also have many options for getting it designed that are covered above. So, choose wisely and never settle. Good luck!