These days, everything has a logo. From a big company to a personal blog, entrepreneurs and beginners alike slap an identifying mark on everything that could be conceivably construed as a product.

And that’s great! The more interesting, effective logo designs there are, the better, right? Logos are excellent at identifying products and brands, and they can be delightfully designed as well. That’s really all that matters!

No, not exactly. Not only is effective design important, but even the type of logo plays into how well any given design reflects the brand, individual, or product behind it. Logotypes are important not only for business owners and graphic designers but for anyone who wants to make sure that their logo is as effective as possible.

What are the seven types of logo design that you need to know about?

● Wordmark

● Lettermark/monogram

● Mascot

● Abstract

● Symbol or icon

● Emblem

● Combination mark

Let’s learn a little more about each one and why they can be used effectively.

Wordmark

Wordmark logos, also known as logotypes, use type as the focus for the logo as a whole. They spell out the name of the company, turning the name of the brand into their visual representation.

This type of logo is excellent for helping to jumpstart the value of the brand’s name since it’s clearly identified. Companies like Yahoo, Google, and Coca-Cola all use wordmarks.

Wordmarks also give a designer a chance to play around with fun, unusual fonts. The mere fact that we think of certain fonts as the “Coke font” or “Disney font,” for example, shows how the choice of font becomes synonymous with the logo — and can even extend far beyond the reach of the brand in question.

Lettermark Or Monogram

This type of logo is also based on the typeface. Rather than spelling out the name of the company, however, the logo is centred around just the first letter — like Netflix’s logo — or around the initials, creating a monogram — like HBO or NASA.

This type of logo is an excellent choice for companies with longer names, or names that are complicated or difficult to spell or pronounce. Monograms also have an inherent dignity to them, which can elevate the brand.

And, of course, it’s another opportunity to find or design the perfect typeface to complement the brand behind the logo.

Mascot

It’s probable that the first thing you think of for a mascot logo is your favourite sports team. And those are excellent examples of how to use a mascot to become the face of an organization.

But mascots pop up all over the place, from retail to restaurants. Unlike a simple graphic representation, mascots usually have a name and personality assigned to them — think Wendy’s, of the fast-food chain, or Colonel Sanders, of KFC. Mascots are great for family-oriented businesses and can create an empathetic bond between the brand and the audience.

Abstract

Abstract logos are a lot harder to define than a type-based or mascot logo. That’s because they are, well, abstract.

Put simply, a lot of logo design is based on ideals and values, rather than just pictorial representations of the company. That’s what makes them so valuable as branding tools.

Abstract logos are excellent opportunities to design a logo that is based on emotion., or personality trait. They’re more about suggesting emotions rather than laying facts out on the line. One of the most famous examples is the Nike swoosh. It may not look like much on its own, but in the context of the brand and the tagline, it delivers the positive, motivational message that wholly embraces the brand’s message.

Symbol or Icon

It’s easy to get confused about the difference between a symbolic logo and an iconic logo.. Both are based around specific, recognizable graphical representations. Both are carefully chosen to represent their brands.

A symbolic logo stands for a value, meaning, or trait that is not directly represented by what the brand has to offer. The bluebird logo for Twitter is an example.

An iconic logo uses a direct pictorial representation of the company. If your local burger joint uses a hamburger for the logo, it’s an iconic logo.

Ultimately, these two get mashed together a lot, because they operate on the same principle. One of the great things about these graphics-based logotypes is that they aren’t dependent on typographic content, language, or legibility, which makes them adaptable to a wide range of markets.

Emblem

An emblem logo usually combines a wordmark with a shield, banner, or other types of emblem shape. Harley Davidson, Starbucks, and the NFL all use emblematic logos.

Much like monograms, emblem logos have an innate dignity to them that can be leveraged by the brands they represent.

Combination Mark

A final type of logo that is vital to know about is the combination mark. This is usually a wordmark or logotype associated with a graphical element, like a symbol or icon.

Most companies use combination marks, at least occasionally or at some point in their brand developemnt. Combination marks are also greatly adaptable logos, as either or both elements can be used as needed. As the company grows, they may rely more heavily on the pictorial element rather than the combination.

Types Of Logo Design — Choosing Wisely

So which type of logo is best for you and your brand?

That’s really up to the market you’re in and the circumstances under which the brand is launching. Ultimately, the important thing is to know the facts about what types of logo work best for a business, and how to leverage every single element from the ground up.

About Veronica Johnson

Veronica likes reading, writing and exploring through her travel. With her freelance guest writing, she hopes to achieve both her passion and career in online content marketing. She writes on topics like business, advertising and digital marketing.