10 Great Logo Designs to Inspire You
You can tell some brands apart from each other simply by glancing at their logo. That is the power of effective logo design. Every graphic designer or brand has its way of creating a logo that gets people talking. Nonetheless, all good logos boast three core elements:
- Simplicity – getting rid of excess and retaining what is absolutely necessary is an art form that is more difficult than it seems.
- Memorability – a great logo has a way of instantly imprinting on people’s minds.
- Abstraction – a good logo doesn’t always have to literally represent the brand (Apple’s logo, for instance). Sometimes, a bit of disconnection proves stimulating.
Listed below are ten examples of great logos from reputed brands around the world:
Lego
This popular kids’ toy brand is about play and freedom. Their brightly colored logo captures both messages.
UPS
Designed by the famed graphic designer Paul Rand, UPS’ logo featured the existing shield shape, which was simplified and embellished with a distinctive bow. However, UPS shifted back to the shield-only logo in 2003.
Ferrari
The brand’s ‘prancing horse’ logo is popular not only because of its backstory but also for its simplicity and memorability. Not to mention that a horse is often associated with power and speed – two things that make a sports car.
FedEx
FedEx’s logo uses negative spacing between the letters ‘E’ and ‘X’ to distinguish itself from competitors.
McDonald’s
The arches in the legendary M letter of McDonald’s logo underwent several changes over the years. However, the current version has been around for decades. The most distinguishing feature about their logo is its distinctive yellow and red color palette.
Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola is among the few brands that decided to keep their logo as it is. Their logo was designed in 1886 and hasn’t changed since. The brand manages to stay relevant by slapping on their logo throughout the various design trends. Coca-Cola’s branding elements also extend to its iconic glass bottles.
Starbucks
Their logo is a classic example of breaking away from the norm of using a symbol that directly tells customers what products the brand sells. Using a mermaid to represent a coffee brand may not seem ideal, but it works for Starbucks. The company’s willingness to tweak and simplify their logo over time has also proven advantageous for them.
Woolmark
Woolmark’s logo is an example of how using a symbol that relates directly to a brand’s products, or values can work. This garment manufacturing company uses a swirl symbol on its logo to signify that their garments are made of 100 percent wool.
Apple
There are multiple origin stories behind the famous Apple logo. We may never know which theory is the truth. Regardless of this debacle, Apple is one of the brands that people recognize instantly. Their logo gets straight to the point and looks deceptively simple, yet gets the message across.
Nike
Nike’s swoosh symbol is designed to capture the idea of movement, making it perfect for a sportswear company.
