In its
simplest form, logos are symbols designed with texts and images that represent
a business. They help us identify brands we like. But that’s not all. We have
dug deeper than that. Forgetting design trends and fancy typography, a great
logo at its core should:
- Be timeless
- Be versatile
- Be recognizable at a glance
- Embody your brand
Everything
else is optional.
As a matter
of fact, let’s take it a little deeper. The designs you choose for your logo
should focus on strengthening the four elements listed above. If you get these
four basic requirements, all other commonly cited must-have design elements
like memorability and simplicity will flow naturally
Any logo
that stands in the way of accomplishing these four design goals should be kept
at bay. Let’s face it! Not all trendy logos are similar. A great logo should
boost your brand and help you in accomplishing your marketing goals.
That is to
say poorly designed logos, or one that misrepresents your brand can gravely
tarnish your business. Which is the reason why international brands like
Uniliver, Uber, Dunkin;s Donuts and Weight Watchers rebrand every so often
In this article we discuss 7 logo design Trends to watch this year
1 – Minimalist Trend – Say More With Less
True to
Leonardo Da Vinci’s words, – “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication” The
minimalist Logo trend strives to say more with less. In fact, it is the
simplest of the logo designs that catch the attention of most customers. Simple
designs are not only attractive but will also drive remarkable traffic towards
your brand. They communicate your message simply and directly. The minimalist
logo trend is practical and purpose driven at the same time.
2 – Traditional Emblems
Let’s face
it. While there are designers who look to the future for inspiration to create
great logo designs, others look to the past.
The
traditions Emblems logo design trend borrows from centuries-old design strategies
to make trendy logos. Part vintage and part pedigree, this trend is for business
minded individuals who want to make new brands feel old and established. This
trend is a smart sales strategy that suggests a brand’s authenticity to evoke
the feeling of popularity and trustworthiness, even if it was launched a few
days ago.
3 – Hand lettering logo trend
The hand
lettering logo trend has been there for quite some time and looks like we’ll
live with it for a little longer. This logo aims at providing a sense of
customized and personalized bond that we badly crave in our hyper-virtual reality.
Each letter in accurately crafted to create a distinctive style which resonates
well with traditional calligraphy or the old sign paintings.
4 – Negative space
The
negative space logo trend is one you need to keep a close eye on this year. And
this is for a good reason. This trend has been around for decades and utilizes
negative space in creative ways to design iconic logos. The FedEx logo is one
of the most celebrated logo in this category. The arrow between the “E” and “x”
is ingenious and accentuates that FedEx is about moving objects from one place
to another.
Logos that
utilize negative space are an interesting way to explore simplicity. Logos that
make use of negative space to hide a text, shape or a symbol adds an element of
surprise and sophistication.
5 – Contextual Logos
Contextual
logos have been here with us for quite some time and the trend has gained
remarkable popularity lately. Designers are taking this trend to the next
level.
For
starters, Contextual logos use different designs versions so that they fit
where they are being displayed. For
instance, a smaller logo for mobile screens or wearables, a colorless logo for
fliers and a simplified logo for printing on clothing material.
Nowadays,
this trend is going even further, offering variants that are better optimized
of many different uses whether on or offline. This trend offers a better
maneuverability for marketers buy using logo designs that can be hand-tailored
to cut through the noise and speak directly to any customer group
6 – Illusory Logos
On the
heels of the Contextual logos, there’s a positive response towards logos with
optic illusions. Think of this trend as the 70s psychedelic style redone in the
digital era. This trend suggests that specifics are less important. Logos can
have small distortions to make them stand out or simply blatant optical
illusions. This trend leaves a lot of room for interpretation but as long as it
looks cool and pushes the boundaries, it’ll no doubt suffice.
7 – Logotypes
Logotype
trend gained a lot of popularity recently. This trend involves joining letters
in the brand’s name to form a unified typographical unit. This trend is all
about designing a unique logo design that’s as harmonized as possible. What’s
more? This trend underscores flexibility and modularity themes in the designs
too.
Conclusion
To have a
logo that feels relevant and incredible, you need to keep a keen eye on how
logo design trends are evolving. The fact is trends do not only co-exist
nowadays. They also form symbiotic relationships. While designers are coming up
with more and more intriguing ways to experiment with logos, we’re excited to
see what makes a lasting impact this year.