Logos play a crucial role in increasing brand awareness and recognition for your company. They are, after all, splattered all over the place, from websites and social media accounts to business cards and marketing materials.
Because your logo is frequently the first thing potential buyers see when they are introduced to your company, it is vital to make a good first impression. But did you realize you aren't restricted to just one logo? In fact, having a few essential versions of your logo might be advantageous in several marketing scenarios.
This essay will explain the what and why of logo variants. By the end, you'll have a good idea of which designs you need and when you should employ them. Let's get started!
The Importance of Creating Logo Variations
Creating many logo versions may appear to be more effort at first, but it will save you time and energy in the long run. You may adjust your branding to various size needs, applications, and scenarios by using logo variants.By doing this design work ahead of time, you may prevent any snags or inconsistencies later on when you need to create a short social media post or design a clothing line. Also, having a variety of logo styles lets you get creative with your marketing materials and try out different looks to keep your brand interesting.
A horizontal variety, for example, may be more suitable for header space on your website, but a circular logo may be utilized on social networking sites such as Facebook or Instagram. By developing two versions simultaneously, you can ensure that your branding is consistent and adaptable no matter where it is utilized. As the company grows and new goods, services, or markets emerge, you will have on-brand resources that can be readily applied to new materials.
5 Crucial Logo Variations
Now that we've discussed the significance of creating various logo designs, let's go through the five variants that every firm should have in its toolbox.1. Core Logo
Before focusing on logo variants, every company must nail its primary logo. This default design will be utilized the most and will most likely become the face of your brand. So, it's important to give it extra care to make sure it fits the image of your brand.
The primary logo should be basic enough to be recognizable while being distinctive enough to set your business apart from the competition. Although text-based main logos are becoming more popular, symbols or logos that combine text and visual elements may also be quite successful.
Consider some of the world's most famous companies, such as Apple, Nike, and McDonald's, and take note of the simplicity of their designs. These legendary firms' brand awareness has primarily been developed on the strength of a simple yet memorable primary logo.
2. Subsidiary Logo
A secondary logo, often known as a "vertical" or "stacked" logo, is a variant of the primary design that is better suited for smaller places. In rare cases where the primary logo is vertical, the secondary logo should be horizontal.The secondary logo is usually a rearranged version of the components of the primary logo. It should use the same typeface, colors, and overall style as the original, but in a different orientation.
Secondary logos are frequently found on business cards, garment tags, social media profile images, and mobile websites.
3. Specify
The submark is a smaller and more basic logo variant than the secondary logo, which is a rearranged version of the primary. When the primary or secondary logos are insufficient, the submark is a shortened version that retains the original design's integrity.A submark is usually a symbol, monogram, or initialism that may be used alone or as an icon. The submark gains adaptability and may be used in a wider range of applications by removing much of the associated text, such as the tagline or corporate name. It can be used as a watermark over images, embroidered on corporate items, or added to the website footer.
The world-famous fashion house Gucci, for example, does not use its complete name in its submark. Instead, it employs a double "G" monogram that is instantly recognizable by admirers of the designer label. Similarly, Nike removes its brand name from its submark, leaving only the iconic "swoosh" symbol.
4. wordmark
A wordmark, often known as a logotype, is a text-based logo that incorporates the business name prominently. Wordmark logos have traditionally been developed in bespoke, hand-drawn fonts to give them flair.However, in recent years, many businesses have abandoned their distinct style and feel in favor of a bolder, more instantly recognizable design. As a result, even the most opulent firms have tended to centralize around a few basic trademark forms.
Many companies, like Yves Saint Laurent, Burberry, and Balmain, have abandoned extravagant serif typefaces in favor of sleek, legible black letters. While this loss of distinctiveness is lamented in the fashion industry, it has undeniably made these logos more adaptable and easier to duplicate across several uses.
5. The Favicon
A favicon is a 16 px by 16 px icon that shows on the tab of a web browser. While it may appear to be a small and insignificant feature, these simple photos have a significant impact on increasing brand awareness when someone visits your website.The favicon will be visible as long as your webpage is open in a browser, quietly strengthening your brand identification. Also, if someone has a lot of tabs open, a favicon might help them find your site again quickly and easily.
Favicons are often the brand's initials, a submark, or some other distinguishing sign. Favicons may be utilized as app icons or social network profile photographs, which is beneficial to your design efforts.
recap of logo variations
While your primary logo is the foundation of your brand identification, these five logo variants are critical for developing a consistent and identifiable design system. You will be prepared for any branding or marketing activity if you have a few distinct variations of your logo ready to go.To summarize, every company requires:
- Submark
- Wordmark
- Favicon
- Primary logo
- Secondary logo
This design combination will allow you to reinforce your branding in a number of scenarios, both online and offline. And if just thinking of all the numerous logo designs you need makes you nervous, don't worry—you can always employ a professional logo designer to assist you!