Logos are everywhere. Have you ever looked at a logo and thought- wow that’s a great logo? If you’ve ever wondered why, this is a good place to start.

We all know what a logo is, but why do some look better than others? What separates a great logo from an ok logo?

A great logo:
• Is simple
• Evokes an emotional response
• Is memorable
• Is distinct
• Is appropriate to the business
• Is versatile

K.I.S.S.

Making a simple logo can seem so easy that anyone can do it. Look at the Ducks Unlimited logo above. The brilliance of this logo is in its simplicity. Anyone can look at this logo and interpret this organization deals with ducks. The graceful lines of the duck and the stoic posture of the head give this logo, and therefore the company, a feeling of importance. The artist did not need to use any color to get his intended message across.

Strike an emotional chord

Branding and logo design go hand in hand. A strong logo design will remind you of the customer service rendered by the business. Customers relate a logo with a positive or negative experience when dealing with that business. A strong brand paired with a quality logo helps customers develop relationships with businesses.

Remember me?

Because we see thousands of logos a day, a great logo needs to be recognizable quickly. The goal of your logo should be to let onlookers identify your brand immediately, all too often a quick glance is all the time you’ll get to make your impressions.

Look like it belongs to your business

Your logo should be relevant to the business and market it represents. If your core demographic is young professionals who like to hunt and fish a logo that looks like it could be hanging on a lawyer’s door is completely wrong. Your logo should relate to your customers and help create a connection with them.

Stand out from the crowd

With all the logos fighting for attention, your logo should strive to be different than the rest.  A good logo focuses on one aspect that makes it instantly recognizable. You should always be unique with your design to be sure you are the business people think of when they see your logo.

Think big and small

Lastly a good logo is as easily recognizable on the front of a building as it is on a website. The Cabela’s logo is instantly identifiable if it’s 20 feet in the air or on one of their fly rods.

Logos are an important piece of a successful company brand. Great logos take time to create and implement properly. So hopefully the next time you see a really great logo you’ll take the time to think about what you find appealing about it and try to implement some these fundamentals in your logo design.