Remembering Emblems: The Importance of Logos

McDonalds has their iconic fluorescent M all over the world. We instantly recognize Coca Cola when we see it, thanks to its 130-year-old script logo and red can. Starbucks has their quintessential mermaid in every cup.

Aside from finances, a business plan, the venue, a work force and trademark name, in order to get a company up and running, a logo is needed. Defined as a recognizable and distinctive graphic design , stylized name, unique symbol or other device for identifying an organization, logos are present everywhere, including various buildings, products, food and vehicles.

Logos and logotypes (text-based logos) are more than just a fancy mix of fonts and colors though. It isnt something you can create overnight and immediately expect long-term success from.

Social Media Presence

When you see a brand icon or logo, what catches your attention first? Is it the color? The font used? Perhaps both?

Mobile applications and sites like Twitter, Pinterest, and Youtube are perfect examples that show the importance of logos.

One of the biggest and controversial changes in logos include Instagrams switch from a classic Polaroid camera to an abstract purple-orange-pink camera icon.

Why spell out Taco Bell when you can just indicate its presence with a purple bell logo? Nike still tops the sporting goods list with its swoosh check mark logo.Facebook simply needs a single f to be recognized.

Hidden Meanings

No matter how durable and reliable your products or company may be, advancement will still be sluggish if your logo cannot be easily remembered by consumers.

Take away the letters from Amazon and youre left with its iconic yellow smiley (or is it an arrow?). Amazons A is connected to the Z with an arrow because people on the web say they apparently sell everything from A to Z. From abacus to zippers, theyve proved themselves to have them all.

Versatility

Your logo must be recognizable in any color, so starting off your design planning in black and white is the best approach. Making it versatile should be your first priority. In line with promotion and advertising, your logo must be recognizable no matter the colors, the background or the medium.

Take Apple for example; whether its plastered on a phone, laptop, or tablet, the bitten Apple remains iconic and the popular internationally despite color changes. Century-old Coca-Cola has gone through countless revisions as well, yet still maintained their trademark script.

Avoid using stock photos and shapes or colors similar to existing logos. Choose a design that will stand the test of time , yet can still be slightly remodeled or evolved.

Psychology of Color

Everyone has a different response when looking at the same things. Present someone with an optical illusion and more than half the time, youll see something they dont, or vice versa.

McDonalds arcs are set to yellow (and some red) because the bright shade relates to happiness , fun and stimulates appetite. No wonder we were so elated as kids whenever we got our hands on our Happy Meals.

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Logos are considered identities. If they were a part of our bodies, theyd be equivalent to our faces because its what makes the biggest impression first. If you're new in the business market, sites like Logowit can help you create your own identity in the world of marketing and business.

One of the true mark of an effective logo includes being recognized and shown in either the Name that Brand or Logo Quiz word games or applications . If youre confident about your consumer goods knowledge, try your luck in games like these.

What other brands can you recognize in a heartbeat after seeing just a sliver of its logo?