Types of Logos - Blog Post 2

There are several types of logos.

Abstract 

The most common type of logo. Usually a shape or a image that may or may not be a recognizable object but does not directly represent the company or product. A few examples of this are the Nike Swoosh or the Pepsi globe.

 A simple yet elegant curve that suggests wind or speed or even a shoe. I think of Hermes the Messenger god from Greek Mythology withe the winged sandals. Nike doesn't sell wind or speed but the swoosh suggests that with the product you will be really good at sports or like to spend a lot on brand name clothing.

Representational
Not widely used by big corporations but common for more local businesses like plumbers or construction. One of the most famous examples is the Burger King logo which is shaped like a burger.

Sports teams use a lot of representational logos. St. Louis Cardinals use a cardinal, the Tigers use a tigers, the rams a ram, the Eagles an eagle. 

Font

Sports teams also used font based logos. The New York Giants as well as the New York Yankees use the stylistic NY which has become a symbol not just for the baseball team but for New York or New Yorkers themselves.

Iconic/symbolic

Iconic or symbolic logos are often an image that like the abstract doesn't necessarily represent the product but symbolizes how people think of the product, brand, or company. 

The apple logo that we are familiar with is an example of iconic/symbolic. When you see it you think "apple".  Apple sells computers not apples but it also symbolizes the gift of knowledge.

Logotype/Symbolic

Logotype or Word mark uses typography to create a logo. This common for television shows and movies. These are crucial to the entertainment industry because they tell you what kind of show your are watching, the tone, and what it is about. Comedies or cartoons like Seinfeld, Friends, How I Met Your Mother, Family Guy or The Simpsons use a lot of bubbly or colorful titles or play with font size to convey the goofy or comical nature of the show while dramas or sci-fi will use blocky or more stylized letters that suggest blood or magic or something.  

Combination Marks

Combinations are exactly that.  A combination of both abstract and font. Or the iconic logo and the typographical logo. Nike logo can often inclue the Swoosh and the word Nike. 

Combination Marks are common in Television Stations like NBC, CBS or ABC

 and Motion Picture companies like Warner Bros., 20th Century Fox, and Universal. 

In our logo/letterhead project a combination is ideal because you can represent the brand with a recognizable graphic logo and  

also with an equally recognizable font based logo. 

[INSERT OSAKA TOUISM LOGO]