First impressions are everything, isn’t that what we’ve heard since we were teens. It was drilled into us, especially before every job interview, family function, or first date. And this is not just a myth – humans form judgments in just 0.1 seconds of seeing something new.
Your logo? It gets the same brutal treatment.
That split second when someone stumbles upon your brand – whether it’s on Instagram, Google, or your visiting card – your logo is either saying “I’m worth your time and money” or “keep scrolling, nothing special here.”
The truth is your logo isn’t just a pretty picture. It’s a strategic decision that either builds instant credibility or destroys it before you even get a chance to speak. So, stop leaving your first impressions to chance and let’s decode what type of logo works best for your brand.
Type of Logos
Logos are everywhere! They are on the phone, apps, TV shows you watch, the sunscreen bottle (that you forget to apply), or the burger box (that you devoured last weekend); EVERYWHERE!
And we are here to help you understand the 10 different types of logos for brands and how to choose the right one that aligns with brand identity. We will mention types of logos, how to create them, and a few examples as well. So, read till the end!
1. Wordmark Logo
‘Naam hi kaafi hai’ dialogue is very popular in the Hindi cinema and branding world as well.
Wordmark logos are among the most popular types of logo design used by top brands like Intel, Logitech, Coca-Cola, and Subway. It’s the brand name written uniquely using different fonts, colours, and negative space.
Logo designing is a lengthy process with a lot of trial and error before you land on the one that works for you. Wordmark logos are the same, you can experiment with different fonts till you land on something that matches your brand identity. Add colours that suit you and your brand identity the best. Experiment with writing style for the letters to create a unique logo design.
‘Letter in space’ is yet another type of logo that includes a wordmark in the design. You put a wordmark logo in a shape to create a Letter in Shape logo. Ford, Samsung, Uniqlo, and Levi’s are examples of this type of logo design.
2. Lettermark and Monogram Logo
This type is for those lengthy brand names. Generally, brands with more two-word names use this type of logo.
In the lettermark logo, you use the initials of each word in the brand name. You can write the initials together and experiment with fonts, colours, designs, and negative space to create unique types of logo design. NASA, HBO, CNN, and MDH Masala are examples of lettermark logos.
Monogram logos are created when you overlap the initials of the brand name. Louis Vuitton’s LV, Chanel’s double Cs, and Gucci’s double G are examples of monogram logos.
3. Letter-Form Logo
Here, we only use one letter from the brand name to create a logo. You can be creative in how this one letter is represented. You can experiment with colours and shapes/curves to express certain emotions.
For example, Unilever’s ‘U’ logo is made of doodles highlighting its diverse businesses, and the blue colour expresses the trustworthiness of the brand.
4. Pictorial/ Brandmark/ Symbol Logo
A half-bitten apple might be worthless, but a phone with a half-bitten apple symbol is worth thousands! That’s the power of brandmarking or symbol branding.
Pictorial Marks logo uses a graphical symbol that represents your brand in some way. It’s literally what we mean by ‘logo’ of your business. Apple, Shell, and Target are examples of brandmarks or symbol logos.
5. Abstract Logo
Logos don’t always have to relate to your brand name, they can represent something else too, like your product/service. You can choose elements that are associated with your brand image or represent your business. Airbnb, Slack, Google Drive, and Mercedes are examples of abstract logo design.
6. Mascot Logo
If your brand is about fun and games, your logo should be too! That’s where having a mascot can help.
A mascot is a personality, fictional or real, associated with your brand. Mascots are preferred by brands that cater to lively audiences and are related to entertainment. You can customize the traits of these characters to create a marketing campaign. Pringles, Duolingo, KFC, and Amul Girl are examples of
mascot logos.
7. Emblem Logo
Want to create merch for your brand? The emblem logo might be the best choice
for you!
An emblem logo is when you put a symbol and text in a geometrical shape. They are used to fit your brand name in a limited space. You can also make an emblem using just the name and letters. It makes a memorable logo that you can use on diverse platforms. Harley Davidson, Lamborghini, Porsche, and Warner Bros (WB) are a few examples of emblem logos.
8. Dynamic Logo
What if you don’t want to be rigid about the logo design? That’s cool!
Suppose you work in an environment where marketing trends and graphics change, you can choose a dynamic logo. Here, your core structure remains the same, but the visual changes per the trends. You can change the fonts, colour, or theme of the logo. MTV, Google, and Nickelodeon are good examples of dynamic logos.
9. Animated Logo
Are you even best friends if you don’t send random reels and GIFs to each other? That’s right, short-form videos are the new normal and a way to market your brand. That’s where the animated logos can help. They are animated versions of your logo to put at the beginning or end of the video. Netflix’s N or Jio Hotstar’s logo is a good example of animated logos.
10. Combination-Mark Logo
What if you want to use a symbol and a wordmark logo? Do it!
There are no rigid limits in creating a logo, as long as your customers don’t get confused by your logos. A combination logo helps you create a scalable logo for better marketing.
You can use any of the above-mentioned types of logos to create your brand logo. You can also choose to make a 3D logo if it aligns with your brand. Choose logo elements and colour that match your brand identity. Spotify, NBC, and MasterCard are a few examples of a combination logo.
So, How do you Choose the Right Logo for your Brand?
Here is what to do:
- Do market & audience research to understand what shapes, colours, and logo types work the best.
- Ensure that logo elements align with your brand identity.
- Ensure that your logo is scalable for diverse platforms.
- Choose an experienced logo designer like Four Pillars Media Agency to get expert guidance and support to create your brand logo!
Conclusion
Understanding different types of logos helps you choose a design that best represents your brand. In this blog, we discussed 10 different types of logos. They are wordmark, lettermark, letterform, symbols, mascot, abstract, emblem, combination, dynamic, and animated logos. Read the blog to learn about these logos and some examples. Four Pillars Media Agency can help you choose the best logo type based on your industry, target audience, usability, and brand identity. Explore our portfolio or contact us for a consultation call.
FAQs
1. What are the different types of logos?
There are types of logos, namely wordmark, lettermark, letterform, pictorial, abstract, mascot, emblem, dynamic, and combination. You can also create an animated and 3D logo to capture your audience’s attention.
2. How to choose a logo type for my brand?
You need to focus on your brand identity, industry, audience preference, and scalability (usability) of the logo in mind when choosing a logo type.
3. How to know if the logo is right for my brand?
You can ask a small group of your target audience to look at the logo and express how they feel about it. If there is negative feedback, you must change the logo.
4. What’s the difference between a lettermark and a wordmark logo?
While both lettermark and wordmark include letters, they are quite different. Wordmark refers to a logo with the full brand name, such as Intel, Zara, Panasonic, and more. On the other hand, the lettermark only has the initials of the brand name, such as HP, HBO, Pinterest’s P, and more.