The history of logo design is an interesting one. The first logos can be dated back to decades ago when businesses began to start using graphic arts to depict their brand in ways that made them set apart from other businesses online.
But when we speak of logo design, we’re usually referring to the way that logos are used within websites and web content. Logos have a history that is much deeper than the online environment.
Logo design goes back to the early 1950s in America when businesses begin to create branding to symbolize their products and services to the world. This happened long before there was the internet as we know it today and long before anyone begins to become concerned about how they would promote their brand online.
The Advent of Ad Agencies
Ad agencies greatly influenced the early use of logos in the United States. Companies used logos to symbolize a brand that ran a TV advertising campaign or to use as an asset to increase sales in the “real world” environment. It appeared on all sorts of material goods such as personalized stationery, hats, T-shirts, and bumper stickers, to name a few.
The fact that logo design goes back to as early as the 1950s (when TV was invented and made public to the world), indicates that it has and remains a visual art that is intended to help shape public opinion about the importance of a given brand or company.
The First Logos: Longer Ago than You Think!
It might surprise you to know, but the first logo designers and creators were most likely the ancient Egyptians. The Egyptians are known to have used ancient hieroglyphics to tell stories, to proclaim their greatness to the world, and to record their history. We could see some of the ancient hieroglyphics symbols as the precursor to the modern-day logo and possibly even learned some lessons from them.
Early Greek and Roman Symbols
Other cultures are also known to have created something that resembles the modern logo such as the Greeks and ancient Romans who often use symbols to indicate everything from the changing seasons to their state of war with their enemies.
Logo Design and Technology
You could say that logo making and design has been around for centuries and even thousands of years but the internet, and other technological advances have led to the more prevalent and assertive use of a logo. This has arisen as a need to identify brand among a growing sea of other brands has increased, in which one must stand out to survive.
Logos on Center Stage
The use of the company logo to brand a company’s identity has become increasingly important. There has been a paradigm shift from using the logo to communicate and to be symbolic of the company’s standings to an out-and-out front and center identity of the brand. It is one of the few assets that people encounter online before they leave your site or decide to check out your other credentials.
Examples of Logo Genius
There are some companies today who are worth noting who have used their logo to benefit their company to so great an extent that we cannot avoid discussing them. One example is Steve Jobs with Apple and how he and his business partner Steve Wozniak developed a brand that people believe they could not live without.
Apple: The Making of a Legend
In retrospect, we see that this phenomenon occurred primarily because Apple indeed does make quality products. However, the idea that one brand is better than all of the others with pretty much everything they make is more an example of excellent ingenious marketing on the part of Steve Jobs and Apple rather than any real quality or value.
This Evolution did not occur overnight, but it all started with two guys named Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs who decided that the logo of the Apple being the first fruits of life from the Garden of Eden would be the identity of their product line.
There was something powerful about eating the “forbidden fruit” of the Bible and the fact that the name and the logo were so simple that it was destined to become a household word. This technique has worked for them, needless to say, and their logo has indeed played a significant role in this amazing feat.
Logos: Then and Now
One thing is for sure: a logo is important. In the online environment as well as the offline environment, a logo stands alone as the major proclaimers of your brand and your credibility. It may sometimes be the only thing that people know about your brand if they decide not to take action and investigate further.
Your logo can speak volumes about the identity that you wish to convey to a faceless audience. But it has to be done in a way that does this professionally and with your business ideas at heart. To do it in any other way or with less fiber is not doing justice to your brand or your logo.
How to Create a Logo that Wins
The best way to create a great logo is to first have a great brand. No matter how good the Apple logo was, they wouldn’t have sold so many iPods, iPhones, and iPads if there wasn’t great quality behind it. People will see through a farce a mile away. Always be authentic and truthful and transparent with your audience, and you will win customers for life who will become brand ambassadors for your company ideals.
How Your Logo Works for You
Once you have a great brand and a great business model, you will want to advertise it and promote it through your logo. When you need a great logo and nothing short of great will do, see the professionals at logodesignteam.com. At Logo Design Team, we understand just like Steve Jobs and Apple did years ago, that the logo is an introduction to your brand. They work together seamlessly, and neither can stand alone. They speak to the customer who may only see your logo and nothing else. It may be your one shot at convincing them that your brand is worth looking into where they come in via mobile devices or traditional desktop sites.
So think about what you want your brand to say for your logo and let your logo speak for you. We can help with this. Check out our site at logodesignteam.com and look at our portfolios then contact us for a free estimate. We can work with you and discuss how to promote the personality of your brand to a waiting audience.
Remember when Shakespeare said, “What’s in a name?” he was being sarcastic. Will knew, as the rest of us know, that everything is in a name and your logo is the face that speaks for your brand.
Make it unique. It may be your only chance to speak to the millions of visitors who see your logo. What do they go away thinking about your brand? Does it reflect what your company is about or did your logo only serve to get the attention of your target audience for five seconds of fame and then lose it? You can’t take chances with your logo. It’s just too important.
If your logo needs help, contact us. We understand logo design. It’s what we do.
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FAQs
What is the history of logo? ›
The origins of the logo can be dated back to the Ancient Egyptians. They originally used hieroglyphics to brand and identify their possessions, until in medieval times when graphic imagery such as coats of arms were used to distinguish between the statuses of different nobilities.
What is the importance of logo in today's world? ›So, why is a logo important? Because it grabs attention, makes a strong first impression, is the foundation of your brand identity, is memorable, separates you from competition, fosters brand loyalty, and is expected by your audience.
What was the first logo in history? ›The first logo ever trademarked was in 1876 for Bass Brewery. It was a red triangle with the “Bass” text beneath, in a sweeping cursive text not dissimilar to Coca Cola's instantly recognizable scrawl.
Who first invented logo? ›Logo, the first computer language explicitly designed for children, was invented by Seymour Papert, Wallace Feurzeig, Daniel Bobrow, and Cynthia Solomon in 1966 at Bolt, Beranek and Newman, Inc. (BBN).
What is the full meaning of logo? ›The abbreviation LOGO stands for Language of graphics-oriented. The term LOGO is also a symbol that is used to recognize a public identification of a brand or company.
What is logo explain? ›Logos serve to represent a given organization or company through a visual image that can be easily understood and recognized. A logo generally involves symbols, stylized text or both. Logos are often created by a graphic artist in consultation with a company and marketing experts.
How do you explain a logo in an essay? ›Logos, or the appeal to logic, means to appeal to the audiences' sense of reason or logic. To use logos, the author makes clear, logical connections between ideas, and includes the use of facts and statistics. Using historical and literal analogies to make a logical argument is another strategy.
What is the main purpose of a logo? ›Logos are intended to be the face of a company. They're meant to visually communicate the unique identity of the brand and what it represents. Depending on your design philosophy, simple logos comprised of only essential elements are often the most difficult and also successful.
How do we use logos in everyday life? ›Logos is when we use cold arguments – like data, statistics, or common sense – to convince people of something, rather than trying to appeal to an audience's emotions. Here's an example of logos in action from our man Aristotle himself: All men are mortal. Socrates is a man.
What is the history of logo design begins? ›The history of logos goes back to ancient family crests, hieroglyphs and symbolism. Early versions of logos developed in the Middle Ages (around 1300 AD), as shops and pubs used signage to represent what they did. The first modern logo designs were created in the early 1900s, evolving alongside mass printing.
What is the most famous logo in the world? ›
Coca-Cola logo and brand is the most recognisable in the world. The red and white Coca-Cola logo is recognised by 94% of the world's population.
Who is the father of logo? ›Paul Rand was born Peretz Rosenbaum on August 15, 1914 in Brooklyn, New York. He embraced design at a very young age, painting signs for his father's grocery store as well as for school events at P.S. 109.
Why is it called logo? ›A logo (abbreviation of logotype; from Ancient Greek λόγος (lógos) 'word, speech', and τύπος (túpos) 'mark, imprint') is a graphic mark, emblem, or symbol used to aid and promote public identification and recognition.
Who first used the word logos? ›The Greek philosopher Heraclitus appears to be the first to have used the word logos to refer to a rational divine intelligence, which today is sometimes referred to in scientific discourse as the "mind of God." The early Greek philosophical tradition known as Stoicism, which held that every human participates in a ...
Who made famous logos? ›Known as one of the founders of the Swiss style of graphic design, Paul Rand is the man behind world famous logos such as the IBM logo, the UPS logo, the ABC logo, the Yale University Press logo, and many more.
What are the 7 elements of logo? ›- It's simple. It's easy to fall into the trap of thinking that your logo needs to be complex, but the best logos are often the most simple. ...
- It's memorable. ...
- It's timeless. ...
- It's relevant. ...
- It has high-quality typography. ...
- It contains the appropriate colors. ...
- It's versatile.
Logo design is a branding and marketing tool that can be used to signify a business. Put simply:your logo represents your business brand. It's something simple that, as you build brand loyalty, your customers come to trust and recognise.
What is the most important part of the logo? ›First and foremost, your logo needs to be easily identified with your brand. It should clearly reflect your business's values and services. Think about color and typography and how they set the tone of the design. For example, if you're a construction company you probably don't want to use the color pink in your logo.
What is the most important element of Logo Design Why? ›Attraction is the most important element in a logo because it can make the brand more prominent as compared to the poorly designed logo.
Where are logos used? ›A logo is usually the first visual symbol you develop as a business. It is usually a relatively small image or design that may or may not include your company name or acronym. Logos are typically used in a variety of company materials and promotions.
Are logos most important? ›
Aristotle believed that logos should be the most important of the three persuasive appeals. As a philosopher and a master of logical reasoning, he believed that logos should be the only required persuasive appeal. That is, if you demonstrated logos, you should not need either ethos or pathos.
Is history an example of logos? ›Logos is an argument that appeals to an audience's sense of logic or reason. For example, when a speaker cites scientific data, methodically walks through the line of reasoning behind their argument, or precisely recounts historical events relevant to their argument, he or she is using logos.
What logos means example? ›What is logos? Logos is the persuasive technique that aims to convince an audience by using logic and reason. Also called “the logical appeal,” logos examples in advertisment include the citation of statistics, facts, data, charts, and graphs.
What is the history of design? ›Design history is the study of objects of design in their historical and stylistic contexts. With a broad definition, the contexts of design history include the social, the cultural, the economic, the political, the technical and the aesthetic.
Where is the origin of design? ›It's said that the word “design” comes from the Latin word designare. Designare is said to have meant to draw a plan. For this reason, it is thought that the word design initially was used in this sense of a plan on paper.
When did design history begin? ›Graphic Design Roots: 15,000 – 3,600 BC
Graphic design can be traced all the way back to 15,000 BC, when the first known visual communications arose. These pictographs and symbols are present in the Lascaux caves in southern France. Fast-forward several thousand years, and you'll discover the Blau Monument.
- Appropriate – logos should be appropriate in it's feeling. It doesn't need to say a whole lot.
- Distinctive & Memorable – It has to be unusual enough to persist in our mind. ...
- Simple – Logos are displayed across various mediums in many different sizes.
Combination logos are fantastic for new businesses who want the benefits of both a unique typography and a unique symbol. Abstract logos express a message through graphical elements. The human brain is better at remembering unique designs, therefore, customers are more likely to remember abstract logo types.
Who is the best logo design? ›- Paul Rand - IBM.
- Ivan Chermayeff - Showtime.
- Tom Geismar - Mobile.
- Sagi Haviv - Library of Congress.
- Paula Scher - Citi.
- Steff Geissbuhler - Time warner Cable.
- Milton Glaser - I Love NY.
- Rob Janoff - Apple.
before vowels log-, word-forming element meaning "speech, word," also "reason," from Greek logos "word, discourse; reason," from PIE root *leg- (1) "to collect, gather," with derivatives meaning "to speak (to 'pick out words')."
What type of language is logo? ›
Logo, a computer programming language that originated in the late 1960s as a simplified LISP dialect for use in education; Seymour Papert and others used it at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to teach mathematical thinking to schoolchildren.
Who is the CEO of logo? ›Mehul Shah - Chief Executive Officer - Logos India | LinkedIn.
What is the another name for logo? ›| emblem | symbol |
|---|---|
| trademark | figure |
| badge | device |
| crest | mark |
| insignia | stamp |
What Are the 7 Types of Logos? The different kinds of logos can be placed into seven categories: emblems, pictorial marks, logotypes, lettermarks, abstract logos, mascot logos, and combination logos.
Who defined logos? ›Greek philosopher Aristotle provided a definition of logos in his work Rhetoric, where he used logos to mean “reasoned discourse”, specifically in the realm of public speaking. Aristotle considered logos one of the three main modes of persuasion alongside ethos and pathos.
What are the 4 types of logos? ›- Wordmark. The wordmark logo is, as the term suggests, the name of a business presented creatively. ...
- Lettermark. In some ways, the lettermark is a sort of subset of the wordmark logo. ...
- Brandmark. The limitations of the lettermark lead us to the advantages of the brandmark. ...
- Emblem.
A well-designed logo can offer substantial benefits to brands. It can help pique the interest of consumers, differentiate brands from competitors, facilitate brand recognition, influence investors' decisions, and convey what a brand is all about.
What is logo known for? ›The term logos is used to refer to the use of logic and reasoning in crafting a piece of persuasive writing or rhetoric. Building a logical case can take time and effort, but understanding logos and being able to make effective logical appeals can elevate your writing and help engage your reader.
Why is it called a logo? ›The word logo is thought to be an abbreviation of Logotype. Logotype is a name derived from the printing industry where it was used by early printers to describe a single piece of type (group of letters) that printed a name. Logos is Greek for 'word'.
Why is there a snake on the WHO logo? ›The staff with the snake has long been a symbol of medicine and the medical profession. It originates from the story of Asclepius, who was revered by the ancient Greeks as a god of healing and whose cult involved the use of snakes.
What is world's most famous logo? ›
Coca-Cola logo and brand is the most recognisable in the world. The red and white Coca-Cola logo is recognised by 94% of the world's population.
What is important in logo design? ›A logo should be able to express the message, values, and vision a certain brand upholds. The design of the logo should be unique and memorable, achieved by having a core concept with a simple message, though don't fall in to the trap of literally showing what your business does.
What is the most important thing in logo design? ›One of the most important things to make a logo design success is its meaning or message. Barely seeing a logo on a product or advertisement is not enough to make it memorable. More than being a remarkable visual, it should be symbolically conveying some deeper meaning.
What is the doctor logo? ›It is traditional to use the symbol of the Caduceus to represent medicine. This symbol derives from Hermes or Mercury, the winged messenger, and is a staff intertwined by two snakes.
What do two snakes symbolize? ›Another myth suggests that Hermes (or Mercury) saw two serpents entwined in mortal combat. Separating them with his wand he brought about peace between them, and as a result the wand with two serpents came to be seen as a sign of peace.
What is a symbol of health? ›Red Cross. The Red Cross is one of the most universally recognized medical symbols associated with health and protection.