How to Pick the Right Logo Icon for Your Business
A logo icon serves as the focal point of your brand. The main focus of your logo is an icon, which represents who you are as a company and what you do. But how should a logo icon be used? Is it appropriate for your brand? And how do you know which one to choose?
To get you started, we’ve explained some fundamental principles of successful logo symbology and included real-world examples of what outstanding logo icons look like. While it may appear to be a complicated process at first, by the conclusion of this article, you should be well on your way to selecting the appropriate symbol for your company. Ready? Let us get started.
What Is the Purpose of a Logo Icon?
It’s not necessary to have a symbol in your logo to have a strong brand identification. Numerous well-known brands just employ text. But if you’re just getting started, a logo icon might be an excellent approach to begin building some sort of brand equity.
Imagine a logo icon as a magnet that draws people’s attention and collects all of their emotional connections to your business. Do you have to have a logo icon? Not always. However, if you’re just starting, may it help build your brand identity? Without a doubt!
Various kinds of logo icons
There are many different types of logo icons. Each category has a different meaning and objective. Let’s dissect it so you can decide which is best for your logo:
Mascots
Interactive
Animals
Abstracts & icons
Crests, trademarks, and emblems
Mascots: Mascot logos are a fantastic method to plant the seeds for a distinctive brand story, especially if you’re referencing some history or tradition. Mascot logos may also build a strong, intimate connection that gives life to your business and personalizes it. Consider the Celtics’ winking Leprechaun, which celebrates the city’s strong Irish roots and has served to symbolize one of the most legendary teams in sports.
Interactive: Typically, there are two ways to combine text and logo icons: static and dynamic. Placing the logo icon next to the text is all that is required for static pairings like the Tinder logo, and the Amazon logo, more dynamic symbols, and word combinations rely on their direct contact.
Interactive logo icons are more difficult to execute, but the results are frequently worthwhile. The Amazon logo symbol represents the company’s pledge to carry everything from A to Z while also serving as a welcoming grin.
Animals: Animals have the ability to access the deep innate neural networks in the brain, which gives them a directness that nearly never involves conscious abstraction.
Red Bull icon has a long history and employs animal iconography to communicate a strong brand message and make historical references. It’s an excellent illustration of why animal iconography is so effective. Consider how the dramatic representation of the bullfight improves the logo. If it were only text, would that change the effect? Undoubtedly not.
Abstracts & icons: The abstract or icon is maybe one of the most prevalent types of logo icons. The greatest abstract logo symbols often capture certain essential facets of the brand itself out of an unlimited range of forms and items you may use to represent your business.
Consider the dating app Tinder. The straightforward flame icon perfectly depicts the user experience given what the dating service delivers. It’s plain enough to be understood right away but deceptive enough to attract attention. A versatile technique to express precise thoughts about your business while allowing some leeway for the viewer’s imagination is through abstract or icon logos.
Crests, trademarks, and emblems: After going through a makeover process in 2014, Bacardi presented a gritty, retro logo icon that perfectly encapsulated its image. The Bacardi logo takes the visitor back to the smoky streets of Santiago de Cuba in 1862 by drawing on more than a century’s worth of tradition. Similar to this, crests, trademarks, and symbols may imply a deep depth of history and character and are a fantastic method to support the narrative around your company.
How to Create Your Own Logo Icon:
It’s now time for you to select the icon for your very own logo. The following steps will help you choose the ideal icon for you:
determine the central message of your brand: The primary visual component of your brand will be your icon. No matter what your audience already knows about you, the moment they see your logo, they will have an opinion about you.
It is important to consider the qualities you wish to convey. Is your brand respectable, conventional, trustworthy, and fun? Prior to beginning your search for icons that may communicate your brand’s primary message, make a decision as to what it is.
Keep things simple: Your viewers will leave if your icon design is very intricate or difficult to identify (is it a bird, is it a plane?). They’ll find it difficult to comprehend what your brand stands for and will leave as a consequence.
Additionally, basic designs are simpler to scale up and down for usage throughout your marketing channels, both online and offline.
Keep it relevant to your field or your company name: The reason Apple’s well-known icon functions is because it is a direct translation of the business name. Apples don’t naturally relate to computers in many ways. That brand link only developed when Apple made a name for itself as a pioneer in the computer and software fields.
If your company is still somewhat unknown, you may enhance your brand’s specialization by choosing a common item from your sector or whatever you anticipate would be your best-selling item. For example, if your business sells high-end rock climbing equipment, you can think about using a harness emblem.
Don’t be afraid to ask for feedback: It may appear appealing to take on the chore of developing your logo on your own.
But once you’ve come up with some ideas, get input from your friends and family before committing. It’s important to acquire an independent estimate of how the icon will be received by your audience because some of their feedback can surprise you.
Where to find free icons?
If you’re not sure where to look for icons, here are a few suggestions to get you started:
Icon website: Depending on your sector and preferences, there are a variety of websites that offer a selection of icons. You may download a tonne of free SVG icons from websites like Iamvector, and Iconfinder for use in commercial projects, but you must give the original creator credit.
Or you may utilize the premium services of websites like Flaticon, which allow you access to hundreds of customizable icons without requiring attribution, for a monthly cost (often around $10 per month).
Although you are'’t required to pay for a membership, keep in mind that if you download an icon for free, anybody else on the globe is free to use the same icon. You’re generally better off biting the bullet and acquiring the icon you desire if you want your logo to be distinctive (it also provides you with editable files)
Tailor Brands: With the help of our logo builder, you’ll have access to thousands of outstanding icon designs that cover every market and specialty. Create your logo, browse through terms in our search bar, and experiment with several icons until you discover the one that best captures your idea.
A professional graphic designer: Using a graphic designer to develop unique icons has several benefits, but their services are sometimes rather pricey. Additionally, you may only choose from a limited selection of designs based purely on the skill of the designer you hired.
It’s Your Turn Now
One of the creative and entertaining aspects of beginning your own business is creating a logo. Despite the fact that it may still feel like a lot of effort, utilize this tutorial to direct you toward making your own logo icons. Remember: while a logo icon isn’t required, it may undoubtedly help you develop your brand identity, particularly if you’re just starting out.
Many new company owners feel pressure to get it perfect the first time, but keep in mind that choosing an icon for your logo is a continuous process, and it’s good to go through numerous versions as we’ve saw with even the biggest organizations. Start designing your logo icons and let your imagination run free.
