Posted on 23rd September 2024
by Andrew English
Embarking on the creation of a logo or rebranding project is exciting stuff. The danger comes when everyone throws everything at it.
Icons, colours, fonts, straplines, are all great vehicles for creative expression, yet less can often mean more.
A great logo has impact, it’s strong, memorable and works flexibly for you. Here are wins that you need to strive for:
Your logo is a visual representation of your brand, and its success depends on how quickly people can recognise it. Simple logos are more likely to be instantly recognisable because they are easy to remember. When a design is cluttered with too many elements, the brain has a harder time processing and remembering it. Think of some of the world’s most successful brands – Apple, Nike, McDonald’s. Their logos are iconic because they use minimal elements to create a lasting impression. One tip we suggest is that you should be able to describe a logo in a single sentence.
If you’re aiming to be a busy brand, your logo will get around! It will be applied in a variety of formats, from website headers and social media profiles to advertising spreads and product labels. A simple logo is much easier to scale and adapt without losing its integrity whether online, in print, or through a personalisation approach like engraving, which could apply to corporate gifts. Brand consistency is the name of the game.
Considered, simple logos are more likely to stand the test of time. Brand impressions build over months and years, your visual identity needs to endure, without the need to reset with regular rebrands, which can be draining in terms of time, resources and budgets. Consider brands like Coca-Cola or IBM, despite being decades old, their logos have remained virtually unchanged because of their simplicity and classic appeal.
Minimalism in design reflects modern consumer preferences. In our busy lives we’re bombarded with information across multiple channels, which can feel overwhelming. It’s easier to gravitate towards brands that offer clarity and simplicity. A minimalist logo reminds your audience that your brand is modern, professional, and understands the value of efficiency. Simplicity in design doesn’t mean sacrificing personality. When you strip away unnecessary elements, you allow your brand’s core message to shine through clearly.
Case study: We began working with our renewable energy client, Lincs Renewables, as they were building a high-end brand. oodle designed a logo that broke away from traditional green and orange tones, whilst avoiding cliché solar panel icons and sun symbols. Instead, we used spiralling circles to represent the perpetual nature of renewable energy and its sustainability. The black and gold colour scheme conveys prestige and value, underscoring the worth of renewable energy while creating a timeless aesthetic.
And remember, while the logo is an important visual element of a brand, it is only one component of the entire brand identity. It’s a shortcut to recall the brand not the brand itself. As part of developing or refreshing a brand identity, we’ll create a range of assets as well as brand guidelines:
All these elements, when used consistently, reinforce what the brand stands for, far beyond what the logo alone could achieve. You brand should have a look, a tone of voice and a way of behaving, that’s your mission and it gives lots of scope for input.
When it comes to logo design, simplicity isn’t just a stylistic choice, it’s a strategic decision that can strengthen your brand for years to come.
Simplicity, or minimalism can be a tough discipline! Organisations typically have many stakeholders and boardrooms will typically fill with opinions at the hint of a logo creation or rebranding project. This is just one good reason why involving external specialists in your project can offer fresh, independent ideas to navigate these briefs through to a successful launch. If you need help, you’re in the right place to reach oodle agency. We apply our creativity to leading brands across the UK.
