Creative logo designs: Gathering logo inspiration
Is your logo just your business name in a unique font?
There’s nothing wrong with that. In fact, our clients usually do ask for these types of logos. It’s simple and fuss-free.
You’ve got your brand name already; you just have to choose a font and some colors.
Anyway, you can easily change it down the line once you’ve got enough traction for your brand.
Thing is, logos like these usually don’t stand out.
Sure, they’re great for getting your brand name out there, but it wouldn’t be as memorable as a creative logo.
But a great logo shows what your brand is about, connects with your audience, and invites new visitors to see what you offer.
Keep reading to find some tips to creating a logo that goes beyond just text.
Understanding your identity—the key to a business logo
Before you start designing a logo, you should first have a clear understanding of your brand identity.
Ask yourself:
- What are your brand’s values?
- Who is your target audience?
- What feelings do you want your logo to create?
If you’re just starting out, this doesn’t have to be that complicated. You can go for the overall tone or personality you want your brand to reflect.
For example, a playful and energetic brand might use bright colors and dynamic shapes, while a more professional and serious brand might opt for muted tones and clean lines.
Getting logo design inspiration
Anyone who works in creative design knows that inspiration can come from anywhere. Yes, anywhere!
Take a look at your workplace surroundings and observe the colors, shapes, and patterns that catch your eye.
You might think those things are mundane and ordinary, but they can make your logo special and unique to you.
Here are a few places to look for inspiration:
Nature
It’s easy to take nature for granted as we’re always busy with work, but the natural world is full of beautiful colors and shapes.
A leaf, a flower, or a mountain you often see in your area can inspire a logo design.
Architecture
Yes, even your building can serve as your inspiration!
Buildings and structures can provide you with inspiration through their strong lines, symmetry, and innovative designs.
Does your workplace have a unique structure? You should consider getting inspiration from that for your logo design too!
Art
I tend to visit galleries or even browse online art collections to see how artists use color, form, and composition.
For example, the iconic Nike swoosh was inspired by the wing of the Greek goddess Nike, symbolizing victory and athletic excellence.
You, too, can (and should) take inspiration from an art piece that aligns with your brand’s message.
Explore different styles for creative logos
When thinking of your logo design, you’ll also have to consider what style you’re looking to create.
The style of your logo can change how people see your brand.
Here are some design styles you can think about:
Minimalist
This style focuses on simplicity and clean lines, making it great for many modern brands. It has minimal lines, which makes it easy to recognize and adaptable to most logo uses.
You often see this in luxury brands, along with real estate and cosmetics.
Vintage
This style uses retro elements and typography to create nostalgia and a sense of tradition. This is great for brands with years of heritage or who use traditional techniques in their craft.
Logos in vintage styles also tend to give off a more hand-made, homey, and traditional vibe to their products and services.
Abstract
This style tends to play with shapes and forms to create a logo that is open to interpretation and is visually intriguing.
This is ideal for creative brands or brands with a more abstract value like insurance, web hosting, and security.
Using symbols and icons as logo ideas
Symbols and icons can also add a layer of meaning to your logo.
Look at the most popular logos you can remember. They probably had some symbols added to them that summed up the brand’s message.
There are so many symbols and icons that show different messages, and they are waiting for you to find them.
Think about what your brand stands for and find symbols that reflect that.
Here are some common symbols that are often used in logos:
- A tree can symbolize growth and sustainability.
- A shield can represent protection and security.
- A heart can convey love and care.
Make a creative logo with the right colors
Color plays a significant role in logo design, too.
Imagine if your brand was a serious professional law office but you decided to use hot pink with a quirky font.
It would clash with how you want your brand to be perceived.
We subconsciously associate different colors with different emotions so it is best to be careful with your color choices.
Look into the psychology of colors and their different meanings.
Typography matters when you make your creative logo
While a logo is more than just text, the typography you choose can significantly impact its effectiveness.
You may have the ideal symbols and colors, but if you have a font that doesn’t match, it will still look wrong when you put your logo side-by-side with your brand name.
Think of the Pepsi logo and font.
Whether you see the logo on its own or next to the brand name, they look great together. It looks cohesive because the font was made to match the style of the logo.
Every time they update their logo, they have to make sure that the text matches it. Imagine if they used different typography. It just wouldn’t fit!
This is why you have to make sure your text matches the tone of your logo.
It’s good to think about these things:
- Legibility: Make sure your text is easy to read at all sizes.
- Personality: Choose a typeface (font) that matches your brand’s personality. A playful brand might use a whimsical typeface, while a professional brand might choose a sleek, modern typeface.
- Uniqueness: Custom typography can make your logo stand out and be more memorable.
Add your brand’s elements to your creative logo design
Remember, this is your brand’s logo, so feel free to incorporate elements of your brand into the logo design.
This could be a specific product, a key service, or a unique aspect of your story.
Think of the logos of FedEx and Amazon for example:
FedEx has an arrow hidden in the negative space between the “E” and “x,” symbolizing the brand’s commitment to speed and precision with their deliveries.
In the same way, the Amazon logo has a smiley arrow going from “A” to “Z”, which shows that the company offers everything from A to Z and that they aim to make customers happy.
Testing your creative logo ideas
Since you’re going to use your logo on a variety of promotional materials, social media, and your website, you want to make sure that it is versatile and looks fine on all backgrounds and sizes.
Make sure to test for:
- Against different backgrounds (light, dark, colored, or textured)
- In various sizes (from a small favicon to a large billboard)
- In both color and black-and-white
A versatile logo should look good and be recognizable in all of these scenarios.
Make your own creative logos with hidden meanings
Creating a logo that captures your audience’s imagination and inspires them to check out your company is about more than just text.
It’s about understanding your brand and finding inspiration in the world around you.
But it doesn’t have to be so complicated. Something as simple as a leaf pattern you come across on your daily commute or your building’s unique structure can serve as your inspiration.
You can even find a symbol that sums up your brand message and use that!
Looking for more logo ideas? Check out these guides:
➡️ The do’s and don’ts of logo design: 7 mistakes to avoid
➡️ Pro tips for non-designers: creating logos that make an impact
➡️How to design a logo for your brand or startup: good logo design tips with examples
Do you need a logo maker to help you create your company’s logo?
Deer Designer is here to help you create a logo that not only stands out but also connects with your audience on a deeper level.
Let us help you bring your brand to life with a logo that truly represents who you are.
