Choose a Logo in ecommerce. Here are eight examples of How to Avoid

May 6, 2023

If you're starting your first online company or considering an overhaul one of the most important elements of your process is to create a top-quality attractive logo to convey the brand's message. Before you begin making your plans, think about what goes into the design of an effective logo, and what styles are appropriate for your brand and your intended customers.

In this article we'll look at the meaning of logos and the various kinds of logos. We'll also discuss some aspects that can be used including the best method to create logos, the options in software to create them along with strategies for outsourcing designing.

It is possible to be nitpicky with the definition of the word "logo", the term is usually utilized to mean a basic layout that consists of images, words, or even a mix of both for a logo or an organisation.

The importance of logos and the role they play

The logo of your company can allow people to quickly and effortlessly identify your brand, whether viewing your ads and posts on social media, browsing results from a search engine or comparing the prices of items in an online marketplace or shopping directly on your website.

If you want your ecommerce company to be distinct from your competitors, having an appealing logo is essential. There are numerous internet-based businesses competing to capture customers' attention, so it is essential to have an appealing and distinct logo that is a true reflection of the brand.

A well-crafted logo is also crucial in building credibility. Think of your favorite brand names you trust. Their logos will be the first thing that comes to the forefront. Just looking at a certain pattern or color may trigger memories of a particular image.

Your logo will be an investment into your business's success, so take the time and effort to develop one that truly conveys your brand and communicates to the people who you'd like to communicate with.

The logos consist of eight different types.

Logos usually fall into 8 types:

  • Wordmarks, logotypes,
  • Brand mark, logomark, or images
  • Combination mark
  • Dynamic logo
  • Emblems
  • Letterforms
  • Lettermark, monogram
  • Mascots

Wordmark/logotype

Wordmark logos like Coca-Cola and ebay

"Wordmark" along with "logotype" are basically identical and both refer to"logotype" and "wordmark". These are the terms used to describe the logo that is designed using the use of typography often the company's name or a portion of the name of the business. These logos typically use customized fonts. This creates a distinctive logo in the context of the brand.

The most famous examples of a trademark logo that is a wordmark is Coca-Cola. The Coca-Cola logo can be instantly recognized, thanks to its iconic typography that has changed minimally over the last 130 years. L'oreal as well as eBay's logos are yet another instance of logotypes, or wordmarks.

Logomark, brand mark or even a picture

brand mark logos like Apple and Twitter

"Brand mark," "logomark," and "pictorial" are terms that describe an image element in a logo that may also include letters or words similar to the way they are described, but which is not a brand's name. They can also be symbolic for instance, such as the apple bird or the shells of Apple, Twitter, and Shell Oil, or they could be more abstract as in the Atari and Dropbox marks.

The Atari logo is a hint of the shape of an A, without being the actual shape. The Dropbox logo uses a sequence of diamonds strategically placed in order to create a semblance of boxes.

Combination mark

A combination mark is described as the brand name combined with images-based marks. Often businesses will use the mark combination for all situations, but it may also utilize its trademark and wordmark independently, depending on the situation.

Dynamic logos

Google Doodle of a rabbit

Dynamic logos can be flexible and modern logos that change their elements depending on what a company is trying to convey in specific use cases. Google is the most well-known illustration of this, thanks to its Google Doodles. The logos can be static, animated or interactive.

Google makes use of all three kinds to use in its Google Doodles series. The only thing that is the same for every Doodle is that the brand logo "Google" is displayed in a specific way. The rest of the design may change.

In the case of most companies, the Google method isn't the best choice for those just seeking to build a reputation for their brand. It may be challenging to prospective clients to offer multiple variations of your logo's design that have drastically different style.

Remember that Google does not apply this similar flexibility to each use of its logo. Google Doodle is a trademark that is only valid for the purpose of advertising. Google Doodle is specifically used to promote the Google Google Search landing page. In other instances, they use the official wordmark and branding mark.

If you're looking to create an attractive logo you could consider thinking more toward MTV.

different variations of the MTV logo
Image is courtesy of Logopedia.

In the majority of use instances, MTV uses the same logo, yet it employs different color variations and also has a co-branding relationship with various companies. Its logo remains easily identifiable as MTV but the differences in design and colors can help viewers connect MTV with different concepts, ideology, and brands that evoke different feelings and constantly re-engage viewers.

Emblems

emblem logos like Ford, BMW, and Starbucks

The word "emblem" is a reference to the design of a logo that incorporates words and pictures to create an integrated, one-of-a-kind logo. Emblems are often reminiscent of badges or emblems. This type of style most frequently in schools or athletic teams as well as automotive firms But, many firms use emblems to create their logos. A few companies, like Starbucks, Warner Bros. and Stella Artois all have emblem logos.

Letterforms

letterform logos like WordPress and Facebook

The letterforms represent the first letters (or sometimes, the initials ) of a business to make an easy branding logo. Although they're typically less complex than a monogram logo, the letterform could also become a monograms, like in the picture above. New York Yankees letterform/monogram.

Lettermarks/monograms

lettermark logos like Gucci and Chanel

Lettermark or monogram logos use the initials of the business or acronym to describe the whole or just a small portion of the design. The letters often overlap to form a pattern, or may be inset against an background.

Monograms first appeared in the beginning of Greece as identification marks on coins to indicate the city the coins came from. Later they were utilized to signify the people with the highest money and power in addition to by artists and craftsmen.

Monograms are a long duration of existence and are widely used by fashion and beauty brands to convey a feeling of elegance and tradition. But monograms are not only utilized by these businesses. Just about every category of industry has made use of monograms. Monograms are a cost-effective and well-tested approach to design the logo of your choice they are suitable for virtually any business.

Mascot logos

mascot logos like Lacoste and Wendy's

Mascot logos make use of famous faces to symbolize the company. Lacoste's alligator Cheetos' Chester Cheetah, Reddit's stylized alien Snoo as well as KFC's Colonel Sanders, and Wendy's persona, Wendy Thomas, are among the most popular instances of mascots being used to create a logo for an organization.

Mascots can highlight a brand personality, and make the brand more relatable and casual. They can also be used as creative elements in your marketing. However, using a mascot as the form of an image could be an issue because it is difficult to make a replacement for your character (see: Ronald McDonald) but it is difficult to get these images out of the mind of the consumers.

You'll have to think about your company's mascot and make sure it's on-brand and scalable depending on where you want to take your company.

sample logo designed with Looka
Image made with the software called Looka

Seven suggestions for creating a logo that is effective

The logo you choose to use is usually the first impression a consumer experiences with your business. The logo should be easily recognizable, memorable, and represent your brand identity, but there are some established good practices to design the look of your logo you'll need to take into account when choosing the design of your logo.

Just because your logo is striking and original, that does not mean it is an effective logo design. Many of the biggest names have seen some unreliable logo launch events which led to criticism from the media.

Certain businesses rely on the traditional adage "any publicity is a good publicity." But, unless your business intends to create controversy it is best to stick with the tried and true strategies of designing to prevent ending up on blog posts that discuss the worst logos ever.

Simple is best.

Perhaps you've seen the expression "less could be more" and was invented by minimalist architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe in 1947. It gets thrown around frequently in business jargon and sometimes to justify simple design tasks. However, the concept of "less means more" does not mean to simplify the design and keep it boring.

It's a philosophy that values both aesthetic and function. Ultimately, the goal is to use as few elements as are necessary to convey the intended message and supply the required function, while simultaneously creating an aesthetically-pleasing appearance.

It's an essential aspect of logo design since it is important for your logo to be simple for a viewer to comprehend. You must be able to work with backgrounds with a range of textures and colors. configure it for different spaces and aspect ratios and utilize it in different dimensions without making it difficult or difficult.

spa logo on different colors of backgrounds

However, it doesn't mean that you have to stick with a simple logo design or anything else. This concept is a great fit for any type of logo - modern, traditional, vintage or even any other trendy fashion.

Be sure your design is consistent with your brand, as well as the intended target audience

If you run a business which produces antique or vintage objects, it is possible to choose features that have a retro look and evokes the past your business represents.

Particularly, Big Chill appliances use a retro-styled typographic design that is reminiscent of old-fashioned appliance logos dating from the 1930s-1960s.

Trader Joe's logo has the appearance of tiki artwork that was popular in the 1960s, as do the Ben & Jerry's. The logo brand has a lively and playful 1970s style that is the style of their brand. Altoids' serif font logo with a gold embossed design that runs along its edges gives it an elegant and timeless look.

example logos like Altoids and Jack Daniels

Jack Daniels whiskey hasn't changed its logo in any significant way since 1947, and the logo stays very close to the pre-Prohibition logo. In contrast to brands such as Levi Strauss that massively changed their logos over the years, Jack Daniels has only minor changes to their logo as time passes, which brings its customers back to its long-running existence.

If your company offers software as a service (SaaS) and offers tech-related products, or would prefer the appearance of a logo that's simple minimalist, simple, and contemporary You may want to consider an approach that is more minimal. These companies use sleek, modern designs.

Some of them include logos. Some are solely type-based, and utilize unique letterforms to convey their identity, while others have the appearance of an emblem or badge. design.

example logos like Automattic and Slack

If you have an online store that has targeted customers who are niche You'll need to pick the appropriate logo that resonates with the intended audience. Whatever it's organic food, toys female apparel, comic books, or hunting equipment, you'll have the ability to design an effective, genre-targeted logo that doesn't stray into the details of being childish or cute.

Examples of niche-specific audience logos are Walt's Comic Shop, Nelson Rare Books, KiwiCo, and Chewy.

example logos like Chewy and KiwiCo

Walt's Comic Shop makes use of a mascot style layout, but it uses simplified lines and two different colors as well as the clean sans serif typeface. The style is enjoyable and recalls the business, however it's not too cartoonish and the graphic and typography make a great match in isolation.

Nelson Rare Books uses an intricate illuminated initial for their logo. Similar to the type that can be seen in the very first chapter of an old book. Contrasting with the embellished serif initial, they utilize an uncluttered, broad sans-serif font that is used in the uppercase letters in their names. This provides harmony and captures the essence of the brand's image as a retailer online of classic and unique books as well as the shop is built upon modern technology and organization systems.

KiwiCo provides science and art kits for children through an online subscription. KiwiCo has selected an elegant, modern logo but made it playful by using a kiwi-themed mascot as well as a the serif font, which is hefty. Simple logos allow them to extend their brand in a variety of ways without needing to redesign their logo each time they decide to do so.

Chewy is a product for pets delivery service for pet owners. You'll note that their logo isn't adorned with any images elements, and they only use the letter. They've employed a sans-serif rounded design that's been jumbled to give an edgy look that often associated with pets.

Do not use clip art

If you think that you can just pick the logo of an unclipart-free website, think twice. Yes, technically, it is true that you are able to make use of clipart should you wish, however there is a good chance that other businesses employ this method. People may recognize it and believe it's a different brand's logo or could give an unprofessional appearance.

Furthermore, not all clip art works are publicly available. Just because you find it online does not necessarily mean that it's legally acceptable to use. It's not a good idea to become the target of a lawsuit!

This doesn't mean that you can't utilize a design that you have already created to serve as the foundation of your branding. There are royalty-free stock photo marketplaces, such as the iStock image along with Creative Market which provide high-quality graphic elements already designed and can be utilized to make personal logos. or, fully designed logos. All you have to do is replace your placeholder by the name of your company.

examples of ice cream shop logos
Ice cream shop logos courtesy iStockPhoto

If you opt to utilize a pre-designed feature for your logo, be aware that other people may be employing the same element in their logos as well. Make sure that you're using the right license to serve your intended purpose. make use of it. A lot of stock image sites provide various types of licenses that you can purchase for different uses, like printing, Web and editorial use.

Avoid using cliches or a lot of fonts, designs and patterns.

Searching to find "worst types of logo" as well as "worst logo design" will give you guidelines on what you should not do. But you should also be sure to check certain that the elements of your logo and typography aren't already being utilized by any other company. In addition to helping in avoiding confusion about your brand, but it can also motivate the designer to create a fresh and distinctive design that you will be proud of.

There's no reason not to use a common symbol or image in your logo design when it's appropriate for your particular business. Logos designed for vets offer a fantastic illustration of this. How many veterinarians use some combination of dogs and cats with paw prints or a medical symbol, and the heart?

It's possible that most likely. However, that doesn't mean you're allowed to use that type of images - it simply means it's much more difficult to think of something unique while using common subjects.

Here are some excellent examples of logo images that are common choices that are well executed:

two veterinary logos side-by-side
Images supplied by Dribble. Aurora Veterinary Hospital and Advanced Veterinary Care Center

For Aurora Veterinary Hospital, the designer used a simple palette, with an abstract representation that depicts a dog... or maybe it's a cat. It's wide enough to show both animals. It's adorable without appearing cartoonish. It's contemporary, sleek, and easy to read, while being an innovative interpretation of popular themes of cats and dogs as logos for veterinary use.

Advanced Vet Care Center's logo is really original, with hints towards a tail-like cat, and also making use of the medical standard + symbol that creates the shape of the letter A to indicate "Advanced." The logo is more business-like while still speaking to the business it represents. This logo has a different meaning as Aurora the Veterinary Hospital's brand logo. The design is less abstract and minimal using typical styles.

A custom typeface, or modifying the appearance of one that is consistent with your branding, could be an effective technique for creating an original and effective logo. However, if you are not a graphic designer or if typography is not your primary background, it is advisable to study fundamental typographic concepts prior to starting work on develop custom fonts or altering the fonts you already have.

Be careful not to overdo it with color or visual effects

Limit yourself only to a couple of colors. If your logo needs more than four colors, make sure to limit your colors to one component of the logo.

To give an example, the NBC logo features the motif of rainbows in their peacock emblem, however the font on their logo is black. The components are simple to distinguish. The basic colors and most tiny of shapes help keep the peacock's element at eye level even when it comes in numerous shades.

When you start adding various shades to each letter the logo's color will start to fade into impression. When you include drop shading, rainbow-colored gradients, and glow effects, your logo will begin to look chaotic. This is definitely unique but it's quite uncomfortable to see.

NBC logos in different colors side-by-side

Be sure that your design can be easily read on all devices.

When you have an online store, it's crucial to make sure that your logo is attractive and easy to read when browsing your site, particularly on mobile. You'll need to make sure it looks good on paper, and can be translated easily to horizontal as well as vertical layouts and has color variations for different texture and colors for your background.

Take care not to deform or compress the proportions of your logo in order to accommodate a certain size. You can rearrange the logo elements or make it smaller or larger while keeping its proportions, but the stretching or squeeze of the logo can make it less easy to read, and also less professional.

Utilize a vector-based design software to make your own brand

Two kinds of pictures you can create with design software. Both raster and vector. Vector pictures are designed by mathematical formulas that allow their size to increase without losing their clarity or blurring.

Images in the form of the raster format however have an undetermined amount of pixels. Once you scale the image, it isn't possible to scale it back up again without damaging the image or distorting the image.

designing a logo with software

Since your logo will be likely to be utilized across a variety of situations and in different contexts for your promotional materials You'll need to be certain that the logo is able to grow without losing its quality. A vector-based logo lets you modify your logo later much easier and helps to maintain the image's quality regardless of how often you shrink or expand the dimensions of your logo.

Additionally, it is recommended to keep copies of your logos in various vector (ai pdf, eps and pdf) format as well as export high-resolution raster files (png, tiff, and jpg) and web-optimized lower resolution documents like webp.

Do you wish to know more about different kinds of logo files? The Mean Creative has a handy reference.

Logo design software

Are you looking for the perfect software to create a stunning logo? Given the variety of options out in the marketplace, it's difficult to know which one to choose. If you're already familiar with some understanding of graphic design, then you could consider using either a computer or an online design application that gives you complete freedom to design your logo for your business.

If you're not a design background, you can use a logo creator online. If you aren't able to come up with a logo which is the exact design you're looking for, this may be a good start point should you choose to hire an artist.

If the logo you've created has the look you'd like and still requires some small tweaks, you can profit by selling the person whom you hired to develop the logo with a design that is 90 percent what you'd like to have and will require just a few small tweaks.

Design software for desktops and online options

blank canvas in Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Illustrator

  • ProfessionalsIllustrator is a market leading vector design software. Versions for iPad and Desktop are available and it's feature-rich.
  • BenefitsIllustrator uses a subscription-only model for its software, meaning that there will be a monthly fee. It can have an extensive learning curve so it may be ideal for those who plan to perform an extensive amount of graphic design tasks.
CoralDRAW homepage

CorelDraw

  • Advantages:It offers a one-time purchase option, in addition to an existing subscription plan. In addition, it offers a less expensive Version available of Corel Vector online software with the possibility of trial period of 15 days free.
  • Con:The one-time purchase price exceeds $500. The online Vector software requires a subscription. Like Illustrator however, the process of learning can be difficult for novices. In addition The CorelDraw iPad app has an average of 1 1/2 stars score on the Apple App Store.
working within Canva

Canva

  • Benefits The Canva website offers a cost-free account that allows you to create a logo and others designs on a budget. Canva provides the possibility to design a logo in case you find you're not happy with the style you've come up with. Canva is a wildly loved and popular design software that simplifies the process designed for creative and non-designer pros, so you can rest assured that it's well-supported with regular updates and new features. Additionally, it offers free access to a variety of stock images that are available from Getty as well as other content suppliers.
  • Con: Premium content and functions are restricted to users who own different pay-per-use accounts. The software is online-only. The search function allows you to find images in stock, in particular the function to search to search for stock images, could be a little difficult and may make it hard to find precisely what you're looking for.
Creating within Vectr

Vectr

  • The pros: Vector is a basic, free vector design application that's simple to learn.
  • Pros:It's online only and could be too easy, based the type of design work you'd like to do. Additionally, it displays ads inside the application that can be irritating.

Online logo creators

In addition to Canva's feature to create logos, which was mentioned previously There's also an online application that is solely focused on creating logos that are automated.

The Looka and Smashing Logo They both offer low-cost custom logo design tools. You can create for absolutely free the number of logos you'd like. However, if you want to download vector files along with brand packs it is necessary to buy the premium version of their service.

Intro wizard from SmashingLogo.com
Intro Wizard by SmashingLogo.com

Online logo creation software can be an excellent way to find the perfect logo for work for you at minimal expense but you'll likely find the logo you want. Since these two platforms can be used at no cost to tests, they will be a great help to think about the direction of your logo, consider the things you like and dislike, and then present your concept to a graphic designer or agency to get the initial design.

Outsourcing logo design

Do you have no interest in designing your own logo or making iterations with a logo creation program? It is sometimes best to work with an expert from the start.

Engaging a logo designer for a fee or contract, or an agency to design your logo is an excellent investment for the long-term success of your company. Professional logo designers can provide new views that you would not otherwise have considered. They will be able to make all the necessary design variations and file types.

designer drawing logos on a tablet

But, it's equally crucial to understand the potential risks associated with outsourcing logo design. You should select an experienced designer who has designed logos for brands that are in your sector and with positive feedback from other clients as well as one who will keep within the budget you have set.

Some have had success getting freelancers through online marketplaces such as Fiverr and Upwork. There are some who prefer to work with local people or was referred by a relative or colleague or chamber of commerce in the area. All of these are perfectly acceptable avenues to pursue when looking for a designer who can work with.

If you're a customer will be expected to ensure you're ready to work with a graphic artist. It's important to do some research on logos you enjoy, then think about the goals you'd like to accomplish through your brand, and then clearly outline your objectives.

Designers are at their best when they have certain guidelines as well as some creative flexibility for their creations. If you're not flexible about the way you'd like your designs to appear, or you're not clear enough the result could be the logo failing to meet your expectations.

The process of creating a logo together with your graphic designer similar to a conversation. you may go around a couple of times with sketches until you arrive at a design that is perfect.

Put your logo to work

If you follow these tips for creating your logo that you can use, it's the moment to start making your logo and put it to the test. Look at different logos. Choose a color scheme for the logo and a general aesthetic.

You must then choose if you want to make your logo by yourself, use the software to design your logo or employ an experienced designer. If you've found a design you like, ensure that you've chosen the right layouts for your website as well as print before implementing the logo on your social media and website channels. You can also use it on marketing channels, and products.

Also, it is recommended to study the design thoroughly, and go through reputable sources prior to going online. Keep in mind that your logo is a representation of the organization you work for. There may be no consensus on whether or not your logo of choice is a great design, however, you must at a minimum avoid any glaring problems that would land it on blogs discussing the most non-professional logos.

It can be difficult to design a logo however, by focusing on your research, preparing as in addition to the best designers or tools for design You can design stunning, unforgettable logos that represent your business and creates confidence and trust among your customers.

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