HOW TO USE 99 LOGO DESIGN ELEMENTS TO CREATE A KICKASS ICONIC BRAND IDENTITY

Antlers: Antlers can also be rendered as simply or as complex as you like, or as fits your brand image. There's a rusticism to them that is very appealing, and they have a nice framing effect to a business name or slogan as well. They're popularly combined with florals.

Both crowns and antlers can work into a design even if they don't seem to fit at first sight.

So when you're scribbling your design ideas on your piece of paper, try doing a little hand-drawn set of antlers or a crown on top, and see where it might take you.

Wordmarks, Lettermarks, and Fonts

Wordmark: A wordmark logo is one that involves a typographic presentation of the company name. Of course, there can be a lot of design involved within that typography. Especially when it comes to negative space, which is automatically going to be built into the word.

This is a great one that combines a unique font type and negative space to create a wordmark. Here's another with a clever twist.

Lettermark: A lettermark logo , similar to a wordmark, is one that uses typography to simultaneously make its mark on the consciousness of the intended audience as an image, and also includes a few letters, such as the initials of a company name. IBM is an example.

Fonts: With such a wide range of font choices to choose from, there may be some interesting renditions of letters that are perfect for your logo.

Geometrical

Triangles, hexagons, octagons, squares, circles, hearts, stars, and other shapes: These geometric shapes may seem like they're too basic to add much to the design, but they're a great starting point. They can give you a field to build in or they can be incorporated into the background. With the use of basic shape psychology, designers can make outstanding logos.

Shape combinations: By combining basic shapes, you can make stylized, simplified versions of other things, like animals and foods.

Geometric animals: A trend right now, and a cool, origami-inspired look that will give your logo a boho feel.

Geometric texture fill: Also on trend, a texture-filled basic geometric shape can be a statement all on its own.

Florals

These can be especially arresting and appealing to the eye if they are hand-drawn elements.

Again, simple can be better when it comes to this kind of logo.

Florals aren't just a matter of flowers, either. We're talking about plants and foliage in general. Variations on leaves are popular as stand-alone elements, and things like dandelions have a lot of lasting appeal. That said, don't forget about the flowers.

Flowers and plants come in handy, especially when designing landscape logos or an agriculture logo designs.

Roses: A very classy choice for a logo element, roses usually give a vintage feel to a design.

Daisies: If you're looking for something sweet and simple, this is a classic direction.

Dandelions: Simple to draw, easy to make your own, and very appealing as a design element.

Leaves: Another possibility with enormous variety. Take a hint from nature and use a real leaf as a model, or draw your own. A few simple lines and you'll have a quick basis for the element.

Succulents and cacti: Unique, aesthetic, and easily rendered.

Shields and crests

Shields: Adding a feeling of class and nobility to your design, shields are a great basis for a design, and a lot can be added to them while keeping the basic shape as a background. Shields are a fitting element for education logos.

Crests: An endlessly customizable option, crests lend themselves well to at least four different elements that can be combined to give your customer a good idea of what your company is about. For example in hotel logos or beer logos.

This might make it a little easier for you, if you're having trouble boiling your choices down to just one or two when it comes to your logo, but it's easy to get a little complicated since there's so much room.

Abstract

Abstract: There are no rules with abstract, so just remember to keep this simple. Think something like the Pepsi logo.

Partial element: Think taking an element that you like and using just a portion of it, like the top half.

Colorblock: Maybe your color palette is what you like about your design. If that's the case, maybe colorblock is the choice for you.

Swooshes: A classic example of a swoosh is of course the Nike symbol. If you go looking for other examples, you'll find them, sometimes where you're not even expecting them. It's a very basic element that can still say a lot.

Frames

There's a lot of leeway when it comes to framing. You could have another element, like a small image, and frame that, or your brand name. Framing gives a nice finished feel to a logo, in particular often seen in photographer logos, and gives you another chance to express your creativity.

Circular wreaths: Any type of line, leaves, vines, et al., that you choose, as long as it completely encapsulates your company name.

Partial wreaths: Much like above, except it may not entirely surround the element in the middle.

Florals or ivy: A lovely, attractive option for wreathing your logo.

Picture frame: The look of a Polaroid picture is very aesthetically appealing, as well as on trend.These are usually used in boutique logos or apparel logo designs.

Lines

Dotted, dots, straight, curved, looping: Basically, anything kind of line you can think of. These are also great framing elements, or for giving you a demarcation point between the image portion of your logo and the typography.

Arrows: A popular trend right now is arrows that are lines with triangular heads as seen in CPA logos or bookkeeping logos. They can be as simple or as complex as you like, and the irregular, handmade look is a great aesthetic.

Nature

Sun, moon, stars, planets, and comets: Sure to give your design an epic feel.

Mountains: Rendered tiny and hand-drawn or as a background for your business name, snow-capped or desert-like dunes, mountains are an interesting possibility. They are often used in outdoor camp logos or resort logos.

Oceans and waves: Oceans may be a little hard to render into a logo on their own, but the motion of the waves can inspire you.

Oaks, palms, maples, and other trees: These can look especially impressive when hand drawn or letter-pressed.

Simple Icons

Does your business lend itself easily to a certain iconic image?

It might have a direct connection, depending on what your wares and services are. Or there might be something about an object that just feels right, or that means something to you personally. Either way, here are a few possibilities to consider.

Paper airplanes, light bulbs, feathers, sailboats: These choices may seem somewhat random - and they are - but they have a definite aesthetic appeal, can be used for a variety of businesses, and can also be rendered simply as travel logos our tour operator logos.

Ice cream, pizza, pineapples, and other food: Everyone relates to food-based choices, right? Pineapples especially are found in a lot of design these days, but again, there is a lot of room for variety. Food items can be used in restaurant logos or bakery logo designs.

Classic cars, motorcycles, bicycles, and other vehicles:These can give a logo a kitschy, vintage feel. These moving carriers are fit for automotive logo designs, bike logos, car wash logos or mover company logos.

Hand-drawn element choices: If you comb through design markets or Pinterest boards, you'll see a lot of vector image packs that advertise themselves as hand drawn or handmade.

Just like homemade meals tend to be more appealing than what you can order at your local Denny's, hand drawn design has a special appeal to it that is impossible to ignore.

Though it depends to a large extent on whether or not it is appropriate for your business and the image you desire to project, choosing a hand drawn element could be a good option for you. It tends to give the logo a more personal touch, which is useful when it comes to drawing in customers, who want to feel that they are going to be treated as individuals by you or your company.

No matter which way you decide to go with your branding decisions, the journey to get there may tell you some surprising things about your business, what values you want it to reflect, and even about yourself.

With so many options, take your time and experiment. At the end of your logo journey, your very own kickass iconic brand awaits.

*This post was originally published on Logo Design Guru.

Written by Raquel Addams