What do Icon, Mark, Brand, and Emblem terms mean in logo design?

Have you ever heard about the terms icon, mark, brand, and emblem in logo design? Almost everyone, from the design team to the marketing team, is familiar with these terms and uses them most often. A logo isn't just about business, identity, and marketing. That's why it applies to private individuals, organizations, commercial outfits, movements, etc.

But did you know there are slight differences between the icon, brand, mark, and emblem? Knowing these differences will help you get a powerful brand logo. We've got you covered if you need to learn the differences between these terms. Keep scrolling to know more.

What’s an icon?

An icon's role is pivotal in both traditional and modern logo design. An icon is like a symbol that stands for the universal values of a brand. It enables people to recognize the brand immediately. In reality, it's a direct and bold portrayal of a business. Usually, icons are used in recognizable shapes but can be abstract for distinctiveness.

If you want to see the impact of icons in our lives, check your smartphone. Every app installed over there features a unique icon. Some of the most recognizable brand icons are —Twitter, WhatsApp, Nike Swoosh, and more.

What’s a mark?

In logo design, the mark comes with different variations. This includes combination marks, trademark, word mark, and so on. Each one of these is related to the logo design. In simple words, a mark is a graphical symbol that helps distinguish a company's products and services. Besides, it gives a business recognition.

Let’s understand the iconic mark, word mark, trademark, and combination mark separately.

Iconic mark: It uses a graphic icon or symbol to distinguish the products and services of a brand. Most businesses use icons to fuel their branding campaigns as they have a short period to process. Unlike written words, iconic marks convey messages more effectively.

Apple, Prada, and Ralph Lauren are some of the most recognizable iconic marks.

Word mark: It is also a logo design but includes only the text or typography-based design. Many famous logos of the world are work marks. Google is a suitable example of a word mark logo.

Brand mark: A brand mark does the same thing as an iconic mark and word mark. It’s a design element that adds to the visual recognition of a brand. It can be a symbol or character that stands for the brand. Nike’s swoosh and KFC’s Colonel Sanders are easily recognized brand marks.

Trademark: It's a recognizable sign that a brand protects legally and sets itself apart from other brands. The Starbucks logo is a famous trademark that is easily recognizable to all.

What’s a brand?

A brand is different from a symbol, icon, or mark. It looks like a logo or symbol, but it has slight differences. Consider the golden arches of the McDonald's logo. These golden arches stand for this particular brand, and people can easily recognize it from afar.

When you talk about brand, don’t forget to consider branding, which is closely related to it.

What’s an emblem?

An emblem is more than a representative symbol of a company. It portrays a company's moral values, associations, and so on. An emblem resembles an icon or mark but stands for more powerful concepts than a literal logo.

The DC comics’ Superman logo is a perfect example of an emblem. It is universally famous and easily recognized by people.

Conclusion

We hope you got the right idea of these interchangeable logo design terms. Some people might get confused about these terms being the same, but that’s not the case. Each of these logo design terms is different from each other. So, the next time you consider getting a logo for your brand, choose the right term for relevancy. Each mark, emblem, brand, and icon has a specific feature and purpose. Once you're clear about the look and feel of your logo, start designing one on your own or by taking the help of a designer.

Last but not least, stay tuned for more informative blogs guiding you through the logo design process, terms, and terminologies.