Big Brands Then and Now: 10 Reasons Why You Should Choose a Versatile Logo Design

When I say Microsoft, what image appears in your mind’s eye? Do you think of Traf-O-Data? Certainly not! Yet that was the name contained in their first logo which appeared in the 1970s. No wonder the logo had such a tiny font size. Some say founders Bill Gates and Paul Allen designed it themselves and that the Disco Age inspired them.

Fast forward 25 years and you see a brand new logo “signaling the future” in the words of Microsoft’s general manager, Jeff Hansen. Now it’s the subtle clean instantly recognizable logo with which we are all familiar.

Now let’s have a quick look at Amazon’s logo story. The tech giant reinvented not only itself but also changed its logo several times. The company started as an online bookstore. Initially, it had an A on a blue background trying to resemble the Amazon river. According to Ryan Edward Russel, an associate professor of graphic design at Penn State University, “It seems to personify everything about desktop computing and the advent of the internet circa that time.”

Amazon no longer only sells books online, they pretty much sell everything movable and they are a giant in the retail business. They have also changed their logo several times, but the Amazon smile of the current logo is instantly recognizable. Look closely and you’ll see the arrow (smile) points from the “a” in Amazon to the “z” (I did say they sold pretty much everything).

These are two excellent examples of why logos should be as versatile and changeable as any company focused on growth and scaling their business. Here are eight other reasons why you should focus on making your logo as versatile as possible:

• Strategic planning is essential as one must consider the various ways in which your company can use your logo.

• Marketing strategies invariably include your logo, which is one of the visual representations of your brand. Your logo must, therefore, be scalable, impressive, and speak to your audience.

• Brands these days are highly visible and your logo is one of the aspects which form the sum of the online experience of your audience (customers, consumers, clients). So your logo should not only look great on your website but also all the social media platforms.

• A simple logo design is always easily recognizable. For instance, take a look at the evolution of Volkswagen’s logo.

• Simplicity allows for versatility and memorability. Just think of McDonalds’ logo. Everybody will undoubtedly recognize it and the same goes for Visa. These logos are unique without being overdrawn. What can be more versatile?

• For your logo to go the distance and yet stay with the times, it should be unique. It must be different from any other logo your audience might encounter on the way to the check-out line. Check out your competition and avoid using similar logos. Audi’s logo in is an excellent example. Its logo is different and easily distinguishable from Volkswagen’s logo, but it’s still versatile enough to capture the attention of their audience.

• People must acknowledge your brand without thinking about it. If you think of Apple’s logo (an apple with a bite out of it), do you think of your grocery store or your diet? No, you instantly recognize the brand of one of the world’s most popular companies. It’s simple, yet versatile enough to stand the test of time. Small changes here and there will not change the core (pardon the pun) of the logo and the brand will always be recognizable. But, if you consider the first Apple logo it’s quite the opposite—busy, complicated, and not identifiable at all.

• Logo design is one of the essential visual aspects of the digital branding footprint of your company. Make it simple, memorable, and visible.

Give us your thoughts on logo design and what makes your logo synonymous with what your company stands for.