Let me be blunt, a logo is simply not enough. If you have a DIY logo design or a single logo, then that is not enough to solve your business problems. The problem being attracting the right target audience,standing out from the competition, featuring your brand personality in your branding, etc.
The solution is a brand. And no before you think of it, a logo is NOT a brand. A logo is an important visual aspect of a brand identity but it is not the brand.
What you need is multiple logo variations as there is no one-size-fits-all logo suitable for other marketing methods such as social media branding, business card design, website design, etc. The single logo would not be a good fit for all of these methods, this may lead to your logo being squished, stretched or not visible in the space given, aka not doing its job!
A logo variation is an alternate version of your primary logo design, this primary logo is repositioned and designed into different formats, but it keeps the same general theme and style, so no it isn't different logos just different formats. These logo variations can up your business game, make you look professional and keep you consistent on different platforms.
For example, the most typical primary logo is horizontal,this would not fit on circular spaces such as social media profiles.
And if you now decide "okay, I'll just get a circular logo", well this works on social media, however, what about business cards and websites where a horizontal or stacked logo would work better.
And that's why multiple logo variations are needed so here are the TOP 4 logo variations you will need!
The primary logo is the main logo, from which all your variations stem from.
Primary logos are the most complex logo from the logo variations. They often contain the brand name, taglines, dates and illustrations or icons. The most typical primary logo is horizontal.
Due to this logo variation being the most complex with most elements, this logo requires more space and is best used for a large display.
Primary logos is best used for: desktop website headers and large print materials like brochures, signage, etc.
At times when you cannot fit your primary logo the secondary logo or alternative logo design is here to help!
This logo is a bit tighter, more compact and has fewer elements than the primary logo. Depending on the orientation of the primary logo, this logo follows the opposite format so horizontal or vertical.
Secondary logos is best used for: business cards, email signatures, mobile website headers, small to the average print.
A submark logo is a simple, small and identifiable version of your logo.
This logo variation may contain your full business name,brand initials (letter mark) and/or illustration/icon. This logo can be in a shape of a circle or a square.
Submark logos is best used for: social media posts/profiles,website footer, small print pieces such as stickers or stamps
This logo variation is very similar to submarks, except it is more simplified and smaller.
This logo often contains brand initials (letter marks) illustrations/icons to represent your brand.
Icons are best used for social media posts/ profile, favicon( website URL tab)
These logo variations allow your brand to be versatile,professional and present you and your brand in the best light.
To recap these is the 4 logo variations you need
1. Primary logo
2. Secondary logo
3. Submark / brandmark
4. Icon
Need help with your brand? Let's chat now!
Thanks for reading!
Kami x
