What makes a good logo?
Published on Monday, July 27, 2009 – 1:54 pm
What makes a good logo? A good logo is distinctive, appropriate, practical, graphic, simple in form and conveys an intended message.
There are five principles that you should follow to ensure that this is so…
An effective logo is (in no particular order):
- Simple
- Memorable
- Timeless
- Versatile
- Appropriate
1. Simple

A simple logo design allows for easy recognition and allows the logo to be versatile & memorable. Good logos feature something unique without being overdrawn.
While in college in the mid-70’s an instructor introduced me to the K.I.S.S. Principle of design; which translates to: Keep It Simple, Stupid. It does convey a very important design consideration. Simple logos are often easily recognized, incredibly memorable and the most effective in conveying the requirements of the client. A refined and distilled identity will also catch the attention of a viewer zipping by signage at 70 miles per hour, on packaging on the crowded shelves of a store, or in any other vehicle used for advertising, marketing and promotion. Remember, the basis of the hugely effective international branding for the world’s largest shoe manufacturer is a very simple graphic swoosh.
2. Memorable

Following closely behind the principle of simplicity, is that of memorability. An effective logo design should be memorable and this is achieved by having a simple, yet, appropriate logo.
You may be interested to see some examples of bad logo designs.
Surprising to many, the subject matter of a logo is of relatively little importance, and even appropriateness of content does not always play a significant role.
This does not imply that appropriateness is undesirable. It merely indicates that a one-to-one relationship between a symbol and what it symbolized is very often impossible to achieve and, under certain conditions, objectionable. Ultimately, the only mandate in the design of logos, it seems, is that they be distinctive, memorable, and clear.
3. Timeless

An effective logo should be timeless – that is, it will stand the test of time. Will the logo still be effective in 10, 20, 50 years?
Leave trends to the fashion industry – Trends come and go, and when you’re talking about changing a pair of jeans, or buying a new dress, that’s fine, but where your brand identity is concerned, longevity is key. Don’t follow the pack. Stand out.
Probably the best example of a timeless logo is the Coca-Cola logo… if you compare it to the Pepsi logo below, you can see just how effective creating a timeless logo can be. Notice how the Coca Cola logo has barely changed since 1885? That is timeless design.
Update: 8/08/09 – Underconsideration has posted an updated timeline of the Pepsi vs CocaCola logo. Thanks for the tip off Jon.

4. Versatile

An effective logo should be able to work across a variety of mediums and applications. For this reason a logo should be designed in vector format, to ensure that it can be scaled to any size. The logo should be able to work both in horizontal and vertical formats.
Ask yourself; is a logo still effective if:
- Printed in one colour?
- Printed on the something the size of a postage stamp?
- Printed on something as large as a billboard?
- Printed in reverse (ie. light logo on dark background)
One way around creating a versatile logo is to begin designing in black and white only. This allows one to focus on the concept and shape, rather than the subjective nature of colour. One must also remember printing costs – the more colors used, the more expensive it will be for the business over the long term.
I like to work first in black and white to ensure that the logo will look good in its simplest form. Color is very subjective and emotional. This can distract from the overall design – say if you saw your logo in all red, that color may be the first thing that you respond to and not the composition of the design elements. I will not even consider submitting color suggestions to a client for review until they have signed off on a final black and white logo.
One should also familiarise themself with the commercial printing process so as not to come into printing problems further down the track. Learn to know the difference between the CMYK, Pantone and RGB color systems. When designing logos, the Pantone colour system is recommended.
5. Appropriate

How you position the logo should be appropriate for its intended purpose. For example, if you are designing a logo for children’s toys store, it would be appropriate to use a childish font & colour scheme. This would not be so appropriate for a law firm.
It is also important to state that that a logo doesn’t need to show what a business sells or offers as a service. ie. Car logos don’t need to show cars, computer logos don’t need to show computers. The Harley Davidson logo isn’t a motorcycle, nor is the Nokia logo a mobile phone. A logo is purely for identification.
For further evidence of this, take the top 50 brands of the world – 94% of the logos do not describe what the company does.
Paul Rand also has a say on this topic:
Should a logo be self-explanatory? It is only by association with a product, a service, a business, or a corporation that a logo takes on any real meaning. A logo derives its meaning and usefulness from the quality of that which it symbolizes. If a company is second rate, the logo will eventually be perceived as second rate. It is foolhardy to believe that a logo will do its job immediately, before an audience has been properly conditioned.
What makes a great logo in your opinion?
Recommended logo design resources:
- The Ultimate List of Logo Design Resources
- Top 10 Logo Design Inspiration Galleries
- How NOT to design a logo
For the extended version of this article visit Smashing Magazine: “Vital Tips for Effective Logo Design” .
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Paul on Jul 29, 2009 said:
This is a great article Jacob. I’m dealing with a particular client right now that does not understand what a logo is, what a logo stand for, etc … and it doesn’t matter how well and simple I explain to them … this article will help them out greatly … thanks man!
pher
Luis Lopez on Jul 29, 2009 said:
Excellent article Jacob, these principles are really important for every designer, and the way you explain is really clear and easy to understand for everyone I think.
Harprabhjot Paul Chandhoke on Jul 29, 2009 said:
Nice post. I agree with all the said points. In fact, we follow a similar process. Minimalistic and simple designs last longer and stay evergreen. Its tough explaining to clients sometimes. But, we win most of the time. Cheers
Daniel Pipitone on Jul 29, 2009 said:
Great article. I think the Pepsi vs Coca Cola is especially valid and interesting. A similar comparison could probably be also done with IBM and many other tech companies relative to Rand’s genius for timeless ideas.
Thanks for posting!
Daniel
Dame on Jul 29, 2009 said:
Excellent article!! Very good key points and clear explanations. The Pepsi vs. Coca Cola comparison is such an eye opener on great and effective design.
Blue Print on Jul 29, 2009 said:
Amazing how the Coca-Cola has never changed, I never noticed until I saw it on this post. I guess they call it “classic” for a reason.
Fabian on Jul 29, 2009 said:
Great article!Great design has a hook, some thing that make a lasting impression on you and provokes a response.
Prescott Perez-Fox on Jul 29, 2009 said:
You know, I’d put appropriate as No. 1 on the list. If the logo is for a prestigious university, but has a logo that looks like Toys R Us, it won’t connect with the audience — it will betray the brand. This is part of the reason we’re so upset with the London 2012 logo.
Beaulys on Jul 29, 2009 said:
“A logo can be drawn in sand with fingers”
That is my first rule to make logos.
Davina K. Brewer on Jul 29, 2009 said:
I think Simplicity has a direct impact on Versatility. Having a logo that is flexible, adaptable, that works in color, white, and looks as good on a coffee mug or embroidered on a shirt, as it does on a business card, is what helps make it Timeless and more valuable.
Great list, thanks for sharing.
AnnMarie on Jul 29, 2009 said:
This article clears some of my confusion- so thank you. My senior year of art school (at Ringling), they redesigned their logo. They had a classic logo (of a star inside a hatched circle), but was afraid it tied them too much to the circus, which is understandable. After a year working with a highly reputable design firm, they created an “ever changing” logo involving a “golden rectangle” frame in black surrounded by images. The collateral about the logo had three paragraphs explaining the logo and what it meant. I have always felt, that if you need more than a sentence or two to describe what that logo signifies for a brand- it doesn’t serve its purpose as a logo.
Nancy Creighton on Jul 29, 2009 said:
This is good! I can use this article to reinforce what I tell my clients — who sometimes seem to think that I’m just giving them my opinion, not the benefit of my education and experience, and not the accepted norms of the design community.
NBK on Jul 29, 2009 said:
Again, an excellent post that reiterates much of what I’ve read from your past articles as well as other logo design blogs out there.
daphne on Jul 29, 2009 said:
Another greatly clarifying article, Jacob =)
I’m finding the quote from Paul Rand most interesting though because i’m currently thinking of ideas for an identity of an area (uni assignment) and am finding it hard to come up with something simple yet different *and* explanatory about the area…
Eek!
Jacob Cass on Jul 29, 2009 said:
Luis,
I do try to explain things in a more simple way so as that more people can understand them. I think it gets the point across a lot better.
Harorabhjot,
Part of our job as designers is about educating the client and if you can do this, half your job is already done.
Daniel,
The IBM logo is another great example, along with much of Rand’s work. His book Design, Form & Chaos is a great insight into his mind and design as a whole – I think you would find it quite interesting.
Dame, Blue Print,
I thought it was a great example too. You should also check out this post on coke and pepsi advertising wars.
Prescott,
I wasn’t meaning for any of them to be in any particular order and have since added that disclaimer in the article though what you are saying is quite correct.
Beaulys,
At first I thought that you were saying logo design is as easy as drawing in the sand, but after re reading it, I realised that you are referring to the simplicity of logo design – a logo should be simple enough, it can be drawn in the sand. Interesting way of looking at it, though I don’t think it could be applied in all logo designs.
Davina,
I believe the five principles listed all work together to form a “good” logo but yes I agree what with you are saying.
AnnMarie,
I actually thought of a circus when you first described Ringling and then realised there is a Ringling’s circus… but hey art is about fun too. I had a quick google of this golden rectangle you describe and from what I first see I think it works great – very dynamic and great for an art/design school though not all agree. In regards to describing a logo, it does help to have a describable logo, and those that are, are usually the most memorable which in turn means they are simple.
Nancy,
As I said to Harorabhjot, part of our job as designers is about educating the client and if you can do this, half your job is already done.
Daphne,
That is why many consider logo design as the hardest part of graphic design – it’s not easy to combine a whole businesses philosophy, values and goals together into one unique, memorable, simple, versatile, timeless and appropriate icon.
Andrew Kelsall on Jul 30, 2009 said:
I don’t know why there’s so many Pepsi logo updates. In my opinion, by far, the 1973 version is classic, and should have been mildly modernised, not destroyed!
Tracy on Jul 30, 2009 said:
Andrew, I couldn’t agree more! I think the 1973 is not only my favorite but it can still be applied to any medium and in black and white and it would still be a good logo.
Great article. =)
KaitlinMichelle on Jul 30, 2009 said:
Love this post! I’ve just recently stumbled upon your website at work (summer job at in office in between semesters at my University where I’m studying graphic design). It’s been a few days since I’ve discovered it and I’ve already read through all the blogs! Clearly I have a lot of time on my hands. But I found them extremely helpful and very well put together.
But just out of curosity, how did you develop such a thick skin? I’ve noticed that you’re very open to criticism, which i think is great, but it’s something I’ve been struggling with. I enjoy criticism during the process of design, I find it very necessary. But at the end of a semester we have a one-on-one critique with our professors and this past semester I took the critique too harshly. I guess it was a matter of me being too hard on myself, rather than accepting and learning from the critique itself.
If anyone else has advice on this matter for me, it would be greatly appreciated! I love design and criticism is absolutely a part of the process, and I understand that. Hope to hear from you.
Kiren on Jul 30, 2009 said:
Really good points my friend but I have to disagree with the Pepsi Vs. Coke thing. I think the reasoning behind Pepsi is change. They always advertise for new generations in their commercials(especially the most recent ones).
Jacob Cass on Jul 30, 2009 said:
Andrew, Tracy
I also quite like the 1973 version, maybe without the rectangle bits on the sides so it is just the circle.
Kaitlin,
Developing a thick skin is just something that you need to learn – like you say, it is part of the learning process. Without criticism, how will you improve? Just take things with a grain of salt and you will be fine but remember you can’t please everyone.
Kirin,
I am not quite sure what you mean by “advertise for new generations” but if you had a timeless design, there would be no need change – that is the point.
Kiren on Jul 31, 2009 said:
You may be too young to remember “The Taste For The New Generation” ads Pepsi had during the early nineties, if you ever watch Wayne’s World The Movie you’ll see what I’m talking about:). As for Pepsi’s logo change, I believe this is done on purpose to keep up with the current trends. Of course this goes against some of the rules in creating a logo…but rules are meant to be broken;)
Tim on Jul 31, 2009 said:
Did you make that graphic of the Coke evolution? It has gone entirely viral and it is annoying because it’s a lie.
Look up the old Coke logos. It was entirely (ENTIRELY) different in 1885.
Jacob Cass on Jul 31, 2009 said:
Kiren,
I don’t recall the ads, but that would be more due to the fact that I don’t watch TV. In regards to Pepsi’s logo changes, yes this is done on purpose though if it were timeless, it wouldn’t need to be changed.
Tim,
No I did not create it, nor do I know the origin of the maker though I looked up the early Coke logo and it is not entirely different at all. In fact, it’s nearly exactly the same.
Joseph Francis on Aug 1, 2009 said:
Paul, up top, said what I came to say. A bad client won’t recognize or buy a good logo. I wish the self evident ‘goodness’ of the logo would shine through, but for them it just doesn’t.
Those clients are all about logo treatments, not ideas. Shiny, gold, marble, luminous, multicolored, whatever, etc… The last thing they want to hear is you are using Illustrator instead of a motion-blurred VRay render.
BebopDesigner on Aug 3, 2009 said:
Brilliant post! Many clients often want their activity reflected on their logo. Ridiculous? yes. But no more ridiculous than trying to explain logo design to them. This article will be a great deal of help next time I encounter the same problem. Cheers!
Mandy on Aug 3, 2009 said:
Thanks for the article. I would also add ‘Scalable’ to the list, as a logo also has to be able to work on lots of different formats/sizes. The logo also need to also be able to transpire well when used in black and white – which is another factor to consider when designing a logo.
Arwa Al Jundi on Aug 3, 2009 said:
A great and very helpful article, no matter how much a person can read about logos there’s a lot to learn.
But I was thinking the Timeless thing. It’s true that a never changing logo makes it more Memorable but doesn’t changing it helps in sales?
For example everytime Pepsi change thier logo (with thier packaging of course) people seem to buy more just to make sure they still tatse the same.
I don’t know if I made my point clear, but what i’m trying to say that changing teh logo is not always a bad thing.
Mike on Aug 4, 2009 said:
Thank you for the really nice article. I’d like to add magic word 2D. It is vitally important to insist and make your client to believe you that 3D crap he/she wants is well, just crap… I bet you know what I mean. those fancy 3D letters and logos made in 3D Max … logo MUST be 2D
one more (maybe even number 6 to your list):
ability to draw it on the wall with a chalk
Mercedes, VolksWagen etc….easy to remember, easy as hell to draw even if you are totally unprofessional painter . This is a must for really good logo and it fits your “SIMPLE” idea
Best regards from Toronto
Mike
Marco on Aug 4, 2009 said:
Hi,
just want to let you how useful is your blog; extremely informative and lively.
I enjoy designing a lot and I have been impressed with your logos that I find intelligent, creative and original.
Your blog is collects a number of very usefulf resources and advices.
Many compliments and keep up the excellent work!
Marco
Jake on Aug 4, 2009 said:
Thanks for the helpful article, great quote by David and the Coca Cola vs the Pepsi timescale really works well to illustrate the point. I think sometimes designers get carried away with logos and create complex designs following the 2009 logo ‘trends’ although it will look pants in 2010.
Jon on Aug 7, 2009 said:
You should check out the recent post over at Brand New to clear up the coke vs. pepsi misinformation caused by the graphic you used in your post. While the basic point is still valid the idea of Coca-Cola never changing their logo is false.
http://www.underconsideration.com/brandnew/archives/coca-cola_vs_pepsi_revised_edition.php
BlindAcreMedia on Aug 8, 2009 said:
I really like the time line of the pepsi logo and coca cola logo. It shows how you can create a solid logo and never have to worry about changing it to keep it ‘updated’
Jacob Cass on Aug 10, 2009 said:
Joseph, Bebop,
A designer wears a lot of hats and one of them is for educating the client, helping them to see the quality of the end product and how it will benefit their business.
Mandy,
To me this would be under the ‘versatile’ heading. A versatile logo would have to be scalable to be versatile and yes most logos do need to be able to work in just one colour.
Arwa,
Companies often rebrand to reflect changes in the market – often it does good for the company, but not always, as has been proved many times this year (think Tropicana). Changing the logo is not always a bad thing – I agree with you.
Mike,
In most cases a logo should be able to work in just 2D, though you can have different versions to ensure that it works across all mediums. KISS = Keep it simple, stupid.
Marco,
Thank you for your kind words.
Jake, BlindAcreMedia,
Please do see the post on Under Consideration (in Jon’s comment). It seems the time line was not entirely correct.
craig stodola on Aug 11, 2009 said:
I love the timeless timeline because it shows how a company like Pepsi can remain relevant and incredibly successful even when they change their identity. And in some ways, Pepsico, the parent company is beyond widely successuful, as they’re one of the biggest food/bev manufacturers in the world.
Kinda reminds me of Fossil Watches. How many different logos and tins did they have? a TON!
there is so much more to managing your business’s success than getting wrapped up in whether or not your logo is timeless. And with that, you need to look at point 5, “appropriate”. What are you selling? How are you selling? Who is your customer? It might be more appropriate for your business to update your logo as your customers and your brands shift.
If you haven’t read it yet, you should pick up the Brand Gap by Marty Neumeier. ….great book.
c
Matt on Aug 14, 2009 said:
I can’t remember how I came across your site- but after reading this, I’ll bookmark your site and read more when I have some more time.
This is a great article and as well as I think I may be able to make a logo, this article points out things I tend to forget.
AWESOME MAN.
Adham on Aug 19, 2009 said:
Great post … It’s a shame that a lot of businesses these days are going for the cheap logo alternatives … It’s their loss I guess.
Here are some tips on designing a logo on a tight deadline.
euonymous on Aug 21, 2009 said:
Great post. I am not graphically gifted, but in my experience one of the most important rules is your #4 – has to work in B&W and color, all sizes. I’ve written marketing guides that explain how corporate logos can be used. Some just aren’t versatile enough to do a variety of jobs. Meanwhile, that list of 100 great logos is a hard hitting demonstration. In my personal list of great logos, the old Digital Equipment Corporation logo is right up there.
Martin Leblanc on Aug 23, 2009 said:
I think many of these old rules don’t apply when the logo is used mainly on the web. You can have much more details and colors than on print and the logo will still “work”.
Douglas Bonneville on Sep 8, 2009 said:
“I think many of these old rules don’t apply…”
If you try and reinvent a hammer, you’ll end up with a hammer that just doesn’t work right.
The fundamentals of good logo design are a known quantity and fixed permanently. The closer one adheres to these well established rules, the better your work will be received by the public. Deviating from the formula – and you can if you wish – simply results in logos that communicate something negative to the extent of the deviation you might make. All one has to do is go look up some “bad logos” posts to see some of these deviations.
Shailaja on Sep 9, 2009 said:
Good post Jacob. I agree to all design principles mentioned above, but I strongly feel that understanding client breif and what exactly is the requirement is the key to a good logo design.
Offcourse the simple the design the more the IMPACT… secret of branding.
keep posting good articles.
Thanks
Shailaja
Alex Frew on Sep 9, 2009 said:
Hey Great article!, im studing Graphic Design at the moment and this article puts the logo design side of things in great perspective. The comparison of Pepsi and coke realy gets the msg across nice work
Anny on Sep 11, 2009 said:
I’m currently in the process of creating a logo for a person that is not paying what its really worthy in comparison with the work and time that I’m investing. But at least I’m taking this opportunity to practice and use it as part of my experience, even though I feel so frustrated and stock, I have several days researching and making sketches but still feeling that I’m not going anyway with this ideas and I feel stock.
I’m really sad to see how people do not really value the work that as professional graphic designers we have to do to create an unique and professional logo. Thanks Jacob for this articles, I’m glad to find a community of graphic designers, I feel supported. If you have some articles about what to do when you feel stock creating, I will appreciate it..
Thanks
Steph on Sep 21, 2009 said:
I’m in the process of creating a logo for a school project and can’t decide whether i want to place it inside a coloured square or just have the symbol on it’s own on a white background with the company name underneath. What’s more versatile? Box or no box?
xprowebwise on Sep 30, 2009 said:
A good design is never an accident. It is created …
Alex on Oct 23, 2009 said:
Really interesting post, Jacob. Those points are spot on, and the detail you go into is very useful. I wish more clients knew this sort of stuff, and the challenge it is in meeting all of these elements in designing a good logo.
Alex
sabz on Oct 30, 2009 said:
Haha, I like the Coca Cola & Pepsi comparison. Good one. Your site is very resourceful btw.
Brian- Logo Design on Feb 8, 2010 said:
The illustration of really apt logo designs have brought forth each point of the article in very emphatic way.Very well presented
David Airey on Feb 12, 2010 said:
Jacob,
I have been thinking about your approach to ‘teaching’ the elements of what makes a good logo. From my experience in this field, even I don’t feel in a position to impart such ramblings–sorry if that is harsh but this is my responsibility as a fellow designer-All the comments you make in this post are entirely subjective. Even the word ‘good’ is subjective. I think you need to reconsider the overall approach to how you ‘teach’ your message. While I appreciate your motive, I urge you to please re-evaluate this whole JCD platform.
I know this might seem out of the ordinary, however this has been a long time coming. Don’t take this personally. I wish you the best of luck.
Jacob Cass on Feb 15, 2010 said:
David,
Although I understand where you are coming from, I try to teach in the most objective way possible. Of course, everyone will have their own opinions on what makes a good logo, it is very subjective by nature. I do realise this, which is why I compiled this article with quotes from various other professionals in the field, all with their own opinions. People can then use this as a foundation and then build upon it.
And yes, I do find your comment out of the ordinary, especially considering the many articles on your own personal site that have this same approach. But don’t get me wrong, I appreciate your opinion and would like to hear more on the matter. Feel free to comment here or email me. Thanks David.
ToughTomato Web Design on Mar 12, 2010 said:
Thanks for the great article. You really put your point through using some highly respected brands!
Alicerose on Apr 1, 2010 said:
thanks for this tutorial.Now i can easily understand importance of a logo and hope can teach my friends as well.
Boldis Media on Apr 29, 2010 said:
Good examples of 5 principles logo design.
Mukonyezi Sarah on May 3, 2010 said:
being a new designer..i have really learnt a lot from your article. bavo
Pamela on May 16, 2010 said:
Hi, I always look to your posts because they are very helpful. But that lifetime of Coca Cola logo evolution might be mistaken. Coca Cola logo did change, and comparison needs to be fair. Even more, if you click in the link that you put up there, it would take you to a page where says that this chart is wrong, then they show the correct one.
psd a Xhtml on May 23, 2010 said:
Thanks for this list. Logo is very important for any brand
Peter on Jul 4, 2010 said:
Hey, I am not a logo designer or something like that. I am just organizing my self to open up a website but wanted to first research about logos. I am not searching any further because I love the way you’ve presented this article. You have included what other logo designers think about the points you have presented. I like that personally.
Thanks.
Peter.
Drew Brees jersey on Jul 6, 2010 said:
I wanted to thank you for this great read!! I definitely enjoying every little bit of it I have you bookmarked to check out new stuff you post.
Adam on Jul 26, 2010 said:
Very well put. I think many people overlook the important points mentioned in your article.
NICK on Aug 10, 2010 said:
This is a great article Jacob…Those points are spot on, and the detail you go into is very useful. I wish more clients knew this sort of stuff, and the challenge it is in meeting all of these elements in designing a good logo.
An effective logo is (in no particular order):
* Simple
* Memorable
* Timeless
* Versatile
* Appropriate
but i think these 5 step can makes the good logos as well as if we follow these simple step in our life style we can also become successful in life….in every field these step can work…
thanks for sharing such a nice article
James on Aug 14, 2010 said:
I love this, thankyou.
I am now showing this article to all of my clients who want logos.
ShinobiPrincess on Aug 21, 2010 said:
Nice article and blog Jacob! Just a question though, i’m a newbie in this field and a student. I’m a bit confused..Does logo designing implies that you need to make sure that the font you will use should NOT use any free standard issue fonts? Does it mean, you always need to buy fonts in every logo design or would there be any software you can suggest that allows you to design your own font? I appreciate your help.
Imroz - web design on Aug 30, 2010 said:
All logos are wonderful indeed. The designers are very creative.