A logo is a visual mark used to identify a business, organisation or brand. Wikipedia describes it as a symbol, sign or emblem. To understand its role today, it helps to look at how people used symbols in the past.
Why have logos mattered for thousands of years?
By using symbols they communicated messages, concepts, ideas and thoughts when they had no written languages, and perhaps not even
verbal communication, so symbols were important. Fast-forward to today and we still use symbols to convey
concepts, ideas and thoughts, but today we call them logos.
Why is a logo important for organisations?
A logo helps people identify an organisation, business or group and is part of its visual identity. The broader identity is the brand, of which the logo is one element.
Why do you need a logo?
A logo should be original, noticeable and easy to remember. Among a large number of marks, careful design helps yours stand out from competitors. People use it to recognise the brand, so its appearance and use should be considered together.
How else does it help organisations?
People see a logo and it immediately triggers a thought or feeling about the brand, especially with larger brands. A study involving children aged two, three and four found that they could readily identify and name brands from logos before
they could even read or write. That is the power of a logo and well-used symbols.
Can we agree?
Logos appear on business cards, letters, vehicles, advertisements, websites and social media. They need to remain recognisable across those uses, from 16 pixels in a browser to a billboard ten metres tall or wide. Across these formats, the logo conveys the brand’s identity.