Madrid Graphic Design Studio Chooses its 5 Logo Design Favourites
Everybody loves a good logo design!
Here at New Skin Design, we love a good logo and the whole logo design process.
A good logo is memorable and transmits the essence of a company or product that it is representing. Walking through a high street, shopping mall, or more likely browsing the internet, we are bombarded with branding from various companies vying for our attention, and ultimately our hard earned cash. We likely see more than a hundred logo designs every day. Many are instantly forgettable, but from time to time we see a memorable logo design that just stands out from all the visual background noise and etches itself in our minds, withstanding time and trends to become a cultural icon.
At our graphic design studio in Madrid, we constantly aim to provide our clients with the perfect logo design for their needs. We live and breathe logos, and our expert graphic designers love talking (and arguing) about their favourite logo designs and branding. Below we share 5 of our all-time favourites *which we could all agree on!
Apple Logo (Created by Rob Janoff 1977)
The instantly recognizable silhouette of a partially eaten apple is the peak of brand recognition. Using such a specific and easily identifiable visual identity eliminates the need for an accompanying wordmark, in fact you rarely see the word apple being used on any of the Cupertino tech company’s branding. The simple form also lends itself easily to different use cases, whether on screen, in print or etched on an iphone. Due to its versatility the logo has been seen in various versions over the years, from the original rainbow stripes, to the trapsparent aqua version to flat grey and they all look great!
Nike Swoosh Logo (Created by Carolyn Davidson 1971)
How better to evoke the dynamism and speed of a sport shoe company than to base the logo on the Greek goddess of Victory, more specifically on a swept wing. By 1995, the simple curves of the swoosh design had become so ubiquitous that Nike was confident enough to remove the text from its logo. Today, the Swoosh can be seen on sportswear and advertising with and without the wordmark. It remains a prime example of brand recognition which doesn’t include the written brand name.
Mastercard Logo (Rebrand by Pentagram 2016)
It doesn’t get much simpler than the two overlapping red and yellow circles of the Mastercard logo. The brand identity of two interlocking circles, evoking a Venn diagram, has always represented connection and connectivity since its inception for the payments processing giant in 1968. The logo has had many variations through the years, having been seen with the wordmark placed within the circles and with interlocking lines. The Pentagram rebrand of 2016 paired back the logo design even further, removing both workmark and interlocking lines from the circles and leaving the overlapping area in solid orange. The logo design works both with and without the modernized wordmark, although we prefer the no-text version, and looks great on screen, paper as well as printed on millions of plastic cards.
Coca-Cola Logo (Created by Frank Mason Robinson 1887)
This has to be one of, if not THE world’s most recognizable wordmark logo. It can be seen on signage and products the world over. Its distinctive red script font has changed remarkably little from its inception almost 140 years ago. The logo design was a product of its time, using Spencerian Script which was a popular writing style then used in the US. Although there have been many versions with small variations to the font design, the Coca-Cola logo is a great example of how a brand identity has endured against changes in fashion trends through the years.
Linkin Park Logo (Created by ? 2007)
The Linkin Park logo used for their album Minutes to Midnight is a masterclass in geometric graphic design. Blending the encircled “L” and “P” monogram with the aggressive bold sans serif lettering of the wordmark perfectly reflect the emotionally raw music of the Californian rock band. The band’s logo has changed several times over the years, but this 2007 version is our favourite and probably the most visually recognized. We think the logo design was a collaboration between Frank Maddocks (credited for the creative direction, design and photography for the album Minutes to Midnight) and founding band member and graphic designer Mike Shinoda. Whoever created it, the logo remains a classic within the sector of band logos and logo design in general.
Our favourite logo designs have all gained iconic status, elevating their brand identity above the competition. They manage to distill the essence of the product, service or band into a visually striking image using simple forms, bold colours and distinctive typography.
If you are looking for a logo designer for creating a logo or branding for a new start-up, product logo, or you just want your current company logo updated to reflect modern sensibilities, contact us. At New Skin Design, our expert graphic designers are ready to design the perfect logo for you.
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