The Stories Behind Car Logos

“What fools indeed we mortals are
To lavish care upon a Car,
With ne’er a bit of time to see
About our own machinery!”

- John Kendrick Bangs (1862-1922), American author, editor and satirist.

Indeed, we care about and for cars more than we care for ourselves.  And often, the first thing we care about is the brand, symbolized by the logo. Some of these car logos are famous throughout the world, instantly recognizable at a moment’s notice. The Mercedes Benz three-pointed star, the Ferrari prancing horse, the Chevrolet bow-tie -  they represent the brand wherever there products are found. Here, we present the not-so-well-known stories behind some of these well-known logos, in no particular order. We have intentionally not included logos that are self-explanatory, such as those that include the name (or initial) of the brand – Ford, Honda, etc.

1. Mercedes Benz: Two German car manufacturers, Benz & Cie. and Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft, merged in 1928 giving rise to Daimler Benz Co. The famous three-starred logo was originally designed by Gottlieb Daimler in 1909, and subsequently featured on Daimler Benz cars. After Daimler’s death, his partner, Wilhelm Maybach, took over the company and sold many Daimler cars to wealthy businessman Emile Jellinek, who later bankrolled development of a new line of cars named after his daughter Mercedes.  Hence, the name. The logo is supposed to represent the brand’s “domination of the land, the sea, and the air.”

2. Ferrari: The famous Cavallino Rampante or “prancing horse” logo has its origins in a chance meeting between company founder Enzo Ferrari and Countess Paolina, mother of Count Francesco Baracca who had been an ace of the Italian air force and used to paint a horse on the side of his planes. The Countess asked Ferrari to paint a horse on his cars for luck. The black color was used to symbolize grief at Baracca’s death in action while the yellow color represented his birthplace of Modena.

3. Chevrolet: The Chevrolet bow-tie logo is one of the simplest, yet most well-known corporate symbols in the world. It was first used in 1913 and there are conflicting stories on its origin.  While one theory goes that it was inspired by a wallpaper pattern seen by co-founder William Durant, another says that it represents a Swiss cross in a homage to the origins of the other co-founder Louis Chevrolet. Incidentally, Durant had founded General Motors before he was forced out and established Chevrolet.

4. Dodge: The brand has a new logo since this year, but most people still identify it with the “ram’s head” logo. The logo first appeared as a hood ornament in the 1930s. The ram was chosen for its ruggedness, something Dodges have always tried to portray. In fact, so popular did the logo become that Dodge trucks began to be called Rams. Today, it is still used for the spun-off Ram brand.

5. Buick: Not many know that Buick is the oldest American automobile manufacturer. Founded in 1899 by David Dunbar Buick, it was later acquired by William Durant and became the centerpiece of the General Motors conglomerate. The logo was originally a single shield representing Buick’s ancestral coat of arms. In 1960, the single shield was replaced by a trio in red, white and blue representing the three cars then in the Buick stable – the LeSabre, Invicta, and Electra.

6. Maserati: This Italian luxury car manufacturer was established in 1914 by the five Maserati brothers Alfieri, Bindo, Carlo, Ettore, and Ernesto, in the town of Bologna. The trident logo was designed by an artist and is based on a sculpture in the Fontana del Nettuno (Fountain of Neptune) at Bologna. Neptune is the Roman God of the Seas and is represented with a trident in his hand.

7. Mitsubishi: The Mitsubishi brand of cars is member of a larger conglomerate that began life as a shipping firm in 1914 and is named after the Japanese words for three diamonds (“mitsu” meaning “three” and “bishi” meaning “water caltrops,” also rhomboidal like diamonds). Consequently, the origin of the logo becomes clear.

8. Subaru: The name of the company is actually the Japanese translation of the Pleiades star cluster, which also means “to gather together.” Subaru is a division of Japanese transportation conglomerate Fuji Heavy Industries (FHI). The name refers to the five companies that joined forces (Fuji Kogyo, Fuji Jidosha Kogyo, Omiya Fuji Kogyo, Utsunomiya Sharyo and Tokyo Fuji Sangyo) to form FHI. The logo represents the cluster.

9. Mazda: The company derives its name from the Persian God Ahura Mazda as well as the name of the founder Jujiro Matsuda. The stylized “M” logo, also known as the “owl” logo, represents Mazda stretching its wings for the future. It may also represent Ahura Mazda, who is often depicted by a flying sun-disk.

10. Audi: The company’s name is based on the surname of the founder August Horch, meaning listen – which, when translated into Latin, becomes Audi. Horch had originally founded Horch Automobil-Werke, from where he was forced out before founding Audi in 1899. In 1932, Audi merged with Horch, DKW, and Wanderer, to form Auto Union. The Audi logo of four intersecting rings represents this merger.  Its resemblance to the Olympic logo caused the International Olympic Committee to sue Audi in 1995.

11. Pontiac: GM may have declared its intent to phase out the Pontiac brand by the end of 2010, but its arrowhead logo continues to be highly visible on American roads.  The brand was named after Native American leader Chief Pontiac who led a struggle against British occupation in the 18th century. While the earliest Pontiac logo depicted by a Native American chief’s headdress, it was updated in 1957 to the currently used American Indian red arrowhead design, also known as the “Dart.”

12. BMW: Rounding off this list is drivers’ favorite BMW. The abbreviation stands for Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (Bavarian Motor Works).The two-layered circular BMW logo, also described as a roundel, has been interpreted to represent a spinning propeller, considering the company started as a manufacturer of aircraft engines. The white and blue colors represent the official flag of Bavaria, a state in Germany where BMW originated.

Excerpt of ‘Atlas Air’ from Massive Attack’s set at the Big Chill festival 2010. apologies for the quality – if someone has a better version then please upload. The last montage flashes up the BP logo – “Beyond Petroleum”. And yes, all electronic wizadry & world tours powered by sustainable renewables. possibly… hopefully…

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Charity logos: design and display

Introduction to Charity Logos

Logos matter: just look at the fuss created by the one for the 2012 Olympics. It seems neither money nor professional expertise can guarantee success. But what does “success” mean in this context, and where should smaller charities start?

What makes for a good logo?

Ben Matthews, founder of third sector communications agency Bright One, lists five principles of effective logo design:

simple (for easy recognition)
memorable (to increase recognition)
timeless
versatile (to work across a variety of mediums and applications)
appropriate.
What should a logo do?

James Gambrill, Director of Fundraising and Communications at Build Africa, comments: “A good logo can establish trust and brand recognition. The Build Africa logo says what we do, and where we do it.”

Mark Robertson, Director of Communications at Whizz-Kidz, adds that a logo should be distinctive enough to distinguish a charity from others working in the same field and, in addition, should “communicate something meaningful” about that charity’s personality.

Whizz-Kidz recently underwent a “brand refresh”, and while the charity retained its logo (which had established equity), the colours were updated and the final ‘d’ and ‘z’ of the logo (which form a wheelchair shape) highlighted, to flag up the charity’s beneficiaries. The logo, Mark says, also conveys a sense of playfulness, reflecting the charity’s young service users.

What are the trends in logo design?

Simplicity is everything, says Richard Sunderland, Managing Director of brand agency Heavenly. This is especially true for corporates, who are favouring classic, simple fonts and styles. Blue – “traditionally the colour of stability” – is also proving popular.

Trends among start-ups tend to be slightly less severe. Richard notes “more use of handwriting or hand-crafted fonts, brighter colours and a little more personality”.

Besides simplicity, Richard points to the trend for incorporating URLs into logos (for instance comparethemarket.com). This can be particularly useful for charities: “Using a URL within the logo becomes important if it’s a call to action.”

How do logos work within the larger context of brand?

Separating a logo from the rest of the brand package can be difficult, and Richard Sunderland emphasises a holistic approach. Good brands, he says, can be identified even without the aid of their logo. “If you cover up the UPS logo on a brown van, you know it’s UPS. It’s because they use a ‘kit of parts’.” These include not just a logo, but a distinctive colour palette, font style, and related brand property (“visual devices associated with the brand”).

What is the value of a logo, and how much is it worth investing in design?

When it comes to logos, measuring return on investment can be tricky. However, Ben Matthews observes: “investing in a good logo can pay dividends for years to come, as it becomes a calling card for your charity.” Spending money on design shouldn’t be a priority, though. “It pays more to be known for the fantastic work that you do, rather than what your logo looks like.”

Helen Sykes, Senior Events and Multimedia Executive at Action for Children, adds: “A logo is only as good as the marketing and communications it’s supporting – it’s no use spending funds on logo design and not being able to use it anywhere.”

Engaging in a costly branding exercise is also not a prerequisite. Mark Robertson of Whizz-Kidz advises always talking to staff, beneficiaries and supporters to determine whether an exercise is really necessary. “Ask your supporters what they think,” seconds Ben Matthews. “Some well-meaning but honest feedback could be just what your brand needs.”

What part can pro bono work play?

Like many charities, Whizz-Kidz received pro bono support with branding. “It’s quite possible to get really high-quality advice and design input without spending money,” says Mark Robertson. Whizz-Kidz, who have a turnover of £5m, spent nothing on their “refresh”.

But what about the hidden costs involved in pro bono support? As Ben Matthews of Bright One points out, pro bono work can be time-consuming and hard to keep on track. The process for Whizz-Kidz, however, has been overwhelmingly positive. “A company providing their expertise on a pro bono basis can be just as valuable as a company fundraising for you,” says Mark of his own charity’s experience.

How strictly should charities police their logos?

James Gambrill comments: “Build Africa is a small charity and we want to get our name out there, so although we ask people to follow our brand guidelines, we wouldn’t restrict the use of the logo.” These guidelines emphasise that the Build Africa logo should appear on all material, shouldn’t be redrawn or rotated, and so on.

Action for Children also has clear guidelines on appropriate use. “We are very strict about who has access to our logo,” says Helen Sykes. “There is a web form on our Brand Toolkit page for people to complete in order to be given access to download the logo. We use this as an opportunity to check what the logo will be used for.”

But, says Mark Robertson, while “proper controls” are important, it’s essential that materials are accessible to fundraisers. Whizz-Kidz, for example, has created a pre-branded poster, which supporters can then adapt, allowing the charity to have some control.

Logos and branded merchandising - what works?

According to Mark Robertson, branded clothing, which allows supporters to identify themselves when fundraising or volunteering, is invaluable. Whizz-Kidz fundraisers regularly run in the London Marathon, and t-shirts worn by both runners and supporters play a part. “Groups of people wearing Whizz-Kidz t-shirts really motivates runners to complete the event, and it also gives you a great set of assets for marketing those events in the future, in terms of images that are all branded.”

As a service provider for young children, Whizz-Kidz also produces items such as branded pens and string bags, to encourage a sense of group identity and thereby help increase the probability of long-term engagement.

However, Helen Sykes of Action for Children advises caution. “You need a strong online following or lots of publicity to achieve high sales if you are a relatively young brand.” She urges smaller charities to consult their target audiences before investing, and to begin with a small list of items.

Design your own logo

Can’t wait to get started? You might like to try one of the online services available for designing and printing your logo. We recommend LogoMaker

Technorati Tags: charity, Design, display, logos

I was just in Orlando and bought a hat that I had never seen before, and I can’t find the logo online either. It is a hat by American Needle in the Cooperstown Collection. Inside lining says "Original Eight".

On the back of the hat, it has the gold "M" from the 70′s logos. The hat is royal blue on the sides and back, with the front panel in the gold. (Same colors as 70s & 80s).

The logo has 3 guys (look like 1800s German beer brewers) riding a barrel. The bottom of the barrel has the state of Wisconsin with some emblem in it. The guy on the left is holding a flag and the guy on the right is holding a bat. All 3 look like they have a feather in their hat or hair. (The detail is hard to make out because it is all in blue and gold with small detail).

If anybody knows anything about this logo it’d be greatly appreciated! Thanks!
Yeah I know, I have looked all over and the Brewers website doesn’t show it as a logo either. I don’t know if it was their logo from around 1901 before they moved to Baltimore? Or I didn’t know if it could have been an old Beloit Brewers minor league hat? It does have the Milwaukee M on the back and the tag says Milwaukee Brewers, so somehow it is affiliated with the Brewers. This is going to bug the crap out of me. Hopefully Bud Selig goes on Yahoo Answers and can help me out!

Technorati Tags: 80s, american needle, amp, beer brewers, bottom of the barrel, bud selig, colors, cooperstown collection, crap, german beer, logos, milwaukee brewers, minor league, state of wisconsin, yahoo, yahoo answers

Make Your Event Website Pop With Logos And Colors

The logo and colors provide the face for your event and can help to build credibility. It is always a good idea to include your organization’s logo on registration forms to lend the credibility of that entity to the event itself. However, creating a separate logo for the event itself can help you convey more ideas than your company logo can on its own.

Adding your company logo to your event marketing materials like flyers, emails, invitations, registration forms, and event websites is imperative, especially when your company or organization is an industry-wide expert or a household name. For example, Zig Ziglar conferences or Yahoo! Search Marketing seminars always rely on the brand recognition of the parent company to help create notoriety and credibility for their events. Using your organization’s logo also helps to create consistency when you send registrants from your homepage to the registration form. Seeing a prominent reference to your parent organization reminds the registrant that the event is presented with the same quality and attention to detail that they have already experienced.

You should also consider creating a logo specifically for your event especially if the event has a large following and is building its own branding. It is not a bad idea to incorporate the general theme of your organization’s logo into the event-specific logo, including the colors, shapes and fonts. However, make sure to give the event logo its own identity or twist which makes it unique from your primary logo. If you need inspiration for elements to add to the event logo you can take inspiration from the properties of the event itself. Consider the event venue (located in Florida? Consider adding a palm tree.), the type of event (what golf tournament logo is complete without a club, flag or ball?), and the industry. It may seem cliché to use imagery like this but remember that you are trying to get registrants to identify with the idea of your event at a glance via the logo.

Making use of your company colors contributes to the consistency of the registration process, especially when using online registration system to run your event. A more consistent feel from the invitation to the website to the registration will make your efforts seem more coordinated and organized which makes registrants more receptive to your message. The colors you use don’t have to exactly mirror the scheme used on your parent organization’s website, try playing with a new pattern, or add another color to the scheme to make the event materials feel fresh and cutting edge. You could also consider using gradients and glass effects to further the ‘cutting-edge’ styling.

Technorati Tags: colors, Event, logos, Website

A collection of Brand Car Logos and their meanings (I)

AUDI

AUDI logo

The name Audi is based on a Latin translation of the surname of the founder August Horch, itself the German word for “listen!”The Audi emblem is four overlapping rings that represent the four marques of Auto Union. The Audi emblem symbolizes the amalgamation of Audi with DKW, Horch and Wanderer: the first ring represents Audi, the second represents DKW, third is Horch, and the fourth and last ring Wanderer. Its similarity to the Olympic rings caused the International Olympic Committee to sue Audi in International Trademark Court in 1995.

BENZ

MERCEDES-BENZ LOGO

Mercedes-Benz is a German manufacturer of automobiles, buses, coaches, and trucks. It is currently a division of the parent company, Daimler AG (formerly DaimlerChrysler AG), after previously being owned by Daimler-Benz. There have traditionally been two logos on a Mercedes-Benz car: the three-pointed-star hood ornament (in the grille on sportier models, trucks and buses) and the more formal logo, with lettering and a laurel wreath, that appears on grille shells. The star evolved over time: By 1916, the three points were within a circle, with four smaller stars on an outer band, and either the Mercedes name or the name of one of the two Daimler plants beneath. Another change came in 1921, when the radiator (and later, hood) emblem was surrounded by a ring. This symbol was patented in 1923, and has remained essentially unchanged since. By June of 1926, Daimler Moteren Gesellschaft and Benz & Cie were merged into a single entity: Daimler-Benz AG. The new logo, predictably, was a combination of the two: The three-pointed star remained, as did the laurel wreath encircling it. The Mercedes and Benz names combined, and have remained thus for more than 80 years. Mercedes in Spanish is for “grace”, and three pointed star symbolizes the mechanization in the area of land, water and air.

VOLKSWAGEN

VOLOKSWAGEN LOGO

The Volkswagen Automobile Company, also known as Volkswagen Passenger Cars or just VW, is an automobile manufacturer based in Wolfsburg, Germany, and is the original brand within the Volkswagen Group, which contains the car brands Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, SEAT, Skoda and truck maker Scania. Volks Wagenwerk in German means “car for common people”. VW in the logo is the acronym of Volks Wagenwerk, and can also be seen as composed of three “V”s, meaning victory-victory-victory.

TOYOTA

TOYOTA LOGO

Toyota Motor Corporation is a multinational corporation headquartered in Japan, and is currently the world’s largest automaker. The three-ellipse logo of Toyota Motor Company was first used in early 1990. The biggest ellipse on the outside of the logo symbolizes “earth”, and the other two ellipses in the middle vertically make up a “T”, which stands for “Toyota”.

FORD

FORD LOGO

The Ford Motor Company is an American multinational corporation and the world’s fourth largest automaker based on worldwide vehicle sales, following Toyota, General Motors, and Volkswagen. The logo of Ford Company adopts the company name “Ford”, which is white set in the blue background. Henry Ford, the founder, likes small animals, so the logo designer draw the word “Ford” into the pattern of a white rabbit.

BMW

BMW LOGO

Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (BMW), (English: Bavarian Motor Works) is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company. Founded in 1916, it is known for its performance and luxury vehicles. It owns and produces the MINI brand, and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. The circular blue and white BMW logo or roundel allegedly portrays the movement of an airplane propeller, to signify the white blades cutting through the blue sky – an interpretation that BMW adopted for convenience in 1929, twelve years after the roundel was created. In fact, the emblem evolved from the circular Rapp Motorenwerke company logo, from which the BMW company grew. The Rapp logo was combined with the blue and white colors of the flag of Bavaria to produce the BMW roundel so familiar today.

ROLLS-ROYCE

ROLLS-ROYCE LOGO

Rolls-Royce p.l.c. is a British aircraft engine maker, and the second-largest in the world, behind GE Aviation. The company has related businesses in the defence aerospace, marine and energy markets. The two overlapping “R”s in Rolls-Royce logo symbolize the harmonious relationship of two people, “we have each other in mind”. The Rolls Royce logo has an incredibly professional and competent rectangular structure. Company name is efficiently inscribed inside the Rolls Royce logo shape, making it look more practical and methodical. The Rolls Royce logo rectangle is divided into three fractions, one being larger and central segment whereas the other two are smaller yet same in size.

FERRARI

FERRARI LOGO

Ferrari S.p.A. is an Italian sports car manufacturer based in Maranello, Italy. The famous symbol of the Ferrari race team is a black prancing stallion on a yellow shield, usually with the letters S F (for Scuderia Ferrari), with three stripes of green, white and red (the Italian national colors) at the top. The road cars have a rectangular badge on the hood (see picture above), and, optionally, the shield-shaped race logo on the sides of both front wings, close to the door.

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Learning from Famous Logos

Why are logos so important?  Think of some of the most famous logos of our time.  Nike is a good example, but what does that internationally recognized “swoosh” symbol coupled with a graphically enhanced depiction of the company name really do for Nike?  A logo is a starting point for any form of communication in which the company engages.  All marketing materials incorporate the company’s logo.  All advertising incorporates the company logo.  All promotional materials incorporate the company logo.  You see the Nike swoosh on shirts, sweatshirts, hats, keychains, and a host of other promotional stuff that has nothing to do with Nike’s core business:  shoes.  Nike can now use the “swoosh” symbol without the name and people all over the globe know its Nike.  How powerful is that?  Assuming your company has a positive image; mere recognition of the symbol is enough to get the job done.  If it’s from Nike it’s got to be good — no need to read.

Logos Convey the Image of the Company

Nike is a great example of a company that illustrates how company image and logo relate.  Today most people think Nike and they have positive thoughts but in the not too distant past Nike got caught up in a bit of a scandal over the child labor practices in some of their international manufacturing locations.  For those who were aware of this issue, the Nike logo now evoked negative images.  But as many great companies do in the face of trouble, Nike responded and responded effectively.  Today most people see the child labor issue as ancient history and once again the logo conveys positive images.

In today’s economic climate, banking logos provide more examples of how a company’s overall image and its logo are intertwined.  When banks like Bank of America and Chase were increasing credit lines and credit offerings, we all loved them.  Spotting the BofA flag logo evoked a positive response.  But if you’ve had your interest rates raised by these banks, how do you feel now when you see their logo?  The learning point is the greatest logo in the world will not help a company with a negative public image improve that image.  Let’s talk about a few other famous logos and see what we can learn from them.

Famous Logos:  FedEx, Apple Computer, and McDonald’s

Apple is one of the few logos that never included the company’s name.  It is a rare, pure symbol only logo.  Today, the Golden Arch symbol no longer needs to include the name “McDonald’s” for brand recognition, but it didn’t start out that way.  FedEx is an example of a words only logo.  The name FedEx is graphically enhanced with color, contrast, and box shapes.  Some might argue that the enclosed box is actually a symbol. What we can learn from these three is that they all share common characteristics.

Famous Logos:  Common Characteristics

The characteristics that made these corporate logos famous can be summed up in a single word:  simplicity.  The value of simplicity is that it breeds functionality.  All three of these logos are completely functional.  They can be enlarged or reduced and reproduced in black and white without any impact on the message they convey.  The evolution of the Apple logo illustrates this point.  This logo originally appeared with layers of different colors, but this limited its functionality.  When the logo appeared on the cover of some Apple laptops, it just didn’t look good.  Now it’s a monocolor logo.  All famous logos follow the most difficult to master design principle:  Keep It Simple Stupid!

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Political Logos

Politics is as big as the Olympic Games all over the world. Politicians are also known to check mate their opponents with effective speeches and symbols they endorse. Nothing can be more effective a strategy than winning an election that comes one in 4 or 5 years. Britain, America and India have large democracies have strong political affiliations. The candidate and the mandate know the importance of governance. The chosen symbol can make or mar a political career. While an educated candidate can speak well, a bad symbol can hurtle him into ignominy and result in a fractured mandate for the party. Political logos have a large role to play in winning over the people. Every campaign brings out the true manifesto of the candidates and the parties. The logo of the party is not only a symbol but also its true characteristic. Across the world, there are different political parties with their set of ideologies, values and agendas. They are represented with different icons, right from a donkey to a lotus. These political logos become the face of the political parties. Political campaigns, websites, voting machines, political banners, etc. bear these emblems to reinforce their identity in the minds of the voters. Like all other fields, in politics too, it is important to have a strong brand identity that people can relate to.

Indian National Congress, India’s oldest political party, was depicted with a spinning wheel against the Indian flag background, advocating Gandhian ideology. Over the years, the wheel was replaced by an open right hand palm- an oath to serve the country and its people. It also symbolized balanced thinking (Buddhist influence) to rule without prejudices. The democratic party of USA is represented by a red and blue (colours of American flag) donkey. It is said that when Andrew Jackson ran for president in 1828, his opponents called him a ‘jackass’ for his populist views and his slogan, ‘let the people win’. Jackson, however, cashed in on it and started using the donkey on his campaign posters. During his presidency the donkey was used to represent Jackson’s stubbornness when he vetoed re-chartering the National Bank. Since then, the donkey is used by the Democrats as a symbol of uprightness and honesty.

Any political logo should inspire and motivate; it promises a positive change, it brings power and decides the fate of millions-. The purpose is to communicate effectively.

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Financial Company Logos

The shake-up in the U.S. banking and financial industry in the 1990′s led to a rash of mergers and acquisitions. All of these newly constituted entities needed new corporate logos to identify themselves to the marketplace. A company’s logo is a graphic representation of its business. The idea is that over time a well designed identity will become synonymous with your company’s brand. “Branding” has become a popular buzz word today, extending into the world of politics and even into Social Media. A current hot topic is whether Twitter users who allow their names to be associated with sponsored ads will hurt their “brand.” Legendary American advertiser David Ogilvy defined brand as: “the intangible sum of a company’s assets…” That’s a pretty broad definition so let’s try to simplify things a bit. Say you’re driving down the street and you spot an image on a billboard off in the distance. If you can immediately identify the company behind the image and have a positive reaction to it, it’s a great logo. You don’t need to read anything up close; the symbol alone does the job.

Types of Logos

If you’ve been searching the Internet for information on logos it’s easy to end up “dazed and confused.” Types of design elements, services, and software can easily result in information overload. So once again, let’s try to keep it simple. There are three types of logos. In layperson’s terms they are:

Symbols Only
Words Only
Symbols plus Words

For symbols only logos think of Apple Computer. No words needed, the pictorial representation of an apple with a bite out of it gets the message across. For words only, think of Federal Express, or FedEx. The shortened name of the company is graphically enhanced with a little color and boxes and contrast. Interestingly enough, it was the designers of the original image who suggested abbreviating the corporate name to FedEx for the purposes of the logo. It’s worked so well that today “FedEx It” is sometimes used as a verb. The third type of logo is really a pure type and it’s the way many company identities are born. The advantage of the combined approach is the potential that one day the symbol alone will suffice. However, one would argue that the name “FedEx” enclosed in a box actually is a graphic symbol. In any case the common characteristic of well designed symbol plus words is simplicity. Short tag-lines are what you’re looking for. To get an idea of the possibilities, let’s look at the Bank of America financial logo design.

Bank of America

This identity used an American flag for inspiration and that led to the symbol of an inverted square flag. Shown in only three colors, the symbol is totally functional in that it can be reproduced in black and white and in any size without losing it impact. Initially the symbol always appeared centered beneath a graphically enhanced version of the company name. It was introduced in 2004 and it has been so successful that the financial logo can now appear without the name and be recognized as belonging to Bank of America! That’s the power of a great identity.

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Restaurant Logos

Restaurant logos may be some of the most important logos to get right of any business type. Think about the logos children first learn to recognize. Most of the logos that a child first learns to recognize are food and restaurant logos.

Often simply seeing a restaurant logo can trigger the desire to eat at that restaurant. How many times have you seen a logo and suddenly realized that you are hungry? For me there is a Mexican Restaurant here in town that has a logo of a man in a sombrero standing in front of a Mexican flag. Every time I see that logo I start craving some Carne Asada or Enchiladas. That is the power of a good logo.

How To Design A Restaurant Logo

Restaurants rely on repeat business from returning customers who visit the restaurant again and again. The restaurant’s logo should instantly remind those customers of their dining experience at the restaurant and build the desire to visit again.

The logo should contain elements that suggest the type of food the restaurant serves. This can be as simple as incorporating the colors of a flag for an establishment that serves ethnic food or a stylized symbol that is closely related to the food, like a triangle that resembles a slice of pizza for a pizzeria.

The logo should symbolize the style of the restaurant. And elegant logo design for a fine dining experience or a symbol that has a feel of motion for a quick bustling bistro. A family dining restaurant should have a logo that expresses family and community. Colors and arrangement should set the restaurant apart from other restaurants in the area, leaving no ambiguity as to which restaurant is being represented.

A restaurant log should be as simple as you can make it. Because your product is tied to a basic primal need, your logo should speak to that need in simple bold ways that will directly tap into the customers natural drives.

Where to get a Restaurant Logo

Most large corporations already understand just how important their logo is in bringing in new customers and bringing repeat diners back for another meal. Many smaller, sole proprietor restaurants tend to miss out on really thinking this through. They just don’t understand how important the logo is to their business health.

Often you will see that they just have their name with no real logo at all. A name can be a logo, but it has to be done a certain way. Ryan’s is a popular Buffet restaurant in the Midwest and South Eastern United States. Ryan’s uses their name as a logo, but in order to pull this off they created a distinctive typeface, called a logotype, that makes the word completely different from any other representation.

Other restaurants will just grab a free clipart or a ready-made logo and use that, but this is a big mistake. A ready-made logo or a free clip art graphic can not symbolize your restaurant uniquely because others can use the same image and dilute your brand.

The best thing to do is contact a professional logo designer and work with them to create a restaurant logo that perfectly captures your restaurant’s unique dining experience and becomes an ambassador and sales force for your business.

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Technorati Tags: logos, Restaurant

i neeed……….

-5 movie titles with circle related objects

-5 sports or games with a sphere used to play

-5 formulas that include pi

-6 US flags with cicles in them

-7 pie resiepies

-8 kinda of circuliar candy

-9 advertisments with circles in there logos

thanks for all ur help=D

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