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Shapes and Their Meaning: The Square

Shapes are an integral part of logo design and we see a combination of shapes even in our everyday lives. Shapes are the foundation of any design and form the basis of icons by how they are combined or as the image behind the logo mark. Just as colors have given meanings and elicit certain emotions, shapes also have their own meaning and influence viewers mind differently.

When it comes to the square, they convey a sense of reliability, security, efficiency, boldness and balance. Additionally, the straight lines and right angles symbolize a sense of order and professionalism. For the many of the reasons previously mentioned square shapes are often used in logos and positioned above or to the side of the name of the company. Many square logo designs may be seen as cautious while projecting a sense of stability and trust. Adobe’s logo makes use of negative space which is a technique often used in square logomarks.

Now that you have a better understanding of the importance of the square in logo, do these recognizable logos take on new meaning for you?

Adobe

The design of the Adobe emblem makes effective use of the negative space, creating a stylized version of the “A”. The wordmark is placed to the right of the emblem while the “d” and “b” mirror each other.

Flip Board

Flipboard makes use of the negative space, much like the Adobe logo. A pair of rectangles and a single square make up Flip Board’s signature “F”, making it simple and clean.

Bank of America

Bank of America’s identity is more modern and doesn’t use many intricate details, making it sleek and clean. The large gaps between the rectangles make the design more legible and scalable.

John Deere

The John Deere logo is a green curvilinear rectangle with a yellow inner lining. The deer is yellow too, and it has a more streamlined shape. This updated mark is described as true to its strong John Deere heritage, yet its sharpened antlers, angles, muscularity and attitude give the trademark an energized and dynamic edge in a technological age.

Now that we’ve briefly analyzed some notable logos take a look at a few more iconic logos that you see every day with a square element to their respective logo.

Choosing the best shape for a specific logo design is just as important as font type and color choice in creating a timeless design that is more than the sum of its parts. When done properly, it conveys the brand’s personality and values while leaving a notable impression on anyone that views it.

What shape do you think best represents your brand?

Inquiring minds want to know what you think, so drop your thoughts in the comments section below.

3 Reasons to Hire a Professional

I’m sure most businesses want to cut expenses and increase profits and even more so for many entrepreneurs, startups and small businesses. With this in mind, one of the first things to go is graphic design and marketing. Plus with so many website and logo templates available to choose from, anyone might think, “Why should I pay a design professional when I can do it myself?” Or corners are cut on graphic design by using a low-priced online services when they first start their companies. Although this may be cost effective, it’s really “fool’s gold”. Going the cheap route on your branding and marketing will cost you more in the long-run as far as how potential clients perceive you and ultimately paying twice to have the same work done again.

Ok look, I know you’re probably still wrestling with the decision and contemplating if it’s a good investment. Trust me it’s absolutely worth every penny. If you are not sure if you should make the investment in a professional graphic designer, here are 3 reasons why you should:

1. Professional outcome

Developing a brand is serious business and much more than than a logo and a few graphics. A professional designer will listen to your mission and goals and develop a creative solution and strategy that conveys your message to the desired target audience.

This will take your brand to a whole new level and give your potential clients the confidence they need to choose your product or services.

3-Reasons-to-hire-a-professional-designer-quote

2. Save time

I’m sure, as a business owner, you have enough on your plate already. Since time is money, do you really need to spend time trying to come up with a logo, website or brochure? A graphic designer can come up with a design or format a marketing document in a quarter of the time it will take you to do it yourself.

3. No more stress

Developing a brand or rebranding is stressful enough as it is but compound that with running a business and you would want to pull out your hair. The planning and process as a whole can be a lot to deal with. Working with a professional designer, will alleviate that stress. That stress will be replaced by excitement to see the finished result of your ideas and the collaborative process. With an understanding of color, typography, and trends, partnering with a designer can be exactly what’s needed. Remember, whether it’s Oreo cookies or Lays potato chips, two are always better than one.

Bottom line is you can’t get champagne with beer money. Good design can be expensive, but bad design can be even more costly. A well planned and executed brand and web design is an investment that could propel your business to new heights. Besides, this is an exciting time for you and having the support of a professional will be incredibly helpful and make the whole experience of starting your business a lot easier.

What do you have to add?

Let us know about your previous experiences. Drop your thoughts in the comments section below.

The Psychology of Colors

There are few aspects in design that are as vital as color. Color can evoke reactions, emotions or even action all without using words. You all unwittingly do it when you choose your favorite shoes that match that shirt just right or relax in your favorite room in the house it helps to lighten or dampen your mood. The combination of colors sets the mood of your design and activates the strongest emotional trigger in most logo designs. Colors are strongly linked to emotions in the human psyche. Different moods are attributed to different colors and you can use these different colors to achieve different ends.

Two of the biggest powers behind color is the ability to evoke emotions and the psychological meaning that helps to inform choices. Picasso had it right when he said “Colors, like features, follow the changes of the emotions.”

Let’s take a look at some of the emotions colors:

Red

Red is a warm color that has been traditionally associated with love, hate, passion, excitement, and intensity. This is the reason you see a lot of car ads, or anything related to love or hell using some shade of red. As it’s also been associated with danger or bad behavior, red can also be seen as a status symbol “that you have arrived” like when used at red carpet events.

Yellow

Yellow is considered on of the brightest colors and tends to be used to invoke joy and caution. It’s commonly associated with happiness, optimism and often used when you want a bright pop of happy energy. Yellow is an incredibly attention-grabbing color and it’s regularly used in construction signs.

Blue

Blue often elicits stability, trust, and serenity, however it’s also associated with sadness. The meaning and symbolism of blue can be heavily reliant on the shade of blue. Light blues can be refreshing and calming while dark blues are great for corporate designs where reliability is a featuring trait.

Orange

Orange, in its purest form is vibrant and bright, gives off an energetic vibe similar to yellow, but is much more subdued in comparison. It’s commonly used to evoke feelings of friendliness, confidence and warmth. Orange can be ideal for designs that want to give the feeling of being “cozy” and warm.

Green

Unsurprisingly green, a cool-toned color is considered as earthy and has been associated with freshness, safety, and growth. This is why you’ll see most nature, healthy food, related companies use green for their branding. I know you have probably heard the phrase “green with envy” so alternatively, green can also represent envy and jealousy. Going with the same theme as “abundance”, green can symbolize wealth especially in countries where their currency is green.

Colors are one of the most simple yet most powerful aspects of a logo. Some people take it for granted, but color choices should always embody the personality of your brand.

What color do you think reflects your brand?