A good logo as your signature should be simple, professional and informative. You can effortlessly implement this on your signature without making it look dull and boring. Presented below are some of the ways to use to make your email signature cool with a logo.

Don’t include too much information

One of the most common mistakes people make with their email signature is to thing that they are mini autobiography. They end up jamming them with lots of unnecessary information and links which ultimately make them look dull and boring. When you create your signature with a logo, there is no need to include too much information.

The essence of the logo is to market your brand, and if people can take note of it, they will definitely head over to your website where they will find the rest of the information you are tempted to include in the sign. Therefore, try and keep the signature clean and to the point by not cramming it with the logo in addition with lots of other information.

Consider the color of your logo

As noted earlier, the signature will be the last thing the reader will see after reading the email. When you use a logo as the signature, it is important to consider the dominant color of your design. There are instances when the color may appear a little dull when used in the signature and in such cases, it is advisable that you tweak the colors and probably use some bright pallets to attract the reader’s attention to the logo. Obviously, when the color of the logo doesn’t contrast that of the email, then decipherability will be hampered and the logo will not be as effective as it would have been.

Use just the right size

For proper organization and better display of the logo on the signature, the size ought to be just the right one. A large logo size will not just be boring and annoying to the reader, but it may also affect the rendition of your email and make the structure and the organization disjointed. Additionally, if the signature takes more space than the actual content of the email, you may appear as imposing your brand to the recipients and it may make them change your perception about you.

Use smaller font pallets

Too many fonts are not a disaster for your logo alone, but also for your signature. Ideally, it is advisable not to use a lot of fonts in your logo and if this is the case, you will have to do some tweaking when using the logo in your email signature. This is a nice way to keep the logo simple and clear as the name and thus making it more effective in your branding efforts.

Let the logo be in the right format for small screens as well

It goes without saying that the logo should be able to render properly in computer screens before you use in the signature. Some businesses not fond of using communications may just pick any logo format and use it as the signature. You need to ensure that the logo is in a format which can be rendered across multiple devices, and especially on small screens, without its quality being affected. This is very important given that the number of people accessing emails via mobile device keeps on increasing and if the image in the signature can’ be displayed well on mobile devices, it may be a blow to your marketing and branding efforts.

Full width email signs

For most people using emails in their signatures, they follow the conventional format of position the signature at the bottom left section at the end of the email. Whereas this is the position which has been in use since time immemorial, sometimes a little creativity is needed to stand out from the crowd. For instance, you can modify the logo size to have an extended width to make it larger and more conspicuous.

In this way, it will draw in a lot of attention from the reader, besides making the email appear aesthetically appealing. However, you should consider this approach only if the logo can adopt a landscape layout without compromising its quality and overall visual appeal.

For better results with the logo as the email signature, there are other common mistakes that people fall for when designing their email signatures. For instance, there is no need for you to put all your phone numbers and email addresses on the signature. Watch out for such mistakes and you will never get it wrong with your email signatures.

Learn more about building a logo for a beauty company here!

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Paula Scher

Our list of the leading graphics designers begins with someone considered as one of the leading female graphic designers in the present times. Paula Scher is an American national who has made immense contribution to the branding and identity of big names in the world such as New York City Ballet, NYC Transit, Microsoft and MOMA. These are part of her finest works and if you appreciate design for any reasons, you will agree that she has the skills and the talent to influence by just using graphic design.

Her most recent assignment was the creation of the new Microsoft Windows 8 Logo and this is well documented for every interested designer to see what led to the awesome logo that now graces millions of computer screens across the world.

Neville Brody

Neville Brody is an English designer, art director and a typographer. He came into the graphics design limelight during the 1980s following his art editing of the UK Magazine The Face. He is also well remembered for another of his art editing works of the Arena Magazine as well as the redesigning of the record covers for top artists such as Depeche Mode and Voltaire.

In the recent years, Neville has founded research studios and played great roles in the redesign of the Times Magazine and the BBC websites. Due to his impeccable works, Neville Brody has found his way into the books of the famous graphics designers in the living times.

David Carson

David Carson is the art director of Music and Lifestyle Magazine known as Ray Gun. This magazine will always rank him amongst the most famous graphic designers. Following his works at the publication, he became one of the most influential graphic designers in the mid 1990s. During his hey days, he invented the grunge typography and this elevated him to the levels of a genius in the design design.

Stefan Sagmeister

Stefan was born in Australia, but is now a New York based typographer and graphic designer. Stefan introduced himself to the world of graphics design over 20 years ago when he did a naked shot. However, that was just the beginning of the streak of jobs he was to later do which made him earn recognition as one of the most famous graphic designers still alive today. His unique approach in design is considered to be conceptual and thought provoking making him to be a particularly unique breed in the world of graphics design. His most recent works include the jobs he did for AIGA as well as his magnificent album artwork done for Lou Reed.

Sagmeister has also made immense contributions in, designed branding and packaging for various clients such as the Rolling Stones, Time Warner, HBO, Guggenheim Museum and many more.

Milton Glaser

Milton Glaser is one of those individuals whose names will forever remain in the books of world’s most famous graphic designers for a very long time. He was the creator of one logo that turned out to be the most copied and the most adored in the entire universe – the I Love NY logo. He created this logo way back in 1977 to be used by the city authorities for promoting tourism in the city of New York.

There is more to this man Glaser than the adorable I Love NY logo. Some of his masterpieces include the works he did for DC Comics, Bob Dylan and the Brooklyn Brewery. These designs will still feature prominently as top graphics designs and Milton Glaser will also continue to be remembered as one of the leading graphic designers the world ever knew.

Alan Fletcher

It is difficult to mention the names of leading graphics designers and fail to remember some whose designs still make strong impacts across the world. One such guy is Alan Fletcher. Alan is a British who’s hey days were during the 1970s and 1980s. If you have heard of the Pentagram, then you will be surprised to learn that he is one of the founding partners. His main areas of specialization lies in identity design and book designs. One of his most conspicuous and notable designs is the VA and this is just one but of the plethora of great graphics he ever did.

If you have the determination to work hard as well and master your craft, your name could one day be featured among the list of famous graphic designers.

Learn how designers worked before computers here!

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This simply implies that computers are used to hasten the graphics design process just as microwaves are used to warm up food quickly. In essence, graphics design would still be possible even in the absence of computers and this is how life used to be back in the days when the world was still asleep as far as technology is concerned. So how exactly did graphic designers work without computers?

Manual and laborious

Before the computers, graphic design was rather a laborious and manual exercise that took several hours to complete even for very small projects. At the beginning of every job, the designer had to sit down and figure out what the client wants and think of the best way to start from scratch. It involved a lot of iterations since you first had to come up with sketches that would be shown to the client before you had the opportunity to proceed with the final design.

You may argue that the same process still applies to today. This is true but back in the olden days, you had to start the process of preparing each sketch from scratch unlike today when after you have the layouts right, all you have to do is make a few clicks of the mouse and you have different layouts.

A single design would be worked by different people

With the advent of the computers, only one person is needed to start and complete a design project. But before the computers came, there was what was known as division of labor in the design process. With division of labor, each person did only what they were good at during the process. For instance, if a designer were good in rapidography, their duty would be to wait and draw a line of the required size on the boards.

If somebody else was good with the Photostat camera, their main duty would be to position stats and show indications of where the cropping was to be done as well as the exact sizes and position of the photos on the page. Again someone else would be proficient with the mechanical boards, and their duty would be to help with the pasting and using the rubber cement to paste the Photostats on the correct positions where they are needed.

With the use of computers, division of labor is no longer relevant because most of the processes have been integrated into a software making graphics design to be an easy exercises. It is possible to draw a perfect line, resize the images, change the position of the image and do pretty anything you want with the layout without the need of external assistance.

How Printing was done

With the computers, printing graphics after you are done with the design is not much of a hassle. But before the computers, it was an exercise that required the expertise of highly experienced experts. The printers in graphics designs before computers and the advent of the modern printers used what was known as a mechanical. Each mechanical represented a page with the correct size of what was supposed to be printed.

For instance, if you wanted to print a page measuring 11.75 inches by 9.25 inches, then the mechanical would be adjusted to reflect these measurements either on a stiffer paper or cardboard. You were actually required to use the Photostats pasted on the mechanicals to show the separator the exact placement, size and position of every image. If there was a rule reproduced on a page, that rule had to be drawn by hand on the mechanical around the Photostat. You can thus imagine how hectic printing was back in the days.

How long it took to prepare the layout of a book

Preparing the layout for a book takes approximately fifteen minutes currently. However, before the computers, before anything was sent to the printer, it could take a couple of hours to get the materials ready for printing. It involved a lot of processes which included taking the Photostats to the studio to have them pasted down then sending them to the typesetting house before you could finally have them ready for printing.

Evidently, computers have made the process of graphic design to be simpler, faster and more efficient. By looking at the history of graphics design, designers come to appreciate the strides taken to make the industry what it is at the moment. One thing however remains unchanged. It is the design tools that have changed but not the core design principles. This is why Milton Glaser made the comparison of computers being to design what microwaves are for food.

Check out how to build a personal brand here!

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Vintage logos seem to be the craze in the creative market at the moment. We are seeing more and more of hipster, retro, and vintage logo collections as many designers and clients tend to lover their simplicity and effectiveness in connecting with the target audience. Though you may have thought that time was up for this kind of logo design, it is one of the trending designs that most designers now prefer. Here are some vintage logo trends that are not just strong at the moment but have been around for a while and it seems that they have refused to go away-:

Badges vintage logos

Badges lie at the very heart of the concept of vintage logo design. These designs feature simple shapes that can be stamped virtually on anything. You will find most of the vintage badge logos in different shapes, but mostly they will be in oval, circle, triangle, shields, and diamonds.

These kinds of logs won’t just take you back to the ages before the digital world caught up with the design industry, but also, they are simple to work with, and the fact that they look pleasant in a variety of shapes adds a lot of design versatility for designers who prefer to use these vintage logos.

Hand Drawn Vintage Logos

Handmade logos are currently a hot trend in the logo design industry because they offer simplicity graced with an authenticity that is not easily achieveable with other forms of logo design styles. Similarly, in the vintage logo design world, the adoption of hand drawn vintage logos seems to be on the rise for similar reasons as the handmade logos in the world of digital graphics design.

These logos are aesthetically appealing, and they display great artistic talent which makes them be of overall good quality. Though most of the hand drawn vintage logo designs may appear to be more masculine, they offer great results in a wide variety of applications including being used in the beauty industry.

Industrial Logos

A trip back to the mid 20th century will reveal to you logo designs that never had gradients, shadows or never rendered in three dimensions, but still they were effective in making bold visual statements. Most of the graphical symbols or icon in such logos included wrenches, axes, hammers, and factories.

All these were synonymous with the industrial revolution even though the world is now more tech savvy than it was back then a good number of designers are adopting the industrial vintage logo design to create uniqueness and a sense of authenticity that the digital world has never experienced.

Land and Sea Logo Designs

With most of the vintage logo designs, it is common to find animals with antlers such as deer, elk, and moose featured in the logos. As a matter of fact, the presence of an antler used to signify that the logo was indeed of the vintage category. Similarly, land and sea features such as tents, mountains, trees, etc were common features of such vintage logos.

You are also likely to see anchors, fish, and ropes as the main graphical elements in most of the vintage logos featuring the sea. With the benefits of advanced technology and improved graphics design methodologies, such land and logo sees are finding their way back into the mainstream design, though with the same symbols given smoother and better graphical representation.

Logos on Photos

A look at logos made ten years ago is likely to reveal that most of them had photos at the background. Most of the modern and robust designs however feature colorful, bright and complex internet logos with sophisticated backgrounds and gradients.

But while this is happening, the lovers of vintage logos have crafted ways of using monotones overlaid on top of great photography to generate fantastic looks. This method will make any logo look great especially if the picture on the background is relevant to the theme and the design of the logo.

Line Art Vintage Logos

It is always amazing to observe how current logo design trends change how vintage graphics work. Back in the days when skeuomorphism used to be the trend, vintage logos used heavy textures and sometimes ink brushes.

But presently, flat design is the reigning trend, and vintage logos haven’t left behind either. Vintage logo designers are now using thin lines with greatly simplified illustration in conformity with the trend while still managing to create awesome vintage logos.

Use your intuition

Whereas there is a lot more going on with the trends in vintage logo design, it is not a rule of thumb that you adapt your logo design to such trends. If anything, using trends when designing your logo can be a very dangerous practice since trends will come and go but your logo will be required to stand the test of time. Therefore, use the trends but ultimately, rely on your intuition and design principles to come up with rock solid vintage logo designs.

Check these 2016 designs for more inspiration!

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There are a number of recognizable logos throughout the auto manufacturing world. Although there are definitely some logos that stand out amongst the crowd. Here are some of our top favorite iconic auto logos. Many of these logos have been around for many decades and you can find a good number of them in your local supermarket parking lot. Here are our top 8 iconic auto logos:

Mercedes Benz:

This is probably one of the simplest iconic auto logos. German carmakers have some of the longest running history in the automobile world and Mercedes Benz has one of the longest-running logos as well. Most German carmakers use simplicity for their logos and Mercedes has followed suit with a logo that hasn’t been changed across many decades. With no signs of changing any time soon, we should continue to see the Mercedes benz logo on sport/luxury cars.

Volvo:

The Volvo logo not only is built within an old chemical symbol for iron but it also has an change for many years. This Swedish carmaker has had the iconic blue and silver badge for decades and it is a simple yet historic construction. Not only does the logo and name mean “I roll” in latin but incorporates many classic design elements. Volvo has a dependable logo for one the most iconic auto logos.

Cadillac:

The Cadillac logo is somewhat similar to that of Porsche because it utilizes a family crest style logo as well as some similar coloring. Cadillac has an extensive history and the logo has changed just a little bit over time embracing a simpler style. While you can see smaller ducks in the old-style Cadillac crest, today the company has a much more modern look for their crest style logo. The caddy badge is extremely respected amongst auto logos. It has a classic luxury look and it is perhaps one of the most noble looking auto logos out of any of the competition. Although it may not be as simple as some of the other logos from auto makers, it is one of the most iconic auto logos.

Mini:

Although Mini is technically owned by BMW these days, they have kept a modern version of their Iconic auto logo. The Mini logo has simple block lettering as well as a set of wings that you might see on an air force badge. It is a simple yet instantly recognizable logo from an automaker. It actually has some deep meaning as well and the designers wanted to create a winged sun. This symbol is based off of an ancient religious symbol that was meant to showcase the transportation method of a perfect soul. The wings that carried souls to the sun can now be found on every mini.

Infiniti:

When Nissan went out to create a luxury version of their vehicles with Infiniti they certainly didn’t disappoint when it came to the logo. The Infiniti logo is far more than just a simple circle with a peak. It’s also certainly not an upside down silver pacman. Instead this symbol is joined in one line to symbolize the car traveling towards infinity on an open road. The peak in the center is the infamous Mount Fuji in japan which pays tribute to the history and development of the car. This history and thought makes Infiniti one of the coolest auto logos.

BMW:

No list of auto logos would be complete without BMW. This simple and easy to recognize logo was once found on airplanes and airplane engines. This is where the colors blue and white come from. Because BMW used to build these products and paint many of the manufacturer colors so that aircraft technicians could tell when the propellers were spinning, these colors just stuck. The logo that they eventually picked was supposed to resemble the propellers of an aircraft spinning against blue sky. With the chrome BMW placed above the target or propellers the logo was complete.

Volkswagen:

It seems that there is a trend in our list for German auto logos. VW originally designed its logo in the year 1938 giving it an extensive history. The design has been modified slightly in year 1996 as well as in the year 2000. The only difference between the modern version of the Volkswagen logo and the older version is a slightly different color blend as well as 3d elements. Ultimately the logo remains basically unchanged since the start of World War II.

Audi:

You can spot an Audi logo from a mile away and considering the type of speedy cars that this company makes it will come up on you fast as well. The Audi logo is designed to symbolize unity just the same as the Olympic logo. The logo was created in 1932 as a result of four independent auto companies joining together. It has remained unchanged since that original logo design and that makes it one of the most iconic on this list.

Check out the 5 most expensive logos in the world!

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Breweries are among the oldest companies in the world.

A closer look at some of the most successful ones will reveal to you that it was not the content of the beer in their bottles that made people fall in love with them, but their marketing strategies and branding techniques play an enormous role in setting them apart from the crowd.

And when talking about marketing and branding, logos will always be an integral part.

By just looking at the following liquor brand logos, you will get thirsty and wish for your favorite beer immediately:

Bass Brand Logo

The Bass brand logo is one of the most famous ones you will ever come across in the beer industry.

It features the famous red triangle that you will never miss however drunk you are.

The logo is clear, distinct and highly unmistakable.

One intriguing thing about this beer brand logo is that it was the first ever to be trademarked in the United Kingdom, way back in 1876.

Budweiser

Budweiser is one of the more well known beer brands in the world and whenever you lay your eyes on the logo, you will have a strong urge to get a sip of this refreshing beer.

Other than the remarkable fonts of the writing, the logo has a seal at the center, displaying the names of the four continents – Australia, Asia, Africa and Europe, with the America resting beneath it.

Heineken

You will never fail to recognize the Heineken beer brand logo whenever you see it in any country in the world.

The bright red star in the logo stands out in an iconic way when seeing the logo.

It is suggested that now the famous star was included by the breweries in the Middle Ages, and it was believed to have mystical powers to protect the brews.

Later on, Alfred Heineken redesigned the logo to have a smiling letter “e” because he wanted it to look friendlier to the consumers.

Blue Moon Beer Logo

The blue crystal design in the Blue Moon Beer logo is a reminder that after a long day of work, everyone should gather around for some enjoyment.

Though one of the more simple logos, the logo holds meaning beyond what is shown.

Guinness

Guinness is another another beer that is known very well.

The immense popularity of the Guinness beer brand can be attributed to the quality of the drink but its logo may have something to do with bringing in its customers.

The logo has a unique type of harp – the Brian Borus Harp, which s the oldest surviving Celtic harp, and is currently being preserved at Trinity College.

Newcastle Brown Ale

Newcastle Brown Ale logo is another beer logo that will make you long for the drink whenever you see it.

The beer is one of the most profitable brands among the breweries.

It also has a strong logo to complement its marketing efforts.

The logo has a five point blue star representing the five founding breweries of Newcastle.

In the middle of the star is Newcastle’s skyline merged with the famous Tyne Bridge.

On the sides of the logo, you will see the 1928 International Breweries Award medal, which was awarded to the company during its first year of operations.

National Bohemian Beer

Seeing Mr. Boh winking at you tells you that it’s time to pick up a can of beer and enjoy.

No one knows why the National Bohemian Beer has the image of Mr. Boh with one eye, but it is suggested that you only need one eye to choose a good beer – National Bohemian Beer.

Amstel Bier Logo

Though Heineken acquired it in 1968, Amstel Bier Logo hasn’t changed a lot.

It still maintained the distinctive and contrasting colors of red, white and gold.

Being that gold is a royal color, having it in the logo would show that this drink signifies its royalty.

Besides, Amtel is a renowned brand producing one of the most loved beers in the world.

Carlsberg

Carlsberg is one of the largest brewery groups in the world with a clear and distinctive logo.

The predominant colors in the logo feature green, white, red and gold to signify energy, passion, purity, excellence and the rich tradition that the brand has inked as their own to this day.

Stella Artois

Stella Artois is one of the oldest breweries in the world, and it has been in operation since in 1366.

Surprisingly, the brewery has not altered its logo largely from the very original concept.

It still retains its authenticity and seeing it will give you the desire to have a sip of the sweet and refreshing taste of the liquor.

Check out these 6 popular crowd sourced logos!

All trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners. AppMaven LLC or LogoMaven is not affiliated with any of the companies mentioned on this post. All other trademarks or registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

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Having a logo that can actually transcends time is somewhat of an impossibility. While there are a number of logos that have a classic look and have been around for decades, it’s important to note that it’s tough to match the trends of tomorrow through prediction. Designing a logo using modern trends in design isn’t going to make it trendy for a new generation and will encourage at least some form of rebranding. Most logos usually remain modern for around a decade but some of the classic elements of the logo will make it through the rebranding effort to showcase your history. While no one logo design should be expected to carry you through 50 years of business, any logo should be able to get you through at least 10 years in the design industry.

Logos are art and some of the best art can transcend time. When we look back at classic painters we marvel at their talent and their skill. Looking back at classic logos there are many designers who would like to emulate the same style as well. Creating a logo that transcends time means creating something iconic and simple enough that it can be changed and rebranded multiple times into recognizable formats.

There is no way to predictably future proof a design but there are some patterns that you can follow to model the success of other logos that have had success over a long haul. It is however important to remember some of these top tips:

Very few design elements remain popular over time:

Design is consistently changing especially in logo design. A logo design that transcends time is increasingly difficult because of this factor. As programs in technology change different forms of design are drawn to the forefront of art. In the past designs had to be almost entirely hand-drawn and measured out on drafting tables, today we can bring in complex textures and computer graphics as well as utilize various scripts for scalability and customizability. As computer software continues to change we might see a trend pushing toward animated graphics custom 3d textures and more. For any promotions that include your logo and branding you should strongly remember that graphics on your packaging on your website and more should be placed in the background where as your logo and branding should always come to the forefront. This creates a consistency over time and ensures that you can include modern design elements alongside your classic logo.

Typography makes major changes as well:

While the base image or symbol that represents your logo may not change much over time, you can make drastic changes in typography to update your design. Popular type sets seem to materialize every 5 to 10 years and many of the top scripts used in logo design today are very different from that used in the 80s and 90s. If you want a modern brand you should consider regularly changing your typeset and small elements of your logo to reflect the design changes of the time. Creating a meaningful brand means creating a logo and brand that resonates with the current generation and typography can be a powerful tool for matching your logo up with the times.

Many logos don’t stand the test of time but are still functional:

Many of the oldest logos really haven’t been updated but it’s there classic look that helps them to instill trust in us. When we look at Coca-Cola and Nike for example we see that both of these companies have only done minimal changes to their logo and branding over time but it’s the background images and small design elements that have changed in order to modernize the brand. Some other classic logo designs having been so successful in this effort however:

Capitol one: Capitol one to get outdated logo and recently added a solution the year 2008. While One follow the rule of adding small design elements to keep their logo resonating with a new generation, it was too little too late and a little bit cliché as well. Capital one never really had an iconic brand that was future proof but a small design element like this one really doesn’t help the logo resonate any better with a new generation.  The capitol one Swoosh branding is a great example of how a brand can fail at creating a logo that transcends time.

Pepsi: Pepsi regularly spends money to redesign their can and their logo. While the ball symbol in red white and blue has represented Pepsi for many years, the most recent element of rebranding has almost destroyed what was a symbol capable of transcending time. The Pepsi logo is redone at least once a decade and the company changes it drastically every time. Rather than sticking with a product that works very well as an iconic logo, the company prefers a rapid and modern redesign to stay on trend and it doesn’t always work. This is not a logo that transcends time.

If you are trying to design a logo that transcends time remember that it’s an extremely difficult process. If you keep some of these top blunders and tips in mind however, you never far better chance at accomplishing this lofty goal.

Check out these classic logos for some inspiration on creating timeless logo designs. 

The post Can You Design a Logo That Transcends Time? appeared first on LogoMaven | Easy Logo Design Software & Logo Maker.

Every profession has its legends. These are people who achieved higher levels of mastery in their crafts and whose ingenuity is still felt in the world to this day. They became Picassos in their fields and helped to shape the industry with their contributions.

In this piece, we take a look at some of the best logo designers who ever lived and were considered as logo design legends. Some of them may be long gone, but their works make their memories alive amongst those who appreciate talent and mastery in graphics and logo design. They include the following:

Paul Rand

Paul Rand was a renowned American graphic designer who specialized in corporate logo creation and design. As a graphics designer, Paul Rand was already on his way to being among the logo legends by 1951 following a successful career as a designer of media promotion at Esquire-Coronet.

This was to be followed by other jobs within the art industry, and the success of his works saw him inducted into New York Art Directors Club Hall of Fame in 1972. Some of the great logos created by this designer include the current IBM logo, American Broadcasting Company logo (ABC), Enron logo, and the UPS logo.

Milton Glaser

No mention of logo design legends will ever go without talking about Milton Glaser. Milton was born in 1929 in New York City, and he is one of the best logo designers the world will ever see. Milton’s most works feature a broad range of design disciplines including corporate logos, corporate identity programs, and corporate marketing materials, amongst others.

One of the most notable designs that put Milton on the list of the greatest logo designers is the I Love New York logo that he created for the state department of commerce. The popularity of this logo is immense, and it is the most frequently imitated logo design in history.

Saul Bass

Saul Bass is another name that makes it to our list of logo design legends. Saul has established a long and prolific career that not only saw him produce some of the best corporate logos of our times, but also made him one of the most influential designers who has inspired thousands of other young artists.

As far corporate logo design and branding is concerned, Saul was more of a design innovator. Some of his notable works include AT&T logo, American Airlines logo, United Way logo, Minolta logo and the Frontier Airlines logo created in 1978.

Walter Landor

If you have seen the FedEx logo, then you will appreciate the fact that its creator deserves a spot in the list of legend of logo designers. FedEx is one of the earlier logos whose use of negative space is well documented and has always been a major reference whenever discussions of negative space in design crop up.

But this is not the only show of mastery that Walter Landor has under his belt. The other great logo Walter boasts of is the peoplepc logo that has also received lots of acclamation due to its simplicity and elegance.

Tom Geismar and Ivan Chermayeff

Tom and Ivan are the designers of the famous Mobil logo, and they are also accredited for developing a complete corporate identification program with a continuing consultation of thirty five years. In the program, they outline the features and qualities of an effective corporate logo design, a clear policy for the use of colors, and a conclusive design approach that utilizes new graphics and new architecture for effective corporate branding. With their program, they provide ultimate solutions for vehicle branding, poster design, designs for print materials, and packaging and sign standards for every branding need in the world.

Bob Gill

Bob Gill deserves a spot against logo design legends because of his excellence in the craft and because, he has contributed immensely to the development of the industry by inspiring young talents to produce their best. He is heavily involved in the education side of logo design, and he has published some of the best books touching on important matters about graphics design. These include LogoMania, Graphic Design as a Second Language and he also runs a successful design studio with other partners in New York.

Wally Olins

A list of design legends cannot be complete without a mention of London born designer, Wally Olins. Wally is recognized as the world’s most experienced corporate identity and branding expert. His contributions to the design industry have seen him win or get nominations for some of the most honored awards in graphics design, including CBE Award in 1999, Prince Philip Designers Prize in the same year, and the Royal Society of Arts’ Bicentenary Medal. His works still remain very much alive.

Check out this strategy for branding 101

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Company logos have always been important branding tools long before the concepts of global marketing campaigns; social media and television commercials were in use. Through the years, businesses have undergone different changes in an attempt to rebrand and gain wider appeal across their target audience. Due to this, most companies have altered their logos considerably with some introducing completely new designs with no correlation with the first ones. Other logos, however, have displayed incredible staying power and have remained the same for many decades or even centuries since the companies were founded. Though, most of the oldest logos in the world have managed to retain some of their important visual elements though others have been slightly altered.

But while the logos undergo changes and all sorts of alterations, the original intent behind the company’s logo will always be preserved and rarely known to many consumers. For instance, Shell started off as a shipping company that transported kerosene to India then brought back shells to sell in Europe. Hence, they used a shell image as part of their logo, and this has been retained to date, making it one of the oldest logos in the world.

Many companies also like retaining their original logos and use their longevity as a selling point to their customers. It is also a show that they haven’t lost roots to their founding principles, and this works to add a lot of credibility to the company before their clients.

Listed below are some of the oldest logos in the world that are still in use today. They still have a strong international presence, and they haven’t been altered significantly from the very first designs.

Stella Artois

Stella Artois logo was first used in 1336 when the company was founded in Belgium. Though the company has experienced numerous changes in management for the centuries they have been in operations, they still retain the very initial logo featuring a horn and a star resting above the name label. Presently, Stella Artois is not just found in Belgium alone, but it is present in more than 80 countries around the globe. It’s also important to point out that it is the leading Belgian beer in the international markets.

Twinning Tea

Twinning Tea logo makes it as one of the oldest logos in the world, having been around for over two centuries since the company was founded in 1887. The logo features capitalized fonts under a crest of a lion, and it has been used continuously without any alteration for the period that the London-based company has been in operations.

At the inception of the company, tea consumption did not feature a lot in the lives of many people in Britain. Coffee, beer and gin dominated most of the breakfast during the early years of the 18th century. But towards the end of the century, tea became one of the popular drinks, thus boosting Twinning Tea and in the process enhancing the brand. After ten generations, Twinning Tea is still a family owned business with a global presence and its logo makes it to the list of one of the oldest logos in the world.

Bass Ale

Bass Ale Company was founded in 1777, but their current logo has been in used since 1876. The logo features a red triangle with the word “Bass” written beneath it. One interesting fact about this one of the oldest logos in the world is that it was the first registered trademark ever to be issued by the British government. The simplicity of the design helped the company become one of the leading beer producers in London during the late 19th century.

Shell Oil

Shell Company was incorporated in 1897 as a shipping company that shipped kerosene to India then brought back seashells to sell in the British markets. The company later merged with Royal Dutch Petroleum Company and retained the logo that is now synonymous with the energy giant. The first Shell service station was opened in California in 1915, and this is the time when the yellow and the red color schemes were introduced. The Shell logo remains to be one of the oldest logos in the world, and the company is currently worth $260 billion.

Levi Strauss & Co

Levi’s logo was first used in 1886. It featured two horses, and it was used as a method of growing the market share before the patent of the jean making process expired. The logo became so popular that customers started referring Levi products as “those pants with two horses” giving birth to the Two Horse Brand until later on in 1929 when Levi Strauss trademarked the name, Levi. It is now one of the oldest logos in the world, and the company employs over 16,000 employees worldwide.

Sherwin Williams

The Sherwin-William Logo was first used in 1905, and it hasn’t undergone many alterations since then. The only changes on the logo of this manufacturer, distributor, and retailer of paints are the addition of the red and blue color and the writings “Cover the Earth”. The initial concept has been retained, and since the logo has been in use consistently for more than a century, it makes it to the list of the oldest logos in the world.

Check out these top sports logos for inspiration as well!

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If you are interested in creating a professional logo for your brand, avoid these common logo design mistakes.  There are a number of top considerations when it comes to producing something iconic that will have a mass resonance with your potential audience. There are however a number of common logo design mistakes that many companies make. Avoiding these common logo design mistakes can help you to avoid producing a nonprofessional logo, an offensive logo or a new brand identity that won’t take you as far as a professional logo design would.

Here are some of the top logo design mistakes that you can avoid when you are getting a professional logo design or creating your very own logo design for the first time or for rebranding.

Having an amateur design your logo:

The most recognizable logos in the world are designed eye professionals for a reason. Business professionals today are investing more money than ever into their facilities and into building their brand but it can be tough to get a company off the ground if it has a nonprofessional logo. Treating your logo as a small thing in the formation of your business is a big mistake and saving money up front could cost you in the long run. Be sure to get the right designers on the job early on and create a strong logo for your branding that you can carry with you for decades to come.

Following the trend:

Copying another successful logo isn’t always the quickest path to success. Following today’s design trends often leads to a logo that is more of a cliché than a trend itself. A well-designed logo creates its own trend and a timeless unique look that doesn’t rely on various trends or gimmicks to get ahead. Go against the design trend and get something that reflects your corporate culture rather than emulates another successful company.

Designing something you like that doesn’t target your clients:

Getting a cool design that imposes your corporate personality or your own personal preferences can sometimes lead to some conflicts when it comes to reaching out to your target market. Just because you like a modern font it doesn’t mean that you should use it in your logo if you are running an antique store. Stay focused on what would capture the eye of your clients and your target market and not something that you would want to wear on a hat.

Terrible fonts:

A focus on typography is a big issue with logo design. Finding the perfect font that complements your logo design can take a lot of experimentation. A logo can fail based off of the font selection so it’s extremely important to place thought into whether or not your font design matches the logo design that has been created. It is important to note that you can use a few different font designs for your logo but you should never use more than two different weights or fonts in the same logo design because this can make brand recognition very difficult.

Not using Vectors:

Getting a vector image of your logo is one of the smartest things that you can request from your designer. A vector image would easily scale to almost any size. If you only receive a bitmap version of your logo in graphic format it’s very difficult to resize and reproduce your logo for signage, print materials or even merchandise. Always request a vector graphic because it can be consistently replicated in multiple sizes.

Using Highly detailed elements:

Simplicity is the key to a successful logo. Some other world’s most successful brands feature minimalist designs. The problem with highly detailed designs is that they are difficult to print and they don’t scale very well when you have to place them on smaller objects. A complex design like a silhouette picture or a highly detailed animation can be a nightmare for spreading brand awareness. When we think of corporations like Nike and apple we see extremely simple logo designs that can be re-created, drawn and shared with ease. It is this type of simplicity that you should eventually strive for with your logo and your brand.

Stock art:

While using stock images can be a great shortcut to shorten the length of time that it takes to get a logo made it certainly doesn’t make your logo original. Most of these template designs are made by amateur designers and utilized in hundreds of different projects around the world. If your goal is brand recognition and a logo that synonymous with your brand, using stock art will achieve the opposite effect. Remember that with template logos and stock art, somewhere in the world the same logo with a different name probably exists.

Keep these common mistakes in mind as you approach logo design for the future.

Learn about some common questions you should ask during any logo design process by following this link!

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