If you guessed Apple, Toys R’ Us, Nike and Starbucks — you’re right. You know these brands without color, without names, without 3D effects. Their recognition is international.
But you have to wonder at what point the marketing team said to the CEO, “Oh, and by the way, we’re dropping our name completely from our logo.”
While dropping the company name is too bold a move for most companies, there is a trend to simplify shapes and brighten color choices. And as companies reach out to more global markets, there’s also a trend from sharp to rounder shapes, which are thought to be more pleasing to Asian markets.
When we began Insight Creative, Inc. more than 22 years ago, our logo included our entire name in big bold letters. We also gave a nod to the current digital trend, with a swoosh of pixels depicting the “eyebrow.” We later dropped the pixels, then made the Insight “eye/i” more prominent. Our latest evolution drops the stem from the “i” and we’re left with just the iris, although we’ve kept our name intact. (We’re not internationally known…yet.) It’s been an evolution of 22 years, simplified into one circular shape.
Here are some more companies (and even one person) that have dropped or significantly reduced their names as their brand identity soars. We’re sure you’ll recognize them by sight. They’re counting on it!
When you’re done with this, check out this cool logos quiz. Let us know how you do!
Tags: advertising, branding, creativity, graphic design, logos
Great article Monica!