What You Can Learn From the Most Influential Brands and Their Logos
Nowadays, it’s plain to see how important a strong brand is to your business. In a saturated market, your brand is often one of the few things that set you apart and help you attract new and loyal customers.
Sometimes it is worthwhile to take inspiration from some of the most influential brands and analyse why they have succeeded beyond anyone’s wildest dreams. This is what brand design agencies need to encapsulate and use to fan the flames of your own brand.
We’ve taken a look at some of the most successful brands in history and identified what makes them work so well.
We’re starting with one of the biggest brand names in the world. Google’s logo, the newest iteration, released in 2015, doesn’t immediately seem to be too noteworthy. Take away the colours, and you have a very flat design. But in many ways, this is precisely why it works. Google makes things simple for its users, and it does so in a variety of colourful ways.
The most important aspect of Google’s brand is likely its consistency. You’ll immediately recognise the flat shapes and colours across all of its products, including Google Drive, Maps, photos and more. The brand is also successful because it has succeeded in communicating a spirit of innovation and ‘fun’. Everyone has heard of Google’s creative and enticing office spaces, and we are all familiar with the whimsical illustrations that replace the Google logo on special days.
IKEA
IKEA’s logo really doesn’t give much of an impression of modernism, sleekness or elegance. It is, however, immensely consistent. Did you know that the logo actually changed in 2019? Probably not because the changes were minimal. The shape design of the logo as we know it today has actually been around since 1967. The current colour scheme has been in use since 1983.
IKEA succeeds at giving the impression that they don’t want to wow you with exciting brand design. They are a brand for everyone. Accessible, consistent, family-friendly, and solid. This much is communicated by the contrast of conservative and lively colours and the very sturdy font. The colours are also quintessentially Swedish, which indicates pride in its roots—no wonder the brand succeeds at making you think of home, family, and places to settle.
Pixar
We are likely all familiar with the sparse but whimsical shot of a desk lamp jumping onto the Pixar “I” and burying it in the ground. The lamp continues to look surprised, exploring the floor at its base. Pixar’s opening, unlike many other film studios of its size, is down-to-earth and straightforward.
There is no action or grandeur. Instead, it is innocent, childlike and full of curiosity, perfectly encapsulating a studio that has always focused on creating original stories for children. The brand is helped because the opening doesn’t take itself too seriously and doesn’t vie for attention. Nothing much happens on screen, and that means we are drawn in all the more.
LEGO
The original LEGO logo was introduced in 1956. Since then, the toy company has been an industry giant. Nowadays, the company achieves premium prices for its products that are still considered the very best of its kind. LEGO’s bubbly logo design with bright and optimistic colours is inviting to children while not inherently childish.
LEGO has succeeded in marketing itself as a toy that all ages can appreciate. How do they do this? In part, they achieve this inclusivity by featuring toy sets that appeal to adults even now, using IPs that remind them of their youth. Another element is their instructions and usability. LEGO cleverly uses instructions that include no text whatsoever. They can, therefore, be followed by customers of all ages.
Apple
We couldn’t talk about successful brands without mentioning apple. The innovative technology giant is one of the single most well-known companies globally, and its logo carries strong connotations. Apple is one of the best examples of a brand that can ask a high premium because of its reputation. The logo is sleek and straightforward, an apple with a bite taken out of it. It cleverly plays on religious connotations, referencing the fruit of knowledge. At the same time, it feels fresh, a little playful, and immensely stylish.
Beyond the logo, Apple cares about sleek, modern designs with all of its devices and places importance on great visuals and graphics in everything they do
Find Your Iconic Brand Design with The Right Brand Strategy Agency in London
A new, well-researched brand design can revitalise your business and solidify your identity in the market for decades to come.
ZAK is a Brand Strategy Agency as well as creative design agency in London that specialises in developing ground-breaking ideas for brands. We help you achieve the perfect new look for your brand and create a consistent brand strategy for you to follow. Get in touch today for a chat!
