Logo design types.
Variations are infinite, but most logos fall into one of these categories.
 Before contracting a logo design firm to create your new corporate image, clients should have an idea of the image they want to portray. Funky. Cutting edge, Conservative. The 'buzz' words of business. You should think about whether you want an Illustrative logo (a logo that includes an illustrative representation of what your company does), an Iconic logo (a logo that includes a graphic - or abstract - representation of what your company does), a Text (font) Based logo (a dynamic type treatment that is unique to your company), a Graphical logo or a combination of all three. See here for types of logos and pros and each. You should also consider the future usage of your logo as this can determine the technical set up of your design and might pose some design limitations. You should also be aware of some of the technical restrictions of certain logotypes. You should also consider colour choices - whether you utilize a two spot colour, or four colour process design will greatly impact any reproduction rates in the future. While not critical in the initial design phases, your choice of corporate colour will have a ripple effect throughout ALL your corporate 'look-and-feel' material and is a decision that should not be taken lightly in the final stages of the design process. Once again, your designer can advise you on the ways to maximize your reproduction possibilities while maintaining your logo dynamics.
Text Logos
Text logos are visually the simplest logos (and often favored by Fortune 500 corporations). Paradoxically, their simplicity can be misleading as these logos can be enormously difficult to design. Your designer is limited in the 'tricks of the trade' that are available, so the design requires someone with a 'mature' level of design experience . In terms of marketing your new company, text logos also have the bonus feature of promoting your company name extensively without being cluttered with heavy visuals and graphics.
Iconic Logos
Iconic logos generally feature highly simplified graphics (symbols) that reflect an aspect of the company and/or product portrayed. They can be used solo, or with text. This form of logo is perhaps the most common (a slim margin over graphical), yet often the most difficult to design and requires the services of an experienced designer. These logos are most effective when your design is to be featured at a small size, or in low-resolution reproduction.
Graphical Logos
Graphical logos are, in the practical sense, somewhere between an iconic and illustrative logo. These logos are very visually appealing - detailed enough to be recognizable, yet linear and technically simple enough to translate into most media usages. It's a 'toss up' between graphical and iconic logos as to which is the most popular and/or common.
Illustrative Logos
Illustrative logos are usually more detailed and complex than graphical, and are a pictorial (illustration) representation of some aspect of the company or product portrayed. This can be the name, the business concept or a character/mascot. While sometimes frowned upon by graphic design purists, if handled correctly an illustrative logo can become a unique marketing and promotional tool and works well on many types of marketing materials including wearables.
Next Page: Illustration based logos
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