Source: impactbnd

“Design is the silent ambassador of your brand.” - Paul Rand, Highly celebrated Logo Designer most well-known for his identities for IBM, ABC, and UPS (among others) that are still in use today.

Over the years, for better or worse, we’ve seen a lot of change from some of the most recognizable brand logos. 

From Instagram’s gradient-focused logo to the infamous GAP redesign of 2010 *shudder* the highs have been high and the lows have been really low.

There is a lot that goes into a truly great logo and many aspire to create a timeless brand identity (i.e. the GAP logo pre-GAP gate) that doesn’t need a little facelift every once in a while. 

I am a firm believer, however, that there is nothing wrong with changing up your logo as long as it is thoughtful and purposeful (which is really a good rule of thumb for and design).

So, you make be asking, what are logo trends I should be considering? Funny you should ask…

Our friends over at Logaster have compiled this infographic predicting the top 10 logo trends of 2020, let’s take a look:

1. Simplification

Removing extra details and creating minimal, easy to recognize logos can strengthen branding. Communicating something while using less to do so will always be more powerful.

2. Original geometry

In place of the usual circles and squares, expect to see more unique geometric compositions creating shape or patterns within logos.

3. Unusual fonts

We’re expecting to see both unusual treatment of familiar fonts or altogether more unique and custom fonts. This can really help set a brand apart knowing that it is not merely using the same used by a dozen others.

4. Gradients

Instagram surprised us all with its gradient focused logo in 2016, but this seems to have set the ball in motion for other brands to follow suite as we seen more and more brands try out gradients for themselves.

5. Cluttered design

What  is being dubbed “cluttered design” here, I would actually argue is not. The trend is actually creating motion and depth within a flat design. Overlapping shapes, color tins, and different angles can create an illusion of movement or dimension.

6. Chaotic arrangement

This trend goes against best practices for legibility but in doing so create a more memorable logo that is more recognizable as a image or shape rather than text. This works especially well for artistic industry such as design, music, or fashion.

7. Geometric letters

Similar to chaotic arrangement, the use of geometric letters is giving the type of a logo a creative twist.

In other words, instead of just their traditional form, each letter becomes a unique graphic element, where you can still identify the letter, but more because of its shape then each exact line.

8. Emblems

Traditionally emblems have been seen as more ornate pieces of visual branding (think state seals) but in combination with the more minimal trends we can expect to see some more simplified emblem type logos.

9. Scaling

This is another element that I think is introducing more depth back into the logo world. In using a scaling effect with type or other elements, you can create direction, scale, and weight within your logo.

10. Text destruction

By hiding or obscuring parts of letter forms, designers are creating more intellectually stimulating designs. When this trend is done well, it gives your brain just enough info to fill in the blanks without pulling a muscle.

Personally, as a permanent fan of minimal design, I’m very excited to see how some of these trends play out in 2020.

What big brand will we see rebrand this year and what trends will they bet on?

While we’re waiting for the next #GAPgate breaking news story enjoy this infographic of “10 Logo Design Trends of 2020: Forecast.”