The last decade has already required a major rebranding. Maybe your business is the same, or maybe you will start next year by starting a small business from scratch. Whether it’s a renewal or a new start, that’s the purpose of the new year.
If you’re serious about branding, it’s a good idea to create your own logo for the next chapter. Your logo is a strong face of your brand, no matter how small. Over time, it will become the most recognizable part of your business and will be used in marketing assets such as your website and business cards.
01. Hand drawn image
Since the dawn of the digital age, most logo designs have used the precision and dynamism possible with computer-assisted technology. For example, in 2020, we saw many logo variations that implemented vector artwork. But from time to time, the world of design revisits the era of hand-made logos. This can be the right direction when thinking about designing your own business logo, especially if you want to represent the real character of your brand.
02. Return to basic shape
Although they are the most basic components of art and design, we have learned that shapes have the power to communicate on their own. Consider the movement of contemporary art in the 20th century, where artists worldwide deviated from expression and chose fields of lines, shapes, and colours to convey their message.
Last year there was a lot of talk around 3D geometry, which helped designers change the viewer’s perspective. With the 2021 logo, similar feelings can be seen when using a flat design with distorted proportions, combining multiple shapes, and repeating shapes with a single logo design.
03. Overlay text
The wordmark logo has always been a popular choice in logo design, using brand names instead of symbols and shapes. The Ward brand logo is right, but it’s not without its creative potential. Recently, word brands that use serif fonts have become very popular. There is something unique about interacting with modern classic font styles.
04. Bringing classic symbols to life
The classic symbol is taken from the design file and will be revived in 2021. It turns out that many companies are embedding widely recognized symbols in their logos, using the latest versions of old icons and motifs, and reusing mythical and religious emblems to amplify their messages.
This presents a unique creative challenge, but it’s worth it. First, look for a symbol that conveys an idea that is synonymous with your brand. Then find a way to reproduce it. In the following example, the handshake icon is used for the arts cooperative logo.
05. Optical illusion
The optical illusion may be a fun feature to see with this year’s brand. Needless to say, this is a smart way to get the public to pay more attention to your logo. The optical illusion adds layer, depth, and perspective. It can be processed into a logo using abstract or geometric shapes or playing with brand lettering.
