Logos: The Importance to Public Relations Practitioners
Have you ever seen a company with a killer logo? One that falls flat? There is a certain amount of planning that goes behind creating this little figurehead for a company. By picking apart a couple of major companies/brands logos, we can then see their “motto” or company ideal hidden in the structure of their logo. How does this relate to Public Relations you may ask? Well...
Due to the fact that much of Public Relations is keeping up the identity of a brand, it is important for practitioners to understand the meaning and importance of their logo. As we already know, any company or brand needs a logo to put a permanent “title” to their brand. Let’s look at the meanings behind a couple of the most famous brands in the United States.
Microsoft
Yes, this is a very world-renowned company as is their omnipresent logo. So what does their logo mean? Let me tell you what I think. Due to my history in art classes, I can see that they use the three primary colors: red, yellow, and blue. Yes, they have added green, however, the primary colors can be interpreted exactly how they are: primitive. Since the company is the first computer company, it can then be correlated that they showcase these colors to show that they are the “OG” or original gangster- interesting right? In addition, I view the window portion in a very interesting way. My interpretation is that the window is directly correlated to many of the titles of their applications. I think the “window” is in relation to your computer screen, a window into a whole interconnected world. Maybe a little deep... but who knows!
Nike
This is a fun one. I think that my personal interpretation of this one is pretty universal. Due to the fact that Nike’s tagline is “just do it”, the infamous Nike swoosh looks like a check mark. This is a play on the idea of checklists – you check things off your list when you get them done. In addition, I think that this stands true to their identity. Nike is dominant in the athletic culture, having said, generally all athletes are very focused, organized, and goal oriented people. In a way, this logo will give their consumers the motivation to just “get it done!”
What are your interpretations?
Now that you can see my view, it is beneficial to address any individuals interpretation to be sure that your company is portraying itself in the way they wish. Each company is in need of a successful logo, otherwise, it’s like a boring book cover. The funny thing is, there is the long-standing quote “you can’t judge a book by its cover.” Oh, I think not. The meaning of the logo is very important when it comes to the portrayal of a brand and the message they are trying to push.
By viewing these brand logos, a practitioner can get a small glimpse of what the company stands for. It is also interesting to see the individual illustration of the meaning that each person comes up with. With this personal insight from people with relation to the brand, it can then be interesting to think about what the audience thinks of the logo as well! This is very important for brands to perfect.
To have a successful logo, take into consideration some of your favorite logos. Look at the color, content, and message. Always be sure, if you are creating one for a client or yourself, make the design clean and intriguing. A busy logo with a bunch of obnoxious colors, wild flashy font, and incorrect spacing can break a company's brand identity. Although some brands do need bright colors like restaurants and cleaning products to catch attention, it’s easy to get consumed in too much “stuff.” Make it clean and aesthetically pleasing. Also, be sure to question why you like a certain logo. If there are certain things like font or size, make sure you implement that into your creation.
What suggestions would you have to make your favorite brands logo better?
About Ella
Ella enjoys spending time with her twin and roommate. She can be found in cute coffee shops or boutiques in east Grand Rapids. She loves to draw and show her creativity through interior design along with dancing and traveling.