When I first started researching different websites, I soon realised a obvious similarity between them all – a logo. In some cases this was a a simple typography element, such as NB Studios or Sachin Teng and in others it was a simple design or illustration such as Malika Favre’s illustration of lips with a beauty mark. But in some cases, the logo included both typography and a design/illustration element such as Toyfight’s shield emblem containing the letters TF. Because logo’s are such an important element for all design portfolios, whether for a personal website or a company website, and I knew that I wanted to include a logo for my own website, but I am unsure on what type to use. So, I thought the best thing to do was do research a little into them both and hopefully have a clearer decision by the end, my research can be seen below:
Typographic Logos
Typography Logo’s are often very simple in structure, but complex in concept. They focus on the name of the person or company, and become eyecatching due to their font:
- Serif fonts – a line at the end of each stroke – Traditional and professional.
- Sans serif fonts – don’t have that line at the end of each stroke – Crisp and modern.
- Script fonts (and italics) – generally formal and decorative – Sophisticated and feminine.
- Handwriting fonts – casual and personal – Friendly and approachable.
- Display fonts – widely varied in design and style – These can be great choices for text-only logos as they can be so unique.
The Logos shown above are some of the most well known in society, and they are so well known because they are memorable and recognisable. This is because they have no icons or other elements to be a distraction, which makes them easy to acknowledge. In addition to this, typographic logos can convey meaning due to the font used (as listed above) because they can communicate your values and become a brand for your work. The best logos are often timeless, much like the Coco-Cola advert which hasn’t varied much from the first time it was used, a typographic logo will have a place within our society and forever have a place within our future. Lastly, a typographic logo will always have possibilities because they are easily reproduced for any medium and scalable for any possibility – digital or print.[2]
Monogram Logos
A monogram logo is a decorative design made up of a combination of one to three letters (traditionally three) to create a single symbol. Monogram logos are commonly used to represent the initials of a person or business. The letters in this logo style may also be combined with imagery to illustrate the concept of the brand further.
definition taken from Source 3
- Long name
- Difficult to display them clearly in a logo
- Opt for a simple letter monogram logo
- Can the letters create a shape with specific positioning
- Turn it into an acronym
- Easy to remember
- Easy to pronounce and recognize
- Family Ties
- Family roots
- Sentimental values
- Covers Global Markets
- Simple for people around the world to recognise and remember
- Able to lean more to the abstract side of logo design
- Don’t want to use a pictorial or abstract symbol
- Visually appealing logo by combining initials
- Its all you
- Able to include full name around the design (underneath or beside)
- Able to be used by itself in smaller places (social media profile images etc.)
Different layout options to choose from for a Monogram Logo:
- Interlocked
- Versatile
- Can be used across industries
- Letter Seal
- Formal
- Traditional
- Inspired by History
- Mirrored or Flipped
- Eye-catching
- Stacked
- Eye-catching
- Unique
- Informal
- Quirky
- Personal
- Casual
Victorian Monograms
Ciphers are designs composed of one or more initial. However, for the purpose of this article, the more popular term “monogram” refers to both monograms and ciphers. These initials stand for Victoria Regina, Queen Victoria, and the symbol is officially considered a Royal Cipher.
Definition taken from Source 5
Victorian Monograms are much more elaborate and contain more detail, it was well known that the fancier the monogram, the better the value. They acted as a status symbols, highlighting wealth as the centuries progressed but eventually became a mark of decoration or personal property. The importance of the elaborate details was lost, and it soon became about the hallmark design.
3 Letter Monograms
A basic 3-letter monogram has the initial of the individual’s last name (surname) set larger, or with some special treatment in the center, while the first name initial appears to the left of it and the middle name initial appears to the right of it.
Definition taken from Source 7
3 letter monograms are often used for a personal touch because they include the initials of each the designers name (or in some cases, the name of the company). Of course, these monograms can also be done with 2 letters, but they never normally inlcude more than 3 – it can be seen as cluttered or messy, 3 is the magic number for monograms.
Looking at the different reasons for either a typographic logo or a monogram logo did help clear up the idea of what one to use. But, I can see positives and negatives with each logo, which makes me believe the best design would be one that has a monogram included with typography so you can get the best of both worlds. The idea that I currently have is to have a monogram behind the typography – somehow breaking up the monogram with a white block, which will contain the text of the monogram and any additional information. Whether this idea will actually work, is another idea, but the next step is to design the logo!
Sources
1. The Design Love. 2020. Top 20 Famous Brands with Typography Logos. [ONLINE] Available at: https://thedesignlove.com/20-famous-brands-with-typography-logos/. [Accessed 24 March 2020].
2. ThatDay | creative living. 2020. 5 reasons to choose a typographic logo – ThatDay | creative living. [ONLINE] Available at: https://thatistheday.com/5-reasons-choose-typographic-logo/. [Accessed 24 March 2020].
3. Looka. 2020. Monogram Logo Design: A Beginnerâs Guide – Looka. [ONLINE] Available at: https://looka.com/blog/monogram-logo-design/. [Accessed 24 March 2020].
4. The Compass. 2020. How to Monogram Your Custom Suit | Black Lapel. [ONLINE] Available at: https://blacklapel.com/thecompass/how-to-monogram-your-custom-suit/. [Accessed 24 March 2020].
5. Print Magazine. 2020. Modern Monograms | A Historic Survey of Ciphers, Marks, and Monograms. [ONLINE] Available at: https://www.printmag.com/typography/the-modern-monogram-a-historic-survey-of-ciphers-marks-and-monograms/. [Accessed 24 March 2020].
6. Pinterest. 2020. 3 letter monograms | Monogram letters, Monogram design, Monogram fonts. [ONLINE] Available at: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/37788084344814857/. [Accessed 24 March 2020].
7. Wikipedia. 2020. Monogram – Wikipedia. [ONLINE] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monogram. [Accessed 24 March 2020].
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