Robin Blandford [ ByteSurgery.com ]

03/02/08 Why Do People Not Have Logos?

SINGAPORE - Today I was thinking why companies needed a logo. Why is it a given if you are building a company that you must have a logo. Why does a company need a logo (but a person doesn’t)?

Obvious reasons for a logo come from product placement in the physical world- i.e. recognition of a product on a shelf, or a feeling of quality or trust when people see it. I’m not sure why it’s a requirement for a company to have a logo, it’s a given, if they don’t have it you’d wonder why? Why does a technical company require an artistic brand logo? I don’t know. Why can’t it be accepted that they can just write their name, why do they need a symbol to go with it?

If companies have them, why don’t individuals. Why don’t I draw my name with a swoosh under it?

-Robin

(Image Credit: This mall doesn’t have a logo. One of few. Ngee Ann City, Orchard Road, Singapore. By Author.)

Tags: brand, branding, General, logo, query

7 Comments

---

04/02/08 Phil

does my signature count as a logo?
(http://www.philokanephotography.com“

---

04/02/08 Robin Blandford

yeh I was wondering this myself! Is a signature (fancy) a persons logo?

---

04/02/08 James Corbett

But isn’t your face/avatar your logo?

---

04/02/08 Robin Blandford

This is true James!

---

13/02/08 Paul O'Connor

Logos have evolved with 2 functions, really. One, they help customers distinguish one company from another where similarities in other aspects might make it hard (think of stock photography companies needing to brand their images; farmers needing to brand their cows); two, more recently, they offer a company the chance to communicate something about the company’s outlook: soft and gentle/ serious and aloof / quality and expensive … People generally have had enough other ways of making themselves distinguishable and conveying their outlook, without requiring logos, branding etc. However, online, avatars and personal branding do seem to have taken off, replacing face, clothing & demeanour etc.

---

13/02/08 Robin Blandford

Great Answer Paul!

Thanks

---

14/02/08 David D McDonald

James is right on the money here - avatars on Social Networking sites are the new personal logos. With the continued importance of social networking some people do actually have a use for a consistent representative image of themselves/their service. Here’s a good post on creating a strong and consistent personal avatar : http://tinyurl.com/372q66
I’m with David here, keep it simple, strong and memorable. In such a limited space it has to be bold to be recognisable.
Photos of faces are OK, some wit and attitude also goes a long way.
But for gawds sake get a good photo taken, not a point ‘n’ shoot snap with direct flash.
With Micro-businesses and personal brands is there now a market for micro/personal design?

…must think about that some.

Cheers.

---

Write Comment

Name (required)

Mail (will not be published) (required)

Website

Notify me of followup comments via e-mail

---

---