What Is a Logo?

A logo is a graphic image, symbol, icon, or visually striking name used to distinguish a company, organization, product, or brand. It may take the form of an abstract or figurative concept, or if it has sufficient brand awareness it may pose as a highly stylized version of the company name.

What is the purpose of a logo?

Logos are an important part of the brand’s image. A commonly and immediately recognized logo is a valuable corporate asset and is therefore classified for the security of intellectual property in most cases.

Although logos strive to offer instant label recognition, some cleverly retain secret messaging that can be seen only by eagle-eyed viewers. Notice the logo of the FedEx package delivery company. A close study of the logo reveals that the negative space between the letters ‘E’ and ‘X’ shows an arrow indicating the accuracy of delivery and forward-looking dynamic business.

A strong logo is the brand’s cornerstone. It helps clients understand what the brand does, who they are, and what are their values. It is basically a tiny image that comes with a huge amount of responsibility.

Perhaps the most fundamental purpose of a logo is to give your company a unique mark that distinguishes you from other companies. This is particularly important if your business has competition. You’ll want to carefully research what your competitors look like before you get a logo for your business.

History of logos

Logos have been in existence for centuries. The earliest logos were nothing but basic identifying marks, icons, or symbolic edges that were created to represent a product’s manufacturer or to indicate the type of goods that a specific merchant was producing.

The contemporary logo started its development after 19th-century trademark laws were introduced. The famous logo of Jack Daniels dates back to 1875, immediately after Congress passed the 1870 U.S. Trademark Act — in an effort to set up a federal trademark law that the Supreme Court rejected.