Too many elements spoil the logo – Some living mistakes! |
Categories: Logo Design Mistakes, Logo Designers, logo designs
Written By: Nora Reed
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We’ve heard of the old proverb “Too many cooks spoil the broth”, but there is a new maxim that logo designers must ponder … “Too many elements spoil the logo”. Sometimes, it is difficult to realize as to what makes a memorable logo? There is no arguing the fact that simplicity and minimalism is the key to perfection. As the great Leonardo da Vinci himself puts it…Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. We have witnessed many logo designs fail, even though they were created by maestros. Using the design elements in disarray is the biggest reason for the downfall of many logos. Although embellished and decorated logos may look good in the mock-up version, but it doesn’t appear the same in the implemented form. |
Absurd Symbols and Shapes:Adding too many symbols and icons that have no pertinence to the logo always proves to be catastrophic. Recall the infamous London 2012 logo. Inspite of the fact that it was designed by the famous logo designer Wolff Olins, it proved to be a disaster. The biggest criticism it faced was its vague shapes used to denote 2012. The logo altogether became a clutter. |
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Busy and Cluttered look:Loading a logo with too many design elements hides its main message. A case in point is the Burnley logo design which looks nothing more than a clutter of rubber bands of various colors intermingled into a complex knot. Neither does the logo in any way signify the city, nor is it fitting for an official logo. |
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Using scribbled fonts:Font is a critical aspect of t a logo design. Using appropriate font type is crucial in designing brand identities. Fonts in logo design signify the degree of gravity and professionalism of an entity. You might remember the France tourism logo redesign last year. Its typeface was highly censured for its informal and childish look. |
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Too vivid can be too vague:Although it is true that colors add life to a logo design, but too vivid can become too vague. The use of color is closely associated with human psychology. That is why use of colors must be appropriate and pertinent to the brand identity. A big logo design disaster was Kraft’s new logo which contains a burst of colors at the end of a red ‘smile’. This was obviously not a suitable for a large corporation like Kraft’s and did not complement their nature of business. |
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Stick to the essentials:In conclusion, logo designers must never overlook the essentials of a logo design…It should be simple, recognizable, comprehendible and meaningful. The design elements should be used in balance so as to create a memorable, distinct, appealing and momentous logo. |
July 6th, 2010 at 12:08 pm
Good advice. I’ve always tried to follow the KISS rule!
July 6th, 2010 at 2:05 pm
nice article about logo design n its mistakes
July 7th, 2010 at 7:25 am
The french logo wouldn’t have caused any issue if it was made for the french audience.
The main problem here is that the designer forgot or ignored the fact that font interpretation can dramatically change from one country to another.
From the eye of a French person, the chosen fonts would inspire the following feelings or images : art, culture, poetry, genuineness.
July 7th, 2010 at 9:44 am
I had no idea the London logo was ’2012′….disaster
July 7th, 2010 at 11:33 am
KISS is the only way to go. We try to stick to simplicity and elegance, instead of flash and trend.
July 8th, 2010 at 3:21 pm
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July 9th, 2010 at 6:16 am
Wolff Olins just messed up when he has made the London 2012 logo.
July 10th, 2010 at 8:12 pm
Very interesting advice.
Thank you so much. Promise I’ll keep it on mind
July 11th, 2010 at 2:06 pm
I agree, but some clients like it colorfull and you can’t explain them this facts…
July 12th, 2010 at 8:27 am
I quite like the Kraft one, its jolliness makes me forget that their cheese is disgusting.
July 13th, 2010 at 6:31 am
Agree with the logo design mistakes! Simplicity is often the best way to go.
July 14th, 2010 at 4:48 am
I don’t think the trouble with the olympic logo is that it’s over complicated but that it’s aiming for originality at the expense of everything else. I found this article showing all the past olympic logos. Love Montreal and LA.
July 14th, 2010 at 8:36 am
Is it me, or does the 2012 Olympic logo resemble Lisa Simpson performing fellatio?
July 22nd, 2010 at 10:12 am
That is not a comparison I would ever have made, although thousands have agreed with it since it was first made (whoever first came up with it must be very pleased with themselves).
The 2012 logo has been a disaster in terms of Joe Public’s reaction (egged on by the tabloids) but it’s not the worst Olympic logo (Mexico 68′s is arguably more of an eyesore, Munich 72′s is arguably less coherent…and can anyone even remember what Beijing’s or Athens looked like, so bland as they were?).
It is very nearly a great logo – personally I don’t like the second 2 and the colour combos are usually too garish. In many ways it is a success (it’s cross-media versatility, how well contained and neatly ‘square’ it is formally).
But it may have been unwise to place so much empthasis on the year the event takes place. People know when this is, and I’d rather the ’20′ had been ditched as the novelty of this century has surely worn off by now!
July 27th, 2010 at 10:37 am
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July 29th, 2010 at 4:24 am
Good advice. Simplicity is often the best way to go.
Thanks for sharing
November 26th, 2010 at 12:03 am
I agree this logo design mistakes logo is very very important in business and website… so choose is logo very carefully…….