What do all great logos have in common? Simplicity? Memorability? A secret formula?
Today, we're breaking down what makes a truly effective logo, one that not only looks great but actually works for a brand.
welcome to Sketchline Fridays, Whether you're a designer, a business owner, or just someone who loves good design, stick around, this is Graphix Pyramid, and we’re about to decode the art of logo design!
A logo isn’t just a pretty graphic, it’s the face of a brand. It needs to instantly communicate identity, values, and personality in a matter of seconds."
You logo is your chance to make a good impression on people, although your logo is not your brand… It matters and having a good logo sometimes may determine how successful your brand can be.
Take a look at this example,
👉 Bad logos? Overcomplicated, unclear, forgettable.
👉 Good logos? Simple, recognizable, adaptable.
The one on the left is Overcomplicated, unclear and Forgettable while the one on the right is Simple, Recognizable and adaptable to any kind of work.
If you were buying from both companies which one would you trust the most?
You said it.
So What Actually makes a Good Logo?
well we’ve made our research and here are the five key elements that makes a good logo.
Simplicity
Memorability
Versatility
Relevance
Timelessness
1. Simplicity
Think about Apple, Nike, or FedEx. Their logos are simple yet impactful. A complicated design might look impressive, but simplicity is what makes a logo timeless and scalable.
📌 Tip: If your logo can’t be drawn from memory in a few seconds, it’s probably too complex.
2. Memorability
A good logo sticks. Ever noticed how you can picture the McDonald's golden arches in your head instantly? That’s memorability at work.
Its simple and memorable, its just unique and different from any fast food brand logo.
💡 Use unique yet clean shapes, and avoid trends that will fade in a year.
3. Versatility
Your logo should look just as good on a billboard as it does on a business card—or even in black and white.
Key Tip for designers, always design your logos in black and white canvas first just like this, before you add the colors.
If a logo works as a black and white then it will certainly work on any surface.
🖥️ Test your design in different sizes, colors, and backgrounds. If it loses impact, it needs refining.
4. Relevance
A logo must align with a brand’s identity. A law firm with a playful comic-style font? Probably not the best choice. A kids' toy company using sharp, corporate typography? Doesn’t fit.
At Graphix Pyramids, we’ve always said that font’s matter, choosing the right fonts for your wordmark is just as important as the logo Icon, don’t forget that.
You can read about the current font trends in 2025 here.
🎨 Always Make sure the typography, color, and style match the brand’s personality.
5. Timelessness
Trends fade, but great logos last decades.
When I was a kid, my mom said following trends is foolish, it always end and you are left with items you can’t wear or use again, aim for longevity in your design.
A good example is the Coca-Cola’s script logo has been around for over a century. Compare that to trendy 3D gradient logos from the early 2000s—they didn’t age well. Remember those 3D gradient logos from the early 2000s? They looked like they were designed inside Microsoft Word Art… and aged about as well as a flip phone with an antenna.
Think of the old Google or Yahoo! logos with excessive shading and glossy effects, they felt modern at the time but quickly became outdated as flat and minimalist design took over.
A timeless logo avoids being too attached to trends. Instead of flashy effects, it focuses on strong typography, simple shapes, and adaptability. That's why brands like Nike, Apple, and Coca-Cola have barely changed their logos in decades, they designed for longevity, not trends.
Common Trends to Avoid While Design a logo include
🚫 Overcomplicated designs.
🚫 Relying too much on trends.
🚫 Using too many colors or fonts.
🚫 Copying other brands.
Avoid these, and you're already ahead of most designs out there!
Don’t forget to check out our social media pages
Our Youtube for video contents
Main Instagram Page for all our design Projects &
Our Academy Page for your daily Design Tip.
Thank you for reading.
Hopefully We see you again next week.