Only the most capable brand stewards can combine vision, prudence and execution when creating a new brand identity.
Whether you're doing a brand refresh, evolution, or revolution, the logo is likely to take up a significant chunk of the discourse. A meeting of designer and strategist; a striking of creative oil—some of the process is indefinable magic. However, there are some qualities that a team should strive for during the creative process, and keeping these qualities in mind can help ensure a successful end. Some of the world's most successful brands—those that have achieved ubiquity and remained at the forefront of culture despite significant societal change—share these characteristics. Authenticity, fascination, and flexibility are the three criteria we define.
1. Authenticity
Its brand's grandeur, as well as its flaws, should be reflected in your logo. Both are ready and eager to be appreciated by your audiences.
Knowing who you are and articulating it is the first step toward authenticity. Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS), a worldwide pharmaceutical firm, began conveying a new, more human story—one that embodies their devotion to patients—by rethinking their logo and visual identity system. The precision of the new logo reflects the BMS brand's commitment to scientific excellence. The hand wave is a gesture to the brand's people, as well as a step forward for humanity in the pharmaceutical industry.
The logo, when combined with the other visual elements, communicates Bristol Myers Squibb's dedication to its patients and portrays them as a forward-thinking company. It grounds the brand in its people—a group of professionals who are passionate about assisting others—elevating the caring spirit in an industry where it is often lacking. The new design showcases Bristol Myers Squibb as a leader with significant gravity, marking the brand's coming of age.
The objective: stay true to yourself. How to: Recognize the brand's identity, including heritage visual cues and characteristics, while advancing its meaning.
2. Intrigue
The finest logos are instantly recognizable and have significant brand equity. Their ability to inspire and stir imagination with just a glance—and across decades and generations of cultural change—is part of their allure. They generate a particular vibe that their brand can own, regardless of when or how they appear.
That emotion may be joy for Coca-Cola. The brand's logo has incalculable value. The logo hasn't altered much since it was first developed in 1887 by the same man who perfected the drink's formula. But it never ceases to inspire, connect with, and conquer consumers all over the world. Even with the most basic executions, the complex Spencerian script flourishes. All of the aesthetic aspects are embedded in the brand's DNA and have helped to grow it.
Fox Entertainment was formed in 2019 after Disney purchased Fox's television studio, 20th Century Fox Television. The brand has an omnipresent quality. The visual brand conveys a sense of scale and movement. It supports and strengthens them as a significant entertainment brand. The Fox Entertainment logo is more than just a logo; it serves as the foundation for a forward-thinking visual system. It builds on the logo's history in a way that feels fresh and modern, and it may be changed throughout time.
The objective: create a distinct and personal feeling. How to: Define the brand DNA and find new ways to express it through simplified execution or abstraction.
3. Flexibility
The appropriate logo may appeal to a wide range of stakeholders and beyond. It's the emotional heart of your brand, as well as the entrance to your experience.
Leading companies are looking for gender-neutral, ethnically integrated visual representations that appeal to a broad audience. The LA2028 logo, which debuted four years ago as part of the 2024 bid, is a great example of how to use an ambiguously gendered figure to increase impact, strength, and audience engagement rather than diminish it. The bold color gradient is proud and lovely.
LA2028 isn't a repeat of previous Games; it's a bold new vision for the future. The brand is unabashedly and unmistakably Los Angeles—but it's also adaptable enough for people all around the world to see themselves in it.
The visual identity of Zillow represents the company's objective to make the process of finding a house as simple as possible. That necessitated a simplification of their emblem, which has been more clear, welcoming, and adaptable since 2019.
It's about the user, not Zillow as a real estate marketplace for everyone—high-end buyers, young families, and clever investors. The logo adapts to the needs of the user and serves as the foundation for each user's unique real estate adventure.
The objective: universality and long-term viability. How to: Design a visual device, or framework, that affords the identity the ability to take on as much personality as possible—to be everchanging and dynamic.
The world changes. The best logos are built to continue to make sense for a long time. By incorporating authenticity, intrigue and flexibility into their logos’ designs, companies can achieve a memorable brand identity.