What a logo needs the most!

[sigmanx007]

Hello everyone, i have been lurking here for quite some time, and i came up with a good question: what does a logo needs the most to be outstanding??
You are ALL welcome for ideas, share your precious thoughts!!! :rocker:

[Vincent Voltaire]

id say it needs to explore an idea that leaves a lasting effect over something that is just a litteral expression.

for example, a warn out and slobbered on tennis ball over just a outline of a dog

[Choob]

I personally think simplicity and memorability are the most important factors. So, it has to be simple enough, but instantly recognisable. For example...

http://www.toxel.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/creativelogos11.jpg

http://www.toxel.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/creativelogos0.jpg

http://www.toxel.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/creativelogos14.jpg

http://www.toxel.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/creativelogos8.jpg

[Andre-Sutherland]

I agree with the simplicity,

But also I think a good logo and can some sort of ambiguity, or at least leave it somewhat open to 2 or more visual ideas in the one image. :)

[millz]

All 3 points below should be considered equally important

1. Simplicity and memorability
2. Long lasting/withstand the trends (no company wants to pay to change there brand every year)
3. Reflection of the companies ideas and beliefs

Andre, what you mentioned is just a current trend in logo design atm, and those kind of brands will start to look out dated before long.

[Vincent Voltaire]

Andre, what you mentioned is just a current trend in logo design atm, and those kind of brands will start to look out dated before long.


The same can be said about of what you mentioned... the thing is we never know which direction the pendulum that is the public zeitgeist will swing to next (or away from).

Who is to say that tomorrow Nike considered long to be the holy grail of logos, decides its time for a change, and completely adapts a new identity. I bet they triple their sales over night and sell a few more bazillion more sneakers because of it,..
fuck id love to be the one to get rid of that boring ass swoop personally... and throw something fun and new in its place.

Personally I feel we are getting to clever for brands as a whole and are starting to demand something more from our designs...
I feel eventually the vague abstract design will begin to be the dominant brand once again...
something like a puzzle that we feel part of the privileged few to uncover.

[Hoosier]

a logos job is to identify something, then communicate a message about it.

[Brand2.0]

A good designer. Period.

I may mention simplicity or memorability but the truth of the matter is that even ugly or down right bad designs can be wildly successful when coupled with the right marketing or products. Xerox is a prime example. Each and every Xerox logo design has been hideous (anyone remember Xerox Engineering Systems logo? The one that looks like a condom being ripped open with SEX written backwards.) Just because a logo is well known, simple, memorable or explains what a company does that doesn't mean it's a good logo.

No, what every logo needs in order to be an outstanding logo is a good designer.

;)

[peceecar]

simplicity is good for manufacturing companies such as nike coca cola pepsi and others and alo for some game making companies-ea,goatowrks,westwood
but remember some companies prefer to go allout on budget-walt disney,universla studios
the most effective today ive seen is the columbia productions logo which is almost on every movie in the first years of the 21 and the last years of the 20 century