Illustrative Logos: A Good Choice?
Most logo and branding experts agree that a simple logo will
normally be more effective than a complex one. Simple logos are
more memorable, they say, while complex logos are easily
forgotten.
But illustrations are found in many companies' logos, many of
which look pretty intricate. Illustrative logos are not industry
specific either. Breweries, dentists, restaurants and even
software companies have all been known to have illustrative
logos. So when is an illustration a good idea?
The answer is that it depends on what message you want to send
to customers. While iconic and logotype style logos have a
corporate feel that sets a priority on professionalism and
competence, illustrations are comforting and often imply a more
personal relationship between a company and its customers.
Illustrative logos have that unique emotional appeal that other
types of logos do not. An illustrative dental logo can help put
children at ease about getting a filling, and a beer label with
an illustration tells customers that the beer is specialized and
unique.
Both illustrative and iconic logos can be effective if they are
done correctly and send the right messages to customers, you
just need to decide what message is right for your company to
send.