Top 8 logo design trends for 2019

Logos must be distinctive, memorable and simple to represent brands.

They also need to be versatile and appropriate for different applications. Logos symbolise a company’s identity so need to be unique and stand the test of time. Logo designers create artwork so clients stand out from the crowd.

Logos become iconic giving audience instant recognition of a brand. Take Google, Apple and Microsoft logos, simple but effective an instantly recognizable. Let’s look at some of the top trends on logo design for 2019.

Bright colors in logos have been on trend for several years and continues into 2019. These make bold statements. Good color use tugs at the strings of target audience emotions. Look at the bright colors in Google's logo, it leaves lasting impressions. There is a whole psychology behind colors. Yellow is bright and cheerful. Pink is modern, girly, romantic and versatile. Red is the color of fire, passion and excitement.

But you need to choose colors that represent the brand for major impact on target audiences. What is great about bright colors is you can use them in combination with other trends. Use them in minimalist designs combined with geometric shapes for unique artwork.

Colorful geometric shapes create playful visuals. Straight lines, rectangles, triangles and squares give a sense of stability, while circles and ovals give a brand appear eternal and a feeling of abandon.

While not for everyone, geometrics are distinctive, minimalist and leave a lasting impression. They send a subtle message of power and order. Geometric logos are versatile. Combine shapes with words, stack them or add 3D effects. When you add color, it personalizes shapes to give a brand a unique look. Use them for a futuristic look to communicate ideas about humanity, technology, science, art and religion.

Geometrics can work for any brand. Combine color to create a distinct and timeless logo that is versatile. When creating geometric logos, designers need to keep in mind it needs to reflect a client's business and brand. Using geometric shapes for fashion label or florist is unlikely to work.

Simple minimalism in logos shouts out a contemporary brand. Minimalism is not as simple as it looks. It still needs to tell a brand story. And, when not done well, it can come across as boring and too simplistic. You have to get it right.

The use of geometric shapes, color, typography and negative space needs to balance to speak to people. Notable simple minimal designs are Google, Airbnb and Spotify. These are iconic and hit the right mark with target audiences.

Some designers are creating amazing logos using simple lines for maximum effect. Minimalist logos are versatile making businesses stand out. They easily transfer to all types of platforms and media. Minimalism gives businesses flexibility and are easy to understand. Simple to adapt to clothing, websites and anywhere else you can dream up makes them popular.

Think outside the box with a fun, lively logo designs. It brands a company as positive and draws target audiences in. Using fun pictures to represent the brand’s business tells consumers they dare to be different. Playing with puns, innovative ideas and metaphors can make people take notice.

Clever, fun design is memorable with a lasting impact on audiences. Good examples include Mailchimp and Luna Park. Fun logos capture people’s imagination. These portray trust and offer consumers the promise of memorable experiences. Adding fun to a company’s branding invites people to explore what a company offers.

Metallic logos ooze elegance, class and sophistication. Luxurious designs in gold, silver, platinum and bronze capture the imagination. They are powerful with simplistic designs that talk class.

Classy metallics gain traction in popularity this year and are no longer reserved for jewelry businesses. Suitable for high class businesses to convey prestige and luxury. Simple, understated with a powerful impact. Metallics catch the eye and imagination. Simple metallic logos represent the luxury of timeless classic brands.

Nobody wants a stock standard, off-the-shelf logo to represent their brand. Hand-drawn logos make a comeback in 2019 knocking overused generic artwork into the background. It is hard for businesses to stand out from competitors if they all look the same or similar.

Creating hand-drawn, unique logos to represent a brand gives it individual personality that shines. Smart businesses want personalized artwork that tell their story.

Logos manipulating perspective play visual games breaking the traditional rules. Designers use perspective to engage the eye. Using visual breaks, warping, fragmentation and distortion captures the imagination. Clever, surprising logos are the result with design elements overemphasized or kerning altered in unexpected ways.

To make sure this style works for a client, provide mock ups on different media to draw them into your vision. It helps bring your design come alive when showing a client how it looks on apparel and signs.

Logos using gradient designs are modern and distinctive. No longer will gradients dominate the foreground. Now designers use them clever ways in backgrounds to add dimension and depth to designs.

Gradient uses color cleverly in a way that appeals to almost everyone. This allows designers to incorporate mood, realism and 3D elements into their artwork.

But your colors need to complement each other for smooth transitions. Choosing random colors will give harsh results. Logo design become more innovative all the time to brand the industries they represent. Combining design methods to create unique branding sets companies apart from competitors.

Good logos capture the essence of a business, are memorable, versatile and timeless. It is important designers give clients mock-ups of visuals so they buy into the vision. Mock-ups are a great way for a client to see artwork come to life on apparel and business cards. This helps them to see how it looks in everyday practice and to visualize how it will work for the business.

Logos need to stand the test of time so good designers make it easy for clients when creating a brand identity.