Logos appear routinely on social media, in product packaging, and in marketing, and the necessity for a product or business to have a logo has been present for over a century. A logo defines and shapes a brand. It’s a unique symbol or emblem of a company, representing its values, products, and what’s important to them.
Over time, however, the exact style of logos has changed and adapted to new trends, cultural norms, and values. What logos of the future will look like are likely to be at least a little bit different from how they are portrayed in the world today.
1. Logos That Adjust Aesthetics Based On Behavior
Imagine a logo that changes shape or colour as you walk past it or, depending on the time of day, such as having a ‘day logo’ gradually fade into a ‘night logo.’ Alternatively, consider what it might look like if a logo adapted to behaviour and altered its texture or colour depending on the customer interaction.
Many logo maker companies are already adopting this trend. An era of responsive logos may be on the way, proving to add an interactive element that is more common today in web design than it is with logos.
2. Using Audio to Engage the Ears
Audio can be used to produce a type of sensory logo. Different brands have used audio to create forms and formats of auditory logos since the 1990s. HBO and Netflix are excellent examples. Turn on any show on HBO or Netflix and be hit with their visual logo alongside an audio sample.
With tech, AI, Internet speeds, and computers advancing as they have, audio samples may become a part of logo design in the decades ahead.
3. More Abstract, Minimalist-Influenced Logos
More companies, more logos, more noise. You need to stand out with your logo design. Minimalism has long been a leading trend, but running out of shapes and colours, more logo designers are leaning on abstract approaches.
A bare-bones, easy-to-remember abstract-shaped logo will likely be an approach applied to future logos by many. This is how companies can get noticed amongst busy, complex designs.
4. VR, AR, & Metaverse Influence On Logos
More brands are experimenting with marketing in virtual reality, augmented reality, and the Metaverse. Creating logos that can be touched and moved is more possible in a digital world. An interactive logo is not as far off as some think.
A simple animation, especially through AI, is fairly easy to code and integrate into graphic design. Expect this to have a sizeable impact on how logos are constructed.
5. AI Logos Are On Their Way
AI is already capable of producing copywriting and text. Its ability to produce logos is still limited, but no doubt, it will get to the point where AI can produce high-quality logos at far less cost compared to graphic designers.
Designing a logo based on a few guidelines will become much easier, allowing entrepreneurs to launch brands, rebrand when they like, and create brand identities. Be careful, as AI can produce more generic or repetitive logos.
6. More Subtle Logo Updates Over Time
The future of logos may have less to do with full-on rebranding and more with subtle changes done quietly over time. Brands routinely make small changes to their logo, from VISA to Google. This is done to keep a logo looking fresh or to reinterpret a logo for a special season, such as holiday shopping, Pride month, or Valentine’s Day.
In many cases, it’s simply to keep a fresh aesthetic. With this in mind, the characteristics must be simple and more adaptable to these minute alterations when designing a logo.
7. Themed Alterations to Logos Are Festive & Fun
We hinted at it a minute ago, but themed alterations have become increasingly popular recently. Tuture of logos will probably be more adaptation to different events and trends and more interaction.
It makes sense that a lot of small businesses will make alterations to logos for different times of the year, such as a scary logo for Halloween or a warm, winter logo for Christmas.
8. Pulling From Retro Influences & Worldwide Influences
The world is more global today than ever, and cultures are rubbing against one another in unforeseen ways. Retro graphic design and nostalgia from past eras have been a successful way to rebrand several businesses, even if it’s only temporarily as a part of a marketing campaign.
Sports teams, fast food restaurants, and other brands that have been around for decades sometimes revert to older logo versions or colours for a specific occasion.
9. Variable Logos Can Market To Different Demographics
More brands are trying to market to subcategories and sub-demographics worldwide. A variable logo can be adjusted based on the group of people being targeted.
This could mean a brand having a slightly modified logo depending on the territory or delivering a different logo depending on whether they’re trying to reach young children, parents, grandparents, high-cost luxury markets or low-cost discount markets, etc.