The Essentials of Gradient Logo Design: Key Dos and Don’ts – Plus Practical Tips!
A gradient logo design is a fun and playful way to refresh an old brand identity. It’s also a great way for new brands to take up space with confidence and charm. Gradient logos use beautiful color progressions to position their brands as modern, upbeat, and attractive.
Suitable for a wide range of industries and markets, gradient logos have been a leading design trend for years now. They allow minimalist brands to use their colors more intelligently without crowding the design.
If you are looking for a clever way to get your brand noticed immediately, a gradient logo may be up for the task. But how do you create one and when is a gradient logo the right call?
In this infographic, we answer these questions and more.
What is a gradient logo?
A gradient logo is a logo design that uses color progressions in one or more parts of its design. Usually, that part is the symbol or icon in the logo, but the gradient can be applied to anything: text, shape, background.
It creates a beautiful ‘bleeding’ effect where colors merge into each other in such a way that you can’t decide where one ends and the other begins. Remember that color gradients are different than other types of color pairing in logo design.
If you just pair or combine colors, that’s a multi-colored logo. Gradients, however, are achieved when colors seep into each other gradually but clearly.
A simple example of this distinction is the 1977 Apple logo design with rainbow colors that are stacked together. In contrast, the Firefox logo is a true gradient design with beautiful color bleeds of purple, blue, and orange.
When is a gradient logo the right choice?
Gradient colors make business logos instantly noticeable! Since they are such powerful attention magnets, you have to handle them with care. Choose colors that contrast well without clashing or fighting for space.
Use gradient colors in the logo icon or the shape instead of text. Wordmark logos or alphabet logos may not be the ideal fit for the gradient but logomarks carry the gradients with great flair!
App logos where you don’t have a lot of space for text or brand names are some of the best candidates for gradient logos. Use the gradients there to define your shape, elevate your symbols, and enhance your brand magic.
How do you create the perfect gradient logo?
Nail down your gradient logo mastery with our purposeful infographic below. Use the dos and don’ts to guide your process and find inspiration with the best gradient logos in the corporate world!
