2021 Logo Design Trends: New Logo Styles to Try

Why a good logo matters

You might be wondering why it’s so important to have a good logo. Think of some of the biggest brands in the world—Apple, Google, and some of your favorite restaurants—chances are you can picture their logos. When you see that logo (or for some brands, simply the colors of the logo), the brand immediately comes to mind.

Once people have seen your logo and tried your products or services, they’ll associate your logo with the quality your brand provides. But for customers shopping with you for the first time, your logo is one of the only ways for people to judge your brand. For many people, a professional, well-made logo is a good sign that a brand is committed to quality.

A good logo is a cornerstone of branding. You can put your logo on a sign outside of your business so people know where you’re located, but you can also put that same logo on T-shirts, cups, and other merchandise. Plus, you can include your logo in emails you send to customers, on your letterhead, and more. Creating a logo gives you a recognizable image that you can use to create brand consistency.

Trends of the past

Businesses have been striving to create the perfect logo for well over a century, and there have been a lot of different logo design trends throughout the years. Some of the most recognizable logos of all time have been changed slightly in the past decade or so, with slight updates made to make the logo look more modern.

During the 1970s, logo design trends were all about bright colors, funky letters, and eclectic logos. The Doritos logo is an excellent example of this, with color and font choices that would make any 2021 logo designer sick.

By the 1980s, logos were even more colorful. The Doritos logo took on a similar look, only with a more custom font and a triangle-shaped chip to dot the ‘i’. By the 1990s, logos were a little less colorful and had a stronger focus on brand identity. Logos became less minimalistic, with some of the iconic features of many logos added during the 1990s. During the 2000s, 3-dimensional logos became increasingly popular, and many major brands underwent a redesign.

As a business, updating your logo design occasionally keeps your brand modern and your logo in customers’ minds. When there’s a big change in logo trends, update your logo to make sure it doesn’t look outdated.

2021’s logo design trends

Your brand style guide can help you create a good logo for your brand, but nothing beats following 2021 logo design trends to find out what some of the best logos look like today. As graphic design changes and evolves, and more and more businesses need websites, logo designers are getting more creative. Here are some of the 2021 logo design trends you should watch out for.

Rubber hose imagery

Rubber hose imagery began in the ‘20s and ‘30s, but there’s been a revival thanks to modern media such as Cuphead. If you’ve ever played the Cuphead game or watched very old cartoons, you’ve seen what rubber hose imagery looks like. There are a lot of new logos in 2021 taking this rubber hose look and applying it to a static logo, giving them a contrasting look that really catches the eyes of potential customers.

Sketches

You might think of sketches as a way to mock up a rough draft of a logo, but sketching is becoming increasingly common in final logo production. People love logos that have that hand-sketched look, so a lot of brands are opting for a design that looks a little grungier.

Keep in mind that these sketch logos are typically created digitally, so it’s not as simple as sketching with a pencil on paper. Instead, you’ll need to use a drawing tablet to get that sketch-like look on your screen where you can use it as a logo.

Varying line thicknesses

While it was once common to keep things uniform in your logo, designers are beginning to experiment with that rule with 2021 logos. Designers can use varying line thicknesses to give your logo a different look, and these varying line thicknesses are even becoming more popular in typography. You might not love the result every time, but you should try varying line thicknesses if you want to spruce up your logo.

‘70s inspiration

Most trends go out of style, only to come back into style several years or even decades later. One of the most surprising 2021 logo trends is the use of 1970s design elements in modern logos. Bright colors, funky letters, and unique designs are all the rage right now, especially with certain target audiences.

Layered logos

If your logo is boring and basic, you can add layers to it. Layered logos are a good way to give your logo a little more depth, and you can even use those layers to hide surprises in your logo for customers to find. While layered logos are a great way to add a little complexity to your logo, you don’t want to overdo it either. Start with a few layers, then slowly add more if you feel like you need to.

Typography for shapes

Most people think of typography as choosing the right font size, type, and color, but it’s also about where you’re putting the letters in your logo. One 2021 logo trend we’re seeing a lot of is typography being used for shapes. Round logos feature words that form a circle to give the logo its shape or square logos are framed with letters and words for a blocky appearance. Using typography for shapes is a good way to make your logo unique and stand out from the crowd.

Return of the bling

The 2000s were an interesting period in terms of fashion and design, and shiny “bling” designs were all the rage. From hats and T-shirts to website designs, bling was everywhere throughout the aughts. This may come as a surprise to many people, but these blinged-out designs are becoming popular again with 2021 logos.

Nostalgia is powerful, and people love a logo that reminds them of the good old days. The more time passes, the more the 2000s become the “good old days” for the generation that grew up during that time. The result? Bling is one of the biggest logo trends of 2021.

Build your brand

Building your brand is one of the hardest parts of running a successful company, from choosing a name to designing a logo and deciding what colors you want people to associate with your brand. That being said, thoughtful branding is one of the best things you can do if you want to build brand consistency and loyalty.

With Mailchimp, design and marketing are that much easier. We can help you develop your brand, design your website, and create content. We even use analytics to offer insights into crucial data, so you can do a better job of building your brand.