Technology has remained a key driver of change in the last few decades. Its influence in various industries and significant aspects of our lives has made it the hardest topic to ignore.
Similar to other industries, the art of logo design also has experienced changes in the wake of technological advancements. From the old designing methods of using pencils, paints, and typewriters to programs like Autodesk Maya and Adobe Photoshop, we have come a long way.
The changes brought about by technological evolution in the logo design industry have stirred mixed reactions from designers.
Some of them argue that tech development has stifled creativity and lowered quality in the industry. However, others believe that it has resulted in improved efficiency and productivity as well as simplified the art of logo designing.
In this blog, we will discuss the ways in which tech evolution has affected logo designing. However, before we can get there, it is essential to bifurcate the logo designing practices into pre- and pro-tech development eras for better understanding.
Logo design before tech development:
Before the age of computers and design software, a lot of hard work went into creating logo designs. Instead of using convenient commands that logo designers have currently at their disposal, they had to do all the design work manually. All they had were a pen/pencil and papers and some markers to design logos.
Designers had to draw the type of logo they required and manually choose the style, size, and color of the font, size, as well as the elements to be included in the design. There were no software programs that could provide them a demo of how their work looked before printing. So, designers had to actually print the logo and then see how it looked.
Logo design today:
The art of logo design changed with the arrival of GPUs and graphic design software. Resources like Adobe are replete with tools that can make the logo design a piece of cake. There is no scarcity of apps and software that can assist logo designers in the creation of their intended logos.
All this development in the graphic design industry happened in less than two decades. Today, graphic design companies are investing in advanced technologies like AI and Machine Learning to automate and accelerate the art of logo designing.
With the advanced tools and a great logo design company, users can now get professional logos, presentation files, and banners within no time. All the limitations which once irritated designers have now been removed, thanks to modern technology.
Influences of technology on logo designing:
Today is an exciting time for logo design firms and individual designers. While the basic idea of designing has remained the same, the methodology, tools, and practices are constantly subjected to changes. Below, we enlist some of the influences of technology on logo designing.
While the trends and practices of logo designing change every year, the development seen after the tech evolution is massive. Most of the classical designs were complicated and tailored to the values of businesses in the past.
Since logos have become a nearly ubiquitous identity for businesses, designers have shifted towards a minimalist approach.
Design simplification has become a leading trend in the 21st century as designers prefer using lighter visual aesthetics.
Minimalism makes it possible for brands to print their logos on web pages, social media profiles, business cards, brochures, products, and publish them pretty much everywhere.
Today, brands also want to connect with the audience on an emotional level, so they prefer to reflect social concepts through their designs. Advanced tools have provided them the freedom to choose simple logos that reflect the brand message and core values.
The advent of 3D printers has brought about disruptive changes in various fields, and logo designing will be no exception. In the coming years, we will see 3D or even 4D logos replacing the typical 2D logos, and soon they will become a trending design format in the logo design industry.
Artistic logo design:
A new trend in the form of artistic logo design has emerged in the last few years. It has enabled designers to express a brand value and message through art forms and consistent geometric shapes. However, even with artistic logos, the need for simplicity is of primary importance.
Throughout time, simple shapes like circles, lines, squares, and triangles have been used in all forms of art. Today, technology makes it possible for designers to use the same simple geometric shapes and create comprehensive logos. Cultural anthropologist Angeles Arrien referred to these forms as the ‘five universal shapes.’
Due to the prevalence of digital forums and universality of artistic logos, brands will be able to unify purpose with form and scale consistently across various platforms.
Another influence of technology on the logo design industry is pricing. Affordability is no longer an issue because businesses have a plethora of options and affordable tools to choose from.
Moreover, there are thousands of firms and websites which offer their services at affordable prices. So affordability is out of the question now as a gazillion of logo design firms are there at your service.
Technology has made the logo designing workplace streamlined, efficient, and more productive. Users can now integrate logo design tools across multiple devices and access their work anytime from anywhere. It has also made communication between the client and the designer more effective since they can now receive suggestions and feedback in real-time.
Logo design has changed significantly over the past few years; however, the core principles remain the same.
The color, font, shape, and elements should all work together and clearly communicate the message of your brand. Minimalist and artistic designs, as well as 3D and animation-based logos, will define the future logo designs. Keep these trends in mind, along with creative thinking to stand out in the hyper-competitive marketplace.