Have you ever passed by a cafe, school, or institute? And you recognized them instantly by looking at their badge-like logos! Have you ever noticed what kind of logo it is and how it was made? This is the magic of Emblem Logo!
These logos are everywhere, like on uniforms, books, cars, or even on coffee cups. They make us feel “trustworthy” and “official”. Every logo holds a story behind it, just like Starbucks! In our hectic lifestyle, we just scroll and jump over the advertisements. These logos create a brand that says:
“You can trust us.”
“This is who we are.”
“We have a story to tell.”
If you’re building a small business or a personal brand emblem logo can make your brand more powerful and memorable. Let’s explore how you can create that one for your brand!
An emblem logo is a logo in which text and symbol are used to create a solid shape. The shape can be in the form of a badge, a circle, or a custom frame. In simple words;
An emblem = text + icon within a solid shape.
For example: school or university crests, Harley-Davidson, Starbucks, BMW, etc. These logos appear like official seals or badges and give the impression of heritage, trust, and identity. Suppose you want your brand to express history and power in the design. You must opt for an emblem logo.
Emblem logos give a personal touch. They not only look good, but they also feel powerful. Here’s how:
Whenever a person encounters a logo, it instantly develops an impression that the brand is reliable. It inherently appears formal, organized, and well-planned.
That’s why every school, govt. department, and luxury brands employ emblem logo. Because they convey the message of trust and accountability without uttering a word.
Emblem logo only fits the brand that knows “who they are”. They create a powerful impression that the brand is accountable, structured, and loyal to its values. It is the emblem logo that makes people take your brand seriously from the very beginning.
Many companies desire to demonstrate their experience and maturity. This is where the emblem logo can help them narrate the story through shapes, fonts, and symbols.
It gives the feeling of tradition, culture, and pride. Still, if your brand is new, this logo can make it look old.
Emblem logos are versatile than other logos. It naturally fits on name badges, shirts, hats, police or security or any kind of uniform. The logo is a solid shape. It always looks clear and visible wherever it is.
Fashionable logos are ever-evolving. They always change with the times. But the emblem logo remains eternal. They still appear relevant even decades after their release. This is why larger heritage brands have not found it necessary to replace their original emblem designs.
Because they last.
Understanding the distinction helps you select the right logo for your brand. There’re many key differences in these terms.
A symbol is a plain design that signifies a concept. For example, Nike's swoosh, Apple's Apple, and Twitter's X.
Text is not typically involved in the symbols. They’re minimalist, clean, and less complicated.
An emblem is a text + symbol/image that is enclosed in one shape. It looks like a badge or seal. A brand name, tagline, establishment date, signs, or icons are common features in an emblem.
An emblem is more detailed and meaningful than a symbol itself.
Use symbol when:
You desire to have a modern and minimalist brand.
Your audience likes simple and clean products.
You want the logo to perform well in tiny sizes (such as app icons).
Use an emblem when:
You desire richness, plot, and sobriety.
You require a good identity of uniforms, certificates, or products.
Your brand is a symbol of tradition, trust, and respect.
Symbol logos are minimal, bold, and straightforward. This works best for a brand that wants a simple image with few details.
Emblem logos carry layers of meaning. They’re symbolic, deep, and descriptive. They feel richer because every part of the design contributes to the story.
You must go with emblem logos.
If you have reached this far, you must have found out. That emblem logo is unique in that it is more organized and narrative than other logos. Let’s explore how!
A wordmark is plain text, just like Google and Coca-Cola. At the same time, an emblem logo is the combination of text and symbols in a single framework.
Wordmark is clean, simple, and easy to read. It fails to tell a deeper story visually. It focuses on readability.
Emblem combines icons, shapes, brand name, tagline, and many more. It focuses on identity.
An abstract logo is made up of creative shapes, curves, and patterns that don’t signify anything. It is more creative and not structured. Abstract logos are modern and creative. Emblem logos always have a strict frame and outline. It is classic and well-structured.
If you want a badge-like identity that appears strong and established, you must go with the emblem.
A combination mark is a mix of text and an icon. Although they are not one. As compared to a combination mark, an emblem combines all these elements in a single entity.
The combination mark is flexible. An emblem logo is powerful and depicts a storytelling connection.

When you sit down to make something out of nothing, it is difficult to make it well. This is why we have divided the task of developing an appealing logo into easy steps. These steps will assist you in developing a logo that you like and that represents your story, personality, and brand values.
Whatever you're about to draw. The first step is to establish your brand identity. When using your logo, ask yourself what message you want your audience to get.
Your logo should be the visual synopsis of your brand. Good knowledge at this level will make your logo relevant, not merely attractive.
The shape you choose is the basis of your emblem logo. Every shape or curve conveys a different message. Select shapes like circle, badge, crest, and shield. Every curve has its own advantages and drawbacks.
Select a shape that suits your brand personality. When the shape is wrong, the final logo will be wrong as well.
The symbols fill your logo with a strong message. This helps your brand in narrating a story linked to your emblem. You can use icons, objects, lines, and simple illustrations, too. For example:
A book represents an educational brand.
A leaf shows a natural or eco-friendly brand.
A star is a good fit for a brand concerned with success or superiority.
Only use the symbols that present a story. Don’t use the one that causes distraction and confusion.
Readable and neat fonts can make or break an emblem logo. Choose fonts that match your style and appear clean in all sizes. Also, that pairs with your brand’s mood.
Serif fonts feel classic. Sans-serif fonts feel modern. Script fonts are innovative or luxurious.
Pro Tip: When the logo is reduced in size, just make sure that the text remains readable.
Colors are known to instantly change users' moods. Try choosing colors that make you feel bright and cheer up your mood. Use 2-3 colors max.
The use of many colors will clutter or disjoin your emblem. Colors are meant to emphasize your message, not crush it.
Never be satisfied with the first result. Make several variations by changing text placement, shape style, layout, border thickness, etc. This will help you find what appears really professional. The version that always feels right is sometimes the third or fourth one.
Ensure your emblem logo isn’t limited to screens only. Test it on shop boards, business cards, social media icons, and many more.
In case the logo becomes unclear, change the size of the text, its spacing, or its shapes. An excellent logo must look strong even in smaller sizes.
Once everything looks fine. Save your logo in multiple formats so you can use it everywhere. The formats include PNG, SVG, PDF, and JPG.
Also make its white, black, and simplified versions. This makes your brand remain the same across all platforms.
Are you looking for a simple platform that gives you exactly the symbols you want? Just head to X-Design. This tool provides you with an AI logo generator. Here, you’ll get countless icons that suit your brand story.
Imagine X-Design as your free logo designer. You don’t need any editing skills, expensive software to generate your logo. Just type all the thoughts in the X-Design, and let this tool make your imagination in reality.
Please avoid the following mistakes:
Adding too many details makes the logo look messy.
Using small text that becomes unreadable.
Choosing colors that don’t match your brand.
Ignoring how the emblem will look on different materials.
Picking a shape that doesn’t fit your brand’s message
An emblem logo is not only a design. It is a psychological element that tells your brand story or your struggle behind making this unicorn brand. Your logo should be the mouthpiece of your brand. And with tools like X-Design, you can design your emblem logo effortlessly.
Create a logo that tells the world a story!