50+ Minimal logos, past and present

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August 26, 2014
50+ Minimal logos, past and present.

minimalist logos past and presentSimple and clean designs can sometimes have an even bigger impact than a logo that has a lot going on. Good use of form and negative space can go a long way toward creating a strong visual impression.

Minimal logos can be easier for your customers to remember, too. Think of the simplicity of the Pepsi logo and how recognizable that is. Or the FedEx logo with it's hidden arrow. Both are simple and clean (the newest incarnation of the Pepsi logo arguably less so), yet are instantly recognizable just by their shape and form.

Below are more than fifty minimalist logos, both from the present and past (1950s to the early 1990s or so). Check them out, and see how well many of the vintage minimalist logos have stood the test of time.

Modern logos

These logos were all created in the past decade or so. They combine clean lines and simple geometric shapes with discerning use of color (many are monochromatic) and negative space. Some are logotypes, while others keep the letterforms out of the logo itself.

Hatch Inc.

hatch inc

Farmhouse

farmhouse

Retro Corporate Logo Goodness

retro corporate logo

Pagepro

pagepro

Nocturnal Thrills

nocturnal thrills

British Steel

british steel

The Guild of Food Writers

guild of food writers

Martin Newcombe Property Maintenance

martin newcombe

Mind

mind

Freedom Travel

freedom travel

Ski Brand Logo

ski brand logo

In the Company of Huskies

company of huskies

Beyon

beyon

AAT - All About Tea

aat

Animal Defense League

animal defense league

William & Son

william and son

Koala Ranch

koala ranch

Hive

hive

Blast PR

blast pr

Lark Insurance

lark

Dustin Hysinger

dustin hysinger

Ogami

ogami

Hucksley

hucksley

Rant

rant

Furn

furn

Blue Mountain Electric

blue mountain

Rechargeable

rechargeable

D.F.L. Web Development

dfl

Antler Logo

antler logo

Pocono Modern

pocono modern

Story

story

Coyote

coyote

KixBox

kixbox

Vintage logos

While we sometimes think of minimalist logos as being modern, they've been around for decades. Minimalist logos were popular starting in the 1950s, and haven't really fallen out of popularity since. Check out these logos from the 1950s through the 1980s.

Asfaltor Oy

asfaltor oy

W. Raven & Co. Leicester

w raven and co

Jacque Nathan Garamond

jacques nathan garamond

Associated Spring Corporation

associated spring

Cygnet Publishing Pty. Ltd. Perth

cygnet publishing

Expo '70 Osaka

osaka

Organisationskomitee Der 5.Gymnnaestrada

der 5

Harcourt Brace & World Inc. New York

harcourt brace world

Ahrend Libra Amsterdam

ahrend libra

Committee for Economic & Cultural Development of Chicago

chicago

Canadian Pulp & Paper Assoc. Ltd.

canadian pulp and paper

United Semiconductor

united semiconductor

Russell & Hindrichs Associates

russell hindrichs

Franz H Wills

franz h wills

Trademakr

trademakr

Citgo

citgo

Chemico

chemico

Department of Health and Social Security

health and social security

Technicolor

technicolor

Continental Airlines

continental

Conclusion

One area where minimalist logos can really excel is in their almost built-in timelessness. Logos from the 1950s can look just as current as one designed last week (without cashing in on the current "vintage" and "retro" logo craze). For a company that wants to appear timeless and yet contemporary, minimalism can definitely be the way to go.

Cameron Chapman

Cameron Chapman is a freelance writer and designer from New England. You can visit her site or follow her on Twitter.

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