Logos are visual communication tools. They are designed to convey specific brand messages to the public. Like any communication tool, they may leave a lot to the imagination and personal interpretation. Using an animal logo adds a powerful barrier to any potential misrepresentation.
Consider Lacoste as an example.
Image Source: Wikipedia
It uses an alligator (a crocodile, really) as its brand symbol. A wild reptile, dangerous and powerful. Nobody can misunderstand what this animal represents. Using it as a brand icon or symbol conjures up images of boldness, agility, and strength. Not a shabby brand representation for a fashion company, right?
So, let’s talk about unique brand emotions that majestic animal logo designs can help convey. If you find your brand’s dominant emotion in the list, read on to find out the best animals that characterize that emotion.
Power, Ferocity, & Strength
Strength, power, and courage, etc. are attributes that most brands want to communicate as their core brand message. Businesses that deal in industries that are highly combative or competitive especially rely on symbolic representations of physical strengths to drive home their message. Sports, gaming, athletic apparel market, automotive industry, and other such businesses usually go with wild animal logos to represent their brands. Predatory animals and birds such as Lions, tigers, and bears, hawks, and eagles, etc., are popularly used as animal icons for such brands. Some famous examples are Jaguar (automotive), Puma (clothing), and Detroit Lions (sports).
Image Source: Wikipedia
In addition to the choice of the animal on your logo, it also matters how that animal is represented. A roaring lion on the MGM logo is bold, powerful, and regal but the crocodile, another powerful being, is displayed on the Crocs brand logo with a cute smile, so all the ferocity is gone.
So choose your design details wisely. If you want the fierceness to show through, it must come across in the way the animal is drawn as well as your choice of colors, layout, and fonts.
It’s got to be a team effort.
Love, Care, & Empathy
Image Source: The Humane Society (@ Twitter)
The young of most animals, puppies, and kittens, for example, always work. Child care logo designs are special stages for these logos. Because what’s cuter than babies with kittens? Only babies with dogs. True story.
Dogs, cats, dolphins, doves, owls, and other such friendly animals look great on charity logo designs, animal shelter logos, veterinarian logos, peace logos, and such. Similarly, to create feelings of protectiveness and to galvanize people into action, logo designs containing animals that need delicate care are most appropriate. The giant panda of WWF is therefore a perfect example of endangered species. It conveys the organization’s commitment to fighting the challenges to wildlife preservations in an impeccable way.
Energy, Zest, & Agility
If your brand’s core message is energy and liveliness, consider using animals that are known for their agility, speed, and precision. Most wild animals fall under this category. Cheetah is a fine example, puma is another. Hawks and eagles are pretty quick too.
However, when showing zest, know that you want to focus more on its friendlier side. So, when using a Cheetah as a brand logo, make it approachable. Give it a smirk and a cool pair of sunglasses. Cheetos style.
Image Source: Cheetos
Few other animals that can add playfulness to your logo without needing cool shades: dogs (obviously), horses, monkeys, kangaroos, rabbits, and lambs, etc. Animals like these don’t need additional props to get their message across. We all think of these animals as fast, friendly, and fun. Yes, kangaroos and horses too.
Luxury, Sophistication, & Beauty
Fashion imagery has relied on beautiful animals to show sophistication, grace, and glamour. Swans and butterflies come to mind as ready examples when we want to talk about animals that are pretty. White foxes that live in the cold and sand cats as well as leopards are decidedly elegant and majestic. Flamingoes, species of snakes, and snowy owls are some other beautiful beings.
Apparel, jewelry, cosmetics, and beauty businesses love to portray their style and charm by using these animal logos as their brand identities. Burberry, Polo Ralph Lauren, and Swarovski are some examples.
Image Source: Pinterest
When using an animal logo image to showcase your brand message, remember that beauty is a highly subjective concept. Therefore, focus on your brand attributes that are more substantial and stable. A horse logo, for example, to complement your athletic wear brand. A lithe cat logo to show the exclusivity of your fashion label. Similarly, a flamingo to combine the wild side of your new fashion venture with the elegance of true couture.
Related: 6 Powerful Animal Logo Ideas For Sports Teams
Cuteness, Charm, And Delight
We keep animals as pets because we find them cute and adorable. Even those who keep wild and exotic animals as pets (that’s illegal, by the way) find them charming and cuddly. Therefore, if your core brand characteristic is cuteness and adorableness, search through our animal logo design feed to find your perfect brand-match.
Popular brands that (rightly) use cute animals as their brand logo mascots include Penguin Books, Twitter, and Animal Planet.
Image Source: Wikipedia
The great thing about using animal icons for brand logos is that by altering their physical representation or by adding design details to them you can add layers of meaning to your logo. Think of Vineyard Vines, a casual clothing brand. Its brand message is casual, friendly, and comfortable. Its brand logo? A whale.
It’s not your traditional cutesy animal at all. But put a smile on its mouth when you draw it and you’ve got yourself a friendly and smiley whale as your clothing brand logo.
Sexuality, Mystery, Allure
While you may not think of animals as sexy, we find them extremely appealing. Plus, there are certain animals that give off a sense of allure and mystery. Sexy as a cat is a saying for some reason, is all I’m saying.
If you are launching a brand that has a message of magnetic appeal and a certain charm, there’s an animal logo out there made especially for you. Maybe you could be the next brand that launches the next bunny logo à la Playboy.
Image Source: Wikipedia
Some other animal logos that can carry your brand’s message of sophisticated allure are all the big cats: jaguars, pumas, leopards, panthers. Horses are also strong enough to carry your brand message of physical beauty. And deer and gazelle are pretty attractive too.
So There You Have It…
… 18 distinct emotions and animals which are perfect to carry them to your audience. Since the same animal can be both physically strong in a predatory way and ridiculously beautiful at the same time (big cats, bears, hawks, wolves), think of the core emotion you want it to carry. And then figure out if that core emotion is central to the products/services you provide.
If all that is in line, go ahead and go crazy with your animal logo. If any of it mismatches, however, pause and rethink. Choose the animal that works best for your brand. And that’s the tea for today.
