the graphic representation of a company name

Parts of a Logo [Explained]

A logo is probably the most important graphic design application you’ll have to learn as a designer. 

In addition to being a crucial element for branding and visual identity , logos also teach you a TON of valuable graphic design skills, such as design principles , process systematization , and creativity . 

First, you need to understand the theory and principles of logo design . 

Second, you need to understand the different parts that constitute a logo. 

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What are the different parts of a logo?  

In its most basic, the parts of a logo must include a brand name and a graphic representation, such as an icon, that somehow identifies or visually highlights that brand. A logo may include the following elements: 

• The logotype, wordmark, or brand name
• The icon, mark, or symbol
• The tagline or slogan (optional or contextual) 

You may or may not use all these components on a given logo. 

But here’s the thing:

By understanding the basic parts of a logo and their purpose, you will be able to create logos that are meaningful, structured, and effective.  

Below, I explain in detail the different parts of a logo and show some great examples. 

Let’s start. 

Parts of a Logo 

1. logotype or letterform.

Every brand has a name. 

Therefore, most logos incorporate that name within the logo design itself.  

Sometimes, the name itself is the entire logo, such as Coca Cola, Google, or Disney. 

This is called a logotype . 

What is a logotype? A logotype is a brand name that is displayed in a strategically chosen typography or specially crafted lettering that serves as an identity for that brand. 

A logotype incorporates shaped or stylized letterforms to convey meaning by only displaying a name. 

That is: 

These names are not merely displayed in a common font like, say, Times New Roman.  They are displayed in a special way, with specially designed type that helps to convey the essence or an aspect of the brand.

There are many famous examples of logotypes, such as Lego, Google, and Sony.

Here are some real-world logotype examples:

The logotype may incorporate other logo components, such as color, or accompany other elements, such as an icon or mark.  

Here’s the gist about a logotype:

The way you display a brand name, such as the font you choose or the lettering you design, must somehow “speak” about the essence of the brand and communicate its identity.  

2. Icon or Mark

One of the most common parts of a logo is the icon, mark, or symbol. 

What is an icon? 

An icon is a graphic representation that is able to effectively capture the essential features of some object, thing,or idea with the least amount of detail or elements.  

You’ve seen them before: it’s the little drawing that accompanies many famous logos, such as Airbnb, Target, or Adidas: 

Now, and this is important: 

Icons are not drawings or illustrations. Their purpose is not to show a detailed rendering of a dog, tree, or house. 

Their purpose is to represent, in the most minimal yet accurate way, what something is. 

One of the most important principles of logo design is simplicity.  In this sense, the icon or mark on a logo should be as simple as possible. 

Nonetheless, it should be able to represent that for which it stands with precision . 

For example:

A painting is able to incorporate as much detail as possible in order to communicate its subject. Logos, however, don’t have that luxury. 

Instead, logos must pack a lot of meaning with only a few visual cues. 

This is why logos mostly rely on icons or marks for communicating an identity, concept, or idea.  

Logos use icons in a strategic way to communicate what a product or brand is about (its “essence”).  

3. Tagline 

A final, but not mandatory, component of a logo is the tagline .  

What is a logo tagline? 

A logo tagline serves to reinforce, explain, clarify or expand a brand’s purpose, nature, or utility in a world saturated with brands.  

Some famous taglines are Subway’s “Eat fresh”, Nike’s “Just do it”, or McDonald’s “I’m lovin’ it.” 

BONUS: Logo Elements to Consider

A logo is able to communicate not only in terms of the shapes it includes, but also in terms of the general form it conveys.  

Logos are created with different general shapes: circles, squares, rectangles, triangles or even “organic” or “expressive” shapes (forms that are irregular). 

Some even describe a psychology of logo shapes that contribute to how logos communicate and are perceived .  

However, the importance of shapes in logos has a lot to do with practical considerations: 

The form of a logo in many ways determines where and how a logo will be displayed or how its content is organized and its elements arranged. 

In other words:

The totality ( gestalt ) of a logo has an overall shape that not only serves as a communication device but also determines how and where a logo is displayed. 

Logos use color as a powerful communication device.  You’ve probably heard that there’s actually a psychology of color , with many theories pointing to the different effects of color.  

While this may actually be true, color also serves a more practical communicative purpose in logo design:

As humans living inside a given society, we associate certain meanings with certain colors in culturally specific ways.  These associations may vary from culture to culture. 

For example: 

Western cultures associate the color yellow with caution. 

This idea is reinforced by traffic lights, which use yellow for communicating “slow down,” or workers’ hard hats, which tend to be yellow.  Red reinforces the idea of heat, hence the intense red used in fire trucks.  

Some other color associations come from advertising and the media. 

While we logically associate the color green with nature, in the past decade the marketing of “green” products and practices has contributed to the association of the color green with the concept of “environmental consciousness.”  

This is exemplified by British Petroleum’s logo remake, in which the strategic use of green serves to produce the effect of “environmentally conscious.”  

A visual analogy is the communicative force behind a logo. A powerful analogy helps us remember a logo with interest and curiosity. 

What is a visual analogy in logo design? 

A visual analogy is a way of combining visual attributes that are inherently different in a new way that makes sense, in a funny, interesting, creative, or dramatic fashion.

For example, through visual analogies, we are able to make connections between an aspect of a brand name and some literal or abstract attribute that connects with a dimension of the brand. 

In the next example, the “P” of the brand name “Pencil” can be manipulated in a special way to represent what the name stands for in an iconic way: 

Here are more examples: 

Ideally, we would try to incorporate a visual analogy to every logo as a way to achieve memorability and uniqueness. 

Conclusion: Logo Anatomy Will Help You Learn Logo Design

Logos are the most important aspect of a brand identity. 

As author Robin Landa says, “a logo is the single graphic design application that will be a part of every other brand design application”. 

By understanding the different parts or components of a logo, you will be able to understand how logos are created and how they communicate effectively. 

Remember, at its most basic, a logo has the following components: 

• Brand name, wordmark, or logotype
• An icon, mark, or some other form of representation
• Occasionally, a tagline

As you continue to understand how logos are created, you will also learn to apply design principles and creative communication skills, such as communication through visual analogies. 

Keep on working!  

About the Author:

Ruben Ramirez teaches digital media in college and started Self-Made Designer to share his knowledge of graphic design. He is also a self-taught designer.

MARKETING INSIGHTS

What is a logo and why is it important for your brand

When done right, a logo serves as the face of your business and helps your audience recognize who you are and what you stand for. Here, we will explore in depth what is a logo, and the importance of creating a logo that represents your brand's personality. Once you're ready to get started you can also check out our guide to using the Wix Logo Maker.

What is a logo?

A logo is a graphic design element comprised of words (typography), images, shapes, symbols and colors to identify and represent a brand, business or product. Specific types of logos come in all different shapes and sizes that run the gamut from simple text logotypes to abstract logo marks (we’ll go into more detail about those soon).

Believe it or not, the concept of logos has existed for thousands of years. Consider the primitive cave drawings of early humans and the symbols they used for basic communication. Picture the specific motifs that were seen in ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs, or in family crests from the Middle Ages (like House Stark and House Lannister). While today’s modern logos might look and feel different, the basic objective is the same—recognition.

Paul Rand, the father of graphic design once said, “A logo doesn’t sell (directly), it identifies." With this in mind, remember that your logo is like the soul of your company, and as such it should be consistent, recognizable and evoke a positive or meaningful feeling. A good logo should infuse the spirit of your brand throughout all visual elements and marketing channels.

What is the importance of a logo?

While a logo’s main function is to help identify, it actually does much more. Let’s take a closer look at what a logo can do for your business or personal brand and why it's important.

Make a first impression: As the saying goes—you never get a second chance to make a good first impression, and a logo is the perfect way to make a memorable one that grabs your customers’ attention and sparks their interest. Your logo is often the first, and most prominent thing to be noticed by your audience.

Help you stand out in a crowd: In the sea of endless content and advertisements, an unforgettable logo should be different enough to stand out in your consumers’ minds. You can achieve this by researching the competitors and their branding in order to differentiate yourself and position your brand strongly.

Shape your brand identity: You want to have a distinct and cohesive look that immediately establishes what your brand stands for, and how it will be perceived. This is known as your brand identity, and refers to the specific visual appearance that your brand will develop. The distinct logo you create can serve as a starting point to build upon, and should be aligned with the overall vision.

Create a strategic branding tool: When it comes to branding, it's important to have a well-defined brand strategy that clearly outlines your values and goals. Think of your logo like a piece of the puzzle, an intrinsic component of this strategy that can communicate your brand message across marketing channels. To give you an idea, your logo can be used on your website, your social media platforms, business cards, packaging, physical locations and much more.

Promote brand awareness: As your brand grows, your logo grows with it, becoming more familiar to your audience and to the world. For example, think of a time when you saw somebody sipping coffee from a Starbucks cup, you instantly knew where that java came from. Or how some of the best podcast logos are instantly recognizable. This is how a strong logo can help create powerful associations in your customers’ minds and foster trust and loyalty for your brand.

Strengthen your message: A logo is an effective way to inform your customers about your company without using any words. In seconds, one simple symbol can show what industry you’re in, what type of service you offer, your brand values (many church logos are a great example of this) and express the overall vibe of your business.

What are the most important logo elements?

When deciding how to design a logo , there are a few components that should come together to create your unique style. Some logos only use certain elements, whereas others combine them all. Regardless of which of them you choose to include on your logo, it's important to be familiar with all these ideas in order to make the best choice for your brand.

Read also: How much does a logo cost?

The key to good logo design is to try to capture the essence of your brand and keep it simple. Additionally, you should have awareness of logo design trends to keep a finger on the pulse and find inspiration. While it may seem like a good idea to incorporate the latest fads in your logo, you should first consider whether that design will be able to grow with your brand and remain relevant over time.

Choosing your logo colors is not just about picking your favorite hues, it's a complex process that requires research and thought. For starters, understanding logo psychology will help you recognize the impact they have on brand perception, and communicate to your audience what your brand represents. The right logo color scheme can make or break your logo and influence the feelings or emotions associated with your brand.

Let’s say you were starting a cloth diaper business targeted at millennial moms with an affinity for sustainability, you might pick whites or muted tones to signify purity, innocence, and comfort. Alternatively, if you were planning to sell very sleek and high-end wallets, you might choose powerful and elegant shades like black, charcoal, or gold.

Although it may be tempting to explore every color of the rainbow, the general rule of thumb is to use no more than three in your logo. Using too many shades may become confusing and overwhelming. Take a look at the following logo colors to inspire you (or explore these logo color ideas ).

Whole Foods Market

This chain of eco-grocery stores known for natural and organic products, uses green in their logo, both old and new. Green is universally symbolic of nature, as well as health, luck, calmness and jealousy. This simple logo easily embodies the message of Whole Foods instantly letting their consumers (and competitors) know what they're all about.

While blue and yellow may not immediately make you think of furniture, these colors are symbolic of specific emotions. Yellow expresses happiness and joy, and blue stands for trust and stability. By using these two bold colors together, IKEA’s logo is unmistakable, and conveys their brand personality clearly. Even more interestingly, IKEA shares these colors with their native flag of Sweden, which helps to build their identity even more authentically.

A picture is worth a thousand words, and when it comes to your logo using imagery gives you an opportunity to get your message across. Graphics in logos can be simple or complex, decorative or functional, freestanding or combined with text. Ideally, the images should be representative of the product itself or an experiential quality connected to your business.

However, sometimes logos use abstract visuals to express creativity and personify their brand. When using non-conventional or out-of-the-box imagery, it is advisable to connect these ideas to a story or a feeling in relation to your product. Remember that whatever image you use must be scalable and adaptable, meaning it can be resized or formatted for various branding materials and still be identifiable. You can always use an image resizer to help with this. Furthermore, if you are using a complex image you’ll need to design variations of the logo for different platforms and resolutions.

Here are some examples of images and graphics used successfully in logos.

Named for the shared territory between Argentina and Chile, Patagonia is best known for their sustainable outdoor clothing and positive environment impact. Their logo is an excellent example of imagery that depicts the famous Monte Fitz Roy, situated in the Southern Patagonian Ice Field.

This logo effectively captures a complex image by simplifying and stylizing it, which, in turn, embodies both the brand name and personality. It also appears in many configurations— seen sometimes without color, or text, providing a prime example of scalability and adaptability in terms of logo design.

National Basketball Association (NBA)

This iconic sports logo uses an actual photograph of Lakers player, Jerry West, converted into a simple silhouette. The NBA logo is distinct and perfectly epitomizes the nature of the game in a simple graphic. Combined with a tricolor palette of red, white and blue, the design was originally meant to evoke a patriotic feel. You can see how this logo exemplifies the importance of a clear visual that instantly symbolizes what the brand or organization represents.

Target, the lovable one-stop-shop for groceries, clothing, beauty products, toys, and more is easily recognizable by their simple, yet superb logo. It illustrates both their company name, and their values. The bullseye symbolizes their core purpose—great value and ‘hitting the mark’. Since their logo is so easily identifiable, the company often uses it without even needing their name, or any words.

Spotify’s logo is an example of an abstract image that still manages to embody the brand. The music streaming service uses a simple green circle, filled with three horizontal lines as their logo. These lines are meant to depict sound waves, and they are intentionally crooked, to add personality and make the brand feel more ‘human’. The graphic itself is abstract but the story behind it makes sense conceptually and visually, and upholds the brand’s identity and values.

In a nutshell, typography refers to the font style, appearance, and structure used in your logo text. Letters can be arranged differently, laid on top of one another, flipped around or positioned in many creative ways to create an impactful logo design. Text-based logos can also be referred to as lettermarks, logotypes and monograms.

During the creative process, you can browse the best fonts for logos and try to speak your brand’s language by selecting a style that aligns with your brand values. For example, if you’re in the health or medical industry you might want to use a traditional font that appears dependable to your audience. Just as the rule applies to colors, it is recommended not to use more than 2 or 3 fonts in order to keep it simple and consistent.

Let’s take a look at some strong typography logo examples.

The New York Times

Perhaps one of the most discernible logos with a very notable font, The New York Times has used this version of their logo for almost 150 years. The font is based on Blackletter typeface, also called Gothic, and always appears in black or white, depending on the background color it is printed on. When seeing this typography, the reader instantly knows the source, which is all part of the newspaper's identity in delivering reputable and trustworthy news to its readers.

This pink and playful logo uses both typography and color to personify the iconic doll. While both Barbie and her branding have evolved over the years since she first appeared in 1959, the core identity has remained the same. The Barbie logo is consistently elegant and fun, and speaks to her intended audience in an effective and eye-catching manner.

Louis Vuitton

One of the most famous luxury brands out there, Louis Vuitton’s logo is immediately identifiable, marked by their LV monogram. Monogram (or lettermark) logos are usually made up of two or three letters taken from your business’s name or initials. This simple but effective approach creates consistency, and is often more memorable.

A tagline usually sits under or around a logo, and is a simple sentence, or collection of words (usually between two to seven) that captures the heart or spirit of the brand. This can be helpful to articulate what your business does, or what it represents. Not all logos require taglines, but it can definitely make an impact and help get your brand message across and cultivate brand awareness.

Check out some well-known logo tagline examples.

According to LG, “The “letters "L" and "G" in a circle symbolize the world, future, youth, humanity, and technology”. Their tagline effectively delivers both their core values, and also manages to use the same two letters as their brand name to further get their message across.

The BMW tagline was born from a strategic marketing campaign in the 1970s, aimed at redefining the brand’s perception to create both an idea, and a promise of what BMW vehicles represent. The effort was so successful that BMW has become synonymous with their tagline, as “The Ultimate Driving Machine”.

What are common logo uses?

Websites: As part of brand recognition, having your logo on your site helps to identify your company and develop consistency with your web presence. When you create a website , make sure that your logo is visible and recognizable for your visitors. Logos are usually placed in the header and/or footer of your site, most often left-aligned and ideally linked to the homepage. Additionally, your logo can be used as your website’s the favicon, the small icon that appears in the browser window.

Business cards: When you design a business card , remember it is like a small memento, something for your potential customers to remember you by that they physically get to keep. Having your logo displayed on your business cards is a perfect opportunity to jog their memory, so they will come back to you later.

Products, packaging, merchandise: Big or small, including your logo on all your products and merchandise is key for recognition. It is also a great way to build trust and loyalty. Imagine somebody walking down the street carrying a bag with your company logo—it’s free advertising and social proof.

Customer communications: Your logo should appear in any kind of communication with your customers including emails, newsletters, campaigns and instant messaging. These exchanges need to be easily identifiable to your audience, so they can immediately know who they are speaking with. It is a reinforcement of the brand identity and adds to the trustworthiness of your company.

Social media: Having your logo across your social media channels helps develop a cohesive social presence. Since social media is all about sharing, you want to make sure your photos and visuals are branded. This applies not only to posts on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn or YouTube, and also other platforms such as Reddit and Quora.

Internal assets: Beyond external uses, your logo serves an important and necessary purpose internally—to promote your company culture. Things like company-wide presentations, emails or training sessions should always include your logo. Furthermore, if you ever create employee swag, you want your team to wear your logo with pride. And that is something you can be proud of too.

What makes a good logo?

A good logo is one that is simple, memorable, versatile, appropriate and distinctive.

Simple: A good logo should be easy to understand and remember, this means avoiding complex designs that can be difficult to reproduce across multiple assets. A logo is used on a website, on physical marketing materials including print ads and signs, as well as across digital resources. It should be easy to format and look good on any asset.

Memorable: A good logo should be unique and stand out from the competition. Always aim for a design that is easy to recognize and remember.

Versatile: A good logo should be able to be used in a variety of mediums and sizes. It should look good in both black and white and color and it should be scalable to any size without losing its impact.

Appropriate: A good logo should be relevant to your brand and target audience. It should reflect your brand values and personality and it should appeal to your customers not just you and your employees.

Distinctive: A good logo should be unique and stand out from the competition. Avoid generic designs that are similar to other logos.

Relevance: A logo should be relevant in order to create immediate recognition establishes a strong first and lasting impression of a brand. An example of this would be a pet walking business that features a dog on it's logo. Less relevant would be to include an image of an elephant.

Timeless: A logo should be timeless for long term brand recognition. A timeless design remains effective and relevant even if trends change, reducing the need for frequent redesigns. This consistency contributes to brand loyalty and saves business resources by avoiding costly rebranding efforts in the future.

Here are some additional tips for creating a good logo:

Use negative space: Negative space is the empty space between the elements of your logo. It can be used to create a sense of balance and harmony in your design.

Use color wisely: Color can have a powerful impact on emotions, so choose colors that align with your brand values and target audience.

Use typography effectively: The font you choose for your logo can have a big impact on the overall look and feel of your brand. Choose a font that is both visually appealing and easy to read.

Collect feedback: Once you have a few logo designs, show them to friends, family and colleagues to get their feedback. This can help you to identify any potential problems with your design and make sure that it's effective and appealing. Don't shy away from feedback, it's better to get it from people close to you than from future customers.

How is a logo different from branding?

A logo is a visual mark that represents a company or brand. It's often the first thing customers see and remember about a brand. A logo can be a simple wordmark, a graphic symbol or a combination of both.

Branding is the process of creating a unique identity for a company or brand. This includes developing the company's mission, values and personality. It also includes creating a visual identity, which includes the logo, typography, colors and overall aesthetic of the brand.

While a logo is an important part of branding, it's only one piece of the puzzle. Branding is a more holistic concept that encompasses everything that makes a company unique.

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What is a Logo: Unveiling the Power of Visual Branding

In the vast world of design and branding, logos hold a special place in representing the identity of a business or organization. They are more than just visual symbols; logos convey the essence, values, and personality of a brand. In this comprehensive guide, we will delve into the concept of logos, explore their importance, and provide insights into how they contribute to effective branding strategies.

Understanding Logos: More Than Meets the Eye

A Logo Defined: At its core, a logo is a visual mark or symbol that represents a business, brand, or organization. It serves as a quick, memorable way to identify and differentiate one entity from another. But logos are not just random images or illustrations; they are carefully crafted to evoke specific emotions, create brand recognition, and establish a lasting impression on the target audience.

Logos have been used for centuries as a means of visually representing organizations and distinguishing them from others. They encapsulate the core values, mission, and personality of a brand in a single visual mark. Through clever use of design elements such as shapes, colors, typography, and imagery, logos convey a wealth of information about a brand’s identity and purpose. User research  helps refine logo designs, ensuring they resonate with the intended audience. Partnering with a professional design agency can further enhance a logo’s effectiveness in a competitive market.

The Power of Logos: Logos are powerful communication tools that can convey a brand’s values, mission, and personality in a single glance. They act as a visual ambassador, speaking volumes about the essence of a business. Logos have the potential to resonate with customers, foster trust and loyalty, and leave a memorable impact.

According to digital design agency FiveCube , a well-designed logo has the ability to make a brand instantly recognizable and memorable. It becomes the visual representation of the brand, serving as a visual shorthand that triggers instant associations in the minds of consumers. Logos have the power to evoke emotions, create connections, and communicate a brand’s unique selling propositions.

Key Takeaways:

• Logos are visual symbols that represent a brand or business.
• They communicate a brand’s values, mission, and personality.
• Logos have the power to create recognition and leave a lasting impression.

Pro Tip: At GraphicSprings, we understand the significance of a well-crafted logo in creating a strong brand identity. Our logo maker empowers individuals and businesses to design their own logos, providing a user-friendly experience with access to a wide range of design elements.

Exploring the Different Aspects of Logos

To truly grasp the essence of logos, it’s essential to explore the various elements that make them unique and impactful. Let’s take a closer look at some key aspects of logos:

1. Design and Visual Elements

The design and visual elements of a logo play a crucial role in creating its overall impact and effectiveness. Logos incorporate a combination of design elements such as typography, colors, shapes, and imagery. Each of these elements contributes to the overall aesthetic and message of the logo. The design choices reflect the brand’s personality, industry, and target audience.

Typography: The choice of typography in a logo can significantly influence how it is perceived. Fonts have personalities, and selecting the right typography can convey a sense of professionalism, playfulness, elegance, or any other desired attribute. Typography should be legible, scalable, and align with the overall brand identity.

Colors: Colors have a powerful impact on human emotions and perceptions. The color palette chosen for a logo can evoke specific feelings or associations. Vibrant colors may convey energy and excitement, while muted tones may create a sense of sophistication or tranquility. It’s important to consider color psychology and how it aligns with the brand’s messaging and target audience.

Shapes and Symbols: The use of shapes and symbols in a logo can add depth and meaning to its design. Different shapes have inherent psychological associations. For example, circles often represent unity, harmony, and completeness, while triangles can symbolize strength, stability, or creativity. Incorporating relevant symbols can further enhance the visual storytelling of the logo.

Imagery: Imagery in logos can range from simple, abstract forms to more elaborate illustrations or icons. Imagery should be carefully chosen to reinforce the brand’s values, industry, or unique selling points. It should be visually appealing, easily recognizable, and relevant to the target audience.

• Logos incorporate design elements that reflect the brand’s personality.
• Typography, colors, shapes, and imagery contribute to the logo’s overall impact.
• Design choices should align with the brand’s industry and target audience.

Pro Tip: GraphicSprings’ logo maker allows you to explore various design elements and customize your logo to create a memorable and impactful visual representation of your brand.

2. Versatility and Scalability

An effective logo is versatile and adaptable to different mediums and applications. It should maintain its visual impact and legibility across various platforms, including websites, social media, print materials, and signage. Scalability ensures that the logo remains clear and recognizable at different sizes.

A logo must be designed to be scalable without losing its visual integrity. It should look equally appealing and legible whether it’s displayed on a billboard or a small business card. By considering scalability, a logo can maintain its recognizability and effectiveness across various touchpoints.

Versatility is also essential in ensuring the logo’s adaptability to different color spaces and backgrounds. A logo should work equally well in full-color, grayscale, or single-color versions. It should be designed to stand out against various backgrounds and maintain its visual impact in different contexts.

• An effective logo is versatile and adaptable to different mediums and applications.
• Scalability ensures the logo remains clear and recognizable at different sizes.
• Versatility includes adaptability to different color spaces and backgrounds.

Pro Tip: When designing your logo with GraphicSprings’ logo maker, you can preview how your logo will appear across different mediums and sizes, ensuring it remains visually appealing and impactful.

3. Brand Identity and Recognition

A logo plays a crucial role in establishing and reinforcing a brand’s identity. It creates recognition and helps customers identify and associate with the brand. Consistency in logo usage across different touchpoints contributes to brand recognition and fosters a sense of trust and familiarity.

Brand Identity: A logo serves as the face of a brand, representing its core values, mission, and personality. It should align with the brand’s positioning, target audience, and industry. By capturing the essence of a brand, a logo helps to establish a unique and memorable brand identity.

Recognition and Association: A well-designed logo becomes a visual cue that triggers instant recognition and recall. It helps customers associate specific qualities, experiences, and emotions with a brand. The more a logo is consistently and prominently displayed across different channels, the more it contributes to brand recognition and recall.

Consistency and Cohesion: Using a logo consistently across all brand touchpoints helps build a cohesive brand experience. From websites and packaging to advertisements and social media profiles, a consistent logo presence reinforces brand identity, contributes to brand equity, and enhances the overall brand perception.

• A logo contributes to brand identity, recognition, and recall.
• Consistent logo usage builds brand cohesion and familiarity.

Pro Tip: GraphicSprings’ expertise in logo branding and design allows us to help you create a logo that aligns with your branding strategy. Visit our custom logo services to explore how we can assist you in achieving a consistent and impactful brand identity.

The Impact of Logos in Branding Strategies

A well-designed logo is an integral part of a comprehensive branding strategy. It sets the tone for the brand, communicates its values, and creates a visual connection with the target audience. Let’s explore the significance of logos in branding:

1. Brand Recognition and Recall

Logos are a visual cue that triggers instant recognition and recall. A strong logo helps customers associate specific qualities and experiences with a brand, building familiarity and trust. It becomes a symbol of the brand’s reputation and sets it apart from competitors.

Brand recognition is vital in a crowded marketplace. A recognizable logo creates a sense of trust and credibility. It helps customers easily identify and choose a brand among a sea of options. Over time, consistent exposure to a logo contributes to brand recall, making it easier for customers to remember and recommend the brand.

2. Differentiation and Market Positioning

In a crowded marketplace, a well-crafted logo can be a powerful differentiator. It helps a brand stand out from the competition, communicating its unique selling points and value proposition. A distinct logo contributes to market positioning and sets the brand apart from competitors.

A logo can convey the brand’s personality, values, and industry expertise, allowing customers to understand what makes the brand special. Through the strategic use of design elements, colors, and imagery, a logo can create an emotional connection with the target audience, influencing their perception and driving their preference for the brand.

3. Consumer Perception and Trust

Logos play a significant role in shaping consumer perception. A professional and well-designed logo conveys credibility, professionalism, and attention to detail. It creates a positive first impression, building trust and confidence in the brand and its offerings.

When customers encounter a brand for the first time, the logo is often the first point of contact. A well-designed logo helps establish the brand’s credibility and competence. It reflects the brand’s commitment to quality and signals that the brand can be trusted to deliver on its promises.

4. Consistency and Cohesion

Logos serve as a unifying element across all brand touchpoints. Consistent logo usage fosters a sense of cohesion and professionalism, ensuring a seamless brand experience. From websites and social media profiles to packaging and marketing collateral , a cohesive logo presence reinforces brand identity.

By using a logo consistently, a brand creates a visual thread that connects all brand elements and touchpoints. This visual consistency reinforces the brand’s message, enhances recognition, and strengthens the brand’s overall positioning. Consistent logo usage also builds brand equity, making it easier for customers to identify and choose the brand.

• Logos contribute to brand recognition, recall, and differentiation.
• They shape consumer perception and build trust.
• Consistent logo usage ensures brand cohesion and recognition.

Pro Tip: GraphicSprings’ expertise in logo design and branding can help you create a logo that aligns with your branding strategy. Our logo maker provides a user-friendly platform to design and customize your logo, ensuring consistency and visual impact across all brand touchpoints.

How to Create a Memorable Logo Design

Creating a logo that captures the essence of your brand requires careful thought and consideration. Follow these steps to create a memorable logo design:

1. Define Your Brand Identity

Start by clearly defining your brand’s identity, values, and target audience. Understand what sets your brand apart and how you want to be perceived. Consider your brand’s personality, tone of voice, and the emotions you want to evoke in your target audience.

By defining your brand identity, you establish the foundation for your logo design. It will guide your choices in terms of typography, colors, and imagery, ensuring that your logo aligns with your brand’s overall message and positioning.

2. Research and Inspiration

Conduct thorough research to gather inspiration from various sources. Look at successful logos in your industry and beyond to understand design trends and identify unique approaches. Study the logos of brands you admire and analyze the elements that make them effective and memorable.

Collecting inspiration from diverse sources allows you to identify patterns, uncover innovative design ideas, and find inspiration that can be adapted to your own logo design. Explore different design styles, color palettes, and typography to fuel your creative process.

3. Conceptualize and Sketch

With your brand identity and research in mind, begin brainstorming ideas and sketching out rough concepts on paper. Let your creativity flow and explore different possibilities. Experiment with different shapes, typography, and imagery to visually represent your brand.

Sketching is an essential step in the logo design process as it allows you to quickly explore multiple ideas and iterate on them. It provides a tangible way to visualize your concepts and make adjustments before moving to the digital design phase.

4. Refine and Iterate

Review your initial sketches and select the most promising ideas. Transfer them to digital design software like Gravit or adobe Photoshop for windows . or work with a professional designer to refine and iterate on your concepts. Pay attention to details, proportions, and color choices.

The refinement phase is an opportunity to polish your logo design and ensure that it aligns with your brand identity. Experiment with different variations, typography treatments, and color combinations to find the perfect balance and visual impact for your logo.

5. Typography and Colors

Choose typography that aligns with your brand’s personality and conveys the desired message. Select colors that evoke the right emotions and resonate with your target audience. Consider the psychological impact of different colors and their compatibility with your brand identity.

Typography and color choices greatly influence the overall perception and impact of your logo design. They can convey professionalism, playfulness, sophistication, or other desired attributes. Ensure that the typography is legible at different sizes and that the color palette works well across various applications.

6. Test and Gather Feedback

Once you have a refined logo design, test it by sharing it with your target audience, colleagues, or focus groups. Collect feedback and make adjustments if necessary. Consider factors such as readability, recognizability, and overall impression.

Testing your logo design with the target customer allows you to validate its effectiveness and gather valuable insights. You can store, manage, and analyze these insights in management tools for better logo validation. Feedback from different perspectives can help identify potential areas for improvement and ensure that your logo resonates with your intended audience.

7. Protect and Use Consistently

Once you have your final logo design, it’s crucial to protect it by trademarking or registering it with the appropriate authorities. This legal protection ensures that your logo is uniquely associated with your brand. Additionally, use your logo consistently across all brand touchpoints to maintain a cohesive and recognizable visual identity.

Trademarking your logo provides legal protection and helps prevent others from using a similar design, protecting your brand’s integrity and uniqueness. Consistent usage of your logo across all brand touchpoints contributes to brand recognition, strengthens brand equity, and creates a professional and cohesive brand image.

• Define your brand identity and target audience before starting the logo design process.
• Gather inspiration, sketch out concepts, and refine them digitally.
• Choose typography and colors that align with your brand’s personality and message.
• Test your logo design and gather feedback to make necessary adjustments.
• Protect your logo through trademarking or registration and use it consistently.

Pro Tip: GraphicSprings’ logo maker provides an intuitive platform to create and customize your logo design. With a wide range of design elements and tools, you can bring your logo ideas to life and ensure a memorable representation of your brand.

In conclusion, logos are more than just visual symbols; they are the face of your brand. Understanding the elements and impact of logos is crucial in creating a memorable and effective brand identity. By considering design elements, brand recognition, differentiation, and the overall branding strategy, you can craft a logo that captures the essence of your brand and resonates with your target audience.

The 9 Types of Logos & How to Use Them

Home » Logo Maker » Types of Logos

Regardless of how you design a logo, be it with a logo maker or a freelance designer, you should know which type of logo best fits your brand before you start the design process.

While a great logo combines many elements – font, images, color palette, etc.), these elements will only make a cohesive balance if you are clear about the type of logo you want to create.

There are two main logo categories: Image or icon-based logos and name-based logos. However, nine types of logos fit into these groups, and in this post, we will break them down for you.

Image-Based Logos

Icon-based logos use images in order to send a message about the brand they’re representing. Let’s check out the 4 different types: 

1. Brand Marks

Brand marks – or pictorial marks – are logos that are made up of a graphic symbol or icon, one that (usually) represents a real-world object. We’re talking a logo icon that’s simple and straightforward, like the outline of a tree or a coffee mug. This object could tell the story of what your company does – think Youtube’s play button – or maybe play with your company name.

Advantages of a brand mark:

Brand marks are clean-cut and easy to remember. If you offer a specific service, an image representing that will send a quick, clear message to your audience.

Also, the simplicity of the design will translate well when resizing your logo across branding materials like business cards or letterheads.

When to use a brand mark:

Is there one thing your business does really, really well? The Twitter brand mark is well-suited because it’s a bird, which instantly reminds people that the company tweets. If your business already has some traction, and/or if you specialize in one product or one service that can easily be represented by an image, then a brand mark could be a great choice for you. 

Or, if, like Apple, your business name represents a real-world object, then you could also use a brand mark of that same object. 

What to consider before using a brand mark:

Tread cautiously if you’re a new business or don’t yet have many followers. While a brand mark is often the hallmark of companies that could be considered iconic, you need to first be established enough to be recognized. Otherwise, your logo may not communicate enough about you to your audience, and they’ll lose interest in your brand.

Also, bear in mind that if you’re planning on expanding your product line to a few diverse objects, your logo may misrepresent what you do.

Inspiration : The Rolling Stones, Apple, Twitter, Target, Royal Dutch Shell 

2. Abstract Logo Marks

Abstract logos are your conceptual, think-about-the-big-picture logos.

Like brand marks, an abstract logo consists of just a symbol – but one that is tailor-made for you. This type of image doesn’t necessarily mimic an object that exists in real life; rather, it’s a unique logo that’s designed to express something specific about your brand.

Advantages of abstract logos:

There’s room to play with these designs, because you can create a logo that really communicates your values or something about your brand that you’d like to emphasize.

Because an abstract logo isn’t restricted to a real-world object or image, there’s a lot of wiggle room to say what you want about your company. 

When to use an abstract logo: 

If you’re a business that does several distinct things, a well-thought out abstract mark may be the perfect logo for you! Abstract designs are great for communicating brand values or something else that you want to distinguish about your business. 

The Chase logo, for example, is able to represent forward motion, while simultaneously symbolizing the different parts of the bank itself. 

You can also do well with a simple abstract logo if you’re planning on doing the bulk of your branding online, because simple designs will translate well regardless of the logo size. 

What to consider before using an abstract logo:

You’ll want to make sure that you refine the logo design until you’re sure you’re conveying the intended message to the world. Attention to detail is crucial with abstract logo marks, and you don’t want your message to be misconstrued with a logo design that’s too vague or hard to understand. Notice how the Nike logo is easily recreatable from memory? 

Also, a logo with excessive detail in the design may not look the way you want when printed at different resolutions; therefore, consult with a logo designer that understands how fonts, colors and shapes interact.

Inspiration : Airbnb, Pepsi, Microsoft, Nike, Chase 

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Arguably the most family-friendly type of logo, mascots are images of a character or person that act as a visual representation of your business. Think of them as your brand’s “spokesperson” – much of your advertising will be centered around them.

Advantages of mascot logos:

Mascots give their audience that warm-and-fuzzy feeling, which leads to creating a distinctly memorable brand. Also, nothing appeals to kids more than a physical, tangible character that they can relate to.

And, while you may empathize with the guy standing outside a seafood restaurant waving the arms of a 6’2 lobster costume as he sweats desperately in the August heat, your kids are likely to go crazy over him and beg you to eat there.

Just some food for thought. (See what we did there?)

When to use mascot logos: 

These are a great choice for brands trying to cater to children. Many food businesses or restaurants use mascots – like KFC and Kellogg’s – as do brands that want to make a complex idea seem more accessible, like Mailchimp’s marketing automation platform. 

So, if you offer something a little more “dry” or difficult to understand, like a SAAS (software as a service) or plumbing services, a mascot could be a great way to humanize your brand and make it more appealing to your audience. 

What to consider before using a mascot logo:

Realize that Mascots may not send the right message if your company’s focus is global innovation or disrupting the pencil industry – or, of course, marketing a product that isn’t child-friendly.

Case in point: Camel cigarettes ran a ten-year advertising campaign based on their mascot, Joe Camel (also known as Old Joe). However, they had to pull the campaign in 1997 while facing a lawsuit that accused the company of using Old Joe to target children – evidenced by a $470 million increase in cigarette sales to teenagers since the campaign started.

Moral of the story: If you’re a company selling cigarettes – don’t try to promote to kids. Just don’t.

Companies like Pillsbury, on the other hand, are perfectly represented by their wholesome, doughy – I mean, well-rounded – mascots (pictured above).

Inspiration: KFC, Pillsbury, Kellogg’s, Mailchimp, Pringles

4. Combination Marks

The name is pretty self-explanatory, but combination logos incorporate – combine – both images and words into their design.

Combination mark logos include any combination of images and words that you choose; you can pair a letterform with a mascot, a monogram with an abstract image – whichever combination speaks to you the most. (We’ll talk more about some of these other logo types below.) 

Advantages of combination marks:

One word: Versatility.

With both symbols and letters at your disposal, you can use your logo to craft a clear brand message that sticks.

The combination also allows for easy rebranding – your company name, for example, combined with an image (abstract or otherwise) will be associated as one, so that eventually your customers will only see the symbol and still immediately think of your brand.

(Nike did just that with their infamous “swoosh”; while their traditional logo is their name combined with the swoosh image, their clothing is often branded with just the swoosh – and is instantly recognized.)

When to use a combination mark: 

You’ll definitely want to consider this type of logo if you’re just starting out. Combination marks will give your audience multiple visual cues when they come in contact with your business, which helps them to remember you – and what you do – over time. 

They’re also a great option if you want to trademark your logo , as pairing symbols with text will help you to create a distinct image. 

What to consider before using a combination mark:

Versatile shouldn’t mean excessive. Conceptualize how you want your name and symbol to work together, and keep your logo design clean and on-message.

Inspiration : Pizza Hut, Puma, Mastercard, CVS, Toblerone.

5. Emblem Logos

Even the name has that impressive, traditional feel. Emblems have stood the test of time, from family crests to the royal stamps of powerful monarchs. These logos consist of a typeface that sits within a border – usually a seal or a crest. Think universities and government organizations.

Advantages of emblem logos:

Emblems are memorable, and they lend an air of professionalism, traditionalism and importance to your brand. They also give the impression that your company has been around forever, and it isn’t going anywhere any time soon.

When to use an emblem logo: 

This logo type is great for brands who want to seem reputable or tell their audience that they uphold traditional values. Emblems look particularly good (read: prestigious) when they’re engraved, so it may be a good option for you if you run an organization with uniforms or garments of some kind. 

What to consider before using an emblem:

Once again, think about scalability as you design your emblem, since these logos tend to have more detailed designs that may not look as nice when resized.

Also, emblems don’t afford you the same flexibility as standard combination marks do, so be absolutely sure about your design before sending your logo into the world.

Inspiration : Starbucks, Stella Artois, Perrier, BMW, Harvard 

6. Dynamic Marks

You could say dynamic marks are the new-age logo. Unlike other logos, this type of logo adapts itself to the context in which it’s used. This means that rather than having one standard font-color-text combination in your logo, these elements can change – whether on the internet or on different branding materials.  

Advantages of dynamic marks:

You can be as creative as you want! Because there are so many mediums through which to build your brand (think responsive web pages or mobile sites, blogs, digital media, merchandise, ads – the list doesn’t end) you can modify your logo to fit any scenario or make a slew of impressions on potential customers.

Also, dynamic logos keep things interesting; your audience will be waiting on the edge of their digital seats to see what you come up with next.

When to use a dynamic mark: 

This is a great option for brands in entertainment, media, or creative industries. If your business will have a number of different branches, like FedEx, then a dynamic mark with a changing color could be a great way to differentiate those parts to your customers. 

What to consider before using a dynamic mark:

You don’t want to lose the associative power of your logo. Some of your followers may connect your brand with your colors, others may remember the shape of your icon; if these details are constantly changing, your logo may not cause the same effect as a stagnant logo would. Be mindful of the changes you make, and once again, make sure to keep your logo on message.  

Inspiration : Nickelodeon, AOL, FedEx

Name-Based Logos

The following logo types don’t use images or icons in their designs, and they primarily use a strong typeface and color palette in order to make their mark. Let’s take a look!

7. Wordmark Logos (Logotypes)

Wordmark logos consist of text only – company names, monograms or initials.

Essentially, logotypes are just a business name set in some kind of particular typeface (font).

Advantages of wordmark logos:

No one has to do any guessing when they see a wordmark – it’s quite clear what company the logo represents. Because the design is all in the lettering, logotypes are one of the most versatile logo options that are easily transferable onto any marketing material.

When to use a wordmark logo: 

If your business name is catchy, this is the perfect way to highlight that and use it to your branding advantage. High-end fashion brands like Tiffany and Co. use wordmarks a lot, as do food brands and tech companies that want to be seen as innovative. 

The power of wordmarks are all in their fonts, which means that you can choose a font whose style is highly reflective of your brand’s personality – and your audience’s eyes will be drawn right to your logo. 

What to consider before using a wordmark logo: 

Does your business’s name say anything about what you do? If you’re not well-known, or if your business is named after a person rather than a concept, it may be difficult to create the kind of brand recognition you’d want a logo to help foster without using an image. 

Inspiration : Subway, Uber, Coca Cola, ToysRUs, Tiffany and Co. 

8. Lettermarks (Monograms)

Think abbreviations. Lettermarks, or monogram logos , are typography-based logos that take the abbreviated initials of a company and spruce up their design a bit. Boom! You have a no-fuss, no-frills logo.

Advantages of lettermark logos :

Likely more than ever before, the world loves abbreviations (maybe we have the current technological era to thank for that?). From our interpersonal communication style – LOL, BTW, OMG – to name a few – to our luxury car companies (BMW), acronyms are throwing themselves all over the modern era.

Also, they’re to the point: Lettermarks turn your lengthy business name into an identifiable brand identity

When to use a lettermark logo: 

It’s relatively easy to get this logo up and running – after all, there’s not much detail to think about – so monograms could be a great option if you’re a new/small business who needs to get their name out there.

Lettermarks are also a good choice for you if you have a long business name – like the New York Yankees – which is difficult to print on small objects or read at a small scale. Finally, because monograms are often associated with personalization and wealth, they can be a good option for brands that are trying to appeal to a high-end crowd or offer homemade/handcrafted items.  

What to consider before using a lettermark logo:

Know your fonts. The simplicity of the logo should work to your advantage, but make sure you’re not stuck with a boring, forgettable logo design; the appeal lies in the details.

Also, you may want to consider embossing your business’s full name under your logo on branding materials (like business cards or a landing page) so that people can build an association between your monogram logo and your company name.  

Inspiration: HP, LG, Louis Vuitton, New York Yankees, IBM 

9. Letterforms

Last but not least, letterforms are the minimalist cousins of monograms; they’re just one-letter logos . Of course, these logos should be bold and beautiful (read: designed well), since it is difficult for a letter alone to convey a clear message. Think Favicons (“shortcut” or website icons).   

Advantages of letterform logos:

Letterforms are easily scalable. When your logo is just one letter, you can stick it anywhere and have it look equally as good. And, a successfully-designed letterform will subconsciously invoke the full name of your brand in people’s minds. 

When to use letterform logos:

If you have a long and complicated business name, then letterforms are a good way to make your logo “snackable” while still hinting at your business name. You can play with the typeface to have your letterform stand in for something you offer, like the Beats logo does to symbolize speakers. 

What to consider before using a letterform:

Because these logos are just one letter, the design is crucial; if the logo isn’t memorable, it’s pointless. This could mean it has a funky font, dramatic backdrop or interesting color scheme- anything that makes the letter pop off the page and resonate.

And, make sure the font you use is legible. If your logo is just one letter, you want people to be able to read it.

Inspiration : Beats, McDonald’s, WordPress, Yahoo, E! Online 

Over to You 

Now that you know about the types of logos that are out there, it’s time to craft your own! Don’t worry – Tailor Brands logo designers tools have you covered.

You don’t need logo designers when you can use our logo maker. It’s powered by AI, and uses thousands of data points to select the most appropriate fonts for your industry. It also reviews current industry trends fonts to ensure the fonts you use in your logo are aligned to what’s current and fresh.

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7 types of logos and which ones to use for your brand

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Get inspired, ben barnhart.

• 30 April 2024

In this article

Even though all logos, no matter the type, are a combination of images and strong typography, each type has its flavor and uniqueness. While each logo is different in its own way, there are seven main categories:

2. Pictorial marks (or logo symbols)

3. Wordmarks (or logotypes )

4. Monogram logos (or letter marks)

5. Abstract logo marks

6. mascot logos.

7. Combination marks

Let's take a closer look at the various logo types and the advantages and disadvantages of using each one.

An emblem is a logo that features text, a symbol, or imagery inside a geometric shape.

Advantages of emblem logos

• They’re memorable
• Can give a traditional feel to your brand
• Give an official look to your brand

Disadvantages of emblem logos

• It may not look so good when resized to a smaller resolution
• Hard to read when placed on a billboard

As these logos have a more traditional feel, they’re often used by organizations, universities, government agencies, etc. Think of the Harvard logo, the Yale logo, NASA, or the NFL.

All of them are emblem logo types. Some popular brands, such as Starbucks or MasterCard, also choose this type of logo.

Emblem logos are trendy in the auto industry, too. Some automobile companies like Ford and BMW use emblem logos. Lately, some companies have decided to modernize the traditional emblem look with entirely new or updated logo designs that are more appropriate for the 21st century.

KIA, for instance, used to have an emblem logo, but they decided to update it to a Wordmark logo this year. Their new logo resembles a handwritten signature.

Another reason some brands decide to update their logos is increased popularity. Once some brands become popular enough that people recognize them even with an image or symbol, they remove the brand’s name from their logo.

A perfect example is Starbucks, which, in 2011, decided to maintain the core elements of its brand but removed all the text from its logo, turning it into a symbol logo.

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2. Pictorial marks

A logo reduced to its symbolistic meaning is called a pictorial mark or a brandmark.

Some examples of brandmark logos are Apple, Twitter, Nike, Target, and McDonald’s.

Advantages of pictorial marks

• Conveys ideas through a symbol
• Recognizable if the brand is popular
• Scalable (when you design a vector logo )

Disadvantages of pictorial marks

• Not the best option if you do not have strong brand recognition

If you want your audience to associate your brand with this type of logo design, the logo design does not have to be a literal representation of your business identity. It still needs to include distinctive symbols that you can use as visual representations of your brand .

As mentioned earlier, popular brands such as Starbucks have changed their logo from an emblem to a symbol once they were established on the market.

If you're starting, you can still use this type of logo. You'll also need to use a wordmark associated with the symbol until your broad audience becomes familiar with your brand and what you offer. Once the symbol of your logo is recognizable enough that you don't need the wordmark, you can follow Starbucks’ example and remove it.

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3. wordmarks.

Advantages of wordmark logos

• They’re  simple
• Easy to mix with other design elements
• Easily recognized
• Perfect for new businesses

Disadvantages of wordmark logos

• It only works well with short brand names
• You may need to update the font to keep up with new trends

Wordmark logos are a powerful type of logo design. The definition of the logotype is straightforward, as they’re made up of the company's name. You won't find symbols, graphic patterns, or emblems in a logotype. The main feature of the logotype design is its typography.

The style and color of your fonts will create your brand's whole identity. That is why it’s crucial to find typography that works well for you and represents your brand well. Then, you can select a color or several colors that represent the feel of your brand.

Some wordmark logo examples include Coca-Cola, Disney, Google, Subway, and Jeep.

This type of logo is perfect if you are just starting and unsure what symbol would best represent you. Having your brand’s name as a logo will get your brand's name out there and help people connect to your brand immediately.

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4. Monogram logos

If you want to reduce your brand's name to an acronym, lettermarks or letterform logos are great ways to do so.

You can easily create the logo by taking the initials from each word of your brand's name. There's only one part left to think about: typography. Consider how the type and letters you use for your monogram logo fit together to create a unified image.

Advantages of monogram logos

• Perfect if your brand has several names which you can use to create the acronym
• Looks professional
• Easy to recognize
• Scalable (if you choose the right font)

Disadvantages of monogram logos

• Hard to recognize if you are new to the market
• You may need to place the full name beneath it until it is safe to remove it

Since the logo will consist only of an acronym, you’ll need to choose a custom typeface that is easy on the eyes and legible when scaled down.

Famous brands that use lettermark logos are HBO, CNN, H&M, IBM, and the BBC.

Instead of being a recognizable image - like an apple or a bird - as the name suggests, the abstract logo design does not include recognizable images but abstract geometric forms and elements.

Advantages of abstract logo marks

• They’re unique
• Instantly recognizable

Disadvantages of abstract logo marks

• Not the best type of logo for new brands

This geometric form will help you condense your brand into a distinctive appearance. Examples of famous companies and organizations that use abstract logo types are Pepsi, BP, Adidas, and the Olympics.

This abstract logo mark should convey a particular message and represent your brand. The colors you use should also be considered, as they can help make the design even more memorable.

If your business or product is new on the market, using this type of logo to represent you can be risky because you will first need a solid base of people who recognize your brand.

Advantages of mascot logos

• Evoke a fun and friendly vibe

Disadvantages of mascot logos

• Hard to renew and change the character
• It can’t be used for brands that aim to send a professional message

When you think of a mascot, do sports events come to your mind almost immediately? Mascots at sporting events are fun to look at. They create a warm dynamic that also involves the audience.

Mascot logos evoke a similar vibe with positive associations. They involve an illustrated character of a natural person, imaginary person, or non-human entity. 

More often than not, mascot logos are colorful and fun. They give you a warm feeling and make you feel more connected to the brand since people will be more attracted to the character representing your company.

Mascot logos are often used by sports teams, beverage companies, and food brands. KFC, Pringles, Wendy's, and Cheetos are well-known for their famous mascots.

7. Combination mark

As its name suggests, the combination mark logo is a combo mark of various logo designs.

The best thing about this dynamic mark is that you can mix multiple types of logo design if you cannot decide on a single image, symbol, or abstract form.

Advantages of combination mark logos

• Easy to edit in the long term
• It gives you the freedom to be as creative as you wish

Disadvantages of combination mark logos

• It may look overloaded if it combines too many logo types

Want to use a symbol but are afraid that you will confuse potential customers and won't be easy to recognize? Then, you can easily combine the symbol logo with an abstract symbol, words, or acronyms.

You can use a combination of typography or a combination of wordmarks as well.  Mix and match with different types of logos until you feel strongly about a final version that will work best for your brand. Some examples of combination mark logos are Domino’s Pizza, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, Puma, and Adobe.

Making your logo

Now that you know the different logo types, it's time to create your own .

There's no better vector tool for logo-making than Linearity Curve . Our software saves you the cost of an external agency's logo design. You can even sketch your logo design on pen and paper first, then use Linearity Curve's Document Scanner feature to import it and turn it into a vector logo .

Linearity Move offers robust features that are easy for animation beginners to use and advanced enough for professional designers. Linearity Curve and Move are seamlessly integrated, forming a powerful combination of vector and motion design tools .

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Once you've created your design, share it with us on social media or on the Linearity Community . We can't wait to see what you'll make.

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Frequently asked questions

What are the 7 types of logos.

• Lettermarks (or Monogram logos): These are logos consisting of letters, usually a company's initials or acronyms.
• Wordmarks (or Logotypes): Logos comprised solely of text, often the company's name designed in a distinctive font or style.
• Pictorial marks (or Logo symbols): Logos that are icon or graphic-based , representing the brand without using text.
• Abstract logos: These logos use abstract shapes and forms to convey the brand's message or identity.
• Emblem logos: These logos have text inside a symbol or an icon, often enclosed within a shape, like a badge or a crest.
• Mascot logos: Logos that feature a character or mascot representing the brand.
• Combination marks: Logos incorporating text and a symbol or icon to represent the brand together.

Which type of logo is most popular?

The popularity of logo types can vary depending on the industry, trends, and individual brand preferences. 

Combination marks are quite popular as they offer flexibility in brand representation, incorporating both text and a visual element.

Can I design a logo on iPad?

Yes, you can design a logo on an iPad. There are several design apps available for iPad that offer powerful tools for logo design, such as Adobe Illustrator Draw, Procreate, Affinity Designer, and Canva.

How can I animate my logo?

To animate a logo, you can use various software tools depending on your skill level and the complexity of the animation you're aiming for. Some popular options include:

• Linearity Move and Linearity Curve: The integrated Linearity platform can be used for logo creation and animation. The sophisticated Auto Animate feature empowers you to animate your static logo in a few clicks.
• Online animation tools: There are also online platforms like Animaker, Renderforest, and Biteable that offer templates and easy-to-use interfaces for creating logo animations without the need for extensive animation knowledge.

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Ben is the Marketing Manager at Linearity in Berlin, with extensive experience in content writing. He blends his passion for animation and history to develop impactful marketing strategies.

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Icon, Mark, Brand, Emblem: The Missing Guide to Logo Design Terms

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You’ve heard of all these logo-related terms before: Icon, mark, brand and emblem. Virtually everyone (including some working in the ad business) uses these terms interchangeably at will. That speaks to the lack of familiarity with the different terms in logo design ! A logo goes beyond business and marketing because it’s all about promoting brand recognition. That’s why logos can apply to organizations or movements as well as private individuals just as much as they can to commercial enterprises. There are fine differences between an icon, mark, brand and emblem. Knowing what they are will empower you to create your own logo with greater effect and differentiate your product or services from the other creatives in your industry. If you’ve ever been confused by these interchangeable design terms, be confused no longer! Join us as we take a close look at the subtle differences and sometimes similarities between these logo-related terms.

In logo design, an icon is a symbol that conveys strong, universal values and ideas that make it immediately recognizable. Essentially, it’s a straightforward and bold representation of a company. While an icon can be in the shape of a recognizable item, it’s typically changed in an abstract way to make it stand out. That adds all the more to it being very memorable. In a graphical sense, though, an icon can also apply to our digitally obsessed culture and its immediate recognition of icons on our smartphones and apps. Just look at your smartphone, and you’ll see a slew of instantly recognizable icons that serve as symbols for your favorite apps, such as:

In the Creative Market marketplace, we have a slew of icons, icon sets and hand-drawn icons .

The word “mark†has many variations when it comes to marketing: iconic mark, word mark, combination mark, and trademark – all relating to the logo and its design . A mark is graphic symbol used to identify a company’s product or service as distinct from others in the same industry or marketplace and, beyond that, to give the company an identity. Of interest and importance when discussing the mark are the variations you’ll come across when gazing at logos. As mentioned, there’s the iconic mark, word mark, combination mark and trademark, all with different features. The iconic mark uses a graphic symbol like the ones we discussed above to identify the brand’s products and services. It’s very common for businesses to utilize icons in their branding since they take a short time for people to process. Plus, they convey ideas more effectively than the written word. In business, some examples of icons are:

• Ralph Lauren

• An emblem is a design that stands for a broad idea or concept or a specific individual and represents the abstract in visual terms
• A symbol is more straightforward in that it simply substitutes one thing for another (like the Golden Arches of McDonald’s as a substitute for the fast food of burgers and fries)

Check out our selection of emblem creative assets in our Creative Market marketplace.

Logo-Design Terms: Not Really Interchangeable!

We hope you now have a much better idea of all of these confusing logo design terms! As you just read, while they all relate to the broader concept of design and creating logos, their histories and uses can be quite different. Some terms like mark and brand are used to help companies, products and services stand out in the crowded marketplace. Other terms like icon and emblem have a bigger purpose both in tradition as well as meaning, as they’re used to represent loftier ideas and individuals that are quite transcendent. So the next time you’re thinking about logo design, designing a logo for a client or perhaps for your own brand, be sure to refer back to this guide so that you stay on the right track. And, as always, remember to browse the Creative Market marketplace for inspiration and awesome ideas on all things related to design, logos and artistry.

A fun, friendly, FREE guide to build a stellar brand identity.

Marc is a copywriter and marketer who runs The Glorious Company, a marketing agency. An expert in business and marketing, he helps businesses and companies of all sizes get the most bang for their ad bucks.

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The Importance of Logos for Businesses & Companies

A business logo appears on all of the company letterhead, communications, marketing and advertising pieces of a business as a graphic representation or symbol for the company. Essentially, the logo is typically the first thing a reader may notice before reading the text.

Logos help in the creation of a brand identity for a company or business because the primary uses of logos are to inspire trust, recognition and admiration for a business or product. A logo must be simple, memorable, timeless, appropriate and versatile, but at the same time conjure up the feeling you want your target audience to associate with your business. Successful businesses understand the importance of logos in marketing products, goods and services.

History of Logos

Although logos could carry roots from ancient civilizations that used pictures to communicate words and ideas, logo beginnings more specifically came from the 13th century. At this time, goldsmiths' marks and watermarks by paper makers as trademarks emerged.

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Guidelines for brands on corporate stationery, how to copyright or trademark a logo, what do business letterheads look like, importance of symbols in branding, examples of symmetry in advertisements.

A powerful trademark that has stood the test of time is that of the Rock of Gibraltar that represents Prudential Insurance. First introduced in 1896, this solid image is still in use today. Another logo that has at least 100 years of exposure is the image of a dog, Nipper that sits in front of the phonograph with the motto "His Master's Voice." Dating back to 1910, the dog image was used for decades by RCA, which obtained the Victor Talking Machine Company in 1920.

Popular Logos and Brands

Four general categories of logos exist: textual, illustrated, symbolic and a combination of these three. Textual logos use recognizable words as the logo (example: Walt Disney). The words appear in unique fonts, shapes and sizes. Illustrated logos are an illustration used as a logo (example: Pepsi-Cola's red, white and blue circle).

Symbolic logos tend to be abstract in design and can work well internationally (example: Nike's swoosh). Combination logos are any mixture of the other three types. An example of this is FedEx, whose textual logo also contains the arrow symbol in the white space between the capital E and the x.

Logo Design

Often the shape of a logo design correlates with or is relevant to the business and encompasses basic brand elements. For example, the image of a high-heeled shoe can represent an upscale-ladies' shoe boutique, or a bold monogram can represent the business name starting with that letter. The color should be bold and eye-catching, but not overwhelming or awkward. The logo should be trademarked and put to use on everything that carries the business name.

Logo Significance

A good logo design displays the overall essence of the business and is immediately recognizable, suggests Ready Artwork. It portrays a business that is positive, professional, stable and reliable. The logo promotes awareness of the company and allows the company to stand out from other similar companies.

It presents the values and services of the business in a memorable visual image. In essence, when someone sees the company logo, it should conjure up the appropriate feelings about the business or its products or services. For example, when someone sees the ADT logo, it should make them think of or feel safety or security. When someone sees the Disney logo, they should feel whimsical and fun.

Other Considerations

It is difficult to develop a simple, yet strong logo to display on a billboard and a business card. Complex designs may work on a grand scale, but may contain too much detail for a small display. It is equally difficult to create a timeless logo that will communicate the business brand in 20 or 30 years from its creation.

To have a logo professionally designed, the business must be willing to invest in an experienced designer that will spend time truly learning what the business represents and create an image that reflects it, according to Logo Range. Consistency in imaging is key to success. Tweaking a logo or modifying it for different purposes can dilute the brand and confuse the consumer.

• Logo Range: Company Logo Implementation

Kristie Lorette started writing professionally in 1996. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in marketing and multinational business from Florida State University and a Master of Business Administration from Nova Southeastern University. Her work has appeared online at Bill Savings, Money Smart Life and Mortgage Loan.

21 Best Data Visualization Types: Examples of Graphs and Charts Uses

Those who master different data visualization types and techniques (such as graphs, charts, diagrams, and maps) are gaining the most value from data.

Why? Because they can analyze data and make the best-informed decisions.

Whether you work in business, marketing, sales, statistics, or anything else, you need data visualization techniques and skills.

Graphs and charts make data much more understandable for the human brain.

On this page:

• What are data visualization techniques? Definition, benefits, and importance.
• 21 top data visualization types. Examples of graphs and charts with an explanation.
• When to use different data visualization graphs, charts, diagrams, and maps?
• How to create effective data visualization?
• 10 best data visualization tools for creating compelling graphs and charts.

What Are Data V isualization T echniques? Definition And Benefits.

Data visualization techniques are visual elements (like a line graph, bar chart, pie chart, etc.) that are used to represent information and data.

Big data hides a story (like a trend and pattern).

By using different types of graphs and charts, you can easily see and understand trends, outliers, and patterns in data.

They allow you to get the meaning behind figures and numbers and make important decisions or conclusions.

Data visualization techniques can benefit you in several ways to improve decision making.

Key benefits:

• Data is processed faster Visualized data is processed faster than text and table reports. Our brains can easily recognize images and make sense of them.
• Better analysis Help you analyze better reports in sales, marketing, product management, etc. Thus, you can focus on the areas that require attention such as areas for improvement, errors or high-performing spots.
• Faster decision making Businesses who can understand and quickly act on their data will gain more competitive advantages because they can make informed decisions sooner than the competitors.
• You can easily identify relationships, trends, patterns Visuals are especially helpful when you’re trying to find trends, patterns or relationships among hundreds or thousands of variables. Data is presented in ways that are easy to consume while allowing exploration. Therefore, people across all levels in your company can dive deeper into data and use the insights for faster and smarter decisions.
• No need for coding or data science skills There are many advanced tools that allow you to create beautiful charts and graphs without the need for data scientist skills . Thereby, a broad range of business users can create, visually explore, and discover important insights into data.

How Do Data Visualization Techniques work?

Data visualization techniques convert tons of data into meaningful visuals using software tools.

The tools can operate various types of data and present them in visual elements like charts, diagrams, and maps.

They allow you to easily analyze massive amounts of information, discover trends and patterns in data and then make data-driven decisions .

Why data visualization is very important for any job?

Each professional industry benefits from making data easier to understand. Government, marketing, finance, sales, science, consumer goods, education, sports, and so on.

As all types of organizations become more and more data-driven, the ability to work with data isn’t a good plus, it’s essential.

Whether you’re in sales and need to present your products to prospects or a manager trying to optimize employee performance – everything is measurable and needs to be scored against different KPI s.

We need to constantly analyze and share data with our team or customers.

Having data visualization skills will allow you to understand what is happening in your company and to make the right decisions for the good of the organization.

Before start using visuals, you must know…

Data visualization is one of the most important skills for the modern-day worker.

However, it’s not enough to see your data in easily digestible visuals to get real insights and make the right decisions.

• First : to define the information you need to present
• Second: to find the best possible visual to show that information

Don’t start with “I need a bar chart/pie chart/map here. Let’s make one that looks cool” . This is how you can end up with misleading visualizations that, while beautiful, don’t help for smart decision making.

Regardless of the type of data visualization, its purpose is to help you see a pattern or trend in the data being analyzed.

The goal is not to come up with complex descriptions such as: “ A’s sales were more than B by 5.8% in 2018, and despite a sales growth of 30% in 2019, A’s sales became less than B by 6.2% in 2019. ”

A good data visualization summarizes and presents information in a way that enables you to focus on the most important points.

Let’s go through 21 data visualization types with examples, outline their features, and explain how and when to use them for the best results.

21 Best Types Of Data Visualization With Examples And Uses

1. Line Graph

The line graph is the most popular type of graph with many business applications because they show an overall trend clearly and concisely.

What is a line graph?

A line graph (also known as a line chart) is a graph used to visualize the values of something over a specified period of time.

For example, your sales department may plot the change in the number of sales your company has on hand over time.

Data points that display the values are connected by straight lines.

When to use line graphs?

• When you want to display trends.
• When you want to represent trends for different categories over the same period of time and thus to show comparison.

For example, the above line graph shows the total units of a company sales of Product A, Product B, and Product C from 2012 to 2019.

Here, you can see at a glance that the top-performing product over the years is product C, followed by Product B.

2. Bar Chart

At some point or another, you’ve interacted with a bar chart before. Bar charts are very popular data visualization types as they allow you to easily scan them for valuable insights.

And they are great for comparing several different categories of data.

What is a bar chart?

A bar chart (also called bar graph) is a chart that represents data using bars of different heights.

The bars can be two types – vertical or horizontal. It doesn’t matter which type you use.

The bar chart can easily compare the data for each variable at each moment in time.

For example, a bar chart could compare your company’s sales from this year to last year.

When to use a bar chart?

• When you need to compare several different categories.
• When you need to show how large data changes over time.

The above bar graph visualizes revenue by age group for three different product lines – A, B, and C.

You can see more granular differences between revenue for each product within each age group.

As different product lines are groups by age group, you can easily see that the group of 34-45-year-old buyers are the most valuable to your business as they are your biggest customers.

3. Column Chart

If you want to make side-by-side comparisons of different values, the column chart is your answer.

What is a column chart?

A column chart is a type of bar chart that uses vertical bars to show a comparison between categories.

If something can be counted, it can be displayed in a column chart.

Column charts work best for showing the situation at a point in time (for example, the number of products sold on a website).

Their main purpose is to draw attention to total numbers rather than the trend (trends are more suitable for a line chart).

When to use a column chart?

• When you need to show a side-by-side comparison of different values.
• When you want to emphasize the difference between values.
• When you want to highlight the total figures rather than the trends.

For example, the column chart above shows the traffic sources of a website. It illustrates direct traffic vs search traffic vs social media traffic on a series of dates.

The numbers don’t change much from day to day, so a line graph isn’t appropriate as it wouldn’t reveal anything important in terms of trends.

The important information here is the concrete number of visitors coming from different sources to the website each day.

4. Pie Chart

Pie charts are attractive data visualization types. At a high-level, they’re easy to read and used for representing relative sizes.

What is a pie chart?

A Pie Chart is a circular graph that uses “pie slices” to display relative sizes of data.

A pie chart is a perfect choice for visualizing percentages because it shows each element as part of a whole.

The entire pie represents 100 percent of a whole. The pie slices represent portions of the whole.

When to use a pie chart?

• When you want to represent the share each value has of the whole.
• When you want to show how a group is broken down into smaller pieces.

The above pie chart shows which traffic sources bring in the biggest share of total visitors.

You see that Searches is the most effective source, followed by Social Media, and then Links.

At a glance, your marketing team can spot what’s working best, helping them to concentrate their efforts to maximize the number of visitors.

5. Area Chart 

If you need to present data that depicts a time-series relationship, an area chart is a great option.

What is an area chart?

An area chart is a type of chart that represents the change in one or more quantities over time. It is similar to a line graph.

In both area charts and line graphs, data points are connected by a line to show the value of a quantity at different times. They are both good for showing trends.

However, the area chart is different from the line graph, because the area between the x-axis and the line is filled in with color. Thus, area charts give a sense of the overall volume.

Area charts emphasize a trend over time. They aren’t so focused on showing exact values.

Also, area charts are perfect for indicating the change among different data groups.

When to use an area chart?

• When you want to use multiple lines to make a comparison between groups (aka series).
• When you want to track not only the whole value but also want to understand the breakdown of that total by groups.

In the area chart above, you can see how much revenue is overlapped by cost.

Moreover, you see at once where the pink sliver of profit is at its thinnest.

Thus, you can spot where cash flow really is tightest, rather than where in the year your company simply has the most cash.

Area charts can help you with things like resource planning, financial management, defining appropriate storage space, and more.

6. Scatter Plot

The scatter plot is also among the popular data visualization types and has other names such as a scatter diagram, scatter graph, and correlation chart.

Scatter plot helps in many areas of today’s world – business, biology, social statistics, data science and etc.

What is a Scatter plot?

Scatter plot is a graph that represents a relationship between two variables . The purpose is to show how much one variable affects another.

Usually, when there is a relationship between 2 variables, the first one is called independent. The second variable is called dependent because its values depend on the first variable.

But it is also possible to have no relationship between 2 variables at all.

When to use a Scatter plot?

• When you need to observe and show relationships between two numeric variables.
• When just want to visualize the correlation between 2 large datasets without regard to time.

The above scatter plot illustrates the relationship between monthly e-commerce sales and online advertising costs of a company.

At a glance, you can see that online advertising costs affect monthly e-commerce sales.

When online advertising costs increase, e-commerce sales also increase.

Scatter plots also show if there are unexpected gaps in the data or if there are any outlier points.

7. Bubble chart

If you want to display 3 related dimensions of data in one elegant visualization, a bubble chart will help you.

What is a bubble chart?

A bubble chart is like an extension of the scatter plot used to display relationships between three variables.

The variables’ values for each point are shown by horizontal position, vertical position, and dot size.

In a bubble chart, we can make three different pairwise comparisons (X vs. Y, Y vs. Z, X vs. Z).

When to use a bubble chart?

• When you want to depict and show relationships between three variables.

The bubble chart above illustrates the relationship between 3 dimensions of data:

• Cost (X-Axis)
• Profit (Y-Axis)
• Probability of Success (%) (Bubble Size).

Bubbles are proportional to the third dimension – the probability of success. The larger the bubble, the greater the probability of success.

It is obvious that Product A has the highest probability of success.

8. Pyramid Graph

Pyramid graphs are very interesting and visually appealing graphs. Moreover, they are one of the most easy-to-read data visualization types and techniques.

What is a pyramid graph?

It is a graph in the shape of a triangle or pyramid. It is best used when you want to show some kind of hierarchy. The pyramid levels display some kind of progressive order, such as:

• More important to least important. For example, CEOs at the top and temporary employees on the bottom level.
• Specific to least specific. For example, expert fields at the top, general fields at the bottom.
• Older to newer.

When to use a pyramid graph?

• When you need to illustrate some kind of hierarchy or progressive order

Image Source: Conceptdraw

The above is a 5 Level Pyramid of information system types that is based on the hierarchy in an organization.

It shows progressive order from tacit knowledge to more basic knowledge. Executive information system at the top and transaction processing system on the bottom level.

The levels are displayed in different colors. It’s very easy to read and understand.

9. Treemaps

Treemaps also show a hierarchical structure like the pyramid graph, however in a completely different way.

What is a treemap?

Treemap is a type of data visualization technique that is used to display a hierarchical structure using nested rectangles.

Data is organized as branches and sub-branches. Treemaps display quantities for each category and sub-category via a rectangle area size.

Treemaps are a compact and space-efficient option for showing hierarchies.

They are also great at comparing the proportions between categories via their area size. Thus, they provide an instant sense of which data categories are the most important overall.

When to use a treemap?

• When you want to illustrate hierarchies and comparative value between categories and subcategories.

Image source: Power BI

For example, let’s say you work in a company that sells clothing categories: Urban, Rural, Youth, and Mix.

The above treemap depicts the sales of different clothing categories, which are then broken down by clothing manufacturers.

You see at a glance that Urban is your most successful clothing category, but that the Quibus is your most valuable clothing manufacturer, across all categories.

10. Funnel chart

Funnel charts are used to illustrate optimizations, specifically to see which stages most impact drop-off.

Illustrating the drop-offs helps to show the importance of each stage.

What is a funnel chart?

A funnel chart is a popular data visualization type that shows the flow of users through a sales or other business process.

It looks like a funnel that starts from a large head and ends in a smaller neck. The number of users at each step of the process is visualized from the funnel width as it narrows.

A funnel chart is very useful for identifying potential problem areas in the sales process.

When to use a funnel chart?

• When you need to represent stages in a sales or other business process and show the amount of revenue for each stage.

Image Source: DevExpress

This funnel chart shows the conversion rate of a website.

The conversion rate shows what percentage of all visitors completed a specific desired action (such as subscription or purchase).

The chart starts with the people that visited the website and goes through every touchpoint until the final desired action – renewal of the subscription.

You can see easily where visitors are dropping out of the process.

11. Venn Diagram 

Venn diagrams are great data visualization types for representing relationships between items and highlighting how the items are similar and different.

What is a Venn diagram?

A Venn Diagram is an illustration that shows logical relationships between two or more data groups. Typically, the Venn diagram uses circles (both overlapping and nonoverlapping).

Venn diagrams can clearly show how given items are similar and different.

Venn diagram with 2 and 3 circles are the most common types. Diagrams with a larger number of circles (5,6,7,8,10…) become extremely complicated.

When to use a Venn diagram?

• When you want to compare two or more options and see what they have in common.
• When you need to show how given items are similar or different.
• To display logical relationships from various datasets.

The above Venn chart clearly shows the core customers of a product – the people who like eating fast foods but don’t want to gain weight.

The Venn chart gives you an instant understanding of who you will need to sell.

Then, you can plan how to attract the target segment with advertising and promotions.

12. Decision Tree

As graphical representations of complex or simple problems and questions, decision trees have an important role in business, finance, marketing, and in any other areas.

What is a decision tree?

A decision tree is a diagram that shows possible solutions to a decision.

It displays different outcomes from a set of decisions. The diagram is a widely used decision-making tool for analysis and planning.

The diagram starts with a box (or root), which branches off into several solutions. That’s why it is called a decision tree.

Decision trees are helpful for a variety of reasons. Not only they are easy-to-understand diagrams that support you ‘see’ your thoughts, but also because they provide a framework for estimating all possible alternatives.

When to use a decision tree?

• When you need help in making decisions and want to display several possible solutions.

Imagine you are an IT project manager and you need to decide whether to start a particular project or not.

You need to take into account important possible outcomes and consequences.

The decision tree, in this case, might look like the diagram above.

13. Fishbone Diagram

Fishbone diagram is a key tool for root cause analysis that has important uses in almost any business area.

It is recognized as one of the best graphical methods to understand and solve problems because it takes into consideration all the possible causes.

What is a fishbone diagram?

A fishbone diagram (also known as a cause and effect diagram, Ishikawa diagram or herringbone diagram) is a data visualization technique for categorizing the potential causes of a problem.

The main purpose is to find the root cause.

It combines brainstorming with a kind of mind mapping and makes you think about all potential causes of a given problem, rather than just the one or two.

It also helps you see the relationships between the causes in an easy to understand way.

When to use a fishbone diagram?

• When you want to display all the possible causes of a problem in a simple, easy to read graphical way.

Let’s say you are an online marketing specialist working for a company witch experience low website traffic.

You have the task to find the main reasons. Above is a fishbone diagram example that displays the possible reasons and can help you resolve the situation.

14. Process Flow Diagram

If you need to visualize a specific process, the process flow diagram will help you a lot.

What is the process flow diagram?

As the name suggests, it is a graphical way of describing a process, its elements (steps), and their sequence.

Process flow diagrams show how a large complex process is broken down into smaller steps or tasks and how these go together.

As a data visualization technique, it can help your team see the bigger picture while illustrating the stages of a process.

When to use a process flow diagram?

• When you need to display steps in a process and want to show their sequences clearly.

The above process flow diagram shows clearly the relationship between tasks in a customer ordering process.

The large ordering process is broken down into smaller functions and steps.

15. Spider/Radar Chart

Imagine, you need to rank your favorite beer on 8 aspects (Bitterness, Sweetness, Sourness, Saltiness, Hop, Malt, Yeast, and Special Grain) and then show them graphically. You can use a radar chart.

What is a radar chart?

Radar chart (also called spider, web, and polar bar) is a popular data visualization technique that displays multivariate data.

In can compare several items with many metrics of characteristics.

To be effective and clear, the radar chart should have more than 2 but no more than 6 items that are judged.

When to use a radar chart?

• When you need to compare several items with more than 5 metrics of characteristics.

The above radar chart compares employee’s performance with a scale of 1-5 on skills such as Communications, Problem-solving, Meeting deadlines, Technical knowledge, Teamwork.

A point that is closer to the center on an axis shows a lower value and a worse performance.

It is obvious that Mary has a better performance than Linda.

16. Mind Map

Mind maps are beautiful data visuals that represent complex relationships in a very digestible way.

What is a mind map?

A mind map is a popular diagram that represents ideas and concepts.

It can help you structure your information and analyze, recall, and generate new ideas.

It is called a mind map because it is structured in a way that resembles how the human brain works.

And, best of all, it is a fun and artistic data visualization technique that engages your brain in a much richer way.

When to use a mind map?

• When you want to visualize and connect ideas in an easy to digest way.
• When you want to capture your thoughts/ideas and bring them to life in visual form.

Image source: Lucidchart

The above example of a mind map illustrates the key elements for running a successful digital marketing campaign.

It can help you prepare and organize your marketing efforts more effectively.

17. Gantt Chart

A well-structured Gantt chart aids you to manage your project successfully against time.

What is a Gantt chart?

Gantt charts are data visualization types used to schedule projects by splitting them into tasks and subtasks and putting them on a timeline.

Each task is listed on one side of the chart. This task also has a horizontal line opposite it representing the length of the task.

By displaying tasks with the Gantt chart, you can see how long each task will take and which tasks will overlap.

Gantt charts are super useful for scheduling and planning projects.

They help you estimate how long a project should take and determine the resources needed.

They also help you plan the order in which you’ll complete tasks and manage the dependencies between tasks.

When to use a Gantt chart?

• When you need to plan and track the tasks in project schedules.

Image Source: Aha.io

The above example is a portfolio planning Gantt Chart Template that illustrates very well how Gantt Charts work.

It visualizes the release timeline for multiple products for an entire year.

It shows also dependencies between releases.

You can use it to help team members understand the release schedule for the upcoming year, the duration of each release, and the time for delivering.

This helps you in resource planning and allows teams to coordinate implementation plans.

18. Organizational Charts

Organizational charts are data visualization types widely used for management and planning.

What is an organizational chart?

An organizational chart (also called an org chart) is a diagram that illustrates a relationship hierarchy.

The most common application of an org chart is to display the structure of a business or other organization.

Org charts are very useful for showing work responsibilities and reporting relationships.

They help leaders effectively manage growth or change.

Moreover, they show employees how their work fits into the company’s overall structure.

When to use the org chart?

• When you want to display a hierarchical structure of a department, company or other types of organization.

Image Source: Organimi

The above hierarchical org chart illustrates the chain of command that goes from the top (e.g., the CEOs) down (e.g., entry-level and low-level employees) and each person has a supervisor.

It clearly shows levels of authority and responsibility and who each person reports to.

It also shows employees the career paths and chances for promotion.

19. Area Map

Most business data has a location. Revenue, sales, customers, or population are often displayed with a dimensional variable on a map.

What is an area map?

It is a map that visualizes location data.

They allow you to see immediately which geographical locations are most important to your brand and business.

Image Source: Infogram

The map above depicts sales by location and the color indicates the level of sales (the darker the blue, the higher the sales).

These data visualization types are very useful as they show where in the world most of your sales are from and where your most valuable sales are from.

Insights like these illustrate weaknesses in a sales and marketing strategy in seconds.

20. Infographics

In recent years, the use of infographics has exploded in almost every industry.

From sales and marketing to science and healthcare, infographics are applied everywhere to present information in a visually appealing way.

What is an infographic?

Infographics are specific data visualization types that combine images, charts, graphs, and text. The purpose is to represent an easy-to-understand overview of a topic.

However, the main goal of an infographic is not only to provide information but also to make the viewing experience fun and engaging for readers.

It makes data beautiful—and easy to digest.

When you want to represent and share information, there are many data visualization types to do that – spreadsheets, graphs, charts, emails, etc.

But when you need to show data in a visually impactful way, the infographic is the most effective choice.

When to use infographics?

• When you need to present complex data in a concise, highly visually-pleasing way.

Image Source: Venngage

The above statistical infographic represents an overview of Social Buzz’s biggest social platforms by age and geography.

For example, we see that 75% of active Facebook users are 18-29 years old and 48% of active users live in North America.

21. T-Chart

If you want to compare and contrast items in a table form, T-Chart can be your solution.

What is a T-Chart?

A T-Chart is a type of graphic organizer in the shape of the English letter “T”. It is used for comparison by separating information into two or more columns.

You can use T-Chart to compare ideas, concepts or solutions clearly and effectively.

T-Charts are often used for comparison of pros and cons, facts and opinions.

By using T-Chart, you can list points side by side, achieve a quick, at-a-glance overview of the facts, and arrive at conclusions quickly and easily.

When to use a T-Chart?

• When you need to compare and contrast two or more items.
• When you want to evaluate the pros and cons of a decision.

The above T-Chart example clearly outlines the cons and pros of hiring a social media manager in a company.

10 Best Data Visualization Tools

There is a broad range of data visualization tools that allow you to make fascinating graphs, charts, diagrams, maps, and dashboards in no time.

They vary from BI (Business Intelligence) tools with robust features and comprehensive dashboards to more simple software for just creating graphs and charts.

Here we’ve collected some of the most popular solutions. They can help you present your data in a way that facilitates understanding and decision making.

1. Visme is a data presentation and visualization tool that allows you to create stunning data reports. It provides a great variety of presentation tools and templates for a unique design.

2. Infogram is a chart software tool that provides robust diagram-making capabilities. It comes with an intuitive drag-and-drop editor and ready-made templates for reports. You can also add images for your reports, icons, GIFs, photos, etc.

3. Venngage is an infographic maker. But it also is a great chart software for small businesses because of its ease of use, intuitive design, and great templates.

4. SmartDraw is best for those that have someone graphic design skills. It has a slightly more advanced design and complexity than Venngage, Visme, and Infogram, … so having some design skills is an advantage. It’s a drawing tool with a wide range of charts, diagrams, maps, and well-designed templates.

5. Creately is a dynamic diagramming tool that offers the best free version. It can be deployed from the cloud or on the desktop and allows you to create your graphs, charts, diagrams, and maps without any tech skills.

6. Edraw Max is an all-in-one diagramming software tool that allows you to create different data visualization types at a high speed. These include process flow charts, line graphs, org charts, mind maps, infographics, floor plans, network diagrams, and many others. Edraw Max has a wide selection of templates and symbols, letting you to rapidly produce the visuals you need for any purpose.

7. Chartio is an efficient business intelligence tool that can help you make sense of your company data. Chartio is simple to use and allows you to explore all sorts of information in real-time.

8. Sisense – a business intelligence platform with a full range of data visualizations. You can create dashboards and graphical representations with a drag and drop user interface.

9. Tableau – a business intelligence system that lets you quickly create, connect, visualize, and share data seamlessly.

10. Domo is a cloud business intelligence platform that helps you examine data using graphs and charts. You can conduct advanced analysis and create great interactive visualization.

Data visualization techniques are vital components of data analysis, as they can summarize large amounts of data effectively in an easy to understand graphical form.

There are countless data visualization types, each with different pros, cons, and use cases.

The trickiest part is to choose the right visual to represent your data.

Your choice depends on several factors – the kind of conclusion you want to draw, your audience, the key metrics, etc.

I hope the above article helps you understand better the basic graphs and their uses.

When you create your graph or diagram, always remember this:

A good graph is the one reduced to its simplest and most elegant form without sacrificing what matters most – the purpose of the visual.

About The Author

Silvia Valcheva

Silvia Valcheva is a digital marketer with over a decade of experience creating content for the tech industry. She has a strong passion for writing about emerging software and technologies such as big data, AI (Artificial Intelligence), IoT (Internet of Things), process automation, etc.

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The Branding Blog

7 types of logo and how to use them.

Choosing the perfect logo for your business is never a simple task.

Table of contents

There is no 'one size fits all' solution

Selecting the correct type of logo is an important first step when creating or refreshing your company's identity .

To help distinguish between these different types of logos and understand which may be most appropriate for you, we have broken these into 7 key categories.

Continue reading for a closer look at the 7 types of logo, when each is most suitable to use, and examples of well known companies that utilise each style and why.

AKA: Monogram Type: Typographic

Description:

A lettermark logo is an abbreviation of a company's name using the first letter of each word , otherwise known as an initialism. The letters are pronounced separately, for example the BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation).

Monograms can be a clear and simple solution to communicate your identity , especially common with organisations whose names are lengthy. Condensing it into a bite-sized symbol can make a company's brand more memorable and easier to talk about.

Lettermarks are generally clean, clear and simple in nature, lending themselves well to use on many applications of all shapes and sizes. Our own ‘RK’ monogram was chosen for this very reason!

When using a lettermark, it is important to be scrupulous with the design. Be sure to use a typeface that is in keeping with your brand. A good logo is unique and unforgettable, so to simply type out the letters in a popular font could leave it open to replication. Customising the characters in some way will make a monogram much more distinctive, helping it stand out from the crowd and appeal to a wider audience.

• To condense businesses with long names of multiple words into a memorable and recognisable initialism.
• When starting out, a typographic logo is great for getting your name known. NOTE: Using the company's full name in small text underneath a lettermark could be a good idea until the lettermark becomes well known on its own.
• When a logo needs to be replicated across many different applications, especially at smaller sizes.

AKA: Logotype Type: Typographic

Wordmarks are font based logo designs consisting of an organisation's name alone, and no accompanying symbol .

Much like monograms, logotype logos work well when they are modern and minimal. Their clean and uncomplicated nature makes them highly versatile , allowing a wordmark to be replicated effortlessly across many mediums and busy backgrounds.

For new businesses, such as start-ups, a wordmark can be better than a lettermark alone as it helps to get the full name out into the world. They are therefore better suited to companies whose names are short (often one word), distinctive and memorable in their own right.

Because there is no symbol to hide behind, it is essential to make sure your wordmark logo uses a well chosen typeface that resonates with your target audience. Be distinctive , but stay on brand ; don’t just be different for the sake of it. Also, make sure you are aware of competitors in your space, being careful not to use a mark too similar to another. Having a professional customise a typeface will ensure it is one of a kind, and help a wordmark stand out from the crowd.

When done well, having the company name in a well chosen and beautifully customised font can be one of the most favourable logos for ensuring your brand is remembered. Your audience will recall the name itself rather than recognising a symbol and trying to connect the dots to which company it is associated with.

• When a company's name is short , distinctive and memorable.
• When a business is new to the market and wants to get their name out there.
• When a logo is required to be used across many mediums and on busy backgrounds.

AKA: Brand Mark, Logo Symbol Type: Picture / Symbol

A pictorial logo is the opposite of the aforementioned typographic marks and consist of an icon or graphic of a recognisable item or object alone, with no accompanying text .

Logo symbols use an emblem that represents a company. This does not necessarily mean it is a literal depiction of what a business does, or the services they provide. Brand marks can draw inspiration from many places, and so long as the chosen symbol is appropriate for your sector, resonates with your target audience, and is unique and not over-complicated, they will work well.

Some organisations chose to use a graphic that literally depicts their name, such as Target or Apple. Others may use a symbol which literally illustrates what they do, such Major League Baseball’s batter silhouette. Communicating what you do using a recognisable symbol can be a great way to combat a long or complicated name , and can also transcend boundaries such as language or cultural differences.

Contrary to these more literal representations, it is becoming increasingly common to diversify by devising a brand mark with a deeper meaning . A business’s history, location or unique characteristics are excellent sources of inspiration, and can be used to create a distinctive and memorable symbol that tells your audience a little more about your organisation and its values.

The challenge of creating a good pictorial logo design is to take recognisable everyday objects and turn them into a stylised symbol unique to your business . It can sometimes be difficult for new companies to establish their identity in the market using a brand mark, as it is purely an image. Before you truly have brand recognition, people may struggle to remember who you are.

• When a brand is well recognised within its sector.
• When simplifying and modernising a brand's identity for greater versatility .
• To convey what a business does graphically if it has a long or complicated name .
• When operating internationally and your business name doesn’t lend well to translation.

AKA:  - Type: Picture / Symbol

An abstract logo is much like a pictorial logo, using a stand-alone icon or graphic as a symbol for an organisation. Unlike a brand mark however, an abstract logo does not comprise of a recognisable object, but is instead an impressionistic symbol exclusive to that company’s identity.

Where Apple’s icon is a clear pictorial representation of the fruit, Pepsi’s coloured bands do not embody anything as literal. The swirling red, white and blue sphere is purely a custom abstract icon with no direct connotations, yet has become one of the world’s most recognisable brand identities.

Using an abstract logo mark allows a business to condense their brand into a single identifiable and truly unique mark , with far less chance of similarity to, or confusion with, a competitor.

Choosing an impressionistic symbol rather than literal representation may also allow for greater flexibility in the long run, especially if there is a chance a businesses direction or services may change. If a company was to start out exclusively in charter yachts, but later expanded and specialised in aviation, having a boat in their logo may no longer be suitable.

Your mark can still convey what your company does symbolically, through the use of colour and form , and without cultural implications that can often be tied to well known items and objects. The universal appeal of an abstract logo can make it a great choice for businesses wanting to stand out from the crowd and transcend international boundaries .

Understanding how to communicate certain ideas purely through the use of colour, shape and structure can be a challenge, and requires a solid knowledge of the core design principles. To make sure an abstract mark is the right fit for your company and its goals, using a design professional is a wise choice.

• In a crowded sector or market where a truly unique symbol is important to stand out.
• In global commerce where a symbol is needed that is immune to cultural diversities.
• If a business anticipates that the direction of their products or services may change in the future.

A mascot logo uses a character or spokesperson who represents the face of the brand. Depending on the business and its target audience, the style and inspiration for this mascot can vary from a completely fictitious character, to a real person who is an icon of the company, for example the founder.

Mascots are most commonly seen in sectors such as food and beverage, sports and the entertainment industry. Companies who wish to appeal to families and young children will often use this style of branding as it resonates well with their clientele and offers great opportunities to connect with their audience on a more personal level .

Having an ambassador for your business who you can communicate your brand values through is a great tool for use in advertising, social media campaigns and even at events. Almost every sports team has a mascot which is a fantastic way for clubs to engage with young families as well as their adult fanbase.

As an illustrated character, the style can differ from colourful, cartoonish and fun when appealing to families, to a more sophisticated interpretation aimed at an older market. Whichever direction is chosen, a mascot logo design is only ever one part of a successful brand. The detailed nature of a mascot logo does not always lend well to every application, especially those of smaller resolutions.

• When targeting families and wanting to create a wholesome feel to your brand.
• When wanting to encourage customers to interact with your organisation.

Combination

AKA:  - Type: Typographic + Pictorial

Perhaps the most commonly used logo is the combination logo. This is comprised of a typographic mark (lettermark or wordmark) alongside a pictorial element (symbol, abstract or mascot). These components can be side by side, stacked on top of one another or even mixed together.

In this instance, the text and symbol work together to reinforce a brand, and can be a great choice for any business whether a fledgling startup or a longstanding corporate. Unlike when these elements are used in isolation, people will begin to associate the company name with a pictorial mark straight away. This can often help to grow and maintain brand recognition more than a pictorial mark alone.

Starting with a combination mark maintains the option to strip back an identity or use elements independently at a later stage, once your audience becomes more familiar with your brand. For this reason it can be a highly versatile choice for any business.

Combining a symbol with a wordmark also offers more opportunity to differentiate from competitors. A combination logo of letters and graphic elements together will often result in a more unique mark, which can also make it easier to trademark .

• When wanting to create a truly unique mark that will be easy to trademark .
• When versatility is important across many applications.
• When wanting to create instant brand recognition .

An emblem is a specific type of combination mark where a font is displayed inside a symbol or an icon . Inspired by crests, seals and badges, these are often more traditional in appearance and are very common with schools, organisations and government agencies.

Although emblem logos have quite classic associations, this does not mean they must have a traditional appearance. Drawing inspiration from their time-honoured origins, we now see many examples of emblems being modernised to appeal to 21st century audiences.

Whilst emblems are still most common in public agencies like schools and government, they are increasingly popular in other sectors such as food and beverage. The rise of the hipster scene has inspired modern twists on emblem logos on beer labels and coffee cups around the globe.

Whilst an emblem can be a unique and highly stylised logo, the level of detail that is often involved (text and symbol intertwined) can mean that they are not always the most versatile of marks. An emblem is often a common choice for companies wishing to embroider their logo, however, this as well as any applications at small sizes, requires a fairly clean and simple approach to work well. A great emblem can form a strong identity but will often need well-designed supporting brand elements to translate effectively across all mediums.

• When a more traditional and professional appearance is desirable.
• When wanting a unique and highly stylised identity to stand out in a crowded marketplace (e.g. food & beverage sector).

Even after breaking down the different types of logo designs and when they are best used, it can still be difficult to determine which logo would best fit your business. Some companies may be suited to more than one type of mark, and determining which will work best for you may require a deeper dive.

Who is your target audience and what would best communicate your message to that market? What is unique about your business and how can you tell your story? How can you create brand recognition whilst maintaining a unique identity?

If you would like help answering these questions , and choosing which type of logo is perfect for your business, We're here to help! Drop us a line at [email protected] , or request a quote .

Article by:

Chris Harris

Creative director & senior brand designer.

Chris brings over a decade of industry experience to Red Kite working at design agencies in both the UK and Australia. Over the years he has accumulated a wealth of graphic design, strategic identity design and marketing experience. Chris is a hugely passionate identity designer endeavouring to offer the highest quality branding and logo design Brisbane and Australia wide. Chat to Chris about your branding.

Branding & Logo Design Australia

Does your business need a new identity.

We would love to hear more about your design project and how we could help bring your vision to life . Simply hit the button below to get started with a free quotation .

18 Best Types of Charts and Graphs for Data Visualization [+ Guide]

Updated: May 22, 2024

Published: May 07, 2015

As a writer for the marketing blog, I frequently use various types of charts and graphs to help readers visualize the data I collect and better understand their significance. And trust me, there's a lot of data to present.

In fact, the volume of data in 2025 will be almost double the data we create, capture, copy, and consume today.

This makes data visualization essential for businesses. Different types of graphs and charts can help you:

• Motivate your team to take action.
• Impress stakeholders with goal progress.
• Show your audience what you value as a business.

Data visualization builds trust and can organize diverse teams around new initiatives. So, I'm going to talk about the types of graphs and charts that you can use to grow your business.

And, if you still need a little more guidance by the end of this post, check out our data visualization guide for more information on how to design visually stunning and engaging charts and graphs.  

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• Simple, customizable graph designs.
• Data visualization tips & instructions.
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Charts vs Graphs: What's the Difference?

A lot of people think charts and graphs are synonymous (I know I did), but they're actually two different things.

Charts visually represent current data in the form of tables and diagrams, but graphs are more numerical in data and show how one variable affects another.

For example, in one of my favorite sitcoms, How I Met Your Mother, Marshall creates a bunch of charts and graphs representing his life. One of these charts is a Venn diagram referencing the song "Cecilia" by Simon and Garfunkle. 

Marshall says, "This circle represents people who are breaking my heart, and this circle represents people who are shaking my confidence daily. Where they overlap? Cecilia."

The diagram is a chart and not a graph because it doesn't track how these people make him feel over time or how these variables are influenced by each other.

It may show where the two types of people intersect but not how they influence one another.

Later, Marshall makes a line graph showing how his friends' feelings about his charts have changed in the time since presenting his "Cecilia diagram.

Note: He calls the line graph a chart on the show, but it's acceptable because the nature of line graphs and charts makes the terms interchangeable. I'll explain later, I promise.

The line graph shows how the time since showing his Cecilia chart has influenced his friends' tolerance for his various graphs and charts. 

Image source

I can't even begin to tell you all how happy I am to reference my favorite HIMYM joke in this post.

Now, let's dive into the various types of graphs and charts. 

Different Types of Graphs for Data Visualization

1. bar graph.

I strongly suggest using a bar graph to avoid clutter when one data label is long or if you have more than 10 items to compare. Also, fun fact: If the example below was vertical it would be a column graph.

Best Use Cases for These Types of Graphs

Bar graphs can help track changes over time. I've found that bar graphs are most useful when there are big changes or to show how one group compares against other groups.

The example above compares the number of customers by business role. It makes it easy to see that there is more than twice the number of customers per role for individual contributors than any other group.

A bar graph also makes it easy to see which group of data is highest or most common.

For example, at the start of the pandemic, online businesses saw a big jump in traffic. So, if you want to look at monthly traffic for an online business, a bar graph would make it easy to see that jump.

Other use cases for bar graphs include:

• Product comparisons.
• Product usage.
• Category comparisons.
• Marketing traffic by month or year.
• Marketing conversions.

Design Best Practices for Bar Graphs

• Use consistent colors throughout the chart, selecting accent colors to highlight meaningful data points or changes over time.

You should also use horizontal labels to improve its readability, and start the y-axis at 0 to appropriately reflect the values in your graph.

2. Line Graph

A line graph reveals trends or progress over time, and you can use it to show many different categories of data. You should use it when you track a continuous data set.

This makes the terms line graphs and line charts interchangeable because the very nature of both is to track how variables impact each other, particularly how something changes over time. Yeah, it confused me, too.

Line graphs help users track changes over short and long periods. Because of this, I find these types of graphs are best for seeing small changes.

Line graphs help me compare changes for more than one group over the same period. They're also helpful for measuring how different groups relate to each other.

A business might use this graph to compare sales rates for different products or services over time.

These charts are also helpful for measuring service channel performance. For example, a line graph that tracks how many chats or emails your team responds to per month.

Design Best Practices for Line Graphs

• Use solid lines only.
• Don't plot more than four lines to avoid visual distractions.
• Use the right height so the lines take up roughly 2/3 of the y-axis' height.

3. Bullet Graph

A bullet graph reveals progress towards a goal, compares this to another measure, and provides context in the form of a rating or performance.

In the example above, the bullet graph shows the number of new customers against a set customer goal. Bullet graphs are great for comparing performance against goals like this.

These types of graphs can also help teams assess possible roadblocks because you can analyze data in a tight visual display.

For example, I could create a series of bullet graphs measuring performance against benchmarks or use a single bullet graph to visualize these KPIs against their goals:

• Customer satisfaction.
• Average order size.
• New customers.

Seeing this data at a glance and alongside each other can help teams make quick decisions.

Bullet graphs are one of the best ways to display year-over-year data analysis. YBullet graphs can also visualize:

• Customer satisfaction scores.
• Customer shopping habits.
• Social media usage by platform.

Design Best Practices for Bullet Graphs

• Use contrasting colors to highlight how the data is progressing.
• Use one color in different shades to gauge progress.

4. Column + Line Graph

Column + line graphs are also called dual-axis charts. They consist of a column and line graph together, with both graphics on the X axis but occupying their own Y axis.

Download our FREE Excel Graph Templates for this graph and more!

Best Use Cases

These graphs are best for comparing two data sets with different measurement units, such as rate and time. 

As a marketer, you may want to track two trends at once.

Design Best Practices 

Use individual colors for the lines and colors to make the graph more visually appealing and to further differentiate the data. 

The Four Basic Types of Charts

Before we get into charts, I want to touch on the four basic chart types that I use the most. 

1. Bar Chart

Bar charts are pretty self-explanatory. I use them to indicate values by the length of bars, which can be displayed horizontally or vertically. Vertical bar charts, like the one below, are sometimes called column charts. 

2. Line Chart 

I use line charts to show changes in values across continuous measurements, such as across time, generations, or categories. For example, the chart below shows the changes in ice cream sales throughout the week.

3. Scatter Plot

A scatter plot uses dotted points to compare values against two different variables on separate axes. It's commonly used to show correlations between values and variables. 

4. Pie Chart

Pie charts are charts that represent data in a circular (pie-shaped) graphic, and each slice represents a percentage or portion of the whole. 

Notice the example below of a household budget. (Which reminds me that I need to set up my own.)

Notice that the percentage of income going to each expense is represented by a slice. 

Different Types of Charts for Data Visualization

To better understand chart types and how you can use them, here's an overview of each:

1. Column Chart

Use a column chart to show a comparison among different items or to show a comparison of items over time. You could use this format to see the revenue per landing page or customers by close date.

Best Use Cases for This Type of Chart

I use both column charts to display changes in data, but I've noticed column charts are best for negative data. The main difference, of course, is that column charts show information vertically while bar charts  show data horizontally.

For example, warehouses often track the number of accidents on the shop floor. When the number of incidents falls below the monthly average, a column chart can make that change easier to see in a presentation.

In the example above, this column chart measures the number of customers by close date. Column charts make it easy to see data changes over a period of time. This means that they have many use cases, including:

• Customer survey data, like showing how many customers prefer a specific product or how much a customer uses a product each day.
• Sales volume, like showing which services are the top sellers each month or the number of sales per week.
• Profit and loss, showing where business investments are growing or falling.

Design Best Practices for Column Charts

• Use horizontal labels to improve readability.
• Start the y-axis at 0 to appropriately reflect the values in your chart .

2. Area Chart

Okay, an area chart is basically a line chart, but I swear there's a meaningful difference.

The space between the x-axis and the line is filled with a color or pattern. It is useful for showing part-to-whole relations, like showing individual sales reps’ contributions to total sales for a year.

It helps me analyze both overall and individual trend information.

Best Use Cases for These Types of Charts

Area charts help show changes over time. They work best for big differences between data sets and help visualize big trends.

For example, the chart above shows users by creation date and life cycle stage.

A line chart could show more subscribers than marketing qualified leads. But this area chart emphasizes how much bigger the number of subscribers is than any other group.

These charts make the size of a group and how groups relate to each other more visually important than data changes over time.

Area charts  can help your business to:

• Visualize which product categories or products within a category are most popular.
• Show key performance indicator (KPI) goals vs. outcomes.
• Spot and analyze industry trends.

Design Best Practices for Area Charts

• Use transparent colors so information isn't obscured in the background.
• Don't display more than four categories to avoid clutter.
• Organize highly variable data at the top of the chart to make it easy to read.

3. Stacked Bar Chart

I suggest using this chart to compare many different items and show the composition of each item you’re comparing.

These charts  are helpful when a group starts in one column and moves to another over time.

For example, the difference between a marketing qualified lead (MQL) and a sales qualified lead (SQL) is sometimes hard to see. The chart above helps stakeholders see these two lead types from a single point of view — when a lead changes from MQL to SQL.

Stacked bar charts are excellent for marketing. They make it simple to add a lot of data on a single chart or to make a point with limited space.

These charts  can show multiple takeaways, so they're also super for quarterly meetings when you have a lot to say but not a lot of time to say it.

Stacked bar charts are also a smart option for planning or strategy meetings. This is because these charts can show a lot of information at once, but they also make it easy to focus on one stack at a time or move data as needed.

You can also use these charts to:

• Show the frequency of survey responses.
• Identify outliers in historical data.
• Compare a part of a strategy to its performance as a whole.

Design Best Practices for Stacked Bar Charts

• Best used to illustrate part-to-whole relationships.
• Use contrasting colors for greater clarity.
• Make the chart scale large enough to view group sizes in relation to one another.

4. Mekko Chart

Also known as a Marimekko chart, this type of chart  can compare values, measure each one's composition, and show data distribution across each one.

It's similar to a stacked bar, except the Mekko's x-axis can capture another dimension of your values — instead of time progression, like column charts often do. In the graphic below, the x-axis compares the cities to one another.

Image Source

I typically use a Mekko chart to show growth, market share, or competitor analysis.

For example, the Mekko chart above shows the market share of asset managers grouped by location and the value of their assets. This chart clarifies which firms manage the most assets in different areas.

It's also easy to see which asset managers are the largest and how they relate to each other.

Mekko charts can seem more complex than other types of charts, so it's best to use these in situations where you want to emphasize scale or differences between groups of data.

Other use cases for Mekko charts include:

• Detailed profit and loss statements.
• Revenue by brand and region.
• Product profitability.
• Share of voice by industry or niche.

Design Best Practices for Mekko Charts

• Vary your bar heights if the portion size is an important point of comparison.
• Don't include too many composite values within each bar. Consider reevaluating your presentation if you have a lot of data.
• Order your bars from left to right in such a way that exposes a relevant trend or message.

5. Pie Chart

Remember, a pie chart represents numbers in percentages, and the total sum of all segments needs to equal 100%.

The image above shows another example of customers by role in the company.

The bar chart  example shows you that there are more individual contributors than any other role. But this pie chart makes it clear that they make up over 50% of customer roles.

Pie charts make it easy to see a section in relation to the whole, so they are good for showing:

• Customer personas in relation to all customers.
• Revenue from your most popular products or product types in relation to all product sales.
• Percent of total profit from different store locations.

Design Best Practices for Pie Charts

• Don't illustrate too many categories to ensure differentiation between slices.
• Ensure that the slice values add up to 100%.
• Order slices according to their size.

6. Scatter Plot Chart

As I said earlier, a scatter plot or scattergram chart will show the relationship between two different variables or reveal distribution trends.

Use this chart when there are many different data points, and you want to highlight similarities in the data set. This is useful when looking for outliers or understanding your data's distribution.

Scatter plots are helpful in situations where you have too much data to see a pattern quickly. They are best when you use them to show relationships between two large data sets.

In the example above, this chart shows how customer happiness relates to the time it takes for them to get a response.

This type of chart  makes it easy to compare two data sets. Use cases might include:

• Employment and manufacturing output.
• Retail sales and inflation.
• Visitor numbers and outdoor temperature.
• Sales growth and tax laws.

Try to choose two data sets that already have a positive or negative relationship. That said, this type of chart  can also make it easier to see data that falls outside of normal patterns.

Design Best Practices for Scatter Plots

• Include more variables, like different sizes, to incorporate more data.
• Start the y-axis at 0 to represent data accurately.
• If you use trend lines, only use a maximum of two to make your plot easy to understand.

7. Bubble Chart

A bubble chart is similar to a scatter plot in that it can show distribution or relationship. There is a third data set shown by the size of the bubble or circle.

In the example above, the number of hours spent online isn't just compared to the user's age, as it would be on a scatter plot chart.

Instead, you can also see how the gender of the user impacts time spent online.

This makes bubble charts useful for seeing the rise or fall of trends over time. It also lets you add another option when you're trying to understand relationships between different segments or categories.

For example, if you want to launch a new product, this chart could help you quickly see your new product's cost, risk, and value. This can help you focus your energies on a low-risk new product with a high potential return.

You can also use bubble charts for:

• Top sales by month and location.
• Customer satisfaction surveys.
• Store performance tracking.
• Marketing campaign reviews.

Design Best Practices for Bubble Charts

• Scale bubbles according to area, not diameter.
• Make sure labels are clear and visible.
• Use circular shapes only.

8. Waterfall Chart

I sometimes use a waterfall chart to show how an initial value changes with intermediate values — either positive or negative — and results in a final value.

Use this chart to reveal the composition of a number. An example of this would be to showcase how different departments influence overall company revenue and lead to a specific profit number.

The most common use case for a funnel chart is the marketing or sales funnel. But there are many other ways to use this versatile chart.

If you have at least four stages of sequential data, this chart can help you easily see what inputs or outputs impact the final results.

For example, a funnel chart can help you see how to improve your buyer journey or shopping cart workflow. This is because it can help pinpoint major drop-off points.

Other stellar options for these types of charts include:

• Deal pipelines.
• Conversion and retention analysis.
• Bottlenecks in manufacturing and other multi-step processes.
• Marketing campaign performance.
• Website conversion tracking.

Design Best Practices for Funnel Charts

• Scale the size of each section to accurately reflect the size of the data set.
• Use contrasting colors or one color in graduated hues, from darkest to lightest, as the size of the funnel decreases.

10. Heat Map

A heat map shows the relationship between two items and provides rating information, such as high to low or poor to excellent. This chart displays the rating information using varying colors or saturation.

Best Use Cases for Heat Maps

In the example above, the darker the shade of green shows where the majority of people agree.

With enough data, heat maps can make a viewpoint that might seem subjective more concrete. This makes it easier for a business to act on customer sentiment.

There are many uses for these types of charts. In fact, many tech companies use heat map tools to gauge user experience for apps, online tools, and website design .

Another common use for heat map charts  is location assessment. If you're trying to find the right location for your new store, these maps can give you an idea of what the area is like in ways that a visit can't communicate.

Heat maps can also help with spotting patterns, so they're good for analyzing trends that change quickly, like ad conversions. They can also help with:

• Competitor research.
• Customer sentiment.
• Sales outreach.
• Campaign impact.
• Customer demographics.

Design Best Practices for Heat Map

• Use a basic and clear map outline to avoid distracting from the data.
• Use a single color in varying shades to show changes in data.
• Avoid using multiple patterns.

11. Gantt Chart

The Gantt chart is a horizontal chart that dates back to 1917. This chart maps the different tasks completed over a period of time.

Gantt charting is one of the most essential tools for project managers. It brings all the completed and uncompleted tasks into one place and tracks the progress of each.

While the left side of the chart displays all the tasks, the right side shows the progress and schedule for each of these tasks.

This chart type allows you to:

• Break projects into tasks.
• Track the start and end of the tasks.
• Set important events, meetings, and announcements.
• Assign tasks to the team and individuals.

I use donut charts for the same use cases as pie charts, but I tend to prefer the former because of the added benefit that the data is easier to read.

Another benefit to donut charts is that the empty center leaves room for extra layers of data, like in the examples above. 

Design Best Practices for Donut Charts 

Use varying colors to better differentiate the data being displayed, just make sure the colors are in the same palette so viewers aren't put off by clashing hues. 

14. Sankey Diagram

A Sankey Diagram visually represents the flow of data between categories, with the link width reflecting the amount of flow. It’s a powerful tool for uncovering the stories hidden in your data.

As data grows more complex, charts must evolve to handle these intricate relationships. Sankey Diagrams excel at this task.

With ChartExpo , you can create a Sankey Chart with up to eight levels, offering multiple perspectives for analyzing your data. Even the most complicated data sets become manageable and easy to interpret.

You can customize your Sankey charts and every component including nodes, links, stats, text, colors, and more. ChartExpo is an add-in in Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets, and Power BI, you can create beautiful Sankey diagrams while keeping your data safe in your favorite tools.

Sankey diagrams can be used to visualize all types of data which contain a flow of information. It beautifully connects the flows and presents the data in an optimum way.

Here are a few use cases:

• Sankey diagrams are widely used to visualize energy production, consumption, and distribution. They help in tracking how energy flows from one source (like oil or gas) to various uses (heating, electricity, transportation).
• Businesses use Sankey diagrams to trace customer interactions across different channels and touchpoints. It highlights the flow of users through a funnel or process, revealing drop-off points and success paths.
• I n supply chain management, these diagrams show how resources, products, or information flow between suppliers, manufacturers, and retailers, identifying bottlenecks and inefficiencies.

Design Best Practices for Sankey Diagrams 

When utilizing a Sankey diagram, it is essential to maintain simplicity while ensuring accuracy in proportions. Clear labeling and effective color usage are key factors to consider. Emphasizing the logical flow direction and highlighting significant flows will enhance the visualization.

How to Choose the Right Chart or Graph for Your Data

Channels like social media or blogs have multiple data sources, and managing these complex content assets can get overwhelming. What should you be tracking? What matters most?

How do you visualize and analyze the data so you can extract insights and actionable information?

1. Identify your goals for presenting the data.

Before creating any data-based graphics, I ask myself if I want to convince or clarify a point. Am I trying to visualize data that helped me solve a problem? Or am I trying to communicate a change that's happening?

A chart or graph can help compare different values, understand how different parts impact the whole, or analyze trends. Charts and graphs can also be useful for recognizing data that veers away from what you’re used to or help you see relationships between groups.

So, clarify your goals then use them to guide your chart selection.

2. Figure out what data you need to achieve your goal.

Different types of charts and graphs use different kinds of data. Graphs usually represent numerical data, while charts are visual representations of data that may or may not use numbers.

So, while all graphs are a type of chart, not all charts are graphs. If you don't already have the kind of data you need, you might need to spend some time putting your data together before building your chart.

3. Gather your data.

Most businesses collect numerical data regularly, but you may need to put in some extra time to collect the right data for your chart.

Besides quantitative data tools that measure traffic, revenue, and other user data, you might need some qualitative data.

These are some other ways you can gather data for your data visualization:

• Interviews 
• Quizzes and surveys
• Customer reviews
• Reviewing customer documents and records
• Community boards

Fill out the form to get your templates.

4. select the right type of graph or chart..

Choosing the wrong visual aid or defaulting to the most common type of data visualization could confuse your viewer or lead to mistaken data interpretation.

But a chart is only useful to you and your business if it communicates your point clearly and effectively.

Ask yourself the questions below to help find the right chart or graph type.

Download the Excel templates mentioned in the video here.

5 Questions to Ask When Deciding Which Type of Chart to Use

1. do you want to compare values.

Charts and graphs are perfect for comparing one or many value sets, and they can easily show the low and high values in the data sets. To create a comparison chart, use these types of graphs:

• Scatter plot

2. Do you want to show the composition of something?

Use this type of chart to show how individual parts make up the whole of something, like the device type used for mobile visitors to your website or total sales broken down by sales rep.

To show composition, use these charts:

• Stacked bar

3. Do you want to understand the distribution of your data?

Distribution charts help you to understand outliers, the normal tendency, and the range of information in your values.

Use these charts to show distribution:

4. Are you interested in analyzing trends in your data set?

If you want more information about how a data set performed during a specific time, there are specific chart types that do extremely well.

You should choose one of the following:

• Dual-axis line

5. Do you want to better understand the relationship between value sets?

Relationship charts can show how one variable relates to one or many different variables. You could use this to show how something positively affects, has no effect, or negatively affects another variable.

When trying to establish the relationship between things, use these charts:

Featured Resource: The Marketer's Guide to Data Visualization

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17 Data Visualization Techniques All Professionals Should Know

• 17 Sep 2019

There’s a growing demand for business analytics and data expertise in the workforce. But you don’t need to be a professional analyst to benefit from data-related skills.

Becoming skilled at common data visualization techniques can help you reap the rewards of data-driven decision-making , including increased confidence and potential cost savings. Learning how to effectively visualize data could be the first step toward using data analytics and data science to your advantage to add value to your organization.

Several data visualization techniques can help you become more effective in your role. Here are 17 essential data visualization techniques all professionals should know, as well as tips to help you effectively present your data.

Access your free e-book today.

What Is Data Visualization?

Data visualization is the process of creating graphical representations of information. This process helps the presenter communicate data in a way that’s easy for the viewer to interpret and draw conclusions.

There are many different techniques and tools you can leverage to visualize data, so you want to know which ones to use and when. Here are some of the most important data visualization techniques all professionals should know.

Data Visualization Techniques

The type of data visualization technique you leverage will vary based on the type of data you’re working with, in addition to the story you’re telling with your data .

Here are some important data visualization techniques to know:

• Gantt Chart
• Box and Whisker Plot
• Waterfall Chart
• Scatter Plot
• Pictogram Chart
• Highlight Table
• Bullet Graph
• Choropleth Map
• Network Diagram
• Correlation Matrices

1. Pie Chart

Pie charts are one of the most common and basic data visualization techniques, used across a wide range of applications. Pie charts are ideal for illustrating proportions, or part-to-whole comparisons.

Because pie charts are relatively simple and easy to read, they’re best suited for audiences who might be unfamiliar with the information or are only interested in the key takeaways. For viewers who require a more thorough explanation of the data, pie charts fall short in their ability to display complex information.

2. Bar Chart

The classic bar chart , or bar graph, is another common and easy-to-use method of data visualization. In this type of visualization, one axis of the chart shows the categories being compared, and the other, a measured value. The length of the bar indicates how each group measures according to the value.

One drawback is that labeling and clarity can become problematic when there are too many categories included. Like pie charts, they can also be too simple for more complex data sets.

3. Histogram

Unlike bar charts, histograms illustrate the distribution of data over a continuous interval or defined period. These visualizations are helpful in identifying where values are concentrated, as well as where there are gaps or unusual values.

Histograms are especially useful for showing the frequency of a particular occurrence. For instance, if you’d like to show how many clicks your website received each day over the last week, you can use a histogram. From this visualization, you can quickly determine which days your website saw the greatest and fewest number of clicks.

4. Gantt Chart

Gantt charts are particularly common in project management, as they’re useful in illustrating a project timeline or progression of tasks. In this type of chart, tasks to be performed are listed on the vertical axis and time intervals on the horizontal axis. Horizontal bars in the body of the chart represent the duration of each activity.

Utilizing Gantt charts to display timelines can be incredibly helpful, and enable team members to keep track of every aspect of a project. Even if you’re not a project management professional, familiarizing yourself with Gantt charts can help you stay organized.

5. Heat Map

A heat map is a type of visualization used to show differences in data through variations in color. These charts use color to communicate values in a way that makes it easy for the viewer to quickly identify trends. Having a clear legend is necessary in order for a user to successfully read and interpret a heatmap.

There are many possible applications of heat maps. For example, if you want to analyze which time of day a retail store makes the most sales, you can use a heat map that shows the day of the week on the vertical axis and time of day on the horizontal axis. Then, by shading in the matrix with colors that correspond to the number of sales at each time of day, you can identify trends in the data that allow you to determine the exact times your store experiences the most sales.

6. A Box and Whisker Plot

A box and whisker plot , or box plot, provides a visual summary of data through its quartiles. First, a box is drawn from the first quartile to the third of the data set. A line within the box represents the median. “Whiskers,” or lines, are then drawn extending from the box to the minimum (lower extreme) and maximum (upper extreme). Outliers are represented by individual points that are in-line with the whiskers.

This type of chart is helpful in quickly identifying whether or not the data is symmetrical or skewed, as well as providing a visual summary of the data set that can be easily interpreted.

7. Waterfall Chart

A waterfall chart is a visual representation that illustrates how a value changes as it’s influenced by different factors, such as time. The main goal of this chart is to show the viewer how a value has grown or declined over a defined period. For example, waterfall charts are popular for showing spending or earnings over time.

8. Area Chart

An area chart , or area graph, is a variation on a basic line graph in which the area underneath the line is shaded to represent the total value of each data point. When several data series must be compared on the same graph, stacked area charts are used.

This method of data visualization is useful for showing changes in one or more quantities over time, as well as showing how each quantity combines to make up the whole. Stacked area charts are effective in showing part-to-whole comparisons.

9. Scatter Plot

Another technique commonly used to display data is a scatter plot . A scatter plot displays data for two variables as represented by points plotted against the horizontal and vertical axis. This type of data visualization is useful in illustrating the relationships that exist between variables and can be used to identify trends or correlations in data.

Scatter plots are most effective for fairly large data sets, since it’s often easier to identify trends when there are more data points present. Additionally, the closer the data points are grouped together, the stronger the correlation or trend tends to be.

10. Pictogram Chart

Pictogram charts , or pictograph charts, are particularly useful for presenting simple data in a more visual and engaging way. These charts use icons to visualize data, with each icon representing a different value or category. For example, data about time might be represented by icons of clocks or watches. Each icon can correspond to either a single unit or a set number of units (for example, each icon represents 100 units).

In addition to making the data more engaging, pictogram charts are helpful in situations where language or cultural differences might be a barrier to the audience’s understanding of the data.

11. Timeline

Timelines are the most effective way to visualize a sequence of events in chronological order. They’re typically linear, with key events outlined along the axis. Timelines are used to communicate time-related information and display historical data.

Timelines allow you to highlight the most important events that occurred, or need to occur in the future, and make it easy for the viewer to identify any patterns appearing within the selected time period. While timelines are often relatively simple linear visualizations, they can be made more visually appealing by adding images, colors, fonts, and decorative shapes.

12. Highlight Table

A highlight table is a more engaging alternative to traditional tables. By highlighting cells in the table with color, you can make it easier for viewers to quickly spot trends and patterns in the data. These visualizations are useful for comparing categorical data.

Depending on the data visualization tool you’re using, you may be able to add conditional formatting rules to the table that automatically color cells that meet specified conditions. For instance, when using a highlight table to visualize a company’s sales data, you may color cells red if the sales data is below the goal, or green if sales were above the goal. Unlike a heat map, the colors in a highlight table are discrete and represent a single meaning or value.

13. Bullet Graph

A bullet graph is a variation of a bar graph that can act as an alternative to dashboard gauges to represent performance data. The main use for a bullet graph is to inform the viewer of how a business is performing in comparison to benchmarks that are in place for key business metrics.

In a bullet graph, the darker horizontal bar in the middle of the chart represents the actual value, while the vertical line represents a comparative value, or target. If the horizontal bar passes the vertical line, the target for that metric has been surpassed. Additionally, the segmented colored sections behind the horizontal bar represent range scores, such as “poor,” “fair,” or “good.”

14. Choropleth Maps

A choropleth map uses color, shading, and other patterns to visualize numerical values across geographic regions. These visualizations use a progression of color (or shading) on a spectrum to distinguish high values from low.

Choropleth maps allow viewers to see how a variable changes from one region to the next. A potential downside to this type of visualization is that the exact numerical values aren’t easily accessible because the colors represent a range of values. Some data visualization tools, however, allow you to add interactivity to your map so the exact values are accessible.

15. Word Cloud

A word cloud , or tag cloud, is a visual representation of text data in which the size of the word is proportional to its frequency. The more often a specific word appears in a dataset, the larger it appears in the visualization. In addition to size, words often appear bolder or follow a specific color scheme depending on their frequency.

Word clouds are often used on websites and blogs to identify significant keywords and compare differences in textual data between two sources. They are also useful when analyzing qualitative datasets, such as the specific words consumers used to describe a product.

16. Network Diagram

Network diagrams are a type of data visualization that represent relationships between qualitative data points. These visualizations are composed of nodes and links, also called edges. Nodes are singular data points that are connected to other nodes through edges, which show the relationship between multiple nodes.

There are many use cases for network diagrams, including depicting social networks, highlighting the relationships between employees at an organization, or visualizing product sales across geographic regions.

17. Correlation Matrix

A correlation matrix is a table that shows correlation coefficients between variables. Each cell represents the relationship between two variables, and a color scale is used to communicate whether the variables are correlated and to what extent.

Correlation matrices are useful to summarize and find patterns in large data sets. In business, a correlation matrix might be used to analyze how different data points about a specific product might be related, such as price, advertising spend, launch date, etc.

Other Data Visualization Options

While the examples listed above are some of the most commonly used techniques, there are many other ways you can visualize data to become a more effective communicator. Some other data visualization options include:

• Bubble clouds
• Circle views
• Dendrograms
• Dot distribution maps
• Open-high-low-close charts
• Polar areas
• Radial trees
• Ring Charts
• Sankey diagram
• Span charts
• Streamgraphs
• Wedge stack graphs
• Violin plots

Tips For Creating Effective Visualizations

Creating effective data visualizations requires more than just knowing how to choose the best technique for your needs. There are several considerations you should take into account to maximize your effectiveness when it comes to presenting data.

Related : What to Keep in Mind When Creating Data Visualizations in Excel

One of the most important steps is to evaluate your audience. For example, if you’re presenting financial data to a team that works in an unrelated department, you’ll want to choose a fairly simple illustration. On the other hand, if you’re presenting financial data to a team of finance experts, it’s likely you can safely include more complex information.

Another helpful tip is to avoid unnecessary distractions. Although visual elements like animation can be a great way to add interest, they can also distract from the key points the illustration is trying to convey and hinder the viewer’s ability to quickly understand the information.

Finally, be mindful of the colors you utilize, as well as your overall design. While it’s important that your graphs or charts are visually appealing, there are more practical reasons you might choose one color palette over another. For instance, using low contrast colors can make it difficult for your audience to discern differences between data points. Using colors that are too bold, however, can make the illustration overwhelming or distracting for the viewer.

Related : Bad Data Visualization: 5 Examples of Misleading Data

Visuals to Interpret and Share Information

No matter your role or title within an organization, data visualization is a skill that’s important for all professionals. Being able to effectively present complex data through easy-to-understand visual representations is invaluable when it comes to communicating information with members both inside and outside your business.

There’s no shortage in how data visualization can be applied in the real world. Data is playing an increasingly important role in the marketplace today, and data literacy is the first step in understanding how analytics can be used in business.

Are you interested in improving your analytical skills? Learn more about Business Analytics , our eight-week online course that can help you use data to generate insights and tackle business decisions.

This post was updated on January 20, 2022. It was originally published on September 17, 2019.

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