27 Unforgettable Minimal Logo Designs

There’s something about minimalist design that is just so captivating. Minimal logos make for modern and chic branding that elevate your brand identity. While it’s easy to get caught up in overdesigning a concept, the best designers are famed for their ability to take things back to basics. By focusing on only the very essentials, you can create a stunning minimalist design that is both eye-catching and timeless.

Minimalism can be applied to all elements of our lives: from our houses and our wardrobes to our website and social media graphics. We’ll unwrap the concept of minimalism and then show you some examples of great minimal logos, and how you can achieve the look yourself!

What is minimalism in design?

Neo-minimalism is a product of the modernist movement of the 1960s. It’s influenced by Bauhaus culture, which rejected the lavish designs of the past for a more down-to-earth feel. Minimal designs can be found in all types of art, including painting, dance, music, filmmaking, fashion, architecture, and even logos.

The best thing about using minimalist design is that it plays on the way our brain already works. Instead of remembering complex pictures, our mind simplifies images to store them in our memory. By doing this in the design process, you increase the memorability of your logo.

What makes a minimal logo design?

Bold, simple shapes and single-color designs characterize minimal logos. They avoid all the unnecessary extras and focus on the core design concept. The result is impactful branding that’s easily transferred onto any medium or background.

Is a flat logo a minimalist logo?

Flat logos are the best examples of minimalist design. They remove all additions like texture, gradient, and dimension to create a 2D symbol with no realistic traits. The simplicity makes the design bolder and eye-catching.

What are the benefits of minimal logos?

Minimal logos will make you look twice. Their strong colors and shapes stand out in even the most crowded places. Other benefits include:

• They retain their impact even on smaller mobile screens
• You can easily use different color combinations for seasonal events
• They’re easier for customers to recognize and remember

5 famous brands with minimal logos

Now that you understand the hype around minimalism, let’s check out how the big-name brands have used minimalism in the design of their logos. You can use these examples as inspiration for your own logo.

Apple

Apple is a pioneer of the ‘extreme minimalism’ concept. The popular logo design started as an elaborate sketch but was simplified over time to the basic symbol we know now. Even the color scheme got the minimalist treatment, changing from rainbow stripes to sleek monochrome.

Uber

Uber is a fantastic example of applying minimalism to a wordmark logo. Instead of following most apps by using a monogram or symbol, they searched for the perfect, simple font.  The MCKL Type family is now synonymous with the brand.

Airbnb

Airbnb’s monogram shows us that minimalist doesn’t mean uncreative. The use of the ‘A’ shape has been expertly designed to represent the inclusivity and community that is the brand’s personality. It’s a far cry from the complex wordmark the company used to use and shows how minimalism makes logo design way more memorable.

Nike

You can’t talk about minimalism without mentioning Nike. The ‘swoosh’ is often used in examples of unforgettable, minimal logos. It plays on the company’s namesake— the winged Greek goddess of victory. Communicating movement and speed, the simplistic design is packed full of meaning, which makes it truly iconic.

Louis Vuitton

This high-end brand perfectly manages to match simplicity with luxury. The monogram logo is made memorable by the tiny design details— such as the italicized ‘L’ and the serif font. It’s small choices like this that make minimalistic designs so powerful.

Examples of minimal logo design by industry

Beauty

Entertainment

Real Estate

Fitness

Fashion

Construction

Photography

Technology

Tips for making an unforgettable minimal logo

Now you’ve had a good look at what makes a minimal logo great, it’s time to make your own. The above examples are all fantastic for inspiration, but you need to be sure the design matches your brand. Take some time to consider your brand personality and the message you want to convey. Then, follow these tips to make a minimal design that really pops.

Use geometric shapes as inspiration

Shapes have so much meaning. A square logo conveys a different message than a triangle logo. Do some research on what each shape represents, then use your favorite as a starting point for your design.

Think about fonts

A minimal logo can be a wordmark or monogram. In this situation, your font choice is essential. Slab or serif? Bold or italicized? Play around with different ideas.

Experiment with color stories

Color is perhaps the most impactful element of a great logo. Don’t just stick to one color scheme. Try out a few and see how it changes the overall impression.

Remove all extras

If you already have a logo and want to simplify it, start by removing all the extras. Is there an unnecessary outline, or a few different symbols? Chop out what you don’t need and work from there.

Make it flat

If you want to include a picture, make it flat. This is achieved by removing all gradients and shading that create a more 3D effect.

And there you have it! Now, try experimenting with all the above options until you find one that really works for your brand. Very few classic logos were made on their first attempt—but that’s the wonderful thing about logo design!

You can use our logo maker to try out countless different options until you find the one that truly brings your brand to life!