If you look closely, sports logos are just as captivating as the sport itself. Logotypes speak volumes of a sports team’s spirit with vibrant designs and mottos. But behind each logo is a complex brainstorming process entailing history, vision, style, mission, and values, and it is often displayed with clip art, silhouettes, shapes, and lettering.
If you’ve yet to design a logo representing your team, you might want to glance at the following tips to help accelerate the process and create a meaningful and noteworthy emblem. This article reveals the power of a sports team logo, provides examples of worldwide logotypes, and casts light on designing a unique visual. Read on!
What constitutes a strong and memorable sports logo
Some logos have been forgotten, although they are sophisticated and visually appealing. Others, in turn, have been recognized worldwide for years. Indeed, the performance and success of a sports team plays a huge role in making a logo memorable, but its design is essential nonetheless. Overall, widely known logos stand out in the following aspects:
- Unique shape. Think of iconic sports logos people recognize even when simplified to a black-and-white layout. Such shapes and designs honor both the teams and their devoted fan base, leaving a lasting impression in the minds of many;
- Strong message. A solid logo sends a strong message to the world, communicating a team’s identity and values. These often extend to strength, unity, agility, community pride, original playstyle, and more;
- Original elements. A one-of-a-kind logo avoids cliches and overused icons like footballs or basketballs, or uses such in a unique context, shape, or form. In other words, it customizes clip art elements to describe a team accurately. Depositphotos features licensed sports logos you can freely personalize and adjust to reflect your team. Incorporate hidden details or clever symbolism people can discover over time, deepening their bond with the team.
4 tips for creating a remarkable sports team logo
Climbing on the pedestal of top teams highly depends on your crew’s performance. But when it comes to crafting one of the best logos in sports in terms of design, these four tips will come in handy:
Tip #1. Learn from the great sports logos
Browsing and analyzing the best sports logos is a simple way to see what makes them strong and what lessons you can learn from their designs. Here are a few examples of such globally acknowledged teams and multi-sports events:
- Liverpool F.C.. The Liverpool logo features the Liver Bird, a city symbol, including the club’s motto, “You’ll never walk alone,” reflecting unity and resilience. The flames and shield design honors the team’s history and fans’ loyalty.
- Miami Heat. This unchanged logo showcases a flaming basketball passing through a hoop, symbolizing intensity and dynamic energy. Miami Heat’s three-shade color palette points to heat and aggression on the court.
- Invictus Games. The Invictus Games logo is empowered with the bold “I AM” embedded within “InvIctus GAMes.” This, in turn, describes personal strength and resilience, reflecting the competitiveness and courage of wounded veterans.
- Barcelona F.C.. Barcelona’s crest blends Catalan regional symbols with a soccer ball, representing local pride and the club’s affluent history. The bold combination of blue, yellow, and red highlights the team’s strong background and worldwide fanbase.
- Chicago Bulls. A fierce red bull symbolizes aggression and strength, perfectly matching the team’s competitive spirit and vibrant past. Its bold, simple design has become one of the most iconic sports team logos.
Tip #2. Think of the logo’s future
Once you research the best sports logos and outline their core strengths, consider your design’s evolution and placements, like jerseys and digital thumbnails. It’s best to sketch a logo with longevity in mind, as you want it to evolve consistently without completely revamping and losing its core identity. Many prominent logos, like the mentioned Chicago Bulls, have undergone slight updates, always staying fresh while retaining familiarity.
When mind mapping your logo design and its potential evolution path, keep these factors in mind:
- Color scheme. Trendy colors aren’t as crucial as your goals, meaning your choice of shades and tints must focus on delivering certain emotions, introducing the viewer to the team and its vibes. Considering that 90% of initial impressions are influenced by color, you must familiarize yourself with color psychology in branding and powerful color combinations. This will ensure your chosen palette can efficiently reflect the team’s spirit and become a classic representation in the public eye;
- Symbols and marks. Whether your logo will rest upon a symbol or mark or incorporate them with clip art, ensure you have enough room for future developments. This way, you can rest assured that refreshing items won’t go against your logotype’s essence;
- Shape. Likewise, polishing shape will require extra space, so being mindful of this and leaving enough room for future shape-shifting will go a long way in making your logotype evergreen, recognizable, and vibrant.
Tip #3. Use clip art as a foundation, not a crutch
Clip art provides a strong base, but remember that originality comes from customization. No matter what clip art you choose, be sure to add unique textures, tints, and shapes so that typical clip art only enhances the visual. Look for clip art elements that have dynamic movement or convey the intensity of your sport. Some of the best logos in sports mimic movement, so try adding lines or angular elements to suggest speed or power. For instance, sweeping lines behind a core element can give the impression of motion and forward momentum.
Using stock content platforms like Depositphotos to source images, you can also modify a template using their AI-powered and automated editing tools, making it unique and personal to your team.
Tip #4. Tell a story through the logo
The best sports logos always tell a story. You can use clip art components representing your team’s journey, hometown, or values. Even if these are niche elements, like a special shield, a sword, or an animal, don’t hesitate to layer them on the logo.
The same goes for the city’s geography. Adding things tied to your community can connect fans more profoundly, whether you represent a city or a specific college. See examples of vibrant NCAA Division logos for inspiration.
Wrapping up
Creating a decent and memorable sports logo depends on factors such as overall design, background, and team performance on the field. Whatever the sport or team level, it’s best to remember the story when creating a logo. Doing so will help you convey energy and remain faithful to the values.
If you look closely, sports logos are just as captivating as the sport itself. Logotypes speak volumes of a sports team’s spirit with vibrant designs and mottos. But behind each logo is a complex brainstorming process entailing history, vision, style, mission, and values, and it is often displayed with clip art, silhouettes, shapes, and lettering.
If you’ve yet to design a logo representing your team, you might want to glance at the following tips to help accelerate the process and create a meaningful and noteworthy emblem. This article reveals the power of a sports team logo, provides examples of worldwide logotypes, and casts light on designing a unique visual. Read on!
What constitutes a strong and memorable sports logo
Some logos have been forgotten, although they are sophisticated and visually appealing. Others, in turn, have been recognized worldwide for years. Indeed, the performance and success of a sports team plays a huge role in making a logo memorable, but its design is essential nonetheless. Overall, widely known logos stand out in the following aspects:
- Unique shape. Think of iconic sports logos people recognize even when simplified to a black-and-white layout. Such shapes and designs honor both the teams and their devoted fan base, leaving a lasting impression in the minds of many;
- Strong message. A solid logo sends a strong message to the world, communicating a team’s identity and values. These often extend to strength, unity, agility, community pride, original playstyle, and more;
- Original elements. A one-of-a-kind logo avoids cliches and overused icons like footballs or basketballs, or uses such in a unique context, shape, or form. In other words, it customizes clip art elements to describe a team accurately. Depositphotos features licensed sports logos you can freely personalize and adjust to reflect your team. Incorporate hidden details or clever symbolism people can discover over time, deepening their bond with the team.
4 tips for creating a remarkable sports team logo
Climbing on the pedestal of top teams highly depends on your crew’s performance. But when it comes to crafting one of the best logos in sports in terms of design, these four tips will come in handy:
Tip #1. Learn from the great sports logos
Browsing and analyzing the best sports logos is a simple way to see what makes them strong and what lessons you can learn from their designs. Here are a few examples of such globally acknowledged teams and multi-sports events:
- Liverpool F.C.. The Liverpool logo features the Liver Bird, a city symbol, including the club’s motto, “You’ll never walk alone,” reflecting unity and resilience. The flames and shield design honors the team’s history and fans’ loyalty.
- Miami Heat. This unchanged logo showcases a flaming basketball passing through a hoop, symbolizing intensity and dynamic energy. Miami Heat’s three-shade color palette points to heat and aggression on the court.
- Invictus Games. The Invictus Games logo is empowered with the bold “I AM” embedded within “InvIctus GAMes.” This, in turn, describes personal strength and resilience, reflecting the competitiveness and courage of wounded veterans.
- Barcelona F.C.. Barcelona’s crest blends Catalan regional symbols with a soccer ball, representing local pride and the club’s affluent history. The bold combination of blue, yellow, and red highlights the team’s strong background and worldwide fanbase.
- Chicago Bulls. A fierce red bull symbolizes aggression and strength, perfectly matching the team’s competitive spirit and vibrant past. Its bold, simple design has become one of the most iconic sports team logos.
Tip #2. Think of the logo’s future
Once you research the best sports logos and outline their core strengths, consider your design’s evolution and placements, like jerseys and digital thumbnails. It’s best to sketch a logo with longevity in mind, as you want it to evolve consistently without completely revamping and losing its core identity. Many prominent logos, like the mentioned Chicago Bulls, have undergone slight updates, always staying fresh while retaining familiarity.
When mind mapping your logo design and its potential evolution path, keep these factors in mind:
- Color scheme. Trendy colors aren’t as crucial as your goals, meaning your choice of shades and tints must focus on delivering certain emotions, introducing the viewer to the team and its vibes. Considering that 90% of initial impressions are influenced by color, you must familiarize yourself with color psychology in branding and powerful color combinations. This will ensure your chosen palette can efficiently reflect the team’s spirit and become a classic representation in the public eye;
- Symbols and marks. Whether your logo will rest upon a symbol or mark or incorporate them with clip art, ensure you have enough room for future developments. This way, you can rest assured that refreshing items won’t go against your logotype’s essence;
- Shape. Likewise, polishing shape will require extra space, so being mindful of this and leaving enough room for future shape-shifting will go a long way in making your logotype evergreen, recognizable, and vibrant.
Tip #3. Use clip art as a foundation, not a crutch
Clip art provides a strong base, but remember that originality comes from customization. No matter what clip art you choose, be sure to add unique textures, tints, and shapes so that typical clip art only enhances the visual. Look for clip art elements that have dynamic movement or convey the intensity of your sport. Some of the best logos in sports mimic movement, so try adding lines or angular elements to suggest speed or power. For instance, sweeping lines behind a core element can give the impression of motion and forward momentum.
Using stock content platforms like Depositphotos to source images, you can also modify a template using their AI-powered and automated editing tools, making it unique and personal to your team.
Tip #4. Tell a story through the logo
The best sports logos always tell a story. You can use clip art components representing your team’s journey, hometown, or values. Even if these are niche elements, like a special shield, a sword, or an animal, don’t hesitate to layer them on the logo.
The same goes for the city’s geography. Adding things tied to your community can connect fans more profoundly, whether you represent a city or a specific college. See examples of vibrant NCAA Division logos for inspiration.
Wrapping up
Creating a decent and memorable sports logo depends on factors such as overall design, background, and team performance on the field. Whatever the sport or team level, it’s best to remember the story when creating a logo. Doing so will help you convey energy and remain faithful to the values.
