Design your way

Thursday, December 21, 2017

An animal logo (or a bird logo in this case) has many design conveniences.

Animals are easy to identify with, and will help your brand be instantly recognized by billions of users.

And while it is true that bird symbolism is overwhelming nowadays, it still caters to the main mission – creating a business identity each customer can easily remember.

A bird logo is always a good idea, thanks to the beauty and gentleness of these creatures. Designers find it easy to choose between the versatile colours and shapes. In a nutshell, there is much creative people can do with a simple graphic bird symbol in hands (think of the Twitter bird logo, for instance).

Companies with bird logos – what message are they trying to share?

Birds are not only symbols of freedom and flying, but also a visual representation of communicativeness. Even the simplest logos with birds (including those drawn with a single line) are instantly related to the service they promote.

If it is a cartoon bird, it clearly stands for a children brand (penguins and ducks in particular), while an illustration of a glorious peacock is almost always the bird logo of expensive and luxurious brands. As a part of your bird symbolism strategy, you should first decide which message you want to convey, and then let the cute animal ‘speak’ it up.

Choose colours that tell your story

What is really cool about logos with birds is that they offer almost unlimited design possibilities, letting us choose between all sizes, shapes, and colours. To make a bird logo more personal, you can always use a pop of unexpected colours, or make a cartoon/caricature of the animal in question.

Green doves or purple ducks, for instance, would look very intriguing, especially if you add a hat or a monocle to make your logo unforgettable.

Bird logos are not a recent trend. These cute animals impressed people since the beginning of time, often attached a specific meaning and conveying an important message. Asian people, for instance, associate birds to immortality, in particular East Indians who have a myth relating birds with the souls of the department.

In the Christian culture and art, on the other hand, birds are considered the embodiment of the Holy Spirit, and often symbolize peace and safety.

At the same time, birds are used to share human moods, urges, and emotions, most of the time the positive ones. With a gentle dove you can represent divine and devotion, with a flirtatious Partridge or a proud Cockerel an amorous and polite gentlemen, and with a Rooster the heritage and tradition of a country.

An image of a vulture may remind the observer of a strong and masculine boy, while a conjugal bliss would often remind them of a lifetime friend. To express affection, you can also consider a tiny Mexican parrot or a hummingbird logo, which are both considered love birds, and pinpoint closeness and affection.

Yet, the meaning of a bird symbol will likely depend on your location – if you’re in rural Africa, for instance, a hen would remind you of maternity, and the very same symbol in Great Britain would stand for beauty and love.

Nautical Tattooing uses parrots as main symbols, while sailors prefer bluebirds and swallows.

The feathers, beaks, and wings of birds remind designers of the development of the human body and soul, depicting visually a person’s entire journey, from birth to departure to the ancestral lands.

A bird was also chosen to be the symbol of creation of Egyptian’s God Atum, and a victory association for the Goths and the Vikings.

The Odin and Norse Gods’ favorite bird was the raven, commonly related to wisdom and transformation. North America’s shamans consider them to be tricksters and shape-sifters.

Had you asked the people from Hilda (Pacific Northwest) what ravens meant to them, you’d discover that these birds are a symbol of creation and the creatures that stole the sun to let it shine.

The Rooster was even mentioned in the Bible, praised for the ability to call his flock to eat. The Bluebird (or Swallow) is the traditional symbol of Chinese sailors who believe it is their mysterious good omen, and a sign of hope.

The meaning of birds throughout history

– Cranes symbolize health, longevity, wisdom, good luck, and happiness

– Eagles stand for power, courage, and resurrection; they are always related to sun and heaven, and often used to symbolize rebirth

– Owls represent wisdom, virtue, experience, but also darkness and death

– The dove has always been related to peace, purity, and gentleness. It is also a recognized symbol of the Holy Spirit.

– Peacocks herald new growth, birth, longevity, spring, and love. You will also find them visualizing royalty, compassion, prosperity, peace, and luxury. In China, they are considered to be sacred, while in India people recognize them as national birds

– Ducks look protective, and create emotional comfort for the viewer.

– Swans are very loyal birds that symbolize friendship and family. People perceive them as protective, yet tender creatures with a healing and prosperous energy.

Translated to commercial values, the meanings of bids give us plenty to think of before we launch a logo design. The traditional beliefs and perceptions may get lost along the way, and the result may turn out even better.

What matters is to depict the exact connection between a bird’s meaning, and the identity of a business. Different companies will, of course, approach the matter in a different context, but you will still be able to identify their personal message in a seemingly common bird image.

Regardless of how you’ve chosen to use them, bird logos will always be associated predominantly to positive things, including the joy, goodness, and intelligence of the human soul. Western art movements work with birds to symbolize a person’s journey towards the future, and associate them with beauty, hope, and transcendence.

Ending thoughts on bird logo design

Companies with bird logos are everywhere around us, and for a good reason. From old and wise owls to peaceful doves, bird symbols can have an incredible number of meanings, and are thus suitable to promote any type of brand, cause, or idea.

In the sports world, for example, you will often see majestic eagles and competitive falcons, both used as symbols of power and strength. In most cases, birds are used to symbolize flying and freedom, excluding, of course, the penguins and the ducks.

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