If all the world’s a stage, an architect is a set designer. In any community, the architecture sets the tone. Think of an iconic skyline or a charming downtown—they’re defined by their architecture. So it follows that an architecture logo, too, sets the tone for its brand.
When you’re looking for architecture logo design inspiration, ask yourself what kind of brand reputation you want to build.
Are you a brutalist who prides themselves on strong, imposing buildings lined with row after row of neat, identical windows? Or are you a home creator who designs warm, inviting houses where families make decades’ worth of memories?
Take a look at how other architects and architecture businesses in your niche communicate who they are with these amazing logo ideas.
What makes a good architecture logo?
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You don’t want a McMansion logo: bland, trite and exactly the same as every other logo on the block. Even if your firm designs for tract housing developments or commercial suburban settings, your logo should communicate the value you deliver—not stereotypes about the kind of work you do.
So how can you do that?
Think about exactly what your firm delivers and the qualities it prides itself on. Do you focus on LEED-certified buildings? Are you a design-build firm that handles every step of the client’s project, from drafting the initial designs to laying the final brick? Don’t just think about the concrete deliverables, think about the abstract value you provide. Communicate that you’re trustworthy, dependable and the absolute best choice for clients in the niche you serve.
You can reference the value you deliver directly in your logo with images like protractors and drafting compasses, or you can take your logo in a more abstract direction that uses colors and shapes to communicate your brand’s personality. Your logo should be emphasis and extension of your talent and art.
With an architecture logo, like any other kind of logo, direct references to your industry make it easy for viewers to know what you do. But you don’t have to limit yourself to this type of logo; a few strategically placed shapes or skyline-evoking lines can tell prospective clients that you’re the architect for them.
Inspiring ideas for architecture logos
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Architect logos that measure twice and design once
You know how much precision is involved in architecture design. And so do your clients. Invite them to talk shop with you for a moment by working a reference to the golden ratio or a background that looks like graph paper into your logo. After all, they expect you to design and draw the buildings they’re buying precisely.
Communicate your attention to detail from the moment they first meet your brand, the moment they see your logo. This kind of logo can work for any brand in the architecture space, because precision and attention to detail are universal values for architects and builders alike.
Architecture logos that sell lifestyle goals
This kind of logo is best if you work in a highly specialized niche, like luxury resorts, homes or historical restoration. Your logo can tell the world exactly what kind of architecture you design and how you can design buildings that serve as the ideal backdrops for their dream lifestyles. When a client looks over your portfolio, they imagine themselves living and working in your designs. Logos can play into this part of the process by telling prospective clients what kind of stage you’ll design for them to act out their fantasies against.
Architecture logos that show us what they’re made of
You design buildings, then builders use materials like wood, stone and brick to construct them. Because construction and architecture are linked so closely in consumers’ minds, it’s not uncommon to find architecture logos that incorporate building materials or building elements like a door or a chimney in some way. This is a great route to take with your logo if you’re a design-build firm. It’s also a good choice for an architect who’s focused on the fundamentals of good building design and wants to hammer that point home.
Architect logos that connect with the natural world
Green buildings are becoming more and more popular every year. According to the US Green Building Council, 27 percent of businesses surveyed about their green building development said more than half of their building projects were “green” in 2018, with 47 percent committed to a majority of green projects in 2021. In other words, businesses want green buildings. Consumers want green buildings. So if you’re an architect who designs with sustainability in mind, let the world know it by incorporating natural elements like leaves, trees and even just the color green into your logo.
The fundamentals of logo design
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Starting the logo design process with no prior experience is intimidating. Trust us, we know it better than anyone else. So before we get into the specifics of architecture design, we’ll give you a crash course in what goes into every logo.
Logo design is a specialized area of graphic design that brings branding and marketing, color theory, typography, aesthetics, composition and artistic skill together to create easily recognizable avatars for brands and organizations. If you want to dive really deep into the nuts and bolts of logo design, read our free guide, How to design a logo.
If you’ve only got time for the key points right now, here’s what you gotta know:
Design for your brand. Good logo design doesn’t look the same for every brand. What we mean by that is that your brand persona is the most important factor to consider when you’re designing your logo—in fact, it’s the most important factor. Think about how different Chase Bank’s logo is from Burger King’s. They’re both effective logos because they were both designed with their respective brands in mind.
So before you can start working on your logo, you have to be absolutely clear on your brand identity.
Are you a utilitarian brand or one known for creating whimsical, stylized designs? Does your firm design specific types of buildings, like schools, or are you defined more by your comprehensive level of customer service? Who you are as a brand will guide your logo design choices like the colors, shapes and fonts you use.
Colors, shapes and letters. Every color and every shape evokes a specific emotion in viewers. For example, a square logo can subtly communicate that your brand plays by the rules and won’t cut corners, while a circular logo typically feels friendlier and more engaging with the viewer. Lots of blue in your logo says “I’m calm because I’ve got this under control,” whereas a primarily orange logo says “I’m all revved up because I’m having fun!”
Similarly, your font choice says a lot about your brand. Fonts with serifs feel polished and formal, whereas sans-serif fonts feel more casual and less expensive. You can use a stylized font to connect with a niche demographic, or you can keep a broad appeal with a popular font.
How to get an architecture logo
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In a previous guide, How to create a logo: Comparing the best ways to get a logo designed, we explained how you have four main options for getting a logo. Let’s briefly review them now. They are:
- Logo maker (DIY). Using a logo maker or similar entry-level design software, you can easily create your own logo.
- Hire a design agency. With an agency, you pay a premium to have a suite of specialists create a professional logo for your brand.
- Work with a freelancer. If you’re considering hiring an agency but you don’t have a huge budget, a more cost-effective way to get a professionally designed logo is to work with a freelance designer.
- Commission a design contest. With a design contest, you explain the type of logo you need in a brief. This can include any ideas you have, like your business goals and your aesthetic preferences. Then, multiple designers from around the world submit samples based on your brief. You only have to pay for the one design you like best.
We only recommend DIY and logo-maker logos in rare situation, like having next to no budget or needing a logo yesterday. If this is you, a basic logo can work as a placeholder until you’re able to have something more permanent designed. An effective logo is a complex design and if yours doesn’t come from a professional, it likely won’t net you the results a professionally designed logo would.
From there, you have two primary issues to consider: price and preference. If you’re only concerned about price, check out our Logo design cost guide to get a rundown of what you can expect to spend on each design route.
The strongest advantage of logo design contests is the reason why they’re so popular: they give you, the client, the opportunity to see many different interpretations of your logo options. If you’re unsure of the right style for your logo, go with a design contest because it’ll allow you to experiment and compare potential logos side-by-side to determine what you like best.
If you already know what style and look you’re going for, you can get a professional logo designed faster by commissioning a designer directly. Browse designers’ portfolios to find the perfect match for your brand, then work with the freelancer to get exactly what you’re looking for.
Are you ready for an iconic architecture logo?
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When you settle for a cookie-cutter logo, prospective clients are going to think you’re only capable of cookie-cutter designs. Build clients’ trust in your brand by using a logo that’s been designed as thoughtfully as the blueprints you draw and deliver to the people counting on your firm.
