Print SMART Small Business Tips

Top 10 Black and White Logo designs for Corporate Identities

The easiest way to test your logo design is to create a logo in black and white. You really need to ensure that your logo is as easy to understand in black and white, as it is in color. By designing your logo in black and white, you are maximizing your logos potential so that it can be used anywhere, in any medium; for business cards, invoices, or even blurry-old fax reports! The color can come later!

I often feel that a logo is spoiled by overuse of color and unnecessary detail (I especially believe that color gradients should NEVER be used in logo design)
The following logo examples are proof of the power of simplicity and the power of black and white. These designs should inspire you to think in simple, overcomplicated, elegant design terms:

Simple shapes using an "m" to create bedhead - genius!
Simple shapes using an “m” to create the bedhead – genius!

S must stand for "sophistication" in this caterers logo!
S must stand for “sophistication” in this caterers logo!
The "g" as organic form is superbly simple
The “g” as organic form is superbly simple
The edge-upturned cards as hills idea is brilliant
The edge-upturned cards as hills idea is brilliant
Immediate visual meaning and impact!
Immediate visual meaning and impact!
Great choice of font with wonderfully simple image!
Great choice of font with wonderfully simple image!
This is a really powerful graphic!
This is a really powerful graphic!
Simple but beautiful!
Simple but beautiful!
So simple but effective use of the letter "f" as frenchbread!
So simple but effective use of the letter “f” as frenchbread!
The icon can be seen as both a pencil and a flower - really clever design!
The icon can be seen as both a pencil and a flower – really clever design!

These logos are proof that your logo design should work as (or even more) effectively in black and white as it does in color. Test it out for yourself; if your logo doesn’t communicate an idea in black and white, chances are, it will be just as ineffective in color.

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