Design Context Year 2: Museum and Wildlife Consevation Logos

The Smithsonian is one of the best known and most comprehensive museums in the United States, and their logo shows this prominence. The museum name is written in a newsy font reminiscent of a headline, adding a factual slant. The logo image itself is a large black circle with a sun created out of negative space. A symbol representing the light of knowledge along with one representing unity is an appropriate logo scheme for this and any museum.

The Getty Museum’s logo rejects the inclusive circle used by the Smithsonian and other museums, instead using the straightforward, hard-edged square as the central shape. The surname of the museum’s founder is in a thin, modern font that lends a softer touch to the logo. The off-center placement of the letters is a touch borrowed directly from modern art, making this square logo nonetheless artsy and stylish.

This New York City museum has a logo that is a work of art in itself. An ‘M’ is featured in a circle, including all who see it. The circle is the color of a sunset, suggesting the light of knowledge. The M letter was created by Da Vinci for “De divina proportione”, a mathematics book by Luca Pacioli around 1497 in Milan. In all, it’s hard not to see the logo and understand fundamental facts about this museum, making it a clear winner.

This Seattle logo also is ultra-modern, although it still has many logo design elements that are recognizable. First, the thin lettering is unassuming, although the capital letters are bold. The logo features the name by which the museum is locally known, SAM, along with the full name written in the same font in a square shape. This square along with the lines drawn through it give the logo an all-business feel. The cool, watery blue is calming enough to offset the plainness of the logo. In all, this logo shows balance, an excellent attribute for a museum.

This San Francisco museum was among the first to feature exhibits meant to be touched by children and families. However, it has since cultivated a more serious image and added activities that interest adults. The logo shows both the museum’s softer side and its more adult aspirations. The museum’s name is undeniably friendly yet minimalist, with a rounded font in all lower case letters. The ‘O’ is larger than the rest of the logo, adding a friendly touch while enclosing the phrase ‘40th’. This logo is an anniversary special, but it’s safe to assume that next year’s logo will keep the simplicity and straightforwardness.

The Louvre’s logo is timeless in black and white. A photographed image of clouds behind the lettering creates a film noir image while the simple, serifed letters are serious but modern. The clouds are slightly asymmetrical, adding an artistic touch. The message is that this is a serious museum with high aspirations.

This logo features the familiar square shape, but with a few artistic touches. First, the image is clearly the neck of a guitar, although the way it is oriented to angle away from the viewer implies forward movement. Second, the image is subtly in the shape of a triangle, which is both a shape denoting strength and the shape of one of the museum’s buildings. This logo wins for being appropriate and yet different from almost every museum logo out there.

This maritime museum has a logo that shows its main subject while incorporating common symbols as well. The colors are various hues of soothing oceanic blues. The upside down triangles to the right resemble sails, but they also are upside down triangles, a symbol of strength. The waves are both appropriate for the subject and also a symbol of movement and forward thinking. This logo mixes the most common symbols of the ocean in a new and attractive way that is relevant to its audience.

This museum features numerous activities and displays for our youngest art and science lovers. The logo expresses this perfectly. Rather than a calm blue or another adult color, the key color of thischildren’s logo design is a playful bright orange. The key image is a child’s handprint, showing that this is a hands on center for children.

The Kennedy Space Center Museum also has a logo that shows exactly what it does. The logo is in black and white, except for a red, wave-like shape that circles the logo. This creates a shape with the friendliness of the circle along with the movement of a wave like shape. At the end of the wave is a small, red space shuttle, which is appropriate as this museum is special simply because it is one of few where live space shuttle takeoffs can be observed. The font is simple and rounded, but with thick bold letters that connote strength.

As you can see, museum logos tend to be stark in feeling, much like modern art, while others have more explanatory images. The key to both is retaining elements that subtly express the institution’s intentions. These logos have been an integral part of making these museums among the best in the world. Your logo can do the same for your company if it is designed with the same care and attention to detail.