If you want your logo to exude stability and structure, a square logo design might be what you're looking for. Get inspired by ten famous brands that has used square logos in their design.
Squares are closely related to structure and stability, as they’re more common in man-made structures than circular shapes, which are prevalent in nature.
Therefore, square logos have long been used to convey trust, stability, and structure subliminally and are found everywhere, from financial institutions to functional clothing.
If you want to highlight similar values, we’ve listed a few famous square logos you can use for inspiration.
1. BBC
One of the most well-known square logo examples is from BBC, the broadcasting hub of the United Kingdom. The network's initial logo consisted of several circular iterations to distinguish across channels (BBC Education, BBC News, etc.)
But the channel decided to revamp the branding in the 1980s, and the new logo was created by enclosing the box letters within squares.
Why it works: The BBC square logo illustrates how keeping your branding simple may help you focus on the most important, fundamental components. Its square logo is timeless and easily recognizable in print and other mediums.
2. American Express
American Express has largely maintained its straightforward blue color scheme and sans serif font since its inception, as the business must convey security and dependability as a financial institution.
Why it works: Three distinct components make up the American Express logo, namely the square, the color, and the font.
The square contains the logo, the color represents structure and stability, while the slab font conveys the message of strength. Together, all the elements convey the ideal message for a banking corporation.
3. Gap
Gap’s iconic square logo is so well-known that when the company attempted to rebrand it in 2010, there was such a strong customer backlash that it was scrapped. Even after another logo change in 2016, most people still associate Gap with its classic blue square.
Why it works: Like American Express, Gap has a logo that is both strong and striking. The usage of a serif typeface by Gap provides an air of tradition, experience, and establishment. This embodies their brand identity as a seasoned company.
It's also noteworthy that the Spire logo typeface, which supporters of the company were sorry to see disappear in the rebranding effort, is still widely used in the newest Gap logo, an inversion of the original square.
4. Lego
At some point in our lives, we’ve all used Lego to build things. Its white, yellow, and red emblem are so well-known that kids and adults can immediately recognize it.
Why it works: The Lego red square logo is effective because it maintains a sense of safety and dependability while still being child-friendly.
Children's eyes are notably drawn to the vivid colors and rounded lettering, while parents are immediately reassured by the associations with a square logo.
5. Microsoft
Microsoft used a straightforward, black-and-white wordmark logo with boxy fonts until 2012. Today, though, it employs a square logo that is easily recognizable.
Why it works: Despite being straightforward, the 4 square logo has a powerful metaphorical meaning.
The four distinct squares — which are colored blue for Windows, red for Office, green for Xbox, and yellow for Bing — represent the various divisions of Microsoft's company.
Each hue was carefully selected to reflect the character of the department. This innovative design technique, together with the symbolic application of squares, is the ideal illustration of a simple, minimalist logo with substantial depth.
6. Domino’s
Since it was first designed in the 1960s, Domino's logo hasn't undergone much change. To symbolize the three existing locations, three domino dots were made.
As new venues opened, the pizza company first intended to add more dots, but decided against the idea as it would result in a lot of dots.
The logo didn't change again until 2012, save for a minor flip. Today's version is a straightforward wordmark with a square dominos symbol close by—sometimes above, sometimes beside.
Why it works: Domino's is a great example of how effective branding can build or destroy a business.
The red and blue square emblem is easily recognized whether it is used on vehicles, pizza boxes, or advertisem*nts.
The emblem will always be associated with the adored pizza franchise, regardless of its orientation or size. The word "pizza" is no longer necessary because Domino's is such a well-known brand. This fact demonstrates how effective their branding initiatives have been over the years.
7. Uniqlo
The Uniqlo logo was initially created based on an error. The intended name of the company was "Uni-Clo," which stands for "Unique Clothing." A mistake on the company registration form, however, resulted in a permanent change to the company name.
The store's home country of Japan served as inspiration for the logo, which largely focuses on the name. It was originally red with only English letters, but an upgrade in 2006 added a Japanese-alphabet variant and changed the color. With the help of this branding, Uniqlo achieved success on a global scale.
Why it works: For a global business, dependability is crucial. This sense of establishment and trust is communicated through the power connected to squares.
The red and white color scheme of the logo is the same as that of the Japanese flag, which further reflects its roots. Red is another prominent color that is thought to elicit a strong, emotional psychological response.
Additionally, the decision to include a Japanese-language version strengthened the design's eastern theme. Finally, the overall layout is strikingly similar to the contemporary seal that Japan uses to mark official papers. The brand's Japanese design sense is only strengthened by this choice of style.
8. MTV
The MTV logo is a great illustration of how to incorporate squares into a design without actually using geometry.
The designers were inspired by the burgeoning graffiti scene of the 1980s and used the appearance to position the channel as a fashionable and up-to-date network.
The lack of a predetermined color scheme is another distinctive feature. The square logo is identifiable all year long, whether it is black-and-white or colored according to the season.
Why it works: MTV can still convey the strength and stability associated with squares without the constriction that comes with enclosing it in a box.
This design choice captured the freedom of their young audience while retaining their brand's strength and authority.
9. 7Eleven
The use of the square by 7-Eleven, which is known throughout the world as a dependable convenience store, suggests dependability and grounding. However, the logo contains other significant elements.
The lowercase 'n' was chosen on purpose because the designers decided it would be friendlier to end on the curved lowercase option rather than all-caps.
Why it works: The logo for 7-Eleven plays with our emotions. The square in the logo serves as a focal point, but softer details like the rounded corners and lowercase n are included on purpose.
The odd decision to utilize a lowercase "n" modifies the logo's overall tone. Additionally, it offers a fascinating topic of conversation that boosts the company's word-of-mouth advertising.
10. Notion
Notion is a note-taking software that promotes organization in both individuals and organizations.
And what form exemplifies organization and structure more effectively than a square? To stand out from the already saturated productivity space, Notion adopted a cube with the monogram "N."
Why it works: To represent its role in organizing your notes, projects, and business, Notion employs a cube as its logo icon.
Notion softened the edges of the cube, which would typically have a hard, structural appearance, to give it a softer, more friendly appearance.
The logo is kept simple and clutter-free with the black and white color scheme, just like their product.
Wrapping up
Square logos convey structure and stability because they’re commonly found in man-made structures. So, if you want to convey a similar message through your logo, these examples should serve as inspiration.
Tip: To ensure your logo colors and dimensions are correct in every asset, you can use Artwork Flow’s online scale and color extractor tool.
About Artwork Flow:
Artwork Flow is a workflow automation software specifically designed for design and marketing teams.
It helps simplify your creative process by enabling you to collaborate with your team from anywhere, secure your assets, and manage your project end-to-end.
To learn more about how it can help you, check out our case studies or contact us for a free demo.
