Logo and Graphic, What Is the Difference?
As a business owner, you have probably heard the terms “logo” and “graphic”. Both are important parts of a business – and you may be left wondering what the differences are between the two.
According to dictionary.com, a logo is a “graphic representation or symbol of a company name, trademark, abbreviation, etc., often uniquely designed for ready recognition.”
The same source refers to a graphic as a “a product of the graphic arts, as a drawing or print.”
Going by those definitions, the difference between the two is huge. A graphic is a picture or a drawing, but a logo is a unique graphic that actually represents a company.
Because of this, it is safe to say that a logo is the superhero in the world of graphics. They have specialized skills and more muscle than your ordinary everyday graphics.
To achieve this special stature, a logo needs to be memorable, effective, and be able to communicate the company’s message in an easy-to-understand way.
New York City has a very effective logo for one of the city’s tourism campaigns. It is simply the letter I next to a heart over the letters NY.
People who see it instantly recognize that it says “I love New York.” It’s simple and it communicates the statement they are trying to make.
Apple computers use an apple as their logo. Again, it’s simple, easy to remember, and the person who sees it can instantly recognize what it stands for. Other examples include the Nike Swoosh and McDonald’s golden arches.
Even with a logo, a company still needs to have various graphics. These can be used in various forms of advertising and marketing.
These graphics may incorporate the company’s logo if the company wishes. Perhaps you have seen the ad for McDonald’s that featured the cartoon image of the fabled Ronald McDonald. Somewhere in that graphic, a small set of golden arches made its presence known.
That being said, a graphic that the company is using for an ad does not have to contain the company’s logo. It’s really up to the business owner to decide what will work best.
It’s true that logos and graphics have a lot in common, but simply put, logos can do more for a business than a graphic.
November 28th, 2008 at 3:35 pm
Hi,Thanks for giving the differentiations between ‘logo’ and ‘graphic’.This article has proven how important the logos are to a firm.Now a days Each firm is making more stress on the logos to effective presentation of their firm..