10 Great Logo Design, Branding and Identity Books 20

Mar 26, 2009 / Erik Peterson

As designers we often look for inspiration for our work, so I’ve compiled a short list of some useful logo design and branding books. The people behind these books have some useful insight and inspiration for their readers. If you don’t already own them, I suggest you consider adding them to your library.

Logo Design That Works: Secrets for Successful Logo Design

This book dissects 100 logos and explains how and why they work. The book is a little old (2001), but still has plenty of useful information.

Logo Savvy: Top Brand Design Firms Share their Naming and Identity Strategies

Get a peek inside some brand design firms and see how they go about developing naming and identity strategies. See timeframes, sketches and implementation strategies, etc.

Really Good Logos Explained: Top Design Professionals Critique 500 Logos and Explain What Makes Them Work

Margo Chase, Rian Hughes, Ron Miriello and Alex W. White critique over 500 logos in this book. The commentary gives insight into what makes logos work well. The book ends with a section on bad logos.

Logology

A good looking book that offers logo case studies and logo inspiration. The logos showcased in the book tend to be more progressive, so if you’re looking for corporate reference, this probably isn’t the book for you.

Marks of Excellence

One of the few logo books that talks about very well know brands. The author discusses the history, psychology and methodology of these well known marks.

Tres Logos

Don’t come here expecting your run of the mill corporate marks. The over 4000 logos showcased in this book are non-traditional, but still inspirational.

Design Matters: Logos 01: An Essential Primer for Today’s Competitive Market

Design Matters takes a practical look at the logo design process. The case studies in the book break the process into introduction, planning, creating and implementing.

Identity Crisis: 50 Redesigns That Transformed Stale Identities into Successful Brands

Identity Crisis takes 50 rebrands and shows before and after examples of each identity then discusses the stories behind them.

The Brand Gap

This quick read covers bridging the gap between business strategy and design execution.

Designing Brand Identity: A Complete Guide to Creating, Building, and Maintaining Strong Brands

This book covers branding strategies throughout all aspects of a company. The book is broken down into three sections: Perception (fundamentals), Process and Practice (case studies).

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We enjoy your comments

20 Comments so far. Keep 'em Coming.

By Justin Moore-Brown

03.26.2009 at 03:05 PM

Thanks for posting these books!

I’m always looking for great book recommendations. There are so many out there that it’s hard to know what’s a good read.

Borders and Amazon.com here I come!

By Jeff Fisher LogoMotives

04.02.2009 at 09:09 AM

Thanks for including my book “Identity Crisis!” on your list.

By Josiah Jost | Siah Design

04.02.2009 at 10:23 AM

Excellent list! I recently purchased Logo Saavy and have been very impressed with it. Looks like Logology is next on my want list.

By Graham Smith

04.02.2009 at 10:24 AM

Solid list here, have all but one myself. Have just finished reading Brand Gap, and now just half way through ‘Designing Brand Identity, which is a great book. Next one on my list to review actually.

Also recently took delivery of Jeff’s books ‘Identity Crisis’, which is next on my reading list.

My fav book you don’t have is simply titles ‘Logo’, for me, a perfect source if no mess inspiration. No preference to styles and all shown in black and white, which is what I love to see.

I have even taken the move to change all my existing logo designs to black and white for the various portfolios and logo inspiration sites.

Two books on here I don’t have, so will take a look on Amazon.
Great list and great site.

Graham

By Erik

04.02.2009 at 10:45 AM

Justin, Glad you enjoyed the list. Hope you have to opportunity to purchase some of them.

Jeff, Happy to include your book, it’s a great resource.

Josiah, Logo Savvy is nice, Hope you find Logology to be equally helpful.

Graham, Never looked at ‘Logo’ before. I’ll have to check it out. Thanks for the tip.

By Chapolito

04.21.2009 at 06:45 PM

I just finished Brand Gap and am working on Designing Brand Identity, both of them have been great so far! thanks for the list, now I have some ideas for what’s next!

By Eli

04.24.2009 at 10:30 PM

Hmm, what about Logo Design Workbook? It’s what I recently purchased. It seems nice and lengthy but very straightforward for someone like myself.

By liquidandliquid

04.29.2009 at 12:48 PM

Logo Savvy is fantastic! my team loves the 20/20 “brainstorming” activity mentioned in the book and somehow is now part of our creative process.

The Trinity of design:

Degree of Innovation
Relevance
Passion of the design

I love this!

By A Logo Desiner

06.03.2009 at 06:59 PM

I really didn’t find the brands that striking. Maybe thats the power of it, not very striking but memorable. I guess thats the most important thing.

#10

By Logo Design

07.06.2009 at 10:48 AM

Top 10 books for branding or identity design

These all book are good quality to read to get more and more ideas about logo design world however I be in love with this book Really Good Logos Explained: Top Design Professionals Critique 500 Logos and Explain What Makes Them Work

#11

By Mississauga Condominiums

07.14.2009 at 04:04 PM

I am a bit good designer, and wish to learn more from the website to explore in the depth of designing

#12

By Bareo

06.17.2010 at 03:38 AM

Logo Savvy is fantastic! my team loves the 20/20 �brainstorming� activity mentioned in the book and somehow is now part of our creative process.

#13

By Rebecca

12.08.2010 at 10:41 AM

Haven’t read all of these but i can vouch for “Logo Savvy” as i used this during my course at uni, really good- rebecca ferguson

#14

By boat parts

02.18.2011 at 02:33 PM

i checked the list, it has good work. Icons are really very professional. This site great info about logo making.

#15

By Web designer Bangladesh

02.20.2011 at 04:14 PM

Nice but little old collection. Please update with recent one.
Logo design

#16

By Graphic Web Design Perth

04.04.2011 at 02:13 AM

I checked the logo collection, This collection is very much old.Can i have latest updated.

#17

By Iflexion company

04.08.2011 at 05:07 AM

I’ve read “Logo Design that Works” twice and it’s still great book about logo design.

#18

By ben

11.30.2011 at 06:27 PM

Hi. I can’t believe you didn’t include

Logo Design Love: A Guide to Creating Iconic Brand Identities
http://goo.gl/EO8xS

Very easy to read and has great tips

#19

By Logofox

03.05.2012 at 08:19 PM

Another little gem in my opinion is Wally Olins: The Brand Handbook

#20

By Girokonto Kostenlose

04.25.2012 at 06:16 AM

Wirklich gute Firmenzeichenentw�rfe! I’ m, das regelm��ig Firmenzeichenentw�rfe erlernt und Kategorie sich anschlie�t. Diese Art des Pfostens ist sehr, Erziehungs anspornend und f�r mich.