Episode 21

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Published on:

27th Nov 2024

Responsive Logo Design: A Must-Have for Modern Branding

Show Notes:

In this episode of the Business Ignite podcast, hosts Ethan Walker and Samantha Reed delve into the importance of responsive logo design in 2024. They discuss the challenges of maintaining brand recognition across different screen sizes, emphasizing that clarity and consistency are crucial for a strong visual identity. The hosts break down common mistakes, such as using the same logo across all devices, and recommend strategies like simplification and stacking to adapt logos for various platforms. Citing a study on consumer behavior, they highlight that a responsive logo is essential for staying relevant in a mobile-first world, ensuring first impressions are impactful. The episode concludes with actionable insights to future-proof your brand's logo and maintain its memorability across any medium.

00:00 Introduction to Business Ignite Podcast

00:16 The Importance of Responsive Logo Design

01:27 Understanding Visual Memory and Brand Recognition

02:03 Common Mistakes in Logo Design

02:49 Adapting Logos for Different Screen Sizes

04:02 Real-World Implications of Non-Responsive Logos

05:04 Tips for Creating Responsive Logos

06:16 Simplifying and Stacking Logos

08:06 Making Every Element Count

09:38 Final Thoughts on Responsive Logo Design

11:14 Conclusion and Podcast Sign-Off

Resources:

Social Media:

Transcript
Speaker:

Welcome back to the business ignite podcast, where we light the fire

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for business growth and marketing success.

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Your hosts, Ethan Walker, Samantha Reed,

bring you the latest trends, expert

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insights, and actionable strategies

to fuel your business journey.

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Let's ignite your potential.

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Samantha Reed: Alright, so have you

ever, like, been on your phone scrolling

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through a website and you come across

a logo and it's so small, so pixelated,

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it's almost like, what, is that

even, I can't even tell what that is.

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Yeah, absolutely.

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Like, we're living in 2024,

shouldn't logos look amazing on

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every single screen size by now?

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Ethan Walker: Yeah.

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For sure.

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Samantha Reed: That's what we're

diving into today with this article,

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Improving the Responsiveness

of Your Logo from 95 Visual.

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Ethan Walker: Great article.

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Samantha Reed: So good.

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And it really got me thinking

about this whole idea of

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responsive logo design, right?

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Making sure your brand's, like,

visual identity, that face it puts

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forward, looks just as good on

a giant billboard as smartwatch.

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Ethan Walker: Absolutely.

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And I think it's easy to overlook.

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Samantha Reed: Yeah, it's totally.

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You know,

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Ethan Walker: but it

makes such a difference.

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Samantha Reed: It really does

because, I mean, think about it.

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It's not just about aesthetics.

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Ethan Walker: No.

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Samantha Reed: It's about

instant recognition.

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Yeah.

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It's about making sure your brand is

memorable no matter where someone sees it,

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Ethan Walker: which

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Samantha Reed: these days

is probably on their phone.

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Let's be real.

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Ethan Walker: Yeah.

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More often than not, you've got a

tiny little window to make an impact.

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Samantha Reed: Exactly.

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So how do you, like, make sure

your logo is working for you

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in that tiny little window?

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Ethan Walker: Well, it all starts with

understanding the power of visual memory.

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Samantha Reed: Okay.

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Tell me more.

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Ethan Walker: It's incredibly powerful.

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When you have a strong, clear logo,

and it's consistent across every

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device, it builds this like mental

shortcut in your audience's mind.

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Interesting.

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They see it, they recognize it,

boom, that connection is made.

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Whether they're on your website, seeing

an ad, whatever, that familiarity,

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that consistency builds trust.

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Samantha Reed: It's like the more

easily your brain can latch on to

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something visually, the more you

like inherently trust it, even if you

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haven't consciously thought about it.

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Ethan Walker: Exactly.

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It's subtle, but it's there.

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Samantha Reed: So then what are

some mistakes that people make,

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you know, even with the best of

intentions that can actually kind

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of mess with that visual memory?

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Ethan Walker: Oh, that's a great question.

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And I think one of the biggest

ones is assuming that consistency

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means using the exact same logo.

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Samantha Reed: Oh, interesting.

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Okay.

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Ethan Walker: Because in reality,

a logo that might look amazing on

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your desktop website, with all its

detail and complexity, could become

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a blurry, unrecognizable mess when

it's shrunk down for a phone screen.

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And that inconsistency That actually

works against brand recognition.

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Samantha Reed: So it's like, you

need something that can, like, adapt.

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Ethan Walker: Exactly.

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Samantha Reed: Oh, like a chameleon.

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Ethan Walker: Yes.

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Samantha Reed: Okay, this

might sound weird, but

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Ethan Walker: No, I love it.

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They

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Samantha Reed: change their

appearance to match their environment.

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Ethan Walker: Right.

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It's a perfect analogy.

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So

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Samantha Reed: is that kind of

what we're talking about here

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with responsive logo design?

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Ethan Walker: Exactly.

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Think of it like having different

outfits for different occasions.

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You wouldn't wear a tuxedo to the beach.

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Samantha Reed: Right, right.

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Ethan Walker: So with responsive

design, you're essentially creating

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different versions of your logo, each

one optimized for a specific screen size.

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So you're still maintaining the essence

of your logo, that core identity.

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Right.

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But you're making sure it's

readable and clear, no matter

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how or where someone's seeing it.

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Samantha Reed: Okay, so it's

not about like, Designing a

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completely different logo for

every single screen size out there.

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Ethan Walker: No, not at all.

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It's

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Samantha Reed: more about adapting

what you already have to make

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sure it looks its best everywhere.

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Ethan Walker: Think of it this way.

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On a desktop, you might have this

really detailed logo, maybe with

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some intricate elements, fine lines,

all that good stuff, but you shrink

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that down for a phone screen and

suddenly all All those beautiful

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details become this jumbled mess.

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Oh, yeah.

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So a responsive approach might

simplify that logo, maybe remove some

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elements, adjust the layout a bit for

smaller screens, while still making

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sure those essential recognizable

features are front and center.

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Samantha Reed: Okay, this is

making me rethink my own website.

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So let's talk real world

implications here, right?

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What are the risks of, like, sticking with

a non responsive logo in this day and age?

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Ethan Walker: Put yourself in the

customer's shoes for a second.

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Okay.

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You're on your phone, trying to find

some information about a company.

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Mm

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Samantha Reed: hmm.

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Ethan Walker: You click on their

website, and the logo is so small,

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so pixelated, you can barely even

tell what it's supposed to be.

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Are you gonna stick around?

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Samantha Reed: Probably not.

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Ethan Walker: Probably not.

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You're gonna hit that back button

and find a competitor with a

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website that actually looks like

it was made in this century, right?

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For

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Samantha Reed: sure.

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It's like those first impressions,

even online, they matter.

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Ethan Walker: They really do.

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In a mobile first world, a non

responsive logo can make your

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brand seem stuck in the past.

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Samantha Reed: It's true.

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Ethan Walker: And the article actually

mentioned a recent study that found

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that almost 75 percent of consumers are

less likely to engage with a brand if

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their website isn't mobile friendly.

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Samantha Reed: Wow,

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Ethan Walker: 75%?

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75%.

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And the logo is often

that first thing they see.

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That's

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Samantha Reed: huge.

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Ethan Walker: So it's really the

first impression, good or bad.

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Samantha Reed: Okay, so we've established

that this is crucial in today's world.

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How do we actually go about

making our logos more responsive?

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Ethan Walker: Well, the article

has some really great tips.

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A good starting point is, think simple.

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Samantha Reed: Think simple.

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Okay, tell me more.

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Ethan Walker: So the idea here

is that when it comes to smaller

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screens, less is often more.

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They actually use the

Mustang logo as an example.

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Samantha Reed: Oh, okay, I

can see where this is going.

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Ethan Walker: Right.

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So you can't necessarily fit

all those details, maybe like

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the metallic sheen on the horse.

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You're not going to see

that on a smaller version.

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Right.

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But that iconic course outline.

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Samantha Reed: Yeah.

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Ethan Walker: Instantly recognizable,

even at a fraction of the size.

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Samantha Reed: It's so true.

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Ethan Walker: So it's not about

stripping away detail for the sake of it.

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It's about distilling your brand down to

its most essential, recognizable form.

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Samantha Reed: Okay, so then,

how do I know if my logo

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is, like, essential enough?

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Ethan Walker: That's a great question.

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I think a good thing to ask yourself

is, are there elements in your logo

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that could be simplified, or even

omitted entirely for smaller screens?

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Without losing that core identity.

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Samantha Reed: That's

a really good question.

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I'm already, like, picturing

my logo and trying to imagine,

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like, What could I get rid of?

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What's essential?

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Ethan Walker: Yeah, it's a fun exercise.

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It is.

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It makes you think about your

brand in a different way.

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Totally.

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Samantha Reed: And speaking of thinking

differently, the article also mentions

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this idea of, like, considering stacking.

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Ethan Walker: Yes.

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Samantha Reed: And that's where I'm like,

okay, now I really need a design degree

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because stacking sounds kind of technical.

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Ethan Walker: It can be.

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Samantha Reed: Yeah.

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Ethan Walker: But it doesn't have

to be as complicated as it sounds.

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Okay,

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Samantha Reed: good.

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Ethan Walker: So imagine this.

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Your logo has a tagline

underneath it, right?

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On a large screen, it looks

great, nice and balanced.

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Samantha Reed: Right.

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Ethan Walker: But then you shrink

it down, and suddenly those

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words are, like, bumping into

each other, impossible to read.

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Samantha Reed: Totally.

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It's like trying to read the fine

print on, like, a medicine bottle.

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Ethan Walker: Exactly.

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Stacking is all about

solving that problem.

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So instead of having everything

in that horizontal layout, you

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arrange the text vertically.

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So one word or maybe one

line on top of the other.

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And that way, it maximizes readability,

even on those tiny, tiny screens.

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Samantha Reed: Oh, that's so smart.

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So it's like, oh my gosh, what's the game?

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Tetris.

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Ethan Walker: Yes.

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Samantha Reed: It's like

Tetris, but with words.

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You've got to find that arrangement that

just fits perfectly in the space you have.

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Ethan Walker: You got it.

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And, you know, just like in

Tetris, some shapes just fit

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together better than others.

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And that's where font choice comes in.

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Samantha Reed: Okay.

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Interesting.

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Ethan Walker: Because some

fonts, with their, like, distinct

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shapes and their spacing.

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They just lend themselves

better to stacking than others.

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Samantha Reed: That makes a lot of sense.

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So, what should I be on the lookout for?

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Like, what kind of fonts stack well?

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Ethan Walker: Well, a good rule of thumb

is that sans serif fonts, those are

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the ones without the little decorative

strokes on the ends of the letters,

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tend to stack a lot more cleanly.

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Samantha Reed: Okay.

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Ethan Walker: Than serif fonts, yeah.

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Think about a font like

aerial or Helvetica.

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Samantha Reed: Got it.

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Ethan Walker: Very clean

lines and they just translate

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beautifully to smaller sizes.

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Samantha Reed: Okay.

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San rif.

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Got it.

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Okay.

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So we've got simplifying,

we've got stacking.

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What other like tricks do

responsive logo designers use?

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Ethan Walker: Well, the article

really stressed this idea of

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making every element count.

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Samantha Reed: Okay.

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Ethan Walker: And that means that each

part of your logo, from the symbol to

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the tagline to even the font itself.

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All of it should work independently

to communicate your brand.

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Samantha Reed: Ooh, I like that.

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So, it's not just about

the logo as a whole.

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It's like, is each piece strong

enough to, like, carry its own weight?

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Ethan Walker: Absolutely.

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It's like a band, right?

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Samantha Reed: Yes.

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Ethan Walker: Every member has to

be able to hold their own in a solo.

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But together, they create

something even greater.

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Samantha Reed: Okay, love it.

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Ethan Walker: And that's

what you want with your logo.

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Samantha Reed: So, give me

an example of this in action.

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Ethan Walker: Think about Nike, right?

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Samantha Reed: Okay, yeah.

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Ethan Walker: You got the swoosh.

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You got the tagline, just do it.

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You've got the name itself.

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Samantha Reed: Yeah.

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Ethan Walker: Each one of those elements.

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Even on its own, just screams Nike.

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Samantha Reed: It's so true.

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Ethan Walker: That's the kind of

versatility and instant recognition

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you want to be aiming for.

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Samantha Reed: Okay, so, like, if

I were to just, like, take my logo

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and start covering up parts of it.

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Ethan Walker: Yeah.

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Samantha Reed: Would people

still know what it was?

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Ethan Walker: Exactly.

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That's a great test.

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Samantha Reed: Oh, okay.

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Ethan Walker: Imagine your tagline, right?

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But it's just on a social media icon.

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Samantha Reed: Mm hmm.

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Ethan Walker: Would people

know what your brand represents

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just from those few words?

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Samantha Reed: That's a good point.

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Ethan Walker: Or your symbol, but

it's isolated on a mobile app button.

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Is it distinctive enough?

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Those are the kinds of

questions to be asking.

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Samantha Reed: This is making me

realize that it's about so much more

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than just like shrinking things down.

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It's like, there are actual strategic

design choices involved here.

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Ethan Walker: Yeah,

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Samantha Reed: it really is.

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It's like those little details,

they really make a difference.

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Ethan Walker: They really do, yeah.

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Yeah.

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And it all adds up to this

idea that, A responsive logo.

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It's not just some design trend.

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Yeah.

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It's like this essential investment

in the future of your brand.

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Samantha Reed: Totally.

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So, okay.

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Let's say our listener is

like driving home from work.

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They're listening to this deep dive.

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We've thrown a lot of information at them.

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Yeah, yeah.

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Shrinking screens, stacking fonts

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Ethan Walker: a lot.

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Samantha Reed: If they only take away

one thing about responsive logo design.

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What should it

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Ethan Walker: be?

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Oh, that's a tough one.

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I know.

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Um, I would say it's this.

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In a world where, let's be honest,

everyone's on their phones.

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A responsive logo is no longer a

nice to have, it is a must have.

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It's about future proofing your brand,

making sure your logo is doing the

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work, no matter where it shows up.

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Samantha Reed: It's about meeting

your audience where they are.

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Ethan Walker: Exactly, exactly.

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Samantha Reed: Whether they're, you

know, scrolling through social media

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on their phone or maybe they drive

past a billboard and it's the first

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time they've ever seen your logo.

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Ethan Walker: And you never know, that

little tiny logo on their phone screen,

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Samantha Reed: that

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Ethan Walker: could be their

first impression of your brand.

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Samantha Reed: Oh, that's a good point.

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You've only got that split second,

like, capture their attention

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and make them want to know more.

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Ethan Walker: And a responsive

logo helps ensure that first

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impression is a good one.

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No matter how big or small.

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Samantha Reed: I love that.

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Alright, so, to wrap this whole thing

up, responsive logo design, it's not

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just about aesthetics, it's about

clarity, it's about consistency, and

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ultimately it's about making sure that

in a world that's just saturated with

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information, Your brand is unforgettable.

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Ethan Walker: Well said.

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Samantha Reed: All right

folks, there you have it.

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A deep dive into the world

of responsive logo design.

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Go forth and conquer those pixels.

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Ethan Walker: Till

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Samantha Reed: next time.

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Speaker 2: Thanks for tuning

into the Business Ignite podcast,

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where we fuel your business

growth and marketing success.

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If you enjoyed today's episode,

be sure to rate and review us.

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It does help others find the show.

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Don't forget to follow us on social

media at Business Ignite podcast and

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share this episode with a friend.

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Keep the fire burning and remember,

your success is just one strategy away.

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Until next time, stay ignited.

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About the Podcast

Business Ignite Podcast
Let's Ignite Your Potential
Welcome to the Business Ignite Podcast, the show where we light the fire for business growth and marketing success! Hosted by Ethan Walker and Samantha Reed, each week we dive into the latest trends, share expert insights, and break down actionable strategies to help entrepreneurs, marketers, and business owners take their growth to the next level. Whether you're looking to fuel your marketing efforts or scale your business, this podcast will spark fresh ideas and ignite your potential. Join us, and stay ahead of the curve in the ever-changing world of business and marketing!