Future of logos on the web

Are there new rules for web vs print

[korkus2000]

I am currently developing a logo for an online business. I was thinking of how I am so habitual about logo design from a print perspective. With the Internet we are not chained to as many limitations as there are with the print media. I know the logo I create for a website will at some point go to print, but should that limit a logo or a branding campaign?

In the past most of us have created a black and white logo and color logo. Some may have even created more. Should we now create a web logo with it? Google's special logos have really made question whether a regular ready for print logo is good enough for the Internet.

I have seen sites with a short animation in their logo that was really well done. It was quick and drew my eye to the sites branding and then ended to let me find what I wanted. I have also seen out of gamut colors used that really made the brand sticky.

What is the future? Print is a necessity for at least a couple of decades if not more. Should we still adhere to print rules?

[tedster]

I often push web graphics into colors that are out-of-gamut for print, and especially web versions of logos. That's one advantage the web offers which I jump on, since there are so many downsides - resolution being the biggest.

I'd answer "yes" to your question - develop specific logo versions that retain branding across various media, but take advantage of the unique possibilities that each one offers.

Many traditional off-line business require specific Pantone colors for their logos, even when they are displayed on the web. IMO, they're missing the boat. You can't get that kind of color control across various platforms and monitors at any rate!

[mivox]

I always try to design website logos that will translate to print, & vice versa... I think abiding by basic print limitations for the 'primary' logo is still a good idea. Even an online company will need business cards at the very least, if not retail signage, custom letterhead & etc.

I'll do one color and one black & white logo at high resolution for print, and 1 large & 1 small color version at 72ppi for web. Often a client likes to see a larger logo on their front page, with the smaller version on the 'inside' pages of the site.

A logo designed for print can always be used online, while a spinning flash doohickey cannot be put on a business card. If anything, the "official" logo should be executed by print standards, and any web extras can be approached as variations on a theme.

I see it along the lines of Absolut's print ads: They designed a clean, simple type logo, and a clean, simple bottle shape... and all their catchy print ads are wild variations on that central, highly recognizable, theme.

[wanderlusty]

What I like about logos that work for print is that they are simple and sophisticated, this is a good thing on the web too, especially for our tired eyes. Most websites should be simple and usable... I'd like to see examples of sites where snazzy & complicated is done well, because frankly, that's very rare.