5 Church Logo Design Styles You Must Avoid

This is a guest post by Alicia Rother. Read more about how you can guest post on Christian Web Trends here.

Few organizations’ branding carries so much importance as churches’. After all, while most businesses’ branding can speak to an audience’s demands and preferences, you have an entirely different approach. Often, your marketing and messages must draw people’s attention who aren’t even aware they need the message or assistance you’re offering.

Along with this, you’re contending with the mass of information that society, social media and other organizations channel at people each day. While you’re busy with a spiritual fight for people’s souls, you also join the fight for people’s attention in the physical world. It requires a fine balance and proves why churches shouldn’t underestimate the importance of proper branding and planning their visual message.

So, how much time have you invested in your church logo? Knowing how to design a religious logo actually requires a lot of time and insight. You can start your journey by staying away from common mistakes many have made in the past, such as using the wrong or less effective styling approaches.

1) Saying EVERYTHING in One Church Logo

An easy way of losing someone’s attention is when you overwhelm them with information. In terms of a logo design style, this means you shouldn’t try and put too much into that one image. Clutter can be confusing and unsettling.

Finding the right emblem can be a challenge, since a church can play so many different roles in a community. Which message or focus areas should you prioritize in your logo? Our advice would be not to rush the process. Consider each element you want to represent and identify the most important as well as the central message that will still be relevant years from now.

2) The Latest, Trendiest Style

Since you’re hoping to influence every demographic with your message, it’s easy to fall into the trap of wanting to seem ‘trendy’. This is especially true if you feel called to impact the younger generation too. It may prompt you to pick fonts and imagery that seem ultra-modern. The problem with this style approach is:

• You may seem irrelevant within a few years or even months.
• You could harm your reputation if it seems you cater for people’s choices, rather than your value system.
• Focusing on one group could communicate to other groups that their needs won’t be met by what your church offers.

Yes, you may need to modernize any logo at some stage, as many leading companies have done over the years. But when you pick fonts and images, rather take a classic approach that will speak to everyone.

3) A Pictorial Mark—Using the Church Building

Many churches are tempted to use their buildings in their branding, because it can make it easy for anyone in the area to recognize your venue. Placing posters all over town will quickly tell people where to go for assistance, events and services. Yes, your church building may play an important role in what you offer your community, but in truth it’s never about the building. It should always be about people.

Many community members are very set on not making church about buildings. By using your building, you run the risk of losing these people’s trust in you.

Another problem is that you have no guarantee that you’ll always use that building. What happens if you move premises or open a second venue to serve a larger area? This will lead to unnecessary confusion, expenses for new branding and effort in marketing the new look.

4) Acronyms as Church Logos

If your ministry has been around for a while, there may be terms and acronyms that your community often uses. You could be tempted to include one of these acronyms in your logo, especially if it represents everything you stand for. But what will a brand-new member think when they look at that logo?

• Firstly, they’ll be confused and may be too shy to ask for clarification. So, you’re not communicating a message well.
• Visitors may feel excluded and this could lead to them not feeling comfortable enough to join your group in future.

Remember, people can use the smallest of reasons to stay away. Don’t give them any unnecessary excuse to miss out on your message.

5) Using Traditional Emblems Only

Let’s be clear: we’re not saying that you must never use a cross- or dove-style logo in your branding. But before you commit to one of the traditional emblems often associated with the church, make sure you pick the right one. You may forget about the many other powerful messages conveyed by emblems like fish, stars and more. Or, there’s an original emblem that perfectly sums up your message.

Once again, take your time to consider all your options, so your logo carries long-term value and is the most relevant to your vision.

You can use visual resources to the benefit of your organization so you can make an even bigger impact on your community.

Based on these five points you already know what not to do when designing a logo for your church or ministry. So, now you can get started using expert design guidelines. Combine practical advice with spiritual insight and you’ll have a powerful final result.

Church logo design is one of the many services OurChurch.Com provides for churches. Click the link for more info or complete the consultation request form below to schedule a complimentary phone call to discuss your logo.