Your school needs a logo. And let’s face it, as adorable as it would be to have one of your kindergarteners draw one for you, you’re probably better off getting a professional design.
But where to begin? When it comes to education logos, there are so many options—from mascots to wordmarks to simple acronyms—each conveying their own subtle impression to your audience. While it’s impossible for me to tell you what logo works for your specific situation, I can tell you how to start thinking about your logo.
School mascot logos
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Schools have been using animal and warrior mascots since… well, probably since there were schools. The great thing about incorporating your mascot into your logo is the immediate associations that can fuel your brand identity. Wise like an owl, fast like a puma, fierce like a T-Rex.
It also helps if your school has a generic sounding name, like PS-238. If you want to differentiate your school from others in the area, pick a memorable mascot.
Educational iconography logos
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But what if your school’s not the kind with sports teams, cheerleaders and other people who are generally more athletic than yours truly? What if it’s not a school at all—maybe an app or tutoring facility?
If that’s the case, you might want to consider some educational iconography to ensure your potential student doesn’t mistake your service. Books and pens can convey that idea, even if you only offer online courses with nary a book in sight.
Specialty school logos
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What if you’re not a general education provider? A big part of creating a brand is knowing what it is you do that sets you apart. Whether you teach people to write code with a computer keyboard or to play music with a traditional one, a specified logo design can help you stand out from the all the education services out there.
The more specialized your education services are, the more important this is. A clear, clever logo will assure your prospective students that they’re in the right place.
Inspirational education logos
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Education is aspirational by nature. It’s about improving yourself so that you can one day improve the world around you. So why constrain yourself to the most obvious tropes when your school logo can be inspired and new?
In a crowded field like education, you might want to convey your school’s aspirational merits over its obvious educational merits. Consider what you want your students to feel—you want them to grow, to soar.
Your logo can set the tone for all the wonderful adventures that are to come in their lives.
