The best real estate logo both stands out and evokes trustworthiness. How does it attract exactly? For example, it can appear so creative that it becomes an inspiration, an instant call to action. It can also exude the aura of luxury that makes us smitten at first glance. It can seem so modern, that we would be afraid to miss something current, if we didn’t pay attention to it.
Otherwise, the most popular real estate logos are often so neat and simple that we can’t stop staring at them in awe. Only after the logo caught our attention, we decide whether the brand is worth our trust.
We took our time to research this field of real estate logos from the designer’s point of view. Below you’ll find the list of the hardest to resist real estate logos found alive.
Creative Real Estate Logos
The best way to switch from bored to excited is by triggering creativity. This is where all the most inspiring real estate logos come from. Many of us may think that creativity is secondary in this business. Real estate department seems so concrete and calculated. Other matters might be of bigger importance for the company functioning, but the logo, as a front line soldier, must be engaging. It means that it needs a dash of creativity. See some of the most brilliant creative logos below.
Zillow
In 2015, Rich Barton and Lloyd Frink assembled a team to revolutionize the way people search and shop for homes. That was the beginning of Zillow. Besides the for-sale and rental listings on Zillow.com, the company buys and sells homes. It helps people move with less hassle and more control.
Zillow has a meaningful logotype that gives a hint on what sphere the company specializes in. The logo looks like a house with a ‘Z’ on it. The house design is inside a blue square. Zillow went through a subtle renovation in April 2019. It simplified and refreshed its brand. The revamped logo occurs without the square on the left of the word “Zillow”. Moreover, the colors of the house icon were inverted to a blue base and a white Z.
RE/MAX
In 1973, Dave and Gail Liniger invented the name RE/MAX from the concept “Real Estate Maximums”. The RE/MAX company, since the beginning, offered the maximum compensation concept. Its design helps top-producing agents keep more of what they earned. It also provides support and education. In 1978, the RE/MAX Hot Air Balloon made its maiden flight at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. It was as part of the brand’s “Above the Crowd” advertising campaign. The flight was a resounding success.
The following year, the balloon became the network’s official logo. Now RE/MAX has more than 115 hot air balloons in operation – the largest corporate hot air balloon fleet in the world. Local offices use them for educational programs and non-profit organization fundraisers. In the course of time, the slogan was removed. On the modification of the emblem introduced in 2005, you’ll see only the name of the company. And yet, if this logo could talk, it would still say: “We’re above the crowd!”.
RE/MAX is an American international company that operates through a franchise system in about 100 countries. As of 2015, RE/MAX had more than 100,000 agents in 6,800 offices. In 2017, the iconic red-over-white-over-blue logo gained a new look. The goal of the refresh (for the first time in 44 years) was to let the company grow in the digital world. The company representatives emphasized the fact it wasn’t a brand revolution, just an evolution.
The logo became brighter, more modern, and more appealing. The design grew brighter and more minimalistic, which seems to provide a stronger impact. The white lines separating parts of the hot-air balloon are gone. Due to this, the blue and red patches look more vivid. They still have some volume due to the gradient effect. The basket and the part of the hot-air balloon were also simplified. The glyphs have enough breathing space and have a traditional structure. Due to this, they are easier to read even at larger distances. RE/MAX relies on the power of simple, clear, and consistent visual communication that distinguishes the network.
Lundbergs
Lundbergs belongs to the Swedish businessman Fredrik Lundberg and his family. The brand was born in 1944. It engaged in construction operations and focused on residential building. During its first 60 years, it has developed from a construction to investment company.
Lundbergs manages and develops many companies based on long-term, active ownership. The portfolio of assets includes the wholly owned real estate company Lundbergs Fastigheter, the publicly traded subsidiaries Hufvudstaden and Holmen, and the associated companies Industrivärden, Indutrade and Husqvarna. Lundbergs also has major shareholdings in Handelsbanken, Sandvik and Skanska. Their assets are high-quality, low-risk and balance one another well. The Lundbergs Real Estate Operations and Hufvudstaden segment offers leasing of own properties. The company has headquarters in Stockholm, Sweden.
Their simple logo changed in time only slightly. Its minimal aura reminds of a family crest, with the proud serif “L” letter, divided in half by “LE”. It has a calming green color that evokes a feeling of security and homeland.
Weyerhaeuser
Weyerhaeuser Company owns 12,400,000 acres of timberlands in the U.S. and manages 14,000,000 acres. The company also manufactures wood products and is a real estate investment trust. The company’s three major business segments: Timberlands—growing and harvesting trees in renewable cycles; Wood products—manufacturing and distribution of building materials for homes and other structures; Real estate, energy, and natural resources —all surface and subsurface resources in timberlands that are worth more than the timber itself. Weyerhaeuser is one of the largest private landholders in the United States.
A creative tree on the logo is a clear, yet smart message. It leaves us with a key to the heart of the brand, i.r. their core belief that growing a great company isn’t just about great financial results, or being a great place to work. It’s also about making a great contribution to society. The single tree in the center is powerful and you can almost see it growing.
Lake & Company
Another creative real estate logo design is the one by Lake & Company. Lake & Company Real Estate began in 1982. It has grown since to become Seattle’s most productive independent real estate office. It supports more than ninety professional realtors. No one said that the logo has to contain words. Think of the world’s most recognizable logos like McDonald’s, Nike, or Adidas. None of them have a brand name in their logo.
You can clearly see that Lake & Company is selling properties. Their logo is a great way to make their audience stop and pay attention. After all, what are realtors for if not providing customers with valuable guidance and direction? The design is simplistic, but it doesn’t scrimp on the essentials of a good logo. It’s creative, yet easy to understand. It’s elegant and has a graphic that makes it obvious what the brand is doing.
Prometheus
In 1965, Sanford Diller saw an opportunity to invest in the future of Silicon Valley. Inspired by the Greek titan Prometheus, who symbolized innovation and foresight, a company undertook entrepreneurial spirit. Sanford transformed apartment living with care and attention applied to every detail. He also saw an opportunity to change the impersonal nature of the apartment industry.
This culture of excellence and success enabled Prometheus and the Helen Diller Family Foundations to give back. Sanford set the example and invested in others to carry the torch forward. He continues to light their way. Sanford spoke often about his deeply held family belief: “There’s no one way to make your way in the world. Everyone’s path is their own. But we all have a responsibility to give back. It’s an obligation, a duty and a privilege, not a choice.” Greek titan shows up not only in the brand’s name but also in its core beliefs. A simple icon of a flame in the logo visualizes all the brand’s core beliefs.
Prologis
Prologis, Inc. is the global leader in industrial real estate. As of December 31, 2015, Prologis owned or had investments in, on a wholly owned basis, or through co-investment ventures, properties and development projects of 62 million square meters in 20 countries. The company leases modern distribution facilities to more than 5,200 customers, including third-party logistics providers, transportation companies, retailers and manufacturers.
Their logo depicts the Earth in five colors. With such an approach in design, there is no way anyone would think it’s a small and cosy business. With natural, minimalist spots of green and blue expanding through the planet, the vibe of the logo shows that something big is at stake. Add the bold “pro” and slim “logis” and the whole thing becomes even more concrete and meaningful.
ERA Real Estate
ERA Real Estate is an innovative franchising leader. It operates in the residential real estate industry. For more than 40 years it has been developing consumer-oriented products and services. It arose in 1971 as Electronic Realty Associates. The primal vision was to use the latest technology – then a fax machine – to provide the highest quality service. ERA has since then expanded to about 2,300 offices around the world. In 2014, it unveiled a new visual identity. The newest logo is the fourth in the company’s history. Like its predecessors, it takes its inspiration from the typical image of a house.
And as we know, designing a house on the real estate logo is a high risk task. ERA managed to remain minimalist and transparent in their message. Designers used only one part of the building – the roof. It’s probably the best part to cover this topic. After all, having a roof over someone’s head is what makes us feel protected. A fancy shadow on it adds subtlety, and a firm traditional name written with solid font stands for stability of the brand.
Luxury Real Estate Logos
The connection between the world of real estate and luxury is unbreakable. There is no better place for our luxury logo design idea to flourish than for real estate customers. Let’s take a look at examples of both the most prominent and new brands on the market. What characterizes luxury real estate logos are well-shaped, deliberate projects, with a taste of high end graphic design.
Engel & Völkers
Engel & Völkers AG is a German company that provides services related to real estate transactions via franchise. The firm has around 800 luxury real estate brokerages and 49 commercial offices brokering retail, office and industrial space, investment properties, multi-purpose apartment and office blocks and property portfolios. Engel & Völkers operates in 30 countries on 4 continents.
To carry out the luxury real estate vision, they live by four cornerstones. These are: the enjoyment of the best in life, handcrafted attention to detail, an ethos of leadership and global presence and reach. The company foundations were laid when Dirk C. Engel established Engel & Cie in December 1977. As the exclusive representative of an U.S. brokerage firm, Dirk Engel sold real estate to German investors from downtown Hamburg. A few years later, Dirk C. Engel and Christian Völkers decided to open a brokerage office in the Hamburg Elbe suburbs. The joint office was a villa on the Elbchaussee, whose façade is now an integral element of the brand logo.
For the most real estate logos, “house” in the logo is the kiss of death. There is a real risk that the outcome design will look dull, outdated, and low quality. That said, if anyone manages to do it right, the price for this project is high. Especially among luxury real estate logos. One of the examples that stand out is Engel & Völkers. The brand used a bold sans serif with a pop of red on the ampersand, and above, a stately European mansion as a brand mark. The only drawback is that this brand mark is not strong enough to work on its own, like in the case of Apple or Nike. And this is the entire point of a brand mark.
Saunders
Despite that this luxury real estate logo overall look is pretty generic, it’s obvious that it concerns a high end design. Hampton’s brokerage Saunders went with something subtle. It was a wise move. A simple, well-tracked, thin sans serif font in a lovely shade of blue. Hamptons is a famous beach area for celebrities and power brokers from every industry. A soothing blue was a great choice here, as it fits the atmosphere perfectly. The logo is good enough to stand on its own two legs in black and white. The simplicity is the hardest game to win. If you do it, you have nothing to worry about when it comes to the future of the brand.
Hostmate
Hostmate is an Italian brand born to facilitate the management of rentals for homeowners. Their aim is to maximize earnings of house owners. The service that company offers allows apartment owners to reconcile their free time with opportunities offered by the short, medium and long rental market.
Hostmate takes care of the activities of management: they identify the best economic strategy, manage the digital channels for their preparation, search and select the tenants. The company organizes guests’ arrival, guarantee assistance throughout the period of both rent and stay. Through the tool called real estate accelerator, the team identifies the best methods to maximize the economic performance of the property, and takes further care of its implementation and management.
The logo, constant since the beginning of the brand’s expansion on the Italian market, evokes action, leisure, and simplicity. The icon resembling a double “play” button looks like two joined apartment roofs as well. In this non-obvious way, we get the taste of what being both “in the game” and having a leisure time feels like. The brand’s name divided in two elements, thanks to the distinction of color and boldness, highlightens a combination of “host” and “mate”. Long story short, the company is the smart best fella of the house owner. Afterall, their slogan claims it from the beginning: “Your home, our passion”.
Coldwell Banker
Coldwell Banker is a real estate company with 92,000 agents worldwide. It has more $1 million+ transaction sides than any other brand. In 2019, after 40 years, Coldwell Banker rolled out a new logo and branding. The oldest residential real estate franchise in America gained a little star on the logo. This detail developed a luxury real estate logo into a completely new, high end design style.
The mark called “The CB North Star” symbolizes the guiding force – the Coldwell Banker network. How is it explained? In a shifting real estate landscape, CB agents remain a constant. They are guiding consumers as they navigate the home buying and selling process. Another unique feature of the North Star is that it’s at the center of the earth’s celestial movements. Regardless of the possible changes on the market, CB remains a fixture and guiding force. The brand, as they claim themselves, serves as a sort of a compass.
The Jernigan Group
The Megan Jernigan team of real estate agents is affiliated with Compass RE, a licensed real estate broker. An elegant combination of the two letters “J” as in “Jernigan” and “G” as in “Group”, is a key factor for this logo shines with its luxurious glam. Letters are slim, black, well-designed, and the unique project leaves no doubt that this company is a serious deal with a dash of luxury.
Better Homes and Gardens
Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC is an international real estate company. It began operations in July 2008. BHGRE® represents more than a traditional real estate transaction. As they claim, their efforts go beyond buying and selling a home. Their tries extend into how their customers live in their homes and communities. What matters is home, family and community. We can see this belief reflected in their familiar logo design.
The brand wants to be relevant 365 days a year, not only when consumers buy or sell a home. In 1978, Meredith Corporation, one of the nation’s leading media and marketing companies and publisher of Better Homes and Gardens magazine, launched Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Service. Today, the franchise has hundreds of offices and thousands of affiliated real estate agents.
Using innovative technology, sophisticated business systems, and the broad appeal of a lifestyle brand, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC embodies the future of the real estate industry. At the same time, it remains grounded in the tradition of home. In the 94 years, since Better Homes & Gardens first debuted, industries have changed with the rise of digital. Better Homes & Gardens has kept up with that change, radically expanding. Individual teams modified the logo to adapt it to their mounting needs.
To leverage their well-earned trust across platforms, the brand needed a flexible system with a strong core identity. From the outset, the direction of Better Homes & Gardens imagined the iconic logo as a modern and simplified expression of the previous. The one that could flex across the entire portfolio and align with the refreshed creative direction of the magazine while not alienating the core readership. The root of the new design is in the heritage, but its new, simplified expression carries the brand into the future. With a new logo, the visual system links all the platforms and extensions through a modern and adaptable identity system. Bolstered by a stronger, more cohesive visual system, allows Better Homes & Gardens to create connections across all its communication channels.
Hilton & Hyland
A developer Rick Hilton and broker Jeff Hyland founded Hilton & Hyland in 1993. Scoring trophy property after trophy property in Los Angeles, one of the most cutthroat markets on the planet, wasn’t easy. The combination of skill, great branding, and determination was necessary to get to the top. Hilton & Hyland’s luxury real estate logo branding is timeless. It’s elegant and it has a truly high-end atmosphere. But it’s also simple and leaves us in awe. Hilton & Hyland logo oozes Beverly Hills glamour. The monogram, in particular, wouldn’t look out of place on the hood of a priceless vintage car or emblazoned on a Cartier cigarette case. Hilton & Hyland’s logo was designed by Los Angeles-based senior graphic designer and globetrotter Ann Dang.
Bayside Staging & Places
The brand Bayside staging & places is both a realtor (Bayside places), and home stager (Bayside staging) from Southern Maryland. Its customers are mostly families and investors. Bayside Staging is committed to transforming a house into a welcoming and attractive one. They custom tailor each staging project based on the particular strengths and weaknesses of each home, typically with modern, clutter free designs. As the brand owners claim, a home buyer’s initial impression of a home is a crucial moment. And this puts a strong emphasis on the logo. The feel of the logo is neat and connects the dots of the upper-middle class desires. Pastel colors are soft and welcoming. A simple font gives off an atmosphere of tradition and security.
Modern Real Estate Logos
What does it mean that a real estate logo is modern? In a nutshell, it exudes innovation, it’s up to date and simple. A modern logo shouldn’t be demanding for a customer who sees it. Clients don’t have to be updated on the subject nor understand the real estate actual trends. From the logo, they should get a belief that the company knows 100% of today’s world. It’s great when a brand knows where it stands on the market. It’s even better if it can predict the market’s fluctuations. Modern real estate logos express that a brand has insights and information needed to navigate skillfully through the market.
Keller Williams Realty
Keller Williams Realty was established in 1983 by Gary Keller and Joe Williams. It’s an American technology and international real estate franchise. The brand grew from a single office in Austin to 940+ offices with 180,000+ associates worldwide as of May 2018. It’s one of the highest-rated real estate companies by Entrepreneur and Forbes. In 2014, after 30 years, Keller Williams Realty got a fresh new look, designed to put real estate agents’ businesses first. As they say, it’s a very simple idea.
When you are the first real estate company to acknowledge that real estate agents are the reason to do business, not real estate company brands, a fantastic thing happens. You become the largest real estate company in North America… and you didn’t have to spend any money on national brand advertising. That having said, Keller Williams Realty does pay some attention to their visual identity. The brand’s logo is minimalist and elegant, and thanks to that, it has a bright future as an icon. The catchy, high-end combination of colors and simple font, say a lot about this stable and characterful company.
Klépierre
Klépierre SA is a Parisian real estate developer. The brand manages commercial properties, including shopping centers and office space. It operates in France, Belgium, Scandinavia, Italy, Spain, Central Europe, and others. Klépierre is a creative, constructive, and connected brand. In 2013, it simplified its brand policy and adopted a new corporate identity, created with Interbrand Paris.
The logo has various meanings contained in its “K” shape (as in Klépierre). This modern real estate logo capitalizes on the highly architectural letter K. It evokes a set of building blocks and symbolizes movement toward the future, innovation, and performance. The plug shape of the logo underscores the company’s role as a catalyst in the encounter between retail brands and consumers. The color code expresses Klépierre’s dual allegiance to the real estate and retail worlds. This luminous logo highlights the emotional component of shopping and the focus on the consumers’ experience.
Century 21
Century 21 is the largest brand name in the real estate business. It has been on the market since 1971, changing the real estate game. Century 21 has over 11,600 independently owned and operated franchise brokers across 83 countries and territories who have started this movement. The mission of the brand’s recent visual refresh was to defy mediocrity and deliver extraordinary experiences. A new identity – a stylish, sleek, and sophisticated makeover was designed to catapult the brand into the next century. A reinvigorated color palette that stays true to Century 21 iconic gold and black scheme is more modern and distinctive than ever. The core truth is that good design doesn’t have to be lavish or ornamental. Yet, it needs to send the right message to the right audience. And this is exactly what Century 21 does.
Mazaya
The Mazaya’s founders put it all in one clever sentence. “Al Mazaya Holding Company is the result of an idea for investment taken to its logical conclusion”. Thinking big, creating high value and earning, as well as growing and maintaining the trust of big-time investors in the Kuwaiti market and abroad. These all have been hallmarks of Al Mazaya. The company provides a wide range of real estate products and services across the spectrum. It purchases, apportions and develops large areas in select zones, and offers ready-to-use residential and commercial spaces.
Al Mazaya is one of the most important and thought-of real estate development companies in the Middle East market. Their versatility and potency is expressed in the square logo that almost transforms while we look at it. Its flat white lines on the grey background give an impression of developing into a 3D design. The grey used for both the design and the company name, links to concrete or other construction material. The original font gives off the slight touch of orientality included in this modern real estate logo from Kuwait.
Gregg Lynn
Ranked in 2018 as one of the Top Two Individual Agents in the City by the San Francisco Association of Realtors, Gregg Lynn is equal parts seasoned professional, engaging raconteur and savvy negotiator, having represented clients in transactions totaling more than $1.2 Billion. Gregg Lynn minimalist real estate logo is spare and elegant. It has a simple but creative monogram. Art deco design elements are inextricably linked to modern luxury real estate. Designer of this logo used a glittering diamond in a high end art deco style. Lynn’s looks in the right place either “stacked” with the monogram above the name as above or horizontal as it is on his website. Remember, the best real estate logo should be versatile. If it’s not, it’s not going to help your brand.
Halstead
Halstead is one of the top residential real estate brokerage firms in the New York metropolitan area. The company has more than 1,300 sales and rental agents located in premier retail storefronts in Manhattan and Brooklyn among others. Founded in 1984, Halstead is well-known as an industry pioneer and leader. It was the first large firm in NYC to create storefront offices, taking real estate out of hidden, corporate midtown spaces, and bringing it into the communities. Halstead’s culture and spirit for innovation has made their retention among the highest in the industry. As a modern real estate logo, Halstead’s visual communication is simple and creative. Using simplistic fonts, a black-and-white color scheme, and a basic building icon inscribed in the 3D shape, sits well with the brand philosophy. A creative breath of fresh air in this minimalistic design confirms that innovation is what makes this company special.
Tracy Do
When it comes to branding, especially in the logo department, simple always beats complicated. The goal of the good logo is to convey the idea quickly and easily. Anything that can get in the way should be eliminated. Compass’ Tracy Do’s logo works perfectly for her business in LA. It’s simple, bold, and looks great next to the Compass logo, which is something to consider as they will often be seen together. You may think that it is just a fancy font. Yes, it is, but it’s the right one, and that’s enough to win this battle. Massive corporations like Apple pay hundreds of thousands of dollars and spend a lifetime in meetings just discussing fonts.
Simple Real Estate Logos
Simple real estate logos have an essential advantage over those more complex. They stick to the visual memory. If their design was conceived well, they will be hard to get rid of from our minds. Once you notice a simple logo and you like it, it’s almost granted that it will flashback in front of your eyes sooner or later. That having said, it’s worth putting a lot of effort into creating simple and good commercial real estate logos. Moreover, the feel of simplicity brings us close to the aura of luxury. As they say: “Less is more”.
Belle Property
The Belle Property is a full-service agency catering to premium and middle markets in select lifestyle locations. It sells both simple studios and multi-million dollar homes with the same commitment, professionalism, and attention to detail. Founded in 2000, Belle Property was a real estate company predominantly focused on project marketing. Since then, it has grown significantly and is still expanding.
A simple—yet effective—way to build the best real estate logo is to think about your buyer personas and their pain points. What are they looking for when they’re purchasing or renting a home from you? It seems like Belle Property thinks that their customers’ main desire is simplicity. Their neat, familiar, and pleasurable white font, placed on the traditional deep green background stands for tradition and elegance. There is nothing extravagant or original about this logo. Yet, it has probably still taken months to come up with such an easy but well-crafted minimalist idea.
VICI
Vici Properties is a real estate investment trust (REIT) based in NYC. It was formed in 2017 as a spin-off from Caesars Entertainment Corporation. VICI Properties owns one of the largest portfolios of market-leading gaming, hospitality, and entertainment destinations, including the world-renowned Caesars Palace. The company also owns four championship golf courses and 34 acres of undeveloped land next to the Las Vegas Strip. Vici Properties’ name was adopted from the phrase “Veni, vidi, vici,” commonly attributed to Julius Caesar. The brand’s logo is simple and elegant. It consists of only one word. The font used brings to mind the feel of antiquity and tradition, referring to the core philosophical truths of humanity.
Cain Group
The spare and elegant logo of Pacific Sotheby’s Los Angeles Cain Group screams high-tech cool with fonts that have one small quirk to set them apart. It’s the missing bit of the cross line of the “A” that takes a word written in a nice font and turns it into an innovative logo. The modern commercial real estate logo also works just as well reversed with white text for dark backgrounds. The overall look is high end and creative at once.
Sotheby’s International Realty
Sotheby is a brand that we don’t have to introduce. Established in 1744, Sotheby’s is one of the world’s oldest and largest auction houses, and the oldest company listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Sotheby’s International Realty® network is uniquely positioned to serve the luxury real estate market. Founded in 1976 to provide independently owned and operated real estate offices with a powerful marketing and referral program for luxury listings. Now, with brokerages in 70 countries, 1,000 offices worldwide, $114B in annual sales, and over 23,000 sales associates.
The Sotheby’s International Realty network defines the meaning of luxury. As their slogan proclaims, “Artfully Uniting Extraordinary Homes With Extraordinary Lives ®”. Built on centuries of tradition and dedicated to innovation, Sotheby’s International Realty is characterized by classic, high end approach to its visual identity. Worth noticing that being extraordinary doesn’t mean turning our back on simplicity. Sotheby welcomed its logo, redesigned by Pentagram, in 2014. It was a brilliant work that revamped everything about their visual presence. The change meant a choice of a more suitable font and a refreshed overall look. The refinement of Sotheby’s wordmark also took place. It’s a dramatic shift from Gill Sans to a custom version of Mercury. The goal of the redesign was to maintain the image of a modern global brand while also reflecting the heritage of a company that has been in business for almost 300 years.
Gecina
Gecina SA is a real estate investment trust, which owns, manages, and develops property holdings. It focuses on the acquisition of land, construction of buildings, financing of the acquisition and construction operations, and sale of real estate rights or properties. The company was founded on January 14, 1959 with headquarters in Paris, France. As a specialist for centrality and uses, Gecina operates innovative and sustainable living spaces. The Group’s portfolios valued 20 billion euros at the end of June 2020. Gecina has established its focus on innovation and its human approach.
At the heart of its strategy lies desire to create value and deliver on its purpose: “Empowering shared human experiences at the heart of our sustainable spaces”. Gecina is among popular real estate logos because of the simple move used to design it. The whole name of the brand is written in dark blue capitals, except for the “i” transformed into “1”. For many of us, “1” stands for being a leader. What also comes to mind, because of the “i” letter pastel color, is a human being among buildings. There are a few potential meanings of this logo. It’s definitely memorable.
Windermere
When you’ve been in business for 46 years, you learn that one of the keys to being successful is knowing when it’s time to spruce things up. When the Windermere company noticed that a little facelift of their logo was in order, they took up the visual rebranding process. It was in 2017, and the result was a 12-month process that saw every element of the Windermere brand updated to reflect a more modern look and feel. The facelift – designed for a more modern feel – took over everything from logos to colors to fonts on stationary, outdoor signage, business cards. The Windermere brand has been around for over four decades. Not to throw away all that valuable equity by starting from scratch, they brand decided to give it only a more modern twist. This included a new icon with interlocking arms that symbolize the connections within the Windermere network.
Smith & Berg Partners
Smith and Berg Partners COMPASS is led by F. Ron Smith and David Berg. It’s a team of So Cal real estate experts, covering the entire Los Angeles area, from the hills to the sea. It’s the top leading luxury real estate team in Los Angeles’s Westside, with sales exceeding $3.5 billion. Smith & Berg visual identity is an example of a minimal logo from Los Angeles where versatility is a key. You can have the coolest logo in the world, but if it doesn’t look right stacked or on different backgrounds, it’s useless if you plan on growing. This neat, vector real estate company logo covers every need of a brand. It shows leaders’ surnames and it presents the brand in a respectful manner. It’s also elegant and unique. An orange “&” adds a little bit of innovative flavor to the classy font.
Our Take
Companies from the real estate realm should seek uniqueness, clarity and memorability in their branding. That’s easier said than done, yet, there are a few brands that managed to achieve this goal. One example may be Klepierre with its architectural “K” as a logo. It’s a common letter, yet this popular real estate logo ends up as an example of versatility and creativity in the design department. The logo becomes a plug (to connect), and a building (to grow), evokes inspiration.
It’s worth going beyond the overused and generic images of houses, skyscrapers and rooftops (unless you’re a genius at it). Keep with simple, modern, luxury or creative logos, and don’t accept mediocre ones. Looking to company initials or surnames of funders is often smart, as letterforms can open up a number of interesting possibilities. You can use them in a novel or unexpected way. Be consistent and coherent. If you manage an Art Deco building, then perhaps you should have a logo inspired Art Deco architecture.
A vintage logo might not be great for a commercial mortgage broker, but could be perfect for a property company specializing in historic homes. Most real estate firms do exactly the same thing – this is where creativity kicks in to help. When searching for a unique visual identity, consider your company’s local culture, skylines and iconic architecture. This will often produce the unique design. Keep in mind that the most effective logos are unique, bold and easy to understand.
Besides having grown up in the design Industry, Christiaan has advised some of the world’s largest companies on their branding & packaging designs. Has been the resident judge for design awards, and has spoken at numerous global design & marketing events. Christiaan founded the London office of the award-winning Cartils agency, and has founded the DesignBro.com platform.
