Flat design
Flat logos use areas of solid colour to describe a shape. Without a highlight to separate two touching pieces, their proportions and the gaps between them have to do the work.
Examples to look at
- Microsoft
- Four blocks of colour sit around a simple cross-shaped gap.
- Google Chrome’s flat icon
- Broad coloured segments circle a contrasting blue centre.
- Slack
- A repeating set of short bars and dots builds a multicoloured symbol.
Give colour a purpose
Assign each colour to a clear piece of the mark. A designer checks where pieces touch and how much contrast is available there. In Microsoft’s symbol, the narrow gap keeps the squares distinct. Without that space, colours of similar brightness could merge in a one-colour print.
Where it works well
Flat artwork can move cleanly between a screen, a vinyl sign and a printed leaflet. A straightforward mark can still get lost among similar app icons. Build in a distinctive proportion or arrangement that survives even when the colours are removed.
Try the cut-paper test
Make the logo from pieces of coloured paper, then photograph it in black and white. Can someone still count the pieces and recognise the overall shape? If two parts merge, adjust the gap before adding another colour.