A bit of clarification.
I was browsing some of my favorite design blogs recently and came upon a post offering a clarification of the definitions of brand, identity and logo design. Far too often these terms are used interchangeably which, by definition, is incorrect. I think it is important for those of us in the field of design to know the terms and use them correctly. An educated designer is an asset to their clients. I also believe it is important to understand the significance of a brand, an identity and a logo or brand mark and the impact each representation can have on a company as a whole.
I would like to share a little of that post with you now...
"A logo is not your brand, nor is it your identity. Logo design, identity design and branding all have different roles, that together, form a perceived image for a business or product.
What is brand? – The perceived emotional corporate image as a whole.
What is identity? – The visual aspects that form part of the overall brand.
What is a logo? – A logo identifies a business in its simplest form via the use of a mark or icon."
- Jacob Cass
If you are interested in reading the full article, you can find it here.