Embellish

A marriage of grit and finesse is responsible for the visual success of these marks. These are typically a dichotomy of fine details and dingbats knocked out of and assembled with a degenerated background element. Rich with rhythm and emotion, these logos are often though not exclusively associated with the arts.

The human process of collecting and meticulously crafting the various components is not lost on the consumer. This genre speaks well to a younger generation and the skateboard culture. Most important, though, is the influence of the artist Ryan McGinness, who has created a hybrid of graphic design and fine art with his installations.

1. Howerton+White Interactive for Buffalo Saints 2. The Flores Shop for Gridlock Paintball Team 3. Hammerpress for The Darling Room 4. Gardner Design for REB Textiles

Splat

One of the most amazing sets of logos I've seen in years are the splotch pictograms of soccer players created by Hesse Design of Germany for consideration for the 2006 FIFA World Cup. What at first appears as little more than a bug on a windshield suddenly comes to life as a player frantically driving for a goal with a ball exploding forward with equal force. What amazes me about this series are the subtleties you see in each when you squint your eyes.

1. Hesse Design for 2006 FIFA Worldcup 2. Edward Allen for World Uncorked 3. KOESTER Design for Q ink 4. Shift Design for Parque Temático da Madeira

Glow

Technically, the subtle gradation of color for a background field bucks traditional production rules for a logo. But these are rules that have been cast to the side with advanced technology and production methods. The vignette also might lock the application into a white-only background, but considering the effect, it's well worth it.

1. Sockeye Creative for ieLogic 2. Kaimere for Fairmont Hotels 3. Felixsockwell.com for Firefly 4. Carol Gravelle Graphic Design for Tournesol Siteworks