Logo vs Brand Identity: What's the Difference?
Many people use "logo" and "brand" interchangeably. They're not the same thing.
Logo
Your logo is a single visual mark — a symbol, wordmark, or combination. It's one element of your brand identity.
Brand Identity
Brand identity is the complete visual system: logo, colors, typography, imagery style, patterns, and how they're all used together.
Branding
Branding is the strategy and perception — how people feel about your company. It includes your brand identity but also your messaging, tone, customer experience, and values.
The Hierarchy
Branding > Brand Identity > Logo
A great logo without consistent brand identity looks inconsistent. Great brand identity without branding strategy looks pretty but meaningless.
Start with the Logo
That said, the logo is always the starting point. Once you have a logo you love, you can build the rest of your brand identity around it.