Does Logo Placement Matter?
Location, location, location. Does that rule apply to logos on a website? I’ve never given much thought as to where I should place my logo, but should I? Along with the content, logos are usually aligned on the left of the page. Then I’d say centering is next on the list of popularity, followed by right-alignment. Is there any psychology behind this approach, or has tradition simply prevailed?
- Left - The top-left corner is the standard location for a logo. Is this to keep it aligned with the text below it? Consistency? Just for looks?
Example: Too many, I can’t pick. - Center - Centering the logo is also a common practice. For me, this heightens the importance of the logo, while making the website look clean and organized.
Example: Just Creative Design - Right - It seems as the content is usually left-aligned, a right-aligned logo would cause an overly-drastic eye movement from the logo to the content. This is a unique approach, but what’s the idea behind it? Balance?
Example: Karly Barrett - All of the above - Another idea for logo placement on the header is for the logo to be the header. Some sites use large typography to fill the entire space. This definitely emphasizes the significance of the logo.
Example: I Love Typography
So, when designing a website, what goes through your mind when placing a logo? Is the goal just aesthetics, or is there any usability issues involved? I’m very curious about this, so I’d love some insight from you in the comments, below. As you can tell from the amount of question marks in this article, this might be more of an educational experience for me than you.
One thing I consider is if the logo has any leverage with the consumer. The top left is where eyes go first (or so says research/testing on many different sites time and time again), so that is valuable realestate. Does putting the logo there serve the site better than putting a strong headline there?
For my new freelance site, for example, I put it on the right side. It has some of the spotlight here, but I don’t yet have a strong enough brand to expect visitors because of my name, rather they’ll most likely surf in from elsewhere. More important than my logo in this case is the aesthetic of my site, since that is what is selling.
On the other hand, I am about to begin design on a premium car part manufacturer’s site. Their customers come there for their specific service, so a logo in the top-left says more in that critical area than any headline ever could.
There are many other factors of course, but this is an important one that I believe should be considered when making effective sites, not just pretty ones.
Right. It seems that I have a reflex to look to the top-left for a logo. Maybe that’s just a learned trait from years on the internet, but maybe it’s logic. Considering text is usually left-aligned, it could be implied that the logo will be, too.
I think your logo placement works well. More of the emphasis is on the headline of course, but it’s visible and it stands out. On most sites, a logo with that position seems to lose value, like it’s in the shadows. Maybe it depends on the width of the content area. I think your site is narrow enough for the logo to stay within focus while reading the headline or text below it.
Every corporate website I can think of has their logo on the left. I haven’t read any research or studies justifying this, but it does make sense that the top-left has the spotlight.
I think that for Western websites, where people read from left to right, it’s more appropriate to place your logo on the left (or across the whole header, as in I Love Typography or Logo Design Love).
You want your visitors to see your logo first, and the content second.
I hope you’re well, Alec.
Hey David, that makes a lot of sense. Thanks for your comment.
I tend to place logos on the left. From what I hear, that’s the first place the eye goes and then fans out from there. It has become a standard and that’s what users have grown accustom to.
I work at a design studio now, and everyone else comes from a print background. They like doing designs with logs on the right or even on the bottom of a fixed height site. I start to cringe when they do this. Am I over reacting? I think a right logo can work depending on the site and logo, but I don’t think the reason to do it would be, “well you don’t see it often, so that’s why”.
any thoughts?
I don’t think a logo at the bottom of the site is a good idea at all if you’re trying to brand it. The most visible area would be the top left, followed by the top center. Anything else could be risking brandability as it would be more subtle and might diminish the importance.
I’m all for being unique and I’d usually love an answer like, “well, you don’t see it often…” but in this case the reason it’s not as common is because of the eyeflow of visitors. If they read left to right (then top to bottom), chances are they’ll scan the page the same way.
Thanks a lot for your comment, Jonathon.
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