Frames Tie Together All the Elements of a Logo

Mahin

One thing, if your typography doesn’t match the imagery, your whole logo will seem off. Strong typography is also essential as the visual elements of logos are often dropped for jerseys or merchandise—the text of your team name will sometimes have to speak for itself. As mentioned above, you can add sharp points to your lettering to keep both energy and enthusiasm high. Typically, this involves “spiking” the serifs. But if you look at enough sports logos, you start to notice other typography trends as well. For example, the buckling of the middle of the word is also common.

So that the first and last letters extend lower than the other image manipulation service to form an arch from the word shape. This adds a slightly 3D effect to your sports logo and makes it fun to read. But you can also experiment with flashy fonts. Stuff that’s too garish for a business logo seems to fit naturally in a sports logo. Check out the way JK Graphix uses a stencil font below. A common favorite is lettering with small spikes in the middle, as seen in the logos for the Boston Red Sox, Oakland As and Pittsburgh Pirates—and the Seward County Saints below.


The idea of framing in logos has deep roots in graphic design. On the surface, the visuals and the text, to help create a unified feel and to make the image more aesthetically pleasing. But there’s also a deeper and more sub-conscious meaning. The logo’s frame suggests a sense of togetherness and unity, perfect for the community-building aspect of sports. A team needs a solid, unified fan base, and logos with frames encourage that. “You’re either with us or against us.” Other industries rely mostly on circles for their frames, as circles are friendlier and more welcoming.