Books & Bards Logo

The new Books & Books logo reflects a classic literature brand identity. The creative concept, based on the history and customers of the company, accentuates the fine arts and a love of reading. Featured is a side portrait of a distinguished poet, perhaps the Bard of Avon himself, William Shakespeare with a ruff. No real evidence proves that Shakespeare ever commissioned a portrait. To Be or Not to Be.

This mid-16th century wood cut illustration effectively highlights the "Bards" side of the brand name, which is a registered trademark. The gold portrait illustration pops against a black canvas. A subtle red rule is used to mirror a passion for books and poetry. Red is part of the Books & Bards color palette. The logo also is used effectively in black and white for a variety of brand materials and labeling.

The selected font is Adobe Caslon Pro, small caps. This echoes the identifiable previous brand font used and is classic, clear, and easy-to-read. Even with a level of detail, the portrait logo stands out on social media platforms. The logo was pretested with social media groups and received favorable feedback.

While several potential concepts were considered, such as Wordmarks, monographs, and emblems, the fondness of a combination letter and mascot logo (poet) struck a positive emotional chord. Like other classic logos that reflect the Greek Gods, such as Medusa and Hermes, the new Books & Bards logo dares to combine a traditional portrait with a modern typeface.

The hope, over time, is that this new symbol will resonate with connoisseurs of classic literature and the arts.