Fox Logo Ideas: From Cunning To Cute In Branding
Feature Image Source: iStock/iwat1929
Designers everywhere are going crazy about foxes — crazy like a fox.
Whether you’re on the fox bandwagon yourself or not, fox-inspired logo design is apparently here to stay. Design blog Apartment Therapy featured them in a trendspotting article and suggest that they are replacing owls as the next big across-the-board animal feature, listing ten foxy home goods items.
The fact is that foxes are showing up everywhere, from clothing and other retail items, to designs of all kinds. And logos are definitely included in that!
So let’s take a look at what inspires this trend, as well as why it continues, and why so many brands turn to this cute, wily woodland animal for inspiration.
Here we go with ten reasons to consider using a fox logo.
1. Foxes Are On-Trend
Foxes, foxes everywhere!
As we mentioned at the outset, foxes are a going concern in the design world. And that’s in more than just graphic design — in fact, if you’re looking for any item of clothing, something to put in your home, kitchen products, or even something as utilitarian as a lanyard or a pen, there’s probably a version out there with a fox on it.
And people are buying those products! There are entire boards on Amazon with fox-related purchase ideas, for fox enthusiasts to share with other fox friends.
With foxes enjoying such a surge in popularity, it’s no wonder that they are also being used in so many logos. Foxes are appearing in different forms from line art to flat design and abstract.
As a matter of fact, if you do a quick generic Google search for “animal logo trends,” fox trends are the first three examples that show up. Other animals have seen resurgences now and then, such as lions, but as foxes are still on top, it remains to be seen how this trend will ebb and flow.
2. Word Association
Partly due to their popularity, foxes pop up in the modern lexicon all the time.
Sure, there’s “crazy like a fox”, which may appeal to some.
But apart from that, there’s the link between foxes and the suggestion of being “foxy.” That gives this logo choice a leg up when it comes to certain markets, such as health and beauty.
Image Source: ZillionDesigns
As you’ll see as we go along in this article, there are several examples that demonstrate just how versatile foxes can be as logo inspiration.
Image Source: ZillionDesigns
Apart from that specific connotation comes another “word association” bonus for fox logos: Fox is a common last name. So it makes perfect sense that the animal would be used as a logo: it reinforces the name of the company.
Image Source: ZillionDesigns
3. Rich Colors
Fox designs of all kinds often have a built-in attraction on a level beyond shape: they lend themselves to a naturally rich color palette.
Whether it’s the stark, clean whites of the Arctic fox or the deep orange-red of a red fox, there’s a lot of dynamic color at play.
Of course, that doesn’t mean that fox logos are restricted into a certain nature-inspired color category.
Rather, it gives the logo designer another level to be inspired by. And, let’s face it, those poppy reds and oranges that often are used with fox logos are a great use of memorable color.
Image Source: ZillionDesigns
Also Explore: Color Psychology Of Orange Logos
4. Animal Logos Are Enduringly Popular
Animals are some of the most popular choices for logos. There’s a reason behind that, and it has a lot to do with members of our household.
Foxes are the wild cousins to our own beloved domestic dogs. As a species we tend to feel a special attachment to the larger or wilder versions of our own household pets. The love and attachment that we feel to our own pets often translates to other animals as well. This love translates into or is reflected in pet logos.
So opting for a cute, cuddly, or even awe-inspiring animal for a logo is basically a surefire way to make sure that people pay attention to your logo.
Image Source: ZillionDesigns
And since foxes can fit any and all of those criteria at the same time, they’re a natural choice.
Image Source: ZillionDesigns
5. Dignity
Foxes have a special quality which lends them an innate dignity not often seen in small furry creatures, and especially in furry creatures which sometimes act exactly like our own goofy dogs at home.
Not surprisingly, these wild dog cousins are found in folklore and mythology across the world, often as wise, sage characters, such as in Japanese fairy tales or in Antoine de St. Exupery’s The Little Prince.
Image Source: ZillionDesigns
But this dignity gives fox logos a lot of versatility. It’s true that we tend to be attracted to them because of how cute they are (more on that next) but it’s also a fact that they can lend a grown-up, mature, and overall dignified look to a logo.
Image Source: ZillionDesigns
6. Adorability
On the other hand, a cutesy, cartoon type logo featuring an adorable fox may be exactly what fits your company.
Image Source: ZillionDesigns
After all, they can be just as cute as our own pet dogs, with a lot of the same playfulness and mannerisms. And videos of fox puppies, or kits, are popular wildlife videos on YouTube.
Some designers are able to take that cuteness and use it in logo design, where it is appropriate for the business. While “cutesy” logos are not the most sought-after, when it comes to markets such as children’s clothing stores or handmade goods, a logo that makes you say, “Awwww” can be beneficial.
And no one’s about to complain about that!
7. Simple Design
Another aspect of the versatility of fox logos is how they can be rendered extremely simply.
We see this over and over again in design of all sorts. Simple fox head designs can be rendered in as few as four lines! Or, in the case of this logo, seven.
Image Source: ZillionDesigns
Using the essence of a fox design without necessarily using the whole fox still gives your logo a lot of the benefits of a fox inspired logo, but keeps the logo simple enough to be easily rendered and scalable.
8. Complex Design
However, foxes can also lend themselves to a considerably more complex design, with more details and clear features, while still keeping the logo simple enough to be effective and not overwhelming.
Image Source: ZillionDesigns
These more complex designs make the most of their foxy centerpieces, and are often able to illustrate with color, shape, and feel just how useful foxes are as logo inspiration.
9. Excellent Mascots
Mascot logos are used across a wide range of companies and markets. They’re useful to a brand because they give the customer something to identify with.
Image Source: ZillionDesigns
Mascots are typically animals, for some of the same reasons mentioned above. We love animals! But along with that, mascots can be imbued with some of the same apparent qualities that humans have: sense of humor, use of clothing and tools, and the like. This heightens the connection that the audience feels with the mascot, and therefore the brand.
Foxes make great mascots, due to their innate appeal, and how versatile they are in terms of shape and expression.
Image Source: ZillionDesigns
Now let’s look at the last reason why logo designers and brands alike love foxes…
Conclusion
We’ve already covered a lot of evidence for the appeal and trend-following popularity of foxes. So it’s pretty obvious that this is a bandwagon that is easy to get on, and hard to get down from!
A fox logo may be great for your brand, and there may be any number of reasons why.
The important thing is to remember to properly reflect your brand personality. And a fox may just suit your brand perfectly.
