You've heard the saying, "A picture is worth a thousand words," right? How about: "A logo is worth ten thousand graphic designer's tears"? Too obscure or hipster-ish, you say?
Well, if you really want to make any graphic designer cry, just ask them to whip up a logo before day's end and give the designer a very vague creative brief. (Let us warn you, though, that you might be pierced by the thousand knives being thrown at you by said designer.)
But really, what is a logo if not the essence of a business? A good logo can be incredibly successful in creating an easily recognizable brand. A poorly designed one will become just one more among millions of logos, or be so terrible that in its negative publicity becomes famous … or gets rebranded as quickly as possible.
Here, we present a group of health insurers, agencies and providers that are getting their logos right.
Next month, we'll announce our favorite logos from life insurance agencies and carriers. See a logo you think ought to make our list? Email it to Lynette Gil ([email protected]).
Community Health Plan of Washington
We are giving this not-for-profit organization a thumbs-up for being one of the few, if not the only logo, to feature a colorful and simple flower.
Florida Blue Cross & Blue Shield and HMSA
The span of Blue Cross and Blue Shield licensees is amazing, but we have to give props to both Florida Blue Cross & Blue Shield and the Hawaii Medical Service Association (HMSA) Blue Cross and Blue Shield for adding their own personality to their versions of the BC&BS logos. While Florida opted for a simple slogan, with "Florida Blue," HMSA added a tiny map of the Hawaiian Islands inside the Blue Shield logo.
Neighborhood Health Plan
Though they opted for the typical "medical blue" seen in many a logo these days, but in a darker hue, Neighborhood Health Plan's mix of green and blue ringed logo seems like a fun etch-a-sketch design. The other thing that catches your attention is the font that they used: simple with a modern twist.
MVP Health Care
Founded by doctors, this not-for-profit health plan seems to have taken the old adage, "An apple a day, keeps the doctor away" seriously. Their logo features half an apple with a little leaf drawn with soft brushstrokes or swishes. Pretty clever.
Carle
A deep, almost burgundy, red and bright white logo, Carle's brand representation is both simple and effective. Even though they used the traditional health care cross, the logo excels with its subtle classiness to represent a health care provider.
The Health Co-Op
There's a reason why the Olympics are represented by interlocking rings, which symbolize continuity and the human beings. In The Health Co-Op's case, their interlocking rings on the logo also symbolize the triquetra, or another version of the Holy Trinity symbol.
