Gradient

A gradient is a gradual transition between two or more colours. In logo design, gradients can add depth, vibrancy, and modernity to a design, but they introduce significant practical complications. A logo with a gradient cannot be faithfully reproduced as a flat single-colour design, which is required for many applications: embroidery, screen printing, embossing, engraving, and single-colour stationery printing. Gradients also tend to date logos more quickly than flat colour treatments, as colour fashion evolves. That said, gradients have experienced a significant resurgence in digital design since the mid-2010s, and many major brands — including Instagram, Spotify, and Adobe — now feature gradient colour treatments prominently in their identities. The key is designing the gradient logo with awareness of its limitations and ensuring that robust single-colour and flat colour alternatives exist for contexts where gradients cannot be used.