10 Smile Logo Designs To Make Your Smile!

What do you think of when you see a smiley face logo design? It’s a friendly, attractive image that can potentially make your customers feel confident that your brand is reliable. Happy face logos have an enduring quality that exudes brightness and general positivity. 

Interestingly, the smiley face logo was instrumental in the rave music scenes of the late 1980s and early 1990s. It became a symbol of the movement, appearing on flyers, album covers, and merchandise. The bright, happy image of the smiley face perfectly encapsulated this culture's euphoric and energetic spirit. 

If that's the kind of vibe you want for your logo, keep reading. This guide walks you through our top 10 smile logo designs, providing some much-needed inspiration for your own designs.

You can trust us. The LogoMe team has created hundreds of high-quality logos, so it's safe to say we know a thing or two about creating logos that resonate with target audiences!

There's lots to discuss to help you hit the ground running, so let's dive straight in!

What's The Origin of The Smile Logo?

Smiley logo design was first used way back in 1963 by graphic designer Harvey Ball in Worcester, Massachusetts. Ball designed the logo after the State Mutual Life Assurance company approached him to create a symbol they could use as a staff morale booster. They paid him $45. 

Ball reportedly only took 10 minutes to create this logo, and he told the Associated Press, “I made a circle with a smile for a mouth on yellow paper because it was sunshiny and bright.”

Harvey Ball may have taken just 10 minutes to create this lasting design, but it's certainly had a lasting impact! Neither Harvey Ball nor the State Mutual Life Assurance Company trademarked this iconic logo, leaving the door wide open for other brands to customize it for themselves. 

That's why, over the years, several famous brands have used Ball's original logo as inspiration to create designs that reflect their own company values (more about this below). 

Why Use Smiley Face Logos?

Brands use smiley-face logos because they're not just memorable; they're also powerful tools for brand recognition. When your audience sees such a logo, they instantly appreciate what your brand represents - i.e., that you're a happy, positive brand offering an optimistic service and/or product. 

Smiley logos are also incredibly versatile. They can convey a positive tone and image for your brand, and they're a simple way of leveraging upbeat emotions such as love, trust, and happiness to communicate that you're an approachable brand.

How to Create Smiley Face Logos

Creating a smiley face logo is simpler than you might think. You could commission a designer, use Adobe Illustrator or similar graphics software, or use ready-made, royalty-free designs from sites like Shutterstock. Alternatively, the quickest and easiest solution is to use an advanced AI logo maker tool like Logome.

Going with the final option, here’s how to create a smile logo design using Logome:

1. From the homepage, enter your company name.
2. Click “Make a logo.”
3. Choose which industry your brand is in from a choice of 21 options, including eCommerce, dropshipping, cosmetics, and more. 
4. Click “Continue.”
5. The next screen shows you some logo styles. You can choose which styles you like or skip this step.
6. The next screen shows a color palette; again, you’re invited to choose a color you like, or you can skip this step if you prefer.
7. On the next screen, you’re asked to add the following:

• Company name 
• Company slogan
• Your email address (optional)

If you don’t have a company name, click “get AI name suggestions” to generate a few ideas.

Click “continue.”

8. Logome instantly generates 12 logos for your brand. You can click “customize” on any logos you like to add your smiley image/design. 

Simple, right?

Well-Known Logos With a Smile

It’s essential that your logo stands out and reflects your brand. The last thing you want is to create something that looks like another brand’s image. So, if you're looking for some inspiration, here’s what some famous brands have done to make their logos with a smiley face stand out:

1. Colgate

The very first Colgate logo was created in 1897. Fast forward to today, and Colgate is arguably the most famous happy face logo brand out there. The smile logo pictured below has been around since 2018. It makes sense that this famous toothpaste brand uses a smiley face in its branding to sell oral hygiene products.

The beauty of this logo is that it certainly packs a punch. It instantly says health. It’s bold and bright and conveys confidence and energy. All that to say, it’s the perfect way of communicating what this product is all about - a healthy, glowing smile. 

2. Amazon

Amazon has cleverly customized the standard smiley face into a smiling arrow that points from A to Z. In other words, it’s a logo that tells customers that Amazon sells and delivers a colossal array of products to customers wherever they are in the world.

3. TUI Group

This German travel company has used the smile logo somewhat differently than our first two examples. They use a solid red color to convey confidence and trust, and the smile is in the form of an arch with a horizontal serif on the left side of the arch and a solid red dot above the right side. The bold red arch cleverly conveys the letters T, U, and I, so you see a cheeky, winking smiley face. 

4. Goodwill

This international non-profit organization offers job training, employment placements, and other community projects aimed at those who find it hard to find work. Based in the US and Canada, this blue logo, combined with stark black and white, includes a half smile that conveys warmth, trust, calm, reliability, and professionalism. You can also see that this happy face is repeated in the letter G of the logo. 

5. Smile Expo

This international company specializes in creating large events. You don’t have to look hard to find the smile on this logo; there are no hidden components. The simple logo uses a white and orange color scheme, and the gradient elongated smile emoji encased in an orange square frame conveys longevity, infinity, and positivity.

6. Telenet

Telenet is Belgium’s biggest broadband, mobile, and digital cable services provider. The smiling yellow winking emoji is encased in a smooth square icon with rounded edges. The black lettering conveys solidarity and reliability—something we all need from our broadband providers! This logo also communicates that Telenet is a bold and energetic brand. 

7. Bledina

This is a sub-brand of Danone, the dairy and plant-based food brand. Bledina sells baby food. Like Amazon, Bledina uses the smiling face of the smile logo to underline its brand name. It’s a simple smile here, in a bright, confident yellow. The contrast between it and the green and white suggests happiness, health, and warmth. 

8. Hasbro

This American multinational company sells kid's toys and games. Again, we can see a blue logo with a smile, this time directly underneath the brand name. This design does not hold back; the big, broad smile exudes fun, happiness, and confidence. 

The Hasbro brand has undergone several logo changes since the 1940s, but a version of the Smile logo has been around since 1998. 

9. Crayola

This well-known US art supplies manufacturer's logo departs from the others featured in our list simply because of its color palette.

Since 1903, the company has undergone 11 redesigns. However, the yellow and green Crayola lettering on this logo, which you can see here, has been in use since 2006. This smiley face in rainbow colors is slightly tilting, giving a sense of optimism and friendliness.

10. IHOP

This American pancake house restaurant chain offers a spectrum of dining options from breakfast to dinner. Here’s another blue logo with an arching smile, this time in bold red under the “eyes” of the O and P letters. The logo may be simple, but it's welcoming and friendly.

How We Picked Our Top 10 Smiley Face Logos

Selecting the above smiley face logos was a meticulous process involving several key criteria to ensure each logo looked appealing and effectively communicated the brand's values and mission. Benchmarks included brand relevance, visual appeal, versatility, emotional impact, customer recognition, and trend adaptability.

Do You Want a Happy Face Logo for Your Brand?

If you're considering a smiley face logo for your brand, you'll go a long way toward telling customers upfront that you’re happy to offer them great products and superior service. In other words, you’re an approachable, friendly brand that puts its customers front and center of everything you do. 

Creating a smile logo design doesn't have to be hard. Start by brainstorming words that describe what your brand stands for. Think about what captures the heart of who you are. Then, use this to help you visualize the type of logo and color palette that best represents your business. Take inspiration from other successful companies. Who knows, perhaps you'll create your smile logo as quickly as Ball did back in 1963?

Are you ready to start creating your logo? Find out how the Logome team can help you create logos with smiles that inspire you and your customers.