Monogrammed Door Mats

Monogrammed door mats offer a unique type of personalized flare to entryways of both commercial and residential spaces. Unlike personalized mats with vivid and often complex graphic effects, monogrammed door mats feature simple arrangements of letters that are representative of a business entity, a person’s name, or any number of other meaningful things. The idea of monogramming a door mat may seem new to some, but the practice of customizing an entryway with symbols actually dates back to as early as Ancient Egypt. History is rich with ancient civilizations that are known to have adorned the entryways and interior wall spaces with monograms and other symbols to represent idols, royal figures, natural forces, and other important societal influences.

Monogrammed Mats and Modern Business

Monograms are popular among high-end businesses that have the ability to deliver a striking brand message with very little design work. The monogram itself is simple, and it will often let the brand message speak for itself.

One of the best examples of a simplistic business monogram that conveys great brand authority is seen in the Bugatti Automotive Company. The monogram consists of only two letters: E and B. The initials of company founder Eltore Bugatti, this well-known monogram simply positions a backward E with a forward-facing B, so that the letters each share the same vertical extremity. Though simple, the nearly symmetrical “EB” logo of Bugatti is recognized around the world as a symbol of unparalleled Italian automotive luxury and performance.

Orientation: Making Monogrammed Door Mats Easy to Understand

There are several ways to format a monogram. Unfortunately, this may cause confusion when applying monograms to signs, marketing materials, and door mats. Because there are so many ways to display a monogram, passersby may not “get” the message at first glance. This is a bigger problem for businesses than it is for homes, as context is more easily understood in residential settings. It is easy, for example, to discern that a series of 2 or 3 letters represents a family name or couples’ initials. By contrast, it can be more difficult to interpret the meaning of a monogram for a business.

Making a monogram easy to read starts with picking an orientation that is sensible. The orientation of the monogram refers to how the letters are ordered, from left to right. Most traditionally, a monogram is used to symbolize the first, middle, and last initial of a person’s name. However, initials in a monogram are not always placed in that order.

To better understand this dilemma and how it affects the readability of the monogram, let’s examine three of the most common ways of displaying the letters of a monogram:

1. Personal Monograms: Personal monograms feature the first letter of the first, middle, and last name. The letters are usually never placed in that order, however, as conventional monogramming emphasizes the surname of the individual or family. Thus, the first letter of the last name is almost always placed in the center of the monogram and, to improve its visual dominance, the center letter is typically 5-10% larger than the other two. So, the conventional monogram of a woman named Lauren Maureen Dumphey would read “LDM,” with the D noticeably larger than the “L” and “M.”
2. Monograms for Two People or Entities: In the business world, this design is most often used by professional associations like law firms, accounting firms, or other groups that wish to incorporate the initials of partners, founders, or major influencers in their logo. There are usually 2-3 letters, and the most central letter(s) are always the largest. A talent agency by the name of Mistler Gild, for example, may have a simple two- letter monogram that reads “MG.” In this example, the letters would most likely be of equal size to promote symmetry and a sense of equal partnership. If two brothers named Zach and Robert Grossman form a law firm, on the other hand, the monogram would read “ZGR,” with the “G” noticeably larger than the “Z” and “R.” In this example, the “G” is given center stage since it conveys an important detail: The practice was founded by the Grossman brothers.
3. Monograms for Couples: Monogrammed items are very popular among couples, particularly newly weds. In this example, the monogram is again intended to emphasize something of importance. For many couples, that important element is the first letter of the last name that they decide to share. Thus, Steven Burke and Emily Jones may choose a monogram that reads “SBE,” should they take Steven’s last name, or “SJE,” should they take Emily’s last name. Alternatively, the monogram could feature the first initial of the woman’s name first. This would create a monogram that reads “EBS,” if they take the last name Burke, or “EJS” if they take the last name Jones. Like the personal monogram format explained in example 1 above, the most important thing to communicate here is the first letter of the last name that will be shared. It is therefore given center placement with a font that is about 5-10% larger than the other letters.

In the end, it is important to use the design of the monogram to emphasize the letter (or group of letters) that is most meaningful. As we’ve seen, personal monograms are traditionally meant to emphasize the family or surname of the individual, and thus place the first letter of the last name in the center. On the other hand, businesses may use monograms that display two letters of equal size to represent the equal standing of their founders. Different still are the couples that do not wish to take a single last name; they may design a monogram that equally displays the first letter of each partner’s last name in the center, representing equality and pride.

Personalized floor mats are just one item that may be adorned with a monogram. Other popular items include dress shirts, handkerchiefs, leather goods, and other highly personal items.