Do I need a black and white version of my logo?

Clients sometimes ask me if they really need to have a black and white variation of their logo.

When I'm asked this question I often refer to an invitation I received to a charity event, Starry Starry Night, a few years ago.

You might not think your logo will ever need to appear in black and white, after all, who sends faxes these days? But if you have a look at this invitation and, in particular, the sponsor brands, you might think again. There are some, simple, clean and very recognisable logos that stand out amongst the crowd, they function effectively in black and white and they also work well when they're small. Others, unfortunately, are almost illegible.

When your business sponsors an event like this I expect you’ll want your brand to be one of the ones that stands out.