Have you ever seen a big brand without a logo? NO? That’s because there aren’t any. A logo has a huge impact on how your customers perceive your brand. Of course you want your logo to stand out. But how do you get there?
Don’t worry! This handy guide will teach you everything you need to know to design the perfect logo for you and your business. Read on to learn how to design a logo, from defining your brand identity and understanding what makes a great logo to making the right design decisions and navigating the design process.
Reading: How to create a cool product logo
Here are the main steps to designing a logo:-
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- Understand why you need a logo
- Define your brand identity
- Find inspiration for your design
- Look at the competition
- Choose your design style
- Find the right kind of logo
- Mind the color
- Choose the right typography
- Communicate with your designer
- Evaluate your logo options
- What not to do when designing a logo
- Integrate your logo design with your brand
1. Understand why you need a logo. And why it has to be great. —
Business really is like dating – you try to attract the right customers and make them fall head over heels in love with your brand. So think of your logo as the picture on your dating profile. It will get people interested and trying to find out more about you (or swipe left because you’re not for them). So you want to look good, right?
Your logo will have a big impact on the first impression your business will make: it will give your customers information about your brand and let them know if it’s the Fall is for them.
Because your logo is such an integral part of your brand, you want to make sure it’s done well. All of your branding materials will feature your logo. It will stare at your customers from your website, packaging, and business cards. Make it count! A great, professional logo design not only has the power to communicate what you stand for. It also makes a good first impression and helps you stand out from the competition.
2. Define your brand identity
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You want your logo to communicate your brand’s personality. And to do that, you must first understand what the core personality of your brand is. Once you have a clear idea of what makes you unique and what your brand is about, it will be much easier for you to make design decisions that complement and complete that image.
Here are some questions that you can answer To get to the bottom of your brand identity, ask yourself:
- Why did we start this company?
- What beliefs and values are important to us company?
- What do we do better than everyone else?
- What makes us special?
- If we could describe our brand in three words, what would they be ?
- What three words should our customers use to describe us?
3. Find inspiration for your design
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The hardest part of the design process can be finding logo inspiration. Luckily we have some tips for you that will make it really easy.
Start with a brainstorm
Perhaps you are a conceptual person and like to start collecting verbal ideas. A proper brainstorming session may be just what you need to set the look and feel you want to achieve. Here are three steps that will help you come up with the best creative logo ideas:
1. Follow the rules of brainstorming: Brainstorming is all about coming up with all the ideas (even the really bad ones) and writing them down. Even a terrible idea can spark a conversation that leads to an ingenious solution.
2. Think like your audience: Make a list of words that describe your brand and how you want it to be perceived. Think like a person in your target audience and always think about what would be important to them.
3. Get everyone involved: A one-person brainstorm is fine, but only diversity will do the magic.Bring in people from all departments or even friends and business partners. The more perspectives, the better.
Have a question? Ask our team.
When it comes to brainstorming your logo, don’t be afraid to think outside the box and be a little different. See how logos like those for Crypto Caveman and Sweet Trip combine ideas you wouldn’t necessarily associate together — like cryptocurrencies and caveman, or a honey bee and a pin on a map? These original logos help them express character and stand out from the crowd.
Create a mood board
If you’re a visual person, a mood board might be the perfect tool for inspiration permit. You can create an actual board by cutting and pinning printed images, or create a digital one (Pinterest would be the obvious choice here). Just collect all the images that you feel attracted to – they can be different logos, color combinations, illustrations or graphics, go wild! You’ll see, in no time at all, your mood board will reflect what style and design traits you’re drawn to. Need a good starting point? We encourage you to check out the 99designs logo inspiration gallery.
Think about how your company can be visualized in your logo. Simply Rooted is all about local, no-nonsense food and their vintage logo reflects that perfectly with hand-drawn root vegetables. If you’re aiming for a similar aesthetic, your mood board could include images of vintage logos, handcrafted illustrations, and organic shapes and colors. Or see how the Rugged logo visualizes its “rugged” brand identity in a bold and rugged looking wordmark, but still incorporates a luxe vibe with a reflective gold effect. Your mood board gives you the opportunity to bring all these elements together.
4. Check out the competition
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Best place to borrow ideas? your competition! Take a look at what’s already out there, what’s resonating with your audience, and what to avoid. As you stalk these other companies, think about what makes them different from you and how you can highlight those differences in your logo design.
Make sure you clearly differentiate yourself from your competition. If all other companies in your industry are going mono, you might want to opt for some color to stand out. When everyone else is traditional, maybe a fun and modern logo will grab attention.
Check out the three accountant logos above and how they communicate their brand personality. The lion logo for Orthrus Ventures is classic and reliable, while the Tidy Finance logo looks modern and cool. However, if you’re looking for fun and accessibility, take inspiration from Hot Toast with its bright colors and whimsical illustrations.
5. Choose your design style
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Now that you have a clear idea of your brand and are feeling inspired, it’s time to translate that into design. This is where many different elements come into play, from colors, shapes, and graphics to typography. By isolating each component and their impact on your logo, you can take things one step at a time instead of getting overwhelmed with the whole design at once.
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When you think of your logo, the first thing is , what you want Choose the right design aesthetic for your brand. There is no one style that fits everyone, only the best for your brand.
Classic
Trendy logos can be fun and exciting, but they can quickly look outdated. A classic style gives you better staying power and can help you reach a wider audience. This aesthetic keeps it simple and doesn’t venture into crazy color palettes, graphics, or fonts. A classic style shows people that you are reliable and down to earth.
Retro or vintage
It’s no coincidence that vintage and retro designs have been trendy for some time now. They immediately evoke the past and evoke romantic nostalgic feelings. A vintage logo shows customers that you care about history and that everything you sell is done right. Distressed and hand-illustrated logos in brown and beige color palettes complement this aesthetic beautifully.
Modern and minimalist
Brands often choose you a clean and minimal style to communicate how fresh and modern they are.This style uses lots of white space, minimal detail and simple lines, often resulting in sleek stripped down logos.A minimalist and modern style shows your customers that your brand is current, cool and knows what is important.
Fun and whimsical
This is a popular choice for brands with a young (or young at heart) target customer, a fun and quirky one His style tends to be colorful and cute, often using symbols or illustrations to create a positive and friendly atmosphere. Opt for a whimsical mascot or cute illustration to let your brand’s fun personality shine through.
Handmade and handcrafted
Handcrafted style conveys a clear message: This brand is individualistic and stands for handmade quality. The style works well in combination with other aesthetics like vintage to really get the message across. But it can also be combined with minimalist and fun styles for a simple and sophisticated or a bright and youthful look.
Can’t you just pick one?
These styles, of course are not mutually exclusive: simply combine them to suit your brand. For example, your brand can be crafty and fun at the same time, just look how the quirky illustrated logo for The Crafting Cactus does it.
6. Find the Right Logo Type
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In addition to the general style, there are 7 main types of logos to choose from when creating your logo. You can choose the one that best fits your business name or overall aesthetic, or mix and match them to create something unique.
Lettermarks (or Monogram Logos)
Lettermark Logos are excellent for optimizing your company logo, especially if your name is very long or difficult to remember. Many companies choose their initials, just think of HP, CNN or H&M. These monograms can be great for minimalistic logos, but remember they’re not very good at expressing what your business is about.
Wordmarks (or logos)
Are wordmarks a very easy way to use your company name as a logo. Giving them personality and recognition is all about typography – just look at the wordmark logo for ONE. If you have a great name for your brand, this could be the perfect way to showcase it.
figurative marks (or logo symbols)
figurative marks or logo symbols are what what we think of when we hear the word “logo”. They are iconographic images that are easily recognizable and represent your brand with an image. You can choose something simpler or more complex, but make sure you choose an icon that creates a unique connection to your brand. Often these are paired with a word mark (you know, so customers know your name…at least until you’re on par with Apple and Target in terms of brand awareness).
Abstract logo marks
Instead A recognizable symbol, abstract logos are geometric shapes that don’t create an immediate connection to an existing image, but instead create something entirely new for your brand. An abstract logo condenses your business into an icon that is truly unique to you. The logo for Printy shows how modern an abstract symbol can look while still having a lot of personality. If you want your abstract logo to evoke a specific mood or emotion, find out the meaning of different logo geometric shapes.
Mascot
Mascot logos are a fun way to represent your Brand a face to give personality. It is often colorful cartoon characters that present your company in a family-friendly and approachable way. To learn more about the pros and cons of mascot logos, watch the video below.
Combination Character
A combination character does just that , what it should say on the can: It combines a symbol with a word mark into an easily recognizable logo. The brand name is either placed next to the icon or integrated into the graphic element, as designer ludibes demonstrates with the Brite Side logo. People will associate both elements with your brand, allowing you to use them both alone or together.
Emblem
Similar to combination marks, emblem logos are often one as well Combination of word and picture elements.They usually consist of text embedded in a symbol or icon, such as B. badges, seals or coats of arms. The Rockwell Lighthouse emblem shows how these traditional shapes can give you a very vintage and classic look.
7. Pay attention to the color
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Colors can have many different meanings. The psychology behind color is complex, but in short, colors are associated with specific emotions and ideas. To learn more about color theory, be sure to read this in-depth guide on logo colors and what they mean.
- Red: Red represents excitement, passion, and anger. It’s a great choice if your brand is loud and youthful and wants to stand out.
- Orange: Orange is used a lot less than red, but is just as energetic. This is a vibrant, uplifting and playful color.
- Yellow: If you want to appear approachable and friendly, yellow is the right choice. It exudes a happy, affordable and youthful energy.
- Green: Green is extremely versatile and can really work for any brand. It’s especially perfect for anyone looking to connect with nature.
- Blue: Blue is a very classic and common choice. Calming and cool, it symbolizes trustworthiness and maturity.
- Purple: Purple can be your ticket to a luxurious look. Depending on the shade, purple can be mysterious, eclectic or feminine.
- Pink: If you like it girly, nothing goes better than pink. But that’s not all! With hues like pastel pink, millennial pink, or neon magenta, pink can give your logo a grown-up and cool, yet youthful and feminine look.
- Brown: Brown may sound like at first an odd color choice, but it works perfectly for rugged and masculine vintage logos. It can bring a handmade, unique and aged look to your brand.
- Black: If you are looking for an elegant, modern and luxurious look, black is a good choice. A minimalist black and white logo is the right choice if you want to keep it simple.
- White: Want your logo to look clean, modern, and minimal? Use lots of white in your logo. As a neutral color it works in combination with all other colors but adds a clean, youthful and economical touch.
- Grey: Gray is the ultimate color when you have a mature, classic and serious look. Darker shades are more mysterious, while lighter shades are more approachable.
Combine colors
Of course, you don’t have to stick with a monochrome logo in just one Color, but you can combine multiple logo colors to tell a complete brand color story. To choose colors that go well together, take a look at the color wheel.
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- Complementary colors are directly opposite each other on the color wheel. They bring out both colors optimally and create a very dynamic look.
- Analogous colors fall close together on the wheel. If you want your logo colors to be harmonious, these work well together.
- Triadic colors refer to three equal sections on the color wheel. Choose these for a stimulating and powerful effect.
8. Choose the right typography
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You want to choose a font that complements and completes your logo. There are 4 basic types of fonts that you can work with to give your logo a unique look:
Serif Fonts
See how the font makes the Avalon logo look fancy and gives it a timeless look? Serif fonts can make your logo look classy and premium. Serifs are the little “feet” at the end of the letter, which makes them look a little more dated. They’re very versatile and look great with any type of design, but work especially well with vintage, elegant, or classic designs.
Sans serif fonts
Sans serif fonts are perfect for a modern one and clean look. They don’t have the little feet that serif fonts have, making them look very elegant and simple. This works great for modern brands, like the minimal and cool Delta Salt logo above.
Fonts
Fonts resemble handwriting. From elegant calligraphic fonts to laid-back and down-to-earth typefaces, there is a huge variety. Use them to make your logo look more custom, like the Moon Rabbit logo above.
Display fonts
Display fonts are decorative fonts that are highly stylized and real catch the eye. Check out the Perfect You logo above, which uses a display font to give the design a fun 70’s vibe.
Your typography can become really powerful when you mix and match different logo fonts combine. Find out how to choose fonts for your brand in this guide.
Bring Your Design Elements Together
Now that you have an idea of all the different elements that make up your logo, you need to make sure they work together. You should combine them in a harmonious way to create the desired mood.
The logo of the skin care brand Voany leaves no doubt that it is an elegant, high-end, natural combination brand in an organic form , a classic serif font and a natural brown and beige color palette. Reflect Academy, on the other hand, looks bold and eye-catching by combining a modern font with colorful and abstract shapes for a fresh and unique look.
9. Communicate with your designer
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Now that you’ve got everything covered have the necessary style points, you can start designing! There are many ways to get a logo, so you should consider which one suits you best. Agency, logo contest, 1-to-1 project or logo maker? Different prices come with different qualities, and all options have their pros and cons. For a good overview of your options for getting a logo, check out this comparison of the best ways to design a logo. Read more about how much your logo design should cost here.
We may be biased, but we believe a logo design contest is the best way to get a logo. To ensure your design comes out perfect, the first rule when working with your designer is to communicate clearly. Writing a clear creative brief is your chance to show your designer who you are and what you need. Make sure you give them as much information as possible about your business and style so they can create something truly unique for you.
Sometimes it may take a little trust in your designer, but try you it. Remain open to suggestions. Remember that your designer is an expert and has a good grasp of what makes a good logo. Lots of detailed and clear feedback gives designers an understanding of what you like. It may sound cheesy, but it’s true: the best design comes when you and your designer work together.
10. Rate your options
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Rating Your logo options can be difficult, so get feedback from friends, potential clients, and colleagues to help you make a decision.
What makes a good logo?
A good one Logo is instantly recognizable, reflects your brand’s message and makes you stand out. An effective logo looks professional and fits seamlessly into a brand’s identity. A great logo also needs to work at any size and anywhere you want to use your logo.
A good logo:
- is unique and distinctive
- is memorable
- works at any size, anywhere
- reflects your brand identity
- is timeless
But like a make a good logo? Here are some general questions to ask yourself when evaluating your logo options:
- Can you tell what it is in 2 seconds? Will people instantly know what your business does?
- Is it simple and memorable? Will your customers remember it?
- Is it versatile? Can it be applied to all your brand needs?
- Is it timeless or will you need to redesign it in a few years?
- Is it unique? Does it set you apart from your competitors?
- Does it appeal to your target audience?
Of course, your brand’s needs and expectations of a logo are very different when you sell children’s clothing and need a simple logo that can be embroidered on fabric, like making sophisticated high-end wine with a complicated label, or a high-tech app that lives on people’s phones. So don’t forget to step back and look at the big picture as you design your logo. This isn’t about personal taste, it’s about what works best for your brand.
11. What not to do when designing a logo
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There are some common pitfalls that await you when designing your logo. Here are some tips on what not to do:
- Don’t give in to your industry stereotypes. Are you a dentist, so your logo needs to contain a tooth? Definitely not. Here’s how to avoid generic logos.
- Don’t overcomplicate it. Simplicity is key for a memorable (and printable) logo.
- Don’t try to be too trendy. Trends are awesome, but make sure your logo doesn’t look outdated in three years.
- Don’t settle for a low-quality logo just to save a few bucks.You can’t skimp on your logo and often you get what you pay for.
12. Integrate Your Logo Design With Your Brand —
Now that you know how to design a logo, what’s next?
Once you have your logo, you have the ideal base created the branding material for everything your company needs – whether it’s business cards, packaging design or web design. By setting the tone for your style, color palette, font, and overall look and feel, your logo is the starting point for your brand security, and your designer can create a seamless look for you. And your business is ready to show the world its brand new face!
This article was originally published in 2017. It has been updated with new information and examples.
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