Author: Bob Apr 15, 2018 6 min read
If you ever thought that designing a professional logo that gives out the meaning to any brand is a simple task, then you are mistaken. Most customers develop their perception of a given company and its products or services from the logo. Logo design, in its turn, involves having a complete mastery of several factors that make a great logo ranging from the aesthetics to the right image. This article offers several tips for designing logos.
It takes a combination of different elements – color, images, icons, and texts, to create a great logo for any individual, business, or company. It can be challenging to put all these aspects together. However, with the following tips for designing a logo, you will find it easy to design a logo that leaves a lasting impression on the target audience.
Who is the target audience for your logo? Understanding the audience of your logo is the first thing that you should think about when designing it. This gives you a feel of what the customers are looking for and hence, helps you meet their needs in your design. As you think about the audience, it is important to evaluate the company’s competitors, its products, and line of business. The best logo designs should have a competitive element, as well as help customers remember the specific company’s products.
One of the mistakes that most designers do is the thought that a logo is a just a simple image to signify a given company. It is more than that. A logo introduces a particular brand to potential customers. For this reason, as you design a logo, you must keep the target audience in mind. You can start by brainstorming your perception of the brand and try to come up with an image that bears the ideology of the brand. A deeper meaning of the brand, as opposed to the aesthetics, will help you create a logo that tells a story.
Do not have a closed mind as you design any logo. Find a few inspirations online and try to compare what other designers have with what you came up with upon brainstorming. However, it is important to avoid creating logos that are similar to others available elsewhere – besides a damage to your reputation, you may also face legal problems because of plagiarism.
Colors have different meanings. Before you use any color in your logo, you should make sure that it aligns with the message you want to pass. The best colors to use in a logo should be the ones that add context and life to any image. However, do not just include any colors in your logo without considering the application as well as the purpose of the logo.
Here is an overview of how to use different colors in logo design:
Technology has led to the evolution of different aspects and so is the design and graphics sector. The tips for designing a business logo that you could use five years ago might not be applicable or trendy presently. It is advisable, therefore, to understand the trends as far as logo design fads are concerned. Keeping updated on the trends will help you avoid using the same old signs when designing your logo.
If you are designing a logo for someone, getting them involved from the start helps you create a customized logo and the one that matches their tastes and preferences. In most of the cases, the client has a vision of what their logos should look like. However, as you get ideas from them, make sure that you advise them accordingly. Remember that you are the professional here and you need to tell them what works best when it comes to designing a logo that is meant to impress the customers.
The typeface that you use on the logo matters a lot as far as the appearance and the impression of the logo is concerned. Gimmicky fonts are not ideal for a logo since they do not contribute to a unique appearance. The best fonts are those that align with the brand. However, do not focus on making the logo more fashionable lest it gets outdated.
One of the most important tips for designing your own logo is to focus on its balance and harmony. The implication of this statement is that the logo and text elements should be clear and readable even when the logo is viewed in its minimum size. It is always important to test the proportions of the logo in all sizes. In addition, do not forget to assess the logo’s appearance in a single color. This would help you establish what placement works best for what color and type of logo.
Designing an effective logo is involving and takes an appropriate combination of the right skill and experience. If you are thinking of designing a new logo, the above tips offer you a great starting point. One of the most important tips for designing company logo, or your own logo, is to have a clear understanding of the target audience, the brand, competitors, and the meaning of colors. With such an approach, you will be able to create a logo that makes a lasting impression on anyone who comes across it. If you are not aware how to go about your logo design, make sure that you involve an expert.
