When you think of top brands like Apple, Nike, KFC, what images pop up in your mind? Naturally, the products must be most of them, but do you also think of their logos? Chances are, you do.
A logo is the face of a brand. It’s the most powerful visual asset that the fans and followers remember the companies with. Naturally, if you want to take your business to the next level, then you need to start building a brand through a unique and attractive logo. And what’s a better way to get it done than creating it yourself.
Guide to Designing the Perfect Logo
To create the perfect logo for your company, just follow these steps:
1. Set Clear Goals
Before you get started, you need to get your priorities right. In other words, you must ask yourself- “Why do I need a logo?”. You should have a clear answer to this question as that will create the foundation of your goals, and unless you have a clear and ambitious goal, you can’t create the perfect logo.
2. Identify the Attributes that Make You Special
To establish yourself as a brand in the industry, you need to identify the qualities and features that help you stand out from the rest. By incorporating these elements into the design, you can make your logo special and unique, and also show the world what you are all about.
The following are some of the questions that you can ask yourself to establish your brand identity:
- What makes our products/services better than others in the market?
- Why do our customers love us?
- What kind of brand voice do we have?
- What are the three words that can sum up our brand?
3. Check Out Other Designs
Without prior experience with graphic design, and maybe even when you do, you need the inspiration to get started. Otherwise, starting from scratch can make your job more challenging than it should be.
There is no dearth of websites where you can find vintage and modern logo designs to get your creative juices flowing. For instance, the following are some of the best resources that you can consider:
- Brand New:A product of Under Consideration that provides constructive feedback for corporate branding jobs, Brand New offers updates on the latest logo design trends and premium designs that you can draw inspiration from.
- LogoLounge: LogoLounge can be your go-to website for checking out some of the most attractive logos on the Internet. It has over whopping 175,000 logos to give you insights about designing a perfect logo. You also get tons of information on discussion, research, and inspiration about trending design techniques.
- Logo Pond:LogoPond showcases top logos created by skilled artists from around the world. You can find thousands of creative designs here and you can even upload your own works for others to see.
Study Your Rivals
There are many advantages of knowing your competition. For instance, you can learn about the things that make your rivals so popular and successful. You can also check out their logos in detail to get ideas and to also avoid creating designs that look similar to theirs.
5. Pick Your Style
A company logo can have any of the styles discussed below:
Monogram Logo
Monogram logos or lettermark logos are logos that are based on the initials of brands. Two good examples of this category are HP and HBO which stand for Hewlett Packard and Home Box Office, respectively. Although many people know the full form of the abbreviations, most people recognize the brands by their initials i.e. the logos. The reason is simple- the initials here are easier to remember than the full names.
Brandmark Logo
Brandmark logos are incredibly popular. As the name suggests, these are based on “brand mark” or “pictorial mark” with some of the examples for your consideration including Apple, Pepsi, Target, etc.
If you are picking brandmark for your logo design, then you need to be extremely careful about the imagery. If it’s not unique and attractive enough, then the logo can defeat its purpose rather easily.
Wordmark Logo
Wordmark logos are logos that mostly comprise words. Good examples include Google, Sony, FedEx, etc. Since these logos are mainly focused on the lettering, you must choose the typography and fonts carefully. Of course, you can study some examples of the best modern fontsthat you can use for your logo if you decide to go with it.
6. Use the Right Colours
You may have your favorite colors; most people do. However, when it comes to professional graphic design, then you have to choose the colors carefully. This is because each color represents certain kinds of emotions and attributes. For instance, if you pick red as the primary color for your logo, then you will tell the people that your brand is all about “enthusiasm, passion, and energy”. In the same way, if you will pick black as the primary color for your logo, then you will say that your brand is all about “authority, boldness, and elegance”.
Skilled graphic designers worth their salt understand the psychology of colors in company logos. In fact, the same is an important subject that every professional must have a good idea about to create the best designs. Since you aren’t a professional yourself, it’s best to at least study the concept in detail before you get started.
Better Options?
If at this point you are wondering that logo design is a difficult task, then you aren’t the only one. Creating a one-of-a-kind logo that also encapsulates your brand’s personality and identity takes time and energy, and although there are easier ways to create a logowhich comprise online logo makers, it’s a good idea to try designing the logo yourself first. This is because it will teach you the basics of graphic design and make it easier to create the perfect logo even when you use an online program or take help from a freelancer logo designer.
