Points for Logo Design
Understanding the importance of the logo and what it represents is absolutely paramount to the design process. It is more than just a mark – it is a reflection of a company’s brand through a combination of colours, typefaces, shapes/ images. It serves a great purpose in the branding strategy. It seeks to establish trust and build recognition for the product and service the company offers. This is why it is so important to know the rules of effective logo design and what principles must be applied to bring out the best qualities in your brand through the symbol you create.
What are the important principles within logo design?
- Describable – it must be able to summarize your brands values and mission
- Effective in color and monochrome – your logo must look eye catching with or without colour
- Memorable – the logo you create must be distinctive and original, making it easier for the consumer to remember
- Scalable – the logo must adapt to various platforms so will need to keep the same quality even when the size changes
Seeing what good resources are out there is a great idea. For example Logo Factory has some great tips on the essential rules of logo design. Even when you don’t know the rules, it is easy to distinguish a good logo from a bad one. Learning from the good examples as well as the bad is crucial if you are to create a successful design that connects to the right audience. Thinking about what makes a great logo design, check out sites such as Logo Pond which have a selection of great logos on display. Also purchasing some cheap eBooks on Amazon or going to your local library is a good idea so you can get clued up on the ins and outs of logo design.
The Process Itself
Some are surprised that so much work has to go into something so small. It often takes a lot of research and careful thought to design a logo that works well and is in line with the business’s values. When you are preparing to begin, it is essential that you have laid the ground rules for your design process and follow them strictly. They do not have to be the same as the steps below, this is just a general guideline that is often used within the industry –
- Looking into the creative brief from the client
- Researching and brainstorm ideas
- Start sketching
- Create the prototype and final concepts
- Send to the client and await feedback
- Redraft and make any final touches
- Send over all files to the client.
Once you are competent with design software such as Adobe Illustrator, you will be able to confidently navigate the program and make the most out of it. Really knowing the software is very important so it is worth watching some YouTube tutorials and getting a bit of training from experts. For logo designers, Adobe Creative Suite is a very popular choice. After you have produced a range of sketches and initial ideas, getting your digital logo is the next most important thing you will do. After you have made your contents digital, you can send it to your client and await a review. Remember, brands like it when you have really thought about the story behind the logo and justify why you have made the design choices you have made. They are investing money and trust in your skills to handle their reputation, so giving them confidence that your logo will work and achieve certain goals is very important.
