10 Tips on How to Design a Logo

Guide to designing Successful Logo Design

10 Tips on How to Design a Logo. Logos are an essential part of the branding of your company. But there is much more than meets the eye when it comes to the design of these small and simple graphics. Logos must communicate positively and instantly with those who see them; they form part of that all-important first impression. So what makes a successful logo? This article shares ten tips for a winning logo that will deliver results.

Choose your colours very carefully

A logo should not have too many colours (never more than four) and it must be able to work in black and white. It is also useful if a logo maintains its integrity when the colours are inverted. Consider the added costs of printing in many colours. Producing a first design draft in black and white only, then adding colour at a later stage is a good way to create a logo which is versatile in colour.

Use original artwork

Investing in decent, original art work is a must. A professional logo designer will never use clipart so that your company is never at risk of having the same logo as another.

Simplicity is key

Complicated detailing in logo design is unnecessary because logos tend to be printed quite small at the top of your headed paper or on your business card. Detail gets lost while simple, eye-catching designs make an impact and can be reproduced easily and cost-effectively.

Choose the right font

A good logo designer will know which fonts are appropriate to an organisation, an audience, and a logo itself. Never use more than two fonts in a logo, otherwise the branding will become confused. It’s also a good idea to stay away from generic, easily recognised fonts.

Be timeless, not trendy

Logos should be able to stand the test of time. Don’t pander to trends in logo design which may look out-of-date and old-fashioned in a few years’ time. A good logo will appeal for decades. Think Coca-Cola or Nike.

Be appropriate to the audience

It should go without saying that a logo must be suited to its audience, but we’ll say it anyway. Colour, graphics, fonts. Everything must appeal to the target demographic of the organisation or product.

Be memorable

A good logo makes a visual impact and stays in the memory of those who see it. Simple, striking logos are more easily remembered, and your brand along with it. It also follows that the more often your logo is out there, the more it will be seen and build your brand. Ensure that everything which leaves your office is emblazoned with your logo, whether it’s headed paper, plastic bags, brochures, leaflets, pens, cups, promotional materials… even company cars.

Consider the aspect ratio of your logo

It is incredibly important to get the aspect ratio of your logo correct. Your logo must be able to fit well onto letterheads, business cards and all your materials. Ideally the graphics and text which make up your logo should fit within a square box or be a manageable rectangular.

Use vector graphics for high quality images

Logos should be made in vector graphics software such as Adobe Illustrator or Corel Draw, which ensure exact points across sizing. Raster or bitmap graphics are made from pixels and increasing the size of the image can result in a pixelated image. Not what you want in your logo. A professional logo should be reproducible at high quality in all sizes.

Use a professional logo designer

Your logo may well be the first image which a possible customer connects with your company. It needs to tell the right message because first impressions are lasting. Avoid amateur logo designers and make sure you use a professional who can show you a portfolio of work which you are happy with and discuss the design process.

Think about how much money you are willing to invest in your logo. Ultimately a cheap logo will make your organization look amateurish, so go with a professional logo designer such as Rak Design.