The Do’s And Don’ts Of Professional Logo Design

Creating a memorable, timeless business logo involves acknowledging a number of important design concepts. To be clear, these are not rules. Instead, they are guidelines that will help carry a logo beyond the brainstorming phase to the point that it accomplishes the goal for which it is created.

Your business graphics have to be instantly recognizable, and have the ability to infuse trust in your market. It should be adaptable and timeless, surviving the myriad design fads that come and go every couple of years. Your logo should also communicate your company’s authority in its industry. In short, your brand mark identifies your business. In a way, it is your company’s signature. Its purpose is not to describe your business; it symbolizes it.

The following paragraphs will provide a rapid series of the most crucial do’s and don’ts of logo design. As noted, the following are merely recommendations.

Do Simplify The Art

Simple logos are more effective. They are more remarkable because there is less detail to muddy their impact. A simple mark pushes one particular focus; it communicates just one overriding message. For example, consider the artwork used by McDonald’s. It conveys a single idea, and it is immediately identifiable around the world.

One common blunder involving beginning designers is to think complexness is what pushes effectiveness. In actuality, the opposite is usually the case.

Don’t make use of Needless Special Effects

Effects, such as gradients, bevels, and drop shadows, are rarely needed. Typically, they’re used to make up for something that is missing from the design. It can make your logo look even worse if you try to create collateral, like sticker printing. It’s a means for prettifying graphics when simpleness reveals major omissions. As an example, if a design seems to lack memorability, including special effects is performed as an attempt to counterbalance the deficiency.

Stay away from doing this. If a simple logo design is not able to stand on its own feet, effects won’t save it.

Do Research On The Industry And The Competitors

Learn about the usage of logos in the industry you serve. You’ll notice trends that other businesses adhere. As an example, the financial industry is filled with corporate style artwork which is created to infuse trust in clients. Blue is usually utilized to project authority and security.

Look at market trends, the evolution of products and services in your industry, and the growth of your competition. This info should be part of the brainstorming phase of your logo design.

Don’t make use of Stock Art

Using clip art or stock art aquired online opens the door to many problems. First, if the art can be obtained free of charge, expect to see it show up in many designs. Second, some stock art cannot be used for commercial purposes. Or, it may be copyrighted or trademarked. In the event you include it within your logo, you maybe forced to get rid of it later – after spending money printing the mark on your stationary and advertising collateral.

It’s fine to make use of stock art as a point of reference from which you make a special image. But don’t simply duplicate it.

Do Strive For Uniqueness

This comes after the earlier point. Your logo should be unlike any other design. It should be exclusive to be able to achieve its goal. When individuals see your logo, they should not be reminded of another company or organization. Instead, your brand name mark should immediately bring about recognition for your business.

This is a primary reason small businesses should stay away from the free logo generators located online. They do nothing more than supplant your company name template. Consequently, the final design is comparable to thousands created before it.

Don’t Use More Than Two Typefaces

If at all possible, use a single typeface for any text included in your design. The more fonts you use, the more confusion you’ll introduce into your artwork. This enhances the risk of causing a detachment in your audience. One font is ideal; two is the limit.

As mentioned earlier, the do’s and don’ts above represent guidelines, not rules. When you have a compelling cause to disregard them, do so. Realize, however, that successful logos rarely wander far from them.

 

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Saturday, April 2nd, 2011 Advertising