Have you ever seen a big brand without a logo? No? That’s because there isn’t one. A logo has a huge impact on how your customers will perceive your brand. So naturally, you want your logo to be exceptional, don’t you? The question is, how do we achieve this?
Don’t worry. In this guide we teach you everything you need to know to design the perfect logo for your brand or company. From defining your brand identity and understanding what makes a great logo, to making the right design decisions and navigating the design process.
Read on and discover all the secrets behind designing a logo that your clients will love.
1- Understand why you need designing a logo
Business is like dating: it’s all about attracting the right customers and making them fall head over heels in love with your brand. Think of your logo as your dating profile picture. It’s what’s going to get people interested and trying to find out more about you (or sliding to the left because you’re not for them). So you want to look your best, right?
Your logo will have a big impact on the first impression customers have of your brand: It will give them information about your brand and let them know if it’s what they’re looking for.
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Since your logo is such an essential part of your brand, you need to make sure it is well designed. All your branded materials will carry your logo. It will be directed to your customers from your website, packaging or your business cards. Make sure it grabs attention right from the start.
An excellent, professional logo design not only has the power to communicate what your brand stands for. It will also make a good first impression and help you differentiate yourself from the competition.
2- Define your brand identity
You want your logo to communicate your brand’s personality. And to do that, you first need to understand what your brand’s core personality is. Once you have a clear idea of what makes you unique and what your brand stands for, it will be much easier for you to make design decisions that complement and complete that image.
Here are a few questions you can ask yourself to get to the bottom of your brand identity:
- Why did we start this business?
- What beliefs and values are important to us as a company?
- What do we do better than anyone else?
- What makes us special?
- If we could describe our brand in three words, what would they be?
- What are three words we would like our customers to use to describe us?
3- Find inspiration for your logo
The hardest part of the design process can be finding inspiration for your logo. Luckily, we have some tips for you that will make this task easier.
Start brainstorming to designing a logo
Maybe you are a conceptual person and like to start by collecting verbal ideas. A good brainstorming session may be just what you need to define the look and feel you want to achieve. Here are three steps that will help you come up with the best creative ideas for your brand logo:
1-Follow the rules of brainstorming: Brainstorming is about getting all your ideas (even the really bad ones) out there and writing them down. Even a horrible idea can spark a conversation that leads to a great solution
2-Think like your audience: Make a list of words that describe your brand and how you want it to be perceived. Think like a person in your target demographic and always remember what would be important to them.
3-Make everyone participate: A one-person brainstorm is fine, but only diversity will make the magic happen. Involve people from all departments or even friends and business partners. The more perspectives, the better.
Mood board (Mood board)
If you are a visual person, a mood board can be the perfect tool to inspire you. You can create an actual board by cutting out and pinning printed images or make a digital one (Pinterest would be the obvious choice in this case).
Simply collect all the images that appeal to you: it could be other logos, colour combinations, illustrations or graphics, just go with it! You’ll find that your idea board will reflect the style and design features that appeal to you in no time at all.
Need a good starting point? We suggest you take a look at Pinterest, undoubtedly one of the best places to look for inspiration if you’re into graphic design, drawing, art, tattoos or fine art.
4- Take a look at your competition
The best place to get ideas? The competition. Check out what already exists, what works well with your audience and what you should avoid. As you look at those other companies, think about what differentiates them from your brand and how you can emphasise those differences in your logo design.
Make sure you clearly differentiate yourself from your competition. If all the companies in your industry are monochrome, you may need to opt for some colour to stand out. If everyone else is traditional, perhaps a fun, modern logo will attract attention.