How to make a logo for your company?

The first thing to make a logo for your company is to be clear that it generates a visual impact not only to differentiate you, but also in how your audience perceives you, that is why we will always want an original logo.

There is no brand without a logo, so today we will show you how to make a logo for your company that is perfect, from choosing the right design to the process of defining the color and font.

Steps to design a logo for your company

1. Understand why you need 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 about that making the logo for your company is what is going to make people interested, it’s basically your company’s profile picture on a dating website… it must be chosen to conquer and others want to know more.

Your logo will have a big impact on the first impression your business will make: It will give your customers information about your brand and let them know if it is right for them.

Because the logo is such an essential part of your brand, you need to make sure it’s done well. All of your branded materials will carry your logo. It will be directed to your customers from your website, your packaging and your business cards. Make it count.

A great, professional logo design not only has the power to communicate what you stand for. It will also make a good first impression and help you stand out from the competition.

2. Define your brand identity

You want your logo to communicate your brand’s personality, and that’s what we all want. To start, you need to understand what your brand’s core personality is. Once you have a clear idea of what makes it unique and what your brand is all about, it will be much easier to make design decisions that complement and complete that image.

Here are some questions you can ask yourself to get to the bottom of your brand identity:

• why did I start this business?
• what are the beliefs and values that are important 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 the three words we would like our customers to use to describe us?

3. Find inspiration for your design

The hardest part of the process of making a logo for your company can be finding inspiration, luckily, we have some tips for you that will make it very easy.

Start with brainstorming.

Maybe you are a conceptual person and you like to start 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 logo:

• Follow the rules of brainstorming: Brainstorming is about getting all your ideas (even the really bad ones) out and writing them down. Even a horrible idea can spark a conversation that leads to a great solution.

• 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.

• Get everyone involved: A one-person brainstorm is fine, but only diversity will make the magic happen. Get people from all departments or even friends and business partners to participate. The more perspectives, the better.

When thinking about your logo, don’t be afraid to step outside the norm and be a little different. Original logo choices allow you to express your character and make you stand out from the crowd.

Make a bulletin board.

If you’re a visual person, an idea 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 (for example, on Pinterest). Simply collect all the images that appeal to you: it can be other logos, color schemes, illustrations or graphics, go for it! You’ll find that your idea board will reflect the style and design features that appeal to you in the blink of an eye.

Think about how your business can be visualized in your logo. Your mood board gives you the opportunity to bring all these elements together.

4. Look at the competition

Check what already exists, what works well with your audience and what you should avoid, you can analyze what your competition offers… and while you are stalking those other companies, think about what differentiates your company and how you can emphasize those differences in your logo design. Make sure you clearly differentiate yourself from your competition. For example, if all the companies in your industry are monochromatic, opt for something colorful to stand out. If everyone else is traditional, perhaps a fun, modern logo will attract attention.

5. Choose your design style

Now that you have a clear idea of your brand and feel inspired, it’s time to start creating a logo for your company. Many different elements come into play here, from colors, shapes and graphics to typography. Isolating each component and what it can do for your logo will help you take it one step at a time, rather than overwhelming you with the entire design all at once.

When thinking about your logo, the first thing you should do is choose the right design aesthetic for your brand. There is no one style that is right for everyone, just what is best for your brand.

Classic

Trendy logos can be fun and exciting, but they can quickly look dated. A classic style gives you more staying power and can help you reach a wider audience. This aesthetic keeps it simple and doesn’t venture into crazy color palettes, graphics or fonts. A classic style tells people that you are reliable and down to earth.

Retro or vintage

There’s a reason why vintage and retro designs have been in vogue for a while now. They instantly recall the past and evoke romantic feelings of nostalgia. A vintage logo tells customers that history is important to you and that what you sell is well made. Hand-illustrated, worn logos in brown and beige color palettes fit this aesthetic perfectly.

Modern and minimalist

Brands often choose a clean, minimalist style to communicate how fresh and modern they are. This style uses a lot of white space, minimal details and simple lines that often result in sleek, pared-down logos. A minimalist, modern style shows your customers that your brand is up to date, modern and knows what counts.

Fun and quirky

This is a popular choice for brands with a young (or young at heart) target customer. The fun and quirky style tends to be colorful and cute and often uses symbols or illustrations to create a positive, friendly vibe. Choose a whimsical mascot or sweet illustration to let your brand’s fun character shine through.

Handmade and handcrafted

The handmade style conveys a clear message: this brand is individualistic and represents quality craftsmanship. This style works well in combination with other aesthetics, such as vintage, to really get the message across. But it can also be combined with minimalist and fun styles for a simple, sophisticated look or bright and youthful.

can’t choose just one?

Of course, these styles are not mutually exclusive: Just mix and match them to suit your brand. For example, your brand can be crafty and fun at the same time, you just have to find a common ground.

6. Find the right type of logo

There are 7 main types of logos to choose from when creating your logo. You can choose the one that best suits your company name or overall aesthetic, or combine them to create something unique.

Lettermark logos can be a good option to streamline your company logo, especially if your name is very long or hard to remember. Many companies choose to use their initials, such as HP, CNN or H&M. These monograms can be great for minimalist logos, but remember that they are not recommended for expressing what your business is about.

Word marks (or logos)

Word marks are a very simple way to use your company name as a logo. To give them personality and recognition value, they rely on typography. If you have a great name for your brand, this could be the perfect way to bring it to the forefront.

Pictorial mark

Pictorial marks or logo symbols are what we think of when we hear the word “logo”. They are iconographic images that are easily recognizable and represent your brand with an image. You can choose something simple or more complex, but be sure to choose a symbol that creates a unique connection to your brand.

They are often paired with a word mark (you know, so customers know your name…at least until you’re on par with Apple and Target in terms of brand recognition).

Abstract logos

Abstract logos are geometric shapes that don’t make an immediate connection to an existing image, but instead create something entirely new for your brand. An abstract logo mark will condense your business into a symbol that is truly unique to you.

If you want your abstract logo to create a certain mood or feeling, discover the meanings of the different geometric shapes in the logo.

Mascots

Mascot logos are a fun way to give personality to your brand. They are usually colorful, cartoonish characters that represent your company in a familiar and approachable way.

Combination branding

Combine a symbol with a word mark to create an easily recognizable logo. The brand name is placed next to the symbol or integrated into the graphic element. People will associate both elements with your brand, allowing you to use them alone or together.

Emblem

Emblem logos are also usually a combination of verbal and pictorial elements. They usually consist of text integrated with a symbol or icon, such as badges, seals or crests.

7. Pay attention to color

Colors can have a lot of different meanings. The psychology behind color is complex, but long story short, colors have certain emotions and ideas attached to them. If you want to know more about the psychology of color

Color Schemes

Of course, you don’t have to stick to a monochromatic logo that uses only one color, but you can combine several colors of the logo to tell a complete color story of the brand. There are several ways to combine colors:

• Complementary colors are right across from each other on the color wheel. They bring out the best of both colors and create a very dynamic look.
• Analogous colors are placed close to each other on the wheel. If you want your logo colors to be harmonious, they will work well together.
• Triadic colors come from three equal sections of the color wheel. Choose them for a bold, stimulating effect.

8. Choose the right typeface

It is wise to choose a font that complements and completes your logo. There are 4 basic types of fonts you can work with to give your logo a unique look:

Serif fonts

Serif fonts can make your logo look classic and high-end. Serifs are the little “feet” at the end of the letter, which makes them look a little more old-fashioned. They are very versatile and look great with any type of design, but work especially well with vintage, elegant or classic designs.

Sans serif fonts

Sans serif fonts are perfect for a modern, clean look. They don’t have the small feet that serif fonts have, which makes them look very sleek and simple. This works very well for modern branding.

Script Fonts

Script fonts are reminiscent of handwriting. From elegant calligraphic fonts to relaxed and simple ones, there is a wide variety. Use them to give your logo a more individualistic look.

Display fonts

Display fonts are highly stylized decorative fonts that catch the eye and give some fun flair or some definite style.

Your typography can be really powerful when you combine different logo fonts together.

Now that you have an idea of all the elements that make up your logo, you need to make sure they work together. You have to combine them harmoniously to create the mood you are looking for.

9. Communicate with your designer

Now that you have considered all the necessary style points, you are ready to start designing! There are many ways to get a logo for your company, so you should consider which one works best for you – agency, logo contest, 1-to-1 project or logo creator? Different prices come with different qualities and all options have their pros and cons.

To make sure your design comes out perfectly, the first rule of working with your designer is to communicate clearly. Writing a clear creative brief is an opportunity for your designer to understand who you are and what you need. Make sure you give them as much information as possible about your company and your style, so they can create something truly unique for you.

Sometimes you need to trust your designer a little, but try to be open to suggestions. Remember that your designer is an expert and has a great sense of what makes a good logo. Giving lots of detailed and clear feedback is what allows designers to understand what you like. It may sound corny, but it’s true: the best design happens when you and your designer work together.

10. Evaluate your options

Evaluating your logo options can be difficult, so ask for opinions from friends, potential clients and colleagues to help you make a decision.

What makes a good logo?

A good logo is immediately recognizable, reflects your brand message and makes you stand out. An effective logo looks professional and integrates seamlessly into your brand identity. In addition, a good logo should work in any size and in any place where you want to use it.

But how to recognize a good logo? Here are some general questions to ask yourself when evaluating your logo options:

• can you tell what it is in 2 seconds? Will people immediately know what your company does?
• is it simple and easy to remember, and will your customers be able to remember it?
• is it versatile, and can you apply it to all your branding needs?
• is it timeless, or will you have to redesign it in a couple of years?
• is it unique? Does it differentiate you from your competitors?
• does it appeal to your target audience?

Obviously, your brand’s needs and expectations for a logo will be very different if you sell children’s clothing and need a simple logo that can be sewn on fabric than if you have a high-end appliance factory with an intricate label or a high-tech application. So don’t forget to take a step back and consider the big picture while designing your logo. It’s not about personal taste, it’s about what works best for your brand.

11. What not to do when designing a logo

• Don’t give in to the clichés of your industry. Are you a dentist and your logo has to have a tooth in it? Definitely not. Here’s how to avoid generic logos.
• Don’t make it too complicated. Simplicity is the key to a memorable (and printable) logo.
• Don’t try to be too trendy. Trends are great, but make sure your logo doesn’t look dated three years from now.
• Don’t settle for a low-quality logo just to save a few bucks. Your logo is not the place to skimp and often you get what you pay for.

12. Integrate your logo design into your brand

Once you have your logo, you’ve created the ideal foundation for all the branding material your company needs, whether it’s business cards, packaging design or web design. By setting the tone of your style, color palette, typeface and overall look and feel, your logo will be the starting point for your branding material and your designer will be able to create a seamless look so that your company is ready to show the world its new face.