A logo can essentially be described as the brand's face.
It has the core purpose of representing your brand's values and functions –using the right combination of colors, typography, and aesthetics.
Easier said than done, how do you exactly get there?
At a point where your logo has this perfect iteration to capture the potential audience and leave a lasting impression of your brand.
Don't panic!
This incredibly detailed logo design guide has got your back. This logo design manual guides you through each step, from deciphering your brand's values and identity and aligning them with the rules of logo design to picking the right aesthetics and driving the final procession of a stellar business logo design.
But before we get into the depths of our logo design guide, why don't we look at the significance of logo design?
Your business' logo design is the ultimate representation of the values your company stands for. Your primary focus is to captivate the right audience and make them fall for the products services you offer from head to toe. Your company logo is the one factor that would intrigue the target audience. Your branding materials, be it the website, packaging, business cards, or your social media accounts – can represent your brand with the help of a logo design. Thus, your brand cannot exist in consumer markets without a logo design.
Now that you know why having a properly designed logo is so essential for a brand to succeed let's jump in to learn how to create a business logo design.
Though it seems relatively simple to create a logo than other marketing functions, designing a high-end professional logo involves crucial procedures like market research, curation of a buyer persona, and in-depth consideration of the logo design rules. And so, to help learn how to create a logo design, our logo design guide highlights all the significant steps at length.
Dive in to burst your curiosity!
First Things First, Know Your Brand Identity – Logo is a part of your brand (or you can call it branding). Thus, it is based on the brand identity and values you stand for. And to make that happen, you must understand exactly what your brand stands for – the first and the most important step in this logo design guide.
Although knowing your brand identity and values is a part of the marketing process, you must take an in-depth glance over it before getting started with designing a stellar logo design.
Jot down these essentials before starting with the design process, and you'll find a direction.
Brainstorm Ideas and Gather Inspirations – Now that you know the essentials about your brand, it's time to gather inspirations and brainstorm ideas – that's primarily the hardest of all steps in this logo design guide. The good part is, we've got some incredible tips in this logo design guide to help you come up with potential logo design ideas.
Even though brainstorming ideas mentally is an excellent idea, there's always a chance of losing them down the line. A good brainstorming session requires penning down thoughts and having everything in black and white. You can either do it alone or gather a group of people to work alongside you (it's always great to brainstorm with a group of people, if available.) No matter how dull you presume an idea to be, don't let it go. You never know when your ideas could get fused with something interesting to curate an outlandish something.
Pro Tip – The best approach towards brainstorming is to always think from the audiences' perspective.
While brainstorming, expand your horizons and think outside the box to develop an unusual and different idea.
Use your freedom of creativity.
Take a glance at how Trip Advisor's logo has ingrained a concept that does not associate with the brand's core operation in general. Yet, they're capable of showcasing the rightful connection. This marketing logo design helps them stand out from the crowd and possess an element that can intrigue the audience.
Dissect Your Competition. Just Do That – Do you know what's the best place, to begin with?
Your competition!
To create a perfect logo design, you must do a thorough industry analysis and look at your competitors' logo plans.
Dissect your competition thoroughly.
Study their logo design, decipher the philosophy behind it, evaluate how the audience has responded to their logo, and plan accordingly.
Just do that.
This does not mean that you can copy their concepts; instead, you can draw inspiration to create something different. It will help you stand out and work the points your competition might have missed out on, but the audience desires to see.
Suppose most of the industry businesses follow a particular criterion, i.e., a sophisticated approach with buildings on the front in the real estate industry. In that case, you might go with a relatively less sophisticated, colorful, and funky logo design whose central focus isn't a building but a home. Look at the three real estate marketing logo designs, and you'll understand what standing out looks like.
Choose A Design Style – Now that you are successfully through the initial procedures, it's time to turn your ideas and inspirations into an actual design. Many factors matter when it comes to creating a stellar logo design. Through this logo design guide, we propose that you start by choosing a design style that most suits your brand's overall persona.
There's no particular style to suit every brand; instead, you've to pick it based on your brand's nature and core functions.
Vintage – Vintage logos have become a heartthrob in prevailing times. This is because they let invoke in you a nostalgic vibe. Vintage logos are the ones to go for if you like reminiscing about the times gone by. They suit best with the brands that are associated with some significant history.
The vintage style of the Tokyo Bicycle logo rightly represents the significance of history for the brand.
Classical – Classical is timeless with the potential to stay significant. This logo style helps you stay simple with a limited color palette and minimal visualization and typography. It goes perfectly with brands that aim to showcase reliability and timelessness.
Hand-drawn – This is another popular logo style that represents an individualistic approach amalgamated with a home-made vibe. The style works perfectly with brands whose core function is qualitative. Also, the fusion of classical with either vintage or minimal styles can create waves online.
Minimal – This logo style has rightly become the town's talk because of its clean and clear approach. Minimal logos are best at communicating your values and go perfectly with brands that are modern with objectives specified.
Fun and Casual – This logo style is popular with most young generation brands as their target audience. It has fresh and quirky visuals, casual fonts, and many amusing approaches, which gives your logo designs an incredible touch of freshness and youthfulness at the same time.
These styles can be combined as well.
If you feel like there is more than one logo style that suits your brand, there's no restriction on working with a combination of two and more at a time.
Always know that there's no end to creativity.
Find Your Perfect Logo Type – Once you are done choosing your logo style, the next step you must follow from our logo design guide is to skim through the seven different types of logo designs and choose one that perfectly fits your aesthetics brand.
Wordmarks – This is a popular logotype which primarily focuses on the use of typography. It has the potential to bring great value and recognition to your brand. Take a look at this wordmark logo of Coca-Cola, and you'll surely understand the timelessness and serenity of the wordmark logotype.
Lettermarks – These can be great for brands whose names are long and arduous. Take examples of CNN, H&M, and HP – how massive the recognition they've garnered across the globe with simple letter mark logos. Letter marks, also referred to as monograms, aren't very good at expressing your business' core values. Thus, they won't work with companies that are less known and new to the market.
Pictorial Marks – Another popular logo design focusing mostly on showcasing a brand through an icon or symbol that the audience can relate to is the Pictorial Mark. You have the liberty to pick a symbol or icon that describes your brand; however, it's essential that the symbol is unique and possesses the potential to connect with your brand. Most of the time, these symbols are paired with Lettermarks so that the audience can recognize your brand.
Mascots Logos– These are a fabulous logotype meant to create a personality for your brand. They are often colorful, fun-loving, and gives out a cartoonish vibe – describing the best version of your brand in front of an audience. What else would you want from a logo design, huh?
Abstract Logos– These are a combination of geometric lines – connecting your audience to your brand's core function. They provide your brand with an opportunity to stand out while keeping up with simplicity. Thus, they're perfect for modern and trendy brands.
Emblem Logos – They are likely to combine wordmarks and pictorial logotypes where a symbol or icon is infused with creative typography to showcase your brand. The uniqueness of emblem logos lies in the usage of badges, crests, and seals representing the traditional background.
Combination Logos – Again, these are a combination of symbols and wordmarks put together to create a logo that's both unique and specific to your brand. Either the brand name is written behind or ahead of the symbol or smoothly integrated into the graphic design that it looks coherent and incredible at the same time.
Chose A Color Palette That Aligns Well with Your Overall Brand Design – Wondering what's next up in our logo design guide?
Its color- another integral component of a stellar logo design.
You cannot just add any color to your logo design; instead, the logo design rules suggest using colors that rightly complement your brand.
To understand the psychology behind colors, you may refer to the color theory, which explains things at great length. It is crucial to bear in mind that colors play a pivotal role in your logo design's success.
Take a look at how perfectly the Leafly logo's colors connect with the core function.
Now imagine they use the color red in place of green; how would that look like?
Insane right.
So, colors are essential, and you must use them diligently in your logo designs.
Pick Your Typography Wisely – Yet another essential step in the logo design guide, you can't compromise on it. In general, you'll have four typography options, and none of them is perfect-for-all. You've to choose them in alignment with your brand design and identity.
Find Your Perfect Logo Design Tool – If you wish to work on your logo yourself, this would probably be the last step of our logo design guide. There is a versatile range of logo design tools available, and you've all the freedom to choose one that suits you best. However, popular among them include Adobe Illustrator, Logo Design Studio Pro, and Sothink.
Now that you have aligned all the essentials for creating a stellar logo design, it's time that you provide your logo designers a guideline outlining each of the significant decisions you've made through this logo design guide.
In case you haven't hired a graphic designer yet, there are multiple ways you can do so. Either find a promising agency, run a design contest, or hire a freelance logo designer. Whatever you do, always ensure you provide a detailed brief enlisting everything significant detail about your logo design.
Make sure that your designer knows about the golden ratio of logo design, a mathematical principle. Yes, this is we put all those boring geometry lectures would be of use at work.
The golden ratio, in particular, can be referred to as a ratio between two varying quantities in a manner that the ratio of a small quantity(x) to the larger quantity(y) is equal to the ratio of larger quantity(y) to the sum of both quantities (x+y).
This ratio gives an incredible balance to your visuals that can contribute to its harmonious and beautiful outlook.
The above logo design guide can be your perfect aid for crafting a logo that is product or service-oriented. However, if you want to create a marketing company logo, you might need to expand your horizons.
Whether you deal specifically with social media marketing or focus on every digital marketing function, your logo should display everything.
Look at how graciously Hul Hub logo animation represents the disruption it aims to bring in the IT industry. You'll understand how a stellar marketing logo design can be curated.
We hope this detailed logo design guide has helped you navigate your way through the logo design journey! If you need expert help, feel free to contact the logo design mavens working with Hul Hub.