How to create your own logo
The computer has made graphic design possible for everyone to try and you may be tempted to try creating your own logo.
Here are 10 tips to help you do that and develop your own brand image.
Keep it simple: First, decide on how the logo will be used – for a company, service, or product – and whether it will be both a name and icon, or name alone. (Avoid an icon alone unless it’s your long-established recognised image)
Research: To stimulate your ideas, put together a list of existing logos and group them into competitors, industry, likes and dislikes. Once the lsit is complete, file it away. Only look again once you’ve finished your design and compare how does your design stand out from your competitors.
Design in black and white: To help you focus on typeface, shape and size, design in black and white - not in colour. You can easily transform your design into colour but the reverse is harder – and your logo needs to work in black and white if it has to be printed that way, photocopied or faxed.
Company or Tradaing name: Make sure your company or trading name is clear and easily seen and read within your logo. If your potential clients and customers can’t read it, how can they get in touch with you?
Colour: Choose no more than two colours - its the most cost effective way to print your logo. Remember that the colour you see on your monitor isn’t always the way it prints out - your computer shows you transmitted light as opposed to reflected light and that creates a difference when you print the logo or use it on signs. If your can, borrow a Pantone colour swatch book (they can be quite expensive to buy) use it to select your colours. Don’t worry if the colour doesn’t look right on your monitor, when printed professionally it will be exactly as you see in the Pantone book. Most computer screens will not show you the colour as it will print.
Typeface: Use a maximum of two typefaces or fonts. And choose the font style wisely. The font style is important as it is part of your image, but the font also needs to be easy to read. Try and compare your name in different font styles for ease of being read and creating the image you want for your logo
Size: Your logo must be legible in a variety of sizes – test readability by shrinking it to the smallest possible usage size.
Pause to reflect: Once you’ve designed your logo, put it away. Do you still like it after a week? If not then get back to the drawing board. This also gives you a chance to check your design with a fresh eye. Typing errors can be expensive!
Avoid clipart: As tempting as it is, avoid clipart like the plague, it will only expose you as an amateur! If you can’t design the logo yourself then get a professional to do it for you.
Do a mock-up: Try out your new logo on a mock up of a variety of materials and mediums that you intend to use it on e.g. letterheads, business card, brochures, signs, etc. If you have vans or cars that you are going to brand, take a side-on digital picture of it. Download it on to your computer and paste your logo on.
There are a number of things to consider when creating a logo, but if you follow this guide and take things slowly you may be surprised by how much you can achieve.
It’s so important to take time over this – and remember the old cliché ‘you will never get a second chance to make a first impression’
If the prospect is just too daunting, get in touch with a design agency – you may be surprised how reasonable a quote you get from a smaller firm. It might well be worth investing in this in the long run |
