The purpose of a logo is to create a recognisable icon tied to the branding of a company. Logos are often designed using abstract symbols such as shapes and colours. The choice of shape can communicate different meaning: circles represent the concepts of completeness and eternity while squares represent stability. Colour is also used to convey specific meanings: black can symbolize authority and sophistication while blue can symbolize peace, tranquillity, spirituality, and trust worthiness.
Designing a professional logo for your business is essential in the early stages of building your brand. Your logo will be the face of your company, so you want to be sure you put some thought into it. Logo design is no small feat. It can take hours of research and sketching before you even get to the drawing board. And even then, that first draft will probably need some work. Below we have outlined a few steps you can take today to help you get started.
1) Gather all the information about your business
Before getting to work on designing a logo, it’s important that you have all the background information about your business. What is it? What does it mean? What are its differences from other businesses out there already? These questions will help you design a logo that adequately represents your company and what it provides.
2) Sketch your designs out on paper first
Sketching is a great way to brainstorm new design ideas. With a pen and paper, you can sketch out the overall design as well as all the finer details that you want in your final product (Don’t worry! You don’t need to be an artist to do this, it’s just a rough sketch) It’s also a great way to work out any creative blocks that may be keeping you from coming up with good design ideas.
3) Try working in black and white first
It is important for designers to understand the importance of using colour in logo designs. Colour has a huge impact on how people perceive your brand. It can be used to represent different concepts and emotions, and it can make a design livelier and more interesting. But before adding colour to your logo design, you should know that it is better to work in black-and-white first. Working on a black-and-white design will help you focus on the design itself, rather than the colours. It will also help you come up with new ideas that might not have been possible with colours at first sight.
4) Choosing the correct fonts for your brand
Creating the perfect logo or design for your business is important. It helps represent your business and tells people what you offer. It’s important that the design be relevant to your company and that fonts and colours go well together. The font of your logo is a crucial design decision that has the potential to either enhance or ruin an otherwise great logo. The typeface in your logo will both set it apart from others and reflect the tone of your company. Logos with too many fonts often look cluttered and unprofessional, so choose wisely.
5) Choosing the correct colours for your brand
The colour of your logo is important because it can make or break the first impression that your brand will give to potential customers. A logo’s colour conveys a message, whether it be trustworthiness, happiness, reliability and so on. If your brand is selling the idea of a happy and fun experience, then a vibrant colour could be the right fit. For example, the logo we completed for 24/7 Cranehire features bright yellow branding. The logo also combines yellow and white on a black header to create a standout feel.
6) Create a logo that is simple, easy to remember and unique
Simplicity is key. People remember what they see and feel, not what they read. Studies show that simple logos are remembered more often than the ones with intricate details. Therefore, your logo should be easily recognizable and memorable. Great logos are memorable and stand out. A logo needs to not only be distinctive, but also communicate the brand message. Some creative examples of logos that are unique include Nike’s Swoosh, Apple’s apple, and Starbucks’ siren.
7) A logo can be a bespoke wordmark
Although, the traditional image of a logo is a symbol associated with a company many companies are opting for bespoke wordmarks because of their uniqueness. For example, the company that operates Qantas airlines has developed a bespoke wordmark which is not easily confused with other companies’ logos. In contrast to some of the traditional logo for multinational companies, bespoke wordmarks are more often associated with smaller businesses or start-ups.
8) Never underestimate the term ‘fresh eyes’
Design is a collaborative process. With an ever-increasing global audience, it’s important to know that what you design may have a cultural understanding gap. It’s important to explore as many different opinions as possible on your design that you can, to avoid any missteps and misinterpretations. As the saying goes, “Design is not just what it looks like, design is how it works.”
The Smart Content specialises in logo design / company branding. We can create your logo with a variety of fonts, colours, and styles. We have designed logos for all sorts of businesses, such as restaurants, clubs, clothing stores and more. If you are interested in any advice about your current logo or if you would like to rebrand or start something new, just get in touch.