Many choices must be made while designing a logo for your business, including choices for colours, layouts, typefaces, and symbols. But it doesn’t have to be difficult to learn how to design a logo, and you don’t even need to be a designer!
Our first recommendation, if you have the funds, is to commission or employ a designer. Even though creating a logo may appear easy, any competent designer will tell you it’s not. Rarely is the design process. However, if you need to begin creating your brand’s visual identity and working with a designer isn’t an option for you, we can help.
We’ve developed this logo design guide to assist you in encapsulating the core of your brand identification and business in one distinctive design, so you can confidently produce the greatest logo for your enterprise, side business, or passion project.
What is a Logo?
A logo is a collection of letters and/or symbols that are used consistently and uniquely to identify a business, a good, or a service. The logo, which comes in slightly ahead of the brand name as the most noticeable and stable component of marketing, should be carefully created to accurately represent the branding of your good or service.
These brand symbols are an essential asset for every company, whether they are large billboards by the side of the road or little icons on our screens. They serve to define a brand’s personality and distinguish it from rivals. The brand and its personality will be appropriately reflected in an excellent logo, which will also be memorable and effective in a variety of settings.
Why are Logos Important for Small Businesses?
By demonstrating your professionalism and fostering trust, a well-designed logo encourages visitors to stick around. It explains who you are, what you do, and how that benefits potential customers. It conveys to those who are unfamiliar with your company or products that you perform excellent work. People will surely distrust your ability to supply your goods and services if your logo appears amateurish.
Although logo design is far from the only factor in effective branding, it is one that must be perfected right away because it frequently serves as the focal point of the entire brand strategy. And while the majority of designers are capable of producing a passably good logo, it requires a specific combination of design expertise, imaginative thinking, and deft execution to carry out a logo design that is truly distinctive, appealing, and memorable.
What are the Different Types of Logos?
Wordmarks
Wordmarks, often known as logotypes, are composed of the company name in a specific typeface. When a company has a short and memorable name, wordmark logos perform exceptionally well. A good illustration of this is the Google logo. When paired with powerful typography and a distinctive and memorable name, the logo contributes to a strong sense of brand identification.
Think about your logo’s font choice—all caps, small letters, or a combination—as well as any unique characters or colours you want to include.
If you’re a new company and need to spread the word about yourself, a wordmark is a smart move. Just make sure your name is short enough to benefit from the design. Anything that is too long may appear cluttered.
Lettermarks
Lettermarks are typographic logos made up of the brand’s initials, often known as monogram logos. When speaking, it’s common practice to use the abbreviation for brands with monogram logos, such as IBM and NASA. You can create lettermarks by creating a bespoke typeface or by choosing a font that effectively communicates your brand identity.
The typeface you select (or design) is crucial because the emphasis is on the initials to ensure that your logo is not only consistent with what your firm does but also readable when printed on business cards. These monograms can be excellent for simple logos, but keep in mind that they don’t do a fantastic job of conveying the essence of your company.
Examples: IBM, NASA, HBO, Louis Vuitton, etc.
Letterforms
One-letter logos known as letterforms only use the first letter of the brand’s name. Letterform logos are simple and scalable since they are small. They are probably still recognizable even when utilized in tiny proportions, especially if they have a pretty straightforward design without too many embellishments. This makes them perfect for social network profile images, favicons, app icons, and more.
Since these logos only consist of one letter, the design is very important; if the logo is not instantly recognizable, it is useless. This can imply that it has an eccentric font, a striking backdrop, or an intriguing colour scheme.
Letterform is the best option if your company name is lengthy and intricate. You can experiment with the typeface to make your letterform represent a service you provide.
Examples: Netflix, McDonald’s, Uber, Pinterest, etc.
Pictorial Logo
Pictorial logo symbols are iconographic representations of your brand that are simple to recognize. You can go with something straightforward or more intricate, but select a symbol that establishes a unique link to your brand.
An image is all that a true brand mark is. As a result, it might be a challenging logotype for businesses with weak brand recognition. If you wish to use this type of logo but have only recently launched your company, you can still choose a brand mark. Remember that unless people are familiar with your goods or services, you will need to utilize a wordmark corresponding to the symbol.
Examples: Twitter, Apple, Shell, Instagram, etc.
Abstract Logo
These are image-based logos that express a company’s branding by utilizing abstract forms. Abstract logomarks are more symbolic than visual marks that depict actual objects. They allow you to make something incredibly original because they don’t represent a certain recognizable object.
Abstract markings, like other logo symbols, are very effective at encapsulating your brand in a single visual. However, abstract logos provide you with the freedom to develop something completely original to represent your company rather than being limited to a picture of a recognizable object.
The advantage of using an abstract logo is that you can symbolically communicate what your firm does without depending on the cultural connotations of a particular image. If you choose to design this kind of logo, be sure that your brand identity is well-established and that you are clear on the message you want to send to your target market.
Examples: Olympics, Nike, Adidas, Airbnb, etc.
Mascots
A mascot logo is a representation of a person or a non-human entity that has taken on human characteristics. Depending on the meaning you want to portray, you can employ a mascot logo and give it varied attitudes and representations.
Mascots can also be used to convey a lighthearted atmosphere to your audience, which explains why businesses aimed at children and families frequently employ this style of logo.
Mascots are fantastic for businesses that wish to foster a family-friendly environment by appealing to young people and families. Consider all the mascots at sporting events and the fantastic atmosphere they produce by interacting with the spectators!
Examples: KFC’s Colonel Sanders, Michelin’s Michelin Man, Reddit’s Snoo, etc.
Emblems
Consider badges, seals, and crests as examples of emblem logos, which contain text inside of an image or symbol. These logos frequently have a classic look to them that can leave a lasting impression, which is why many businesses, organizations, and governmental bodies favour them.
Think about your industry when deciding whether an emblem is appropriate for your business. Although there are no restrictions, universities, sports teams, and coffee corporations are particularly fond of this style of logo.
Additionally, emblems might provide the room you need to include a statement that captures the essence of your business.
Examples: Starbucks, Manchester United, University of Ghana, etc.
Combination Mark
This one combines a variety of logo design styles. If none of the aforementioned types of logos appeals to you, simply combine them. Position lettering next to symbols, abstract shapes, and mascots, or combine a monogram with an abstract logo. whichever suits you.
Due to their exceptional versatility, combination marks are immensely popular among firms across all industries. While making sure that there is consistent and unified visual language used throughout, you can design a variety of variations of your logo and utilize them for various reasons.
People will instantly start to connect your name with your mascot or graphic mark if you use a combination mark. You might be able to rely just on a logo sign in the future.
Examples: Burger King, Lacoste, Doritos, etc.
What are the Steps for Creating a Logo?
Step 1: Understand Your Business
Your logo will have a significant impact on the initial perception that customers have of your company because it will inform them about your brand and help them decide if it’s suited for them.
You want to ensure that your logo is done effectively because it is such an important component of your brand. Your logo will appear on all of your branding materials. An expert logo design has the ability to convey who you are and what you stand for. Additionally, it will help you generate a strong first impression and distinguish yourself from competitors.
Step 2: Research and Define Your Brand Identity
Most people detest doing research. — but it’s a crucial stage in any significant undertaking. You must lay a strong foundation for your logo if you want it to be effective and durable. You also need to conduct research in order to have a strong foundation.
As your business expands, developing a strong brand identity will help it establish its reputation and become recognised. Take some time to consider these issues before beginning your logo design. It will be a lot simpler for you to make design decisions that complete and complement that picture if you have a clear understanding of what makes you special and what your brand is all about.
- Why did we launch this company?
- What principles and beliefs are important to us as a business?
- What can we offer that no one else can?
- Why are we unique?
- Which three words would you use to sum up our brand?
- What are the top three terms our clients should use to characterize us?
Step 3: Check out the Competition
the ideal location to borrow concepts? Your adversary! Divide a few of your competitors’ websites and logos into styles you like and styles you don’t like as a great approach to gathering ideas for your company’s logo design. While eavesdropping on those rival companies, consider how they differ from you and how you might highlight these differences in your logo design.
Make sure to distinctly differentiate yourself from your rivals. If every other company in your sector is going monochromatic, you might want to choose some colour to stand apart. If everyone else has a classic logo, perhaps a quirky and contemporary one will stand out.
Step 4: Choose a Design Style
Your company is represented by a logo. Potential clients can determine what kind of business you have by the way it looks. Make sure your logo accurately captures who you are and what your company does. Only what is best for your brand should be used; there is no one style that works for everyone.
For instance, if your company sells electronic products, you definitely want a high-tech, traditional, or modern logo. Making a wacky design could damage your reputation before you have an opportunity to establish it. If you operate an ice cream shop, the opposite may be true. A humorous, playful design that demonstrates your imagination is more likely to be successful than a corporate, traditional brand. Examples of Design Styles you can consider include:
- Classic
- Retro/ Vintage
- Modern
- Fun and quirky
- Minimalistic
- Handmade
Step 5: Choose the Type of Logo
When you are developing your logo, you may select the type of logo for your business in addition to the general style. Choose the one that best fits the name of your business or overall style, or combine them to come up with something original.
Step 6: Get Colour, font and symbol ideas
Your target market, brand attributes, desired style and layout of the logo, and all of the logo research and ideas in your logo design worksheet, should be clear to you.
Numerous meanings can be attached to various colours. Even though the psychology of colour is intricate, certain feelings and concepts are associated with each colour. Here are some general colour meanings but be sure to do extensive research before settling on a colour:
- Black: Power and sophistication
- Red: Confidence, passion and ambition.
- Blue: Professionalism and success
- Orange: Joy and optimism
- Purple: Royal and Spiritual
- Green: Balance and Serenity
- Yellow: Happiness and Positivity
- White: Pure and simple
The typeface you choose should complete and accentuate your logo. To give your logo a distinctive appearance, you can use one of the following four fundamental styles of fonts:
- Serif fonts
- Sans-serif fonts
- Script fonts
- Display fonts
Step 7: Design the Logo or Designate it to an Agency or Professional
You are prepared to begin designing now that you have taken into account all of the important style factors. There are numerous approaches to obtaining a logo, so think about which one is the finest for you. A firm, a competition, a one-to-one project, or a logo maker? All solutions have their advantages and disadvantages, and varied prices correspond to various features.
Your best bet is to hire an agency professional like to handle your logo and all branding identity issues for your budding business. It is better to start on the right foot and pay money than to go the easy route and find out you need to rebrand. Remember that your logo isn’t the only thing that makes up your brand. Thus leaving it in the hands of a trusted agency like Digital Reach Consult will secure you and your business for the foreseeable future.
Your logo serves as the perfect foundation for all of your company’s branding materials, including business cards, packaging, and website design. Your logo is the starting point for your brand material since it establishes the tone for your style, colour scheme, typeface, and overall look and feel. Your company is now ready to unveil its brand-new face to the world.
