Five Tips for Logo Design

When you’re asked to work on a website design for a client you might find that they’re also interested in logo creation. With the rise of hand drawn graphics and bold typography there are so many resources out there to inspire cool, unique logos. So why do we keep seeing basic variations of the same logo design time and time again?

So you don’t fall into the trap of common logo design cliches, we’ve put together five of our top logo design tips to keep your designs fresh, interesting and tailored to each individual client you work with.

1. Get to Know the Brand

Think about some of the biggest brands on the planet – Apple, Coca Cola, Nike. Though they operate in wildly different industries, what do they all have in common? A instantly recognisable logo that’s as well-known as the brands themselves.

A brand’s logo sticks in the consumer’s mind and helps solidify their opinion of the brand, and this is something you should keep coming back to as you work on the logo design. What are the brand’s core values? Who is their target audience? How do they present themselves online? All of these things should play a role in your design, and the deeper knowledge you have of the brand, the more successful your final design is likely to be.

2. Consider the Web Design

Branding is holistic and should be cohesive across every platform – from business cards to social media headers. The website design and logo are two of the biggest branding tools at your disposal and it’s smart to ensure they work together, as well as separately.

If the web design lends itself to a calming, boho aesthetic then a jarring, avant garde logo design isn’t going to sit well with the brand’s target audience. On the other side of the coin, a slick, professional web design needs a clean, perhaps minimalistic logo to keep the brand identity going.

3. Make a Statement

For the brand, their logo is what will help consumers differentiate them from competitors so making a statement is imperative. So many brands all have similar variations of the same basic logo design, so this is where you have a real opportunity to shine as a designer and come up with something creative and unique.

4. Keep it Simple

While making a statement is key, so is simplicity. It’s pointless having a beautiful logo if the typography is so obscure nobody can read the brand name. As we mentioned before, think about big brands that have memorable logos and consider what their designs have in common. Each is extremely different but they all have certain things that make their logos a success – the text is easy to read, it matches the brand’s tone, and is easily memorable. Keep these three things in mind at every stage of your design process.

5. Consider the Colour Palette

The colour you settle on is almost as important as the design itself. Colour choices tell us so much about a brand and reflect moods and emotions, which makes them a crucial part of logo design. An upbeat company that oozes motivation might opt for positive, energetic colours like yellow and red, while a more serious organisation that commands trust and respect might go for something powerful and professional like blue or black.

For more information about colour psychology in logo design, Design Shack have a great guide to help you select the perfect colours to complement your logo.