In this guide, we\u2019re going to walk you through a few of those beginner-friendly strategies to show you how easy it is to craft a logo no matter what kind of a budget you have.<\/p>\n
We also made the guide more comprehensive and useful to business owners and entrepreneurs who don\u2019t have any design experience. By the end of this guide, you\u2019ll be able to design a professional logo all by yourself. That\u2019s our guarantee. Let\u2019s get started, shall we?<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Introduction<\/h2>\n
Businesses, entrepreneurs, corporations, and designers see and think of logos in many different ways. But the best definition for a logo comes from the legendary logo designer, Saul Bass, who crafted the AT&T, United Airlines, and many other iconic logos.<\/p>\n
A logo is a direct representation of a brand and a company. It\u2019s what makes your brand recognizable everywhere around the world. And it\u2019s going to take a huge part in building brand loyalty as well.<\/p>\n
This puts more responsibility on the designer\u2019s shoulders. Since the logo is a permanent part of a brand\u2019s identity, it\u2019s going to show up in every letterhead, advertisement, business card, flyer, poster, and all the other important documents of the business.<\/p>\n
Needless to say, it\u2019s crucial that you explore all the basics and the guidelines of logo design before even considering launching Photoshop on your computer.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/designshack.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/introduction-logo-design.jpg\"){kind=logo}
<\/div>\nWhy Do You Need a Logo?<\/h3>\n
The logo is the single most important element of a brand identity. If you look at any successful brand in the world, you\u2019ll see this almost immediately. For example, take a look at the logos below and see if you can name the brands by just looking at these wordless pictures.<\/p>\n
Isn\u2019t it amazing how a simple glimpse at an illustration is enough for you to recognize a brand and the product behind it? That\u2019s how powerful a logo can be.<\/p>\n
This is why every business and brand needs a logo. To make your brand stand out, to make your business separate from the competition, to make your company recognizable in every country and all cultures.<\/p>\n
What Makes a Good Logo?<\/h3>\n\u201cDesign is the silent ambassador of your brand.\u201d – Paul Rand<\/div>\nYour logo will represent your company and your mission. It has to be planned and crafted carefully. However, this doesn\u2019t mean your logo has to be geometrically correct. Sometimes, a few flaws can make your logo more unique and authentic.<\/p>\n
For example, the new Google logo is also geometrically wrong<\/a>, but that\u2019s part of what makes the brand so unique.<\/p>\nA good logo<\/a> has to be unique and unlike any other logo design in the world. It should use the colors related to its brand. It has to be relatable to the company. And, more importantly, it has to be easily distinguishable.<\/p>\nWhat Does A Logo Design Cost?<\/h3>\n
Much like every other industry, you can also get a logo designed at different prices. If you don\u2019t care about the quality of the logo, you could hire a designer on a platform like Fiverr to get a logo designed for just $5 dollars.<\/p>\n
Or, you can hire a legendary designer for about $100,000<\/a>, which is what Steve Jobs paid to hire Paul Rand to design the logo for NeXT.<\/p>\nOf course, you shouldn\u2019t spend that kind of money on a logo even if you have the budget. There are other ways to design a logo. You can use online tools, pre-made templates, hire freelancers, and more.<\/p>\n
\n- Online Logo Design Tools:<\/strong> Cost $29+<\/li>\n
- Use A Pre-Made Template:<\/strong> Cost $16+<\/li>\n
- Hire A Designer:<\/strong> Cost $150+<\/li>\n
- Hire A Design Agency:<\/strong> $1,000+<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
There are many online tools for designing a logo at affordable prices. You can grab a pre-made logo template for about $20. Or you can hire a freelance designer.<\/p>\n
The prices for hiring <\/a>a freelancer could range from $150 to $2,500, depending on the skill level of the professional. And it will cost more than $2,500 to hire a design agency.<\/p>\nLogo Formats & Specifications<\/h3>\n
There\u2019s a debate around the specifications of logo design<\/a>. While some believe logos should be geometrically correct others think logos have to be more creatively unique.<\/p>\nA good compromise is to follow Google\u2019s strategy. You can create a unique logo design while keeping geometric accuracy by using proper measurements in the design. This makes it easier to reproduce the logo.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s where logo formats also come to the discussion.<\/p>\n
\n- JPG format:<\/strong> Best for print purposes like letterheads and brochures<\/li>\n
- PNG format:<\/strong> Best for online purposes like social media and websites<\/li>\n
- SVG format:<\/strong> Best for websites, web apps, and responsive interfaces<\/li>\n
- TIFF format:<\/strong> A high-quality uncompressed file best for print designs.<\/li>\n
- PDF format:<\/strong> Best for print designs.<\/li>\n
- Adobe Illustrator (AI) format: <\/strong>A customizable vector file of the design.<\/li>\n
- EPS format: <\/strong>An editable vector file that works with multiple vector editing apps.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Today, a logo needs to be compatible with both print and digital use cases. You can\u2019t just design a logo in Adobe Illustrator and save it as a vector file. You also have to consider other uses of the logo.<\/p>\n
For example, the same logo design has to be used when designing an Android or an iOS app. Importing a vector logo into an app is not an easy task. So it\u2019s important to generate your logo design in multiple formats, including EPS, AI, PDF, and even SVG.<\/p>\n
Does \u201cFree Logo Design\u201d Exist?<\/h3>\n
We always try to look for a free alternative whenever we have to spend money on something. Of course, you can also get a logo designed for free as well.<\/p>\n
There are many free online logo generator tools you can use to instantly create a simple logo. You can also download free logo templates to customize and create logos for different types of businesses within a few minutes.<\/p>\n
Keep in mind, these free tools and templates are being used by thousands of other businesses. Chances are you\u2019ll end up with a logo design similar to the logo of another shady business.<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t cheap out. Even if you\u2019re using a template, or a logo builder, spending a few dollars on a premium version will reward you well in the long run. Think of your brand logo as a long-term investment. It\u2019s going to be part of your business for a very long time.<\/p>\n
Things To Know Before Designing A Logo<\/h3>\n
Before we get to the nitty-gritty of logo design, here are a few things you should keep in mind.<\/p>\n
Scalability Is Important<\/h4>\n
Unlike many other types of designs, a logo design is something that could be used anywhere and everywhere. It may end up printed on large scale on a billboard or on a tiny wearable screen in a smartwatch app.<\/p>\n
Keep this in mind before you get started on your logo design. Your logo needs to be scalable to various sizes. For starters, create your design in vector format.<\/p>\n
Minimalism Never Goes Out Of Style<\/h4>\n
Imagine having to print a logo with so much detail in a smaller size. Like printing the logo on a pen or a small product label. It will certainly make those tiny details blurry and hard to notice.<\/p>\n
Especially in the modern day and age ruled by small mobile screens, you should always consider using a minimalist logo design that\u2019s clearly visible no matter its size.<\/p>\n
Even Starbucks started out with a complex logo design. And the company recently revamped the logo into something more simple without text and with just two colors.<\/p>\n
Aim for a simple, clean, and less sophisticated design to make your logo more practical and effective.<\/p>\n
Avoid Effects<\/h4>\n
Following up on the previous point, you should also avoid using effects in your logos to make it transferrable in various mediums.<\/p>\n
For example, your logo is likely to be printed on documents and newspapers in black in white. Effects like shadows and gradients never transfer in such cases.<\/p>\n
This is especially important when picking colors as well. Ask yourself this question\u2014 Would your logo look just as unique and recognizable in black and white without its colors and effects?<\/p>\n
Get Creative But Follow Standards<\/h4>\n
Logo design is one of the niches in the design industry where designers are encouraged to be creative and think outside the box. However, you should also know the limits to keep that creativity in check.<\/p>\n
There are certain standards and rules you need to follow in order to design a professional and practical logo. Like creating a logo that represents the brand in the long-term. And designing a logo that resonates with the target audience.<\/p>\n
Planning & Research<\/h2>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/designshack.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/planning-and-research.jpg\")
<\/div>\nThe first step in your logo design process is planning and doing the research on how you want to approach the design, how it will be used, and how it will relate to your brand identity.<\/p>\n
What Is Your Brand Identity And Voice?<\/h3>\n
Have you ever noticed how most brands use the same colors, same design style, and the same font across all of their brand-related content such as website design, print documents, advertisements, and more?<\/p>\n
That\u2019s because keeping a consistent design across all types of designs is extremely important in creating and maintaining a brand identity<\/a>.<\/p>\nA great example of this is MailChimp, which recently did a complete overhaul<\/a> of its brand identity and brand design that not only looks stunning but also make sure the brand stay relevant in the ever-changing world of design trends. The company also did a redesign of their logo as a part of this new brand identity design as well.<\/p>\nIt\u2019s important that you consider your brand design style when crafting a logo to make sure it\u2019s relatable to your brand identity. You should use the same colors and fonts used by your brand design for the logo as well.<\/p>\n
If you don\u2019t have a brand style guide or not sure what a brand style guide is, you can take a look at some of the best examples of brand style guides<\/a> and take inspiration from them.<\/p>\n\n- MailChimp brand style guide<\/a><\/li>\n
- Medium brand style guide<\/a><\/li>\n
- Spotify brand style guide<\/a><\/li>\n
- NASA brand style guide<\/a><\/li>\n
- Cisco brand style guide<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Where Will Your Logo Be Used?<\/h3>\n
As we\u2019ve mentioned earlier in the logo formats section, what type of logo formats you need to create will depend on how you\u2019re going to be using the logo.<\/p>\n
For example, a logo that will be mostly used in print design should be designed using CMYK colors. And a logo for a web app can be crafted in SVG format for better scalability.<\/p>\n
Grab a pen and paper and try to list how you\u2019re going to use the logo and then you\u2019ll be able to determine which logo formats to create, what colors to use, and how flexible the logo needs to be in terms of scalability.<\/p>\n
5 Ways to Find Logo Design Inspiration & Ideas<\/h3>\n\u201cGood artists copy; great artists steal.\u201d – Steve Jobs<\/div>\nA logo is something that needs to be completely unique and original. But, this doesn\u2019t mean you can\u2019t steal a few good ideas from some successful brands and companies.<\/p>\n
Of course, we\u2019re not encouraging you to copy logo designs from other brands. We\u2019re just showing you ways you can get inspired by adopting the best techniques used by other designers when crafting your own logo.<\/p>\n
Here are a few ways you can find inspiration for your logo design.<\/p>\n
1. Browse Behance & Dribbble<\/h4>\n
Behance <\/a>and Dribbble <\/a>are two of the most popular platforms that allow users to create portfolios and showcase their best work. As a result, the sites are filled with different types of designs created by other professionals, including logo designs.<\/p>\nStart searching for logo designs and see how designers use different styles of colors, fonts, symbols, and shapes to craft unique logos.<\/p>\n
2. Create Moodboards<\/h4>\n
Moodboards are great for quickly finding inspiration. If you have a particular theme in mind for your logo design, you can find images and designs related to the theme and create a moodboard.<\/p>\n
![\"mood](\"https:\/\/designshack.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/mood-board-example.jpg\")
<\/div>\nExample mood board by helium creative<\/a><\/p>\nFor example, if you\u2019re working on a logo for a luxury brand, you can collect images of luxury product advertisements, promotions, and more from magazines, newspapers, and websites to create moodboards. Then study the moodboards to find inspiration for your own designs.<\/p>\n
3. Browse Marketplaces<\/h4>\n
Did you know that designers actually create and sell logo designs online? You can find these customizable logo templates on marketplaces such as Envato Elements<\/a> and GraphicRiver<\/a>.<\/p>\nBrowse the templates on these marketplaces and you\u2019ll be able to find inspiration from various styles of logo designs and niches.<\/p>\n
4. Start Doodling<\/h4>\n
You know how writers carry a notepad to jot down their ideas? Well, you can do the same to come up with great logo design ideas as well.<\/p>\n
Carry a notebook in your pocket wherever you go. Whenever you see or think of something creative and inspiring, doodle it on your notepad. Doodle as much as you can. You\u2019ll be able to come up with more than just a handful of logo ideas with this method.<\/p>\n
5. Ask A Designer<\/h4>\n
You can also get in touch with a professional logo designer and ask for their advice. They\u2019ll give you tips on how to find inspiration, logo design standards, and more.<\/p>\n
Try sending a message to a designer on a social network like Twitter, LinkedIn, or Behance. Don\u2019t be afraid to ask for help.<\/p>\n
Create a Logo Concept & Specification<\/h2>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/designshack.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/create-concept.jpg\")
<\/div>\nOnce you have an idea on how to approach your logo design, how it integrates with your brand design and the right layout in mind, you can put all of that into a logo concept to see how it would look like.<\/p>\n
To create a logo concept, you need to understand how designs trends are used in logo designs and how different brands use different logo types. This will help you pick the right design for your own brand logo.<\/p>\n
Choosing a Logo Type<\/h3>\n
There are a wide variety of logo types used by different brands and businesses. And it often changes from one industry to another. In general, there are 5 main categories of logo types:<\/p>\n
\n- Symbols<\/li>\n
- Wordmark<\/li>\n
- Lettermark<\/li>\n
- Combination<\/li>\n
- Emblem<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Depending on the type of business you have, you can pick one of these categories to create your logo. To better understand how these logos function in different industries, let\u2019s take a closer look at these logo categories.<\/p>\n
Symbols<\/h4>\n![\"symbols-logo-examples\"](\"https:\/\/designshack.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/symbols-logo-examples.jpg\")
<\/div>\nSymbol (or pictorial) logos are one of the most common logos used by big brands and corporations. A symbol logo features an icon or image with a customized design. Like the half-eaten Apple logo. This is the type of logo brands use to represent their bold views in a simpler way.<\/p>\n
Nike, Apple, Audi, Mercedes Benz are some of the best examples of symbol logos. This type of logos is best for large international brands since symbols can be easily recognized without any language barriers.<\/p>\n
To give you an idea of how a symbol logo can be crafted for your brand, here\u2019s an example logo template that you can also download and use as your own logo.<\/p>\n
![\"symbol](\"https:\/\/designshack.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/symbol-logo-example.jpg\")
<\/a><\/div>\nWordmark<\/h4>\n![\"wordmark-logo-examples\"](\"https:\/\/designshack.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/wordmark-logo-examples.jpg\")
<\/div>\nWordmark (or logotype) logo is a type of logo that simply uses a clean and clear word or name as the logo. Use this type of a logo if you\u2019re creating a new brand and want it to be easily recognizable.<\/p>\n
In most cases, you\u2019ll need to use a unique font of your own to design a wordmark logo. Most companies that use wordmark logos, like Coca-Cola, Google, Visa, eBay, and Facebook have created unique fonts for the logos.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s what a wordmark logo may look like.<\/p>\n
![\"wordmark](\"https:\/\/designshack.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/wordmark-logo-example.jpg\")
<\/a><\/div>\nLettermark<\/h4>\n![\"lettermark-logo-examples\"](\"https:\/\/designshack.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/lettermark-logo-examples.jpg\")
<\/div>\nLettermark (or monogram) logo is quite similar to a wordmark logo. However, a lettermark logo is a lot shorter. Most of the time, a lettermark logo is created using the initials of the company name and combining them into a unique logo design.<\/p>\n
For example, NASA, Chanel, New York Yankees, IBM, all use lettermark logos. The font you use for a lettermark logo is important, but it doesn\u2019t have to be unique to your brand like a wordmark logo. You can use a common font and still make a lettermark logo if you can think outside the box.<\/p>\n
Lettermark logos are often used to simplify a long or a hard-to-pronounce company name and make it easier to remember.<\/p>\n
Like this example lettermark logo template.<\/p>\n
![\"monogram](\"https:\/\/designshack.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/monogram-logo-example.jpg\")
<\/a><\/div>\nCombination<\/h4>\n![\"combination-logo-examples\"](\"https:\/\/designshack.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/combination-logo-examples.jpg\")
<\/div>\nYou can also create a logo by combining two other logo categories. This type of logos is called combination mark logo.<\/p>\n
For example, you can combine a symbol with a wordmark to create a unique logo like Adidas, Pepsi, and Burger King. Or, you can also combine a lettermark with a symbol or an emblem, like Warner Brothers, HBO, and LG.<\/p>\n
This type of logos is mainly used by established brands as a way to take the branding to the next level and to make it easier use in various promotional material.<\/p>\n
For example, PayPal<\/a> recently introduced a new logo because its wordmark logo was difficult to use across different platforms like on mobile apps. So the company made a simpler logo with a combination of a lettermark and a wordmark.<\/p>\nHere\u2019s what a combination mark logo would look like for your brand.<\/p>\n
![\"combination](\"https:\/\/designshack.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/combination-logo-example.jpg\")
<\/a><\/div>\nEmblem<\/h4>\n![\"emblem-logo-examples\"](\"https:\/\/designshack.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/emblem-logo-examples.jpg\")
<\/div>\nJust as it sounds, an emblem logo is an iconic logo design that features a more complicated design that captures the brand into a shield or a badge like layout. Harley Davidson, Starbucks, NFL, and BMW are examples of emblem logo designs.<\/p>\n
These logos are used by companies to show their attention to detail attitude and quality. Of course, these logos are also quite difficult to replicate so it will be unique to your brand.<\/p>\n
The only downside to emblem logos is that they may become difficult to use in smaller brand assets when shrunk down, like on a business card.<\/p>\n
Although, if you were to use an emblem design like the one on this example template, resizing won\u2019t affect the clearness or readability.<\/p>\n
![\"emblem](\"https:\/\/designshack.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/emblem-logo-example.jpg\")
<\/a><\/div>\nOther Logo Types<\/h4>\n
There are also several other types of logos you can use to design a unique or creative logo.<\/p>\n
For example, you can create a Mascot logo for your brand. Like the mascot used by Android, KFC colonel, and MailChimp\u2019s monkey. Mascot logos are perfect for businesses with creative and user-friendly brand identities, especially ones that target children.<\/p>\n
The next step in your logo design process is to pick a design style for your logo.<\/p>\n
Choosing a Style or Trend<\/h3>\n
Trends in the world of design are something that never stops changing. You\u2019ll see some sort of new design trend almost every year. However, when it comes to logo design trends<\/a>, there\u2019s been a few that never went out of style.<\/p>\nMinimal Logo Design<\/h4>\n![\"minimal](\"https:\/\/designshack.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/minimal-logo-example.jpg\")
<\/a><\/div>\nMinimalist logo design trend has been around for decades and it\u2019s one of the few trends that will make your brand look relevant and professional the older it gets.<\/p>\n
A minimal logo design is all about using less of everything. They use fewer colors, clean fonts, simple symbols, and most of the minimal logos are often black and white.<\/p>\n
Uber, Nike, and Wikipedia are some of the brands that use beautiful minimalist logos.<\/p>\n
As you may have noticed, minimal logos are mostly used by luxury brands and high-end corporations. Because it\u2019s a timeless design trend that never goes out of style, just like James Bond.<\/p>\n
Colorful Logo Design<\/h4>\n![\"colorful](\"https:\/\/designshack.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/colorful-logo-example.jpg\")
<\/a><\/div>\nYou would think that using lots of colors is a bad design practice but it\u2019s quite the opposite. Many brands and businesses have been using colorful logo designs and these colors actually made their logos more iconic as well.<\/p>\n
NBC, Google, eBay, and many others use colorful logo designs. However, this design trend is mainly used by multi-corporations or businesses that cover multi-categories to show the broadness of the company.<\/p>\n
For example, eBay hosts dozens of product categories and host thousands of vendors on the platform. And, before Alphabet, Google was the parent company that managed all of its subsidiaries, like Gmail, Google+, and Android.<\/p>\n
Using a multi-colored design is also great to convey openness and to show that you\u2019re a brand without gender, race, language, or culture gaps.<\/p>\n
Abstract Logo Design<\/h4>\n![\"abstract](\"https:\/\/designshack.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/abstract-logo-example.jpg\")
<\/a><\/div>\nAbstract logo design works just as advertised. This style of logos usually uses abstract shapes and elements for creating unique logo designs.<\/p>\n
Pepsi, Adidas, Airbnb, and many new and established brands use the abstract style of logos.<\/p>\n
With an abstract logo design, you\u2019ll have more freedom to explore different styles and designs to create a logo that gives a unique identity to your brand.<\/p>\n
Retro & Vintage Logo Design<\/h4>\n![\"retro](\"https:\/\/designshack.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/retro-logo-example.jpg\")
<\/a><\/div>\nIf you\u2019re planning on using a monogram or emblem type of design for your logo, it\u2019s worth considering using a retro or a vintage style to craft the logo.<\/p>\n
Even some of the modern brands and startups use the vintage style of logos to make their brands look more authentic and original. It also seems to have a strong effect on building authority and trust.<\/p>\n
At first glance, anyone who looks at a vintage logo will believe your brand has been around for at least a few decades. This is probably one of the secrets behind the massive success of brands like Dollar Shave Club.<\/p>\n
Creative & Fun Logo Design<\/h4>\n![\"fun](\"https:\/\/designshack.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/fun-logo-example.jpg\")
<\/a><\/div>\nBrands and startups that like to get a bit more creative usually make their logos more memorable by making them look fun and quirky. Like the MailChimp logo, RedBull, or the Duolingo logo.<\/p>\n
Making your logo look fun is easier when you add a mascot, but you don\u2019t have to. Doritos uses an emblem-style logo and yet they\u2019ve managed to make it look fun as well.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re willing to think outside the box, using this trend could help make your brand stand out and more memorable even in a populated industry.<\/p>\n
Choosing Your Logo Font<\/h3>\n
Choosing a font for your logo<\/a> design is another important part of a logo design. This is also where many designers make the wrong decisions. Since there are so many choices in fonts, it\u2019s easy to get distracted.<\/p>\nSome of the most popular font types used in logo design are:<\/p>\n
\n- Signature Fonts<\/li>\n
- Handwritten Fonts<\/li>\n
- Monogram Fonts<\/li>\n
- Blackletter Fonts<\/li>\n
- Decorative Fonts<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Signature Fonts<\/h4>\n![\"signature-font\"](\"https:\/\/designshack.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/signature-font.jpg\")
<\/a><\/div>\nSignature fonts <\/a>are the type of fonts that make your text look like a handwritten signature. This style of fonts is used in wordmark logos to give them an authentic look. A signature is something that\u2019s quite unique to only yourself, these fonts do just that for many brands, including Cadbury and Kelloggs.<\/p>\nHandwritten & Script Fonts<\/h4>\n![\"Handwritten](\"https:\/\/designshack.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Handwritten-font.jpg\")
<\/a><\/div>\nHandwritten and script <\/a>fonts are very similar to signature fonts, except these fonts have better readability and casual looks. Some of the most iconic brand logos, such as Disney and Virgin use handwritten fonts. It\u2019s the ideal type of font that targets general audiences.<\/p>\nMonogram Fonts<\/h4>\n![\"monogram](\"https:\/\/designshack.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/monogram-font.jpg\")
<\/a><\/div>\nMonogram fonts<\/a> are the type of fonts that are used to design monogram logos. Simply put, monogram fonts come with a unique style of characters that help you create monogram logos more easily.<\/p>\nVintage Fonts<\/h4>\n![\"vintage](\"https:\/\/designshack.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/vintage-font.jpg\")
<\/a><\/div>\nVintage fonts<\/a> also feature a specific design style that will go along well with your vintage and retro logo designs. These fonts feature old-school designs inspired by the signage and posters from the early 1900s.<\/p>\nDecorative Fonts<\/h4>\n![\"decorative](\"https:\/\/designshack.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/decorative-font.jpg\")
<\/a><\/div>\nDecorative fonts<\/a> have various design styles and they are used to design different types of brand and business logos. You\u2019ll see decorative fonts in many forms, from the font used by Baskin Robbins to Subway and more. It\u2019s the kind of font that\u2019s more suitable for casual and general brands.<\/p>\nWhen choosing a logo font<\/a>, there are two important things to keep in mind:<\/p>\n\n- Never pick a font that looks too obscure. You might think a font that hasn\u2019t used before may help get more attention, but it will never make your brand look good.<\/li>\n
- Use no more than 2 different fonts in your logo design. Try to stick with just one font for your logo. If your logo has a secondary slogan or a similar aspect, consider using a second font. But no more than 2 fonts!<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Choosing Your Logo Colour<\/h3>\n
Picking the right colors for your logo design requires careful research and attention. While it seems like an obvious choice, never pick colors at random.<\/p>\n
Colors have a more powerful effect on the human mind. According to color psychology<\/a>, different colors have the power to evoke specific emotions and behaviors in humans. You also need to make the colors match your brand design. And there are different color groups and trends that you need to be aware of.<\/p>\nColor Groups & Palettes<\/h4>\n
The color theory<\/a> and the color wheel suggests three main color groups:<\/p>\n\n- Primary:<\/strong> Red, Yellow, and Blue colors make the primary color group.<\/li>\n
- Secondary:<\/strong> Green, Orange, and Purple belong in the secondary<\/li>\n
- Tertiary: <\/strong>The colors you get when you mix primary and secondary colors are in the tertiary group.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
There are also various color trends and color palettes, like flat design colors, material design colors, metro colors, and more.<\/p>\n
Make sure the colors you choose for the logo can relate to a color group to make it a professional and an accurately designed logo. Also, you should consider using a flat color for the logo like black or white if you plan on using it as a watermark for videos.<\/p>\n
Tools For Creating A Color Palette<\/h4>\n
![\"color-designer-tool\"](\"https:\/\/designshack.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/color-designer-tool.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
There are also plenty of great tools you can use to come up with a proper color palette. These are just a few free online tools you can try.<\/p>\n
\n- Coolors.co<\/a><\/li>\n
- Colormind<\/a><\/li>\n
- Color Designer<\/a><\/li>\n
- Adobe Color Wheel<\/a><\/li>\n
- BrandColors<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Consider The Logo Background<\/h4>\n
Another important part of choosing colors is the background of your logo. Try to determine how your logo will be used, on what kind of paper it will be printed, what\u2019s the website\u2019s background look like, etc.<\/p>\n
Knowing how color works is part of designing a professional logo. It will help make your final design look more authentic and technically accurate.<\/p>\n
A good rule of thumb is to design multiple versions of logos using different colors. That way you\u2019ll always have a backup option if you decide to change the background color of your website or app.<\/p>\n
Using a Logo Grid<\/h3>\n![\"logo-grid-example\"](\"https:\/\/designshack.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/logo-grid-example.jpg\")
<\/div>\nThe logo grid is a system designers use to craft technically and geometrically accurate logo designs. When using the grid system, you make sure that all lines, curves, and shapes in the design are constructed to perfection.<\/p>\n
While some designers use square grids, there are designs that also use circular grids as well. Basically, the main idea of using a logo grid is to make the design accurate and to make sure that it can be easily replicated.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s actually a complicated system that needs careful studying. You can read our detailed guide<\/a> to learn more about logo grids.<\/p>\nTest Your Design Concept<\/h3>\n
Of course, designing the logo concept is only the first step in your logo design process. Now you need to figure out if it matches your brand, business, and core principles.<\/p>\n
The best way to do that is to test your concept design using a focus group. There\u2019s no need to find volunteers for this job, just use your social media channels.<\/p>\n
Show your logo concept to your fans and customers. Show it to your team. Ask for their feedback.<\/p>\n
There are also plenty of design-related groups and communities<\/a> on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Behance you can use to get feedback from professionals as well.<\/p>\nTime to Choose: DIY or Hire a Designer?<\/h2>\n
Now that you have a proper understanding of how logo design work, now it\u2019s time to make the decision on how you\u2019re going to design the logo.<\/p>\n
Mainly, there are two ways you can get your logo designed:<\/p>\n
\n- You can design the logo by yourself.<\/li>\n
- You can hire a freelance designer to design the logo for you.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
If you\u2019re making a logo for a new website, blog, magazine, or a small business, you should choose the DIY method. Logo designers aren\u2019t cheap. By designing the logo yourself, you\u2019ll be able to save a lot of money that you can invest in growing your business.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re making a logo for an international brand or a corporation, you should consider hiring a professional. They\u2019ll make sure your logo is crafted to perfection.<\/p>\n
We\u2019ll walk you through both these methods in more detail. Before jumping to conclusions, read through both sections and see which method seems like the best approach for your project.<\/p>\n
Designing Your Own Logo<\/h2>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/designshack.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Designing-Your-Own-Logo.jpg\")
<\/div>\nEven though it seems like a daunting task, designing a logo is not that difficult. These days, you don\u2019t even need expert Photoshop skills to design a logo. There are many online tools and template kits you can use to craft your own logo within minutes.<\/p>\n
Besides, you already learned a lot about logo design by reading through this guide. You might as well design the logo yourself, right? Well, let\u2019s get started.<\/p>\n
Logo Maker Software & Tools<\/h3>\n
Using an online tool is probably the best way to design a logo, especially when you\u2019re new to design. Since these tools are quite easy to understand, even someone without any design knowledge can use them to quickly put together a logo within a few minutes.<\/p>\n
Here are a few online and desktop tools for creating logos.<\/p>\n
Wix Logo Maker<\/a><\/h4>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/designshack.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/wix-logo-maker.jpg\")
<\/a><\/div>\nWix Logo Maker asks you a few questions about your business, before suggesting several logo designs that should be a good fit for your brand. You can easily change text, imagery, and colors to tweak the end result. Plus, you get full commercial use rights of any logo you create.<\/p>\n
They have a great gallery<\/a> of logos that have been created using the tool. You can make your own logo for free and, if you need high-resolution SVG files or files pre-sized and ready for social media, you can purchase and download your logo design at any time.<\/p>\nBrandCrowd<\/a><\/h4>\n![\"brandcrowd-1\"](\"https:\/\/designshack.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/brandcrowd-1.jpg\")
<\/a><\/div>\nBrandCrowd is one of the most sophisticated logo makers that allows you to create high-quality logos in just a few steps. It claims to have the biggest logo template collections in the world with a library of 50,000 pre-made logo templates.<\/p>\n
Unlike most other logo maker tools, BrandCrowd doesn’t use clip art icons from other online libraries to create logos. Each template is unique. This will allow you to craft original logos for your business as well as for clients. You can try the app for free.<\/p>\n
Placeit<\/a><\/h4>\n![\"placeit\"](\"https:\/\/designshack.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/placeit-2.jpg\")
<\/a><\/div>\nPlaceit is one of the most affordable and powerful online tools you can use to create a logo with ease. The tool lets you choose from hundreds of pre-made logo templates and easily customize them online using its editor to change colors, text, and shapes to match your brand. Then you can download the logo by subscribing to the service for $29 per month.<\/p>\n
Placeit is extremely easy to use and features lots of high-quality and unique logo designs you can use to create logos for any kind of a business, website, or brand.<\/p>\n
Canva<\/a><\/h4>\n![\"canva\"](\"https:\/\/designshack.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/canva.jpg\")
<\/a><\/div>\nCanva is an online tool mostly used to create social media graphics and blog content. However, it also includes a collection of logo templates that you can customize using the tool. While you can design and download the logo using Canva for free, you\u2019ll have to subscribe to its premium plan at $12.95 per month to download the logos with transparent backgrounds.<\/p>\n
DesignEvo<\/a><\/h4>\n![\"designevo\"](\"https:\/\/designshack.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/designevo.jpg\")
<\/a><\/div>\nDesignEvo is another popular online logo maker tool that boasts over 7000 logo templates in its directory. The tool is quite easy to use and it has a collection of decent logo templates. Much like Canva, you also need to pay a one-time fee of $29.99 to download your logo in high-resolution and with a transparent background.<\/p>\n
Looka<\/a><\/h4>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/designshack.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/looka.jpg\")
<\/a><\/div>\nLooka works similar to DesignEvo but comes with more expensive pricing. To download a single logo design in low-resolution, it costs $20 and charges $65 to download your logo design in multiple file formats. Although, Looka does give you access to a collection of high-quality logo templates.<\/p>\n
Inkscape<\/a><\/h4>\n![\"inkscape\"](\"https:\/\/designshack.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/inkscape.jpg\")
<\/a><\/div>\nInkscape is an open-source vector graphics editor, that works similar to Adobe Illustrator. The app is completely free to download and use. It has versions for Windows, Mac, and Linux. However, using the app to design logo can be challenging and it requires a bit of a learning curve.<\/p>\n
GIMP<\/a><\/h4>\n![\"gimp\"](\"https:\/\/designshack.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/gimp-1.jpg\")
<\/a><\/div>\nGIMP is the free alternative to Photoshop that many designers also use for their professional work. GIMP is an open-source image editor that functions just like Photoshop. Except the app is completely free to download and use. The app is available on Windows, Mac, and Linux.<\/p>\n
Logo Templates + Kits<\/h3>\n
If you already have Photoshop or Illustrator installed on your computer, then you can use logo templates to create a professional looking logo by yourself.<\/p>\n
There are ready-made logo templates you can download at an affordable price. These templates are available in either Photoshop or Illustrator format. You simply open the file in your preferred app and then with a few clicks you can edit the text and colors of the design to personalize the logo design.<\/p>\n
Once you\u2019re done, you can export the final design in any format you want.<\/p>\n
These logo templates are designed by professionals following the proper design techniques, trends, and standards of logo design so that you don\u2019t have to worry about them.<\/p>\n
To show you how amazing logo templates look, here are a few examples.<\/p>\n
Flying Eagle Luxury Logo Template<\/a><\/h4>\n![\"Flying](\"https:\/\/designshack.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Flying-Eagle-Luxury-Logo-Template.jpg\")
<\/a><\/div>\nA great logo template you can use to design a luxury logo for a high-end brand or hotel. It comes in vector file format.<\/p>\n
Vintage Logo Templates Bundle<\/a><\/h4>\n![\"Vintage](\"https:\/\/designshack.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Vintage-Logo-Bundle-1.jpg\")
<\/a><\/div>\nThis bundle comes with 12 logo templates featuring classic vintage designs. It also includes 11 geometric shapes, 7 antler sets, and 10 knives and blades separately for crafting your own logo designs.<\/p>\n
Line Badges & Logo Templates<\/a><\/h4>\n![\"Line](\"https:\/\/designshack.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Line-Badges-Logo-Templates.jpg\")
<\/a><\/div>\nThis template kit includes a set of beautiful and minimalist line badges you can use to design simple logos for various types of modern brands. You can easily change the colors as well.<\/p>\n
Heraldic Crest Logo Templates<\/a><\/h4>\n![\"Heraldic](\"https:\/\/designshack.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Heraldic-Crest-Logo-Templates.jpg\")
<\/a><\/div>\nAnother set of logo templates for luxury brands. These templates feature elegant emblem-style logos in both PSD and EPS vector formats.<\/p>\n
Monogram Alphabet Logo Templates<\/a><\/h4>\n![\"Monogram](\"https:\/\/designshack.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Monogram-Alphabet-Logo-Templates.jpg\")
<\/a><\/div>\nThis bundle includes monogram logos based on each letter of the alphabet. There are 26 logo templates you can use to make logos for brands with any name.<\/p>\n
Modern Logo Creator Kit<\/a><\/h4>\n![\"Modern](\"https:\/\/designshack.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Modern-Logo-Creator-Kit.jpg\")
<\/a><\/div>\nThis bundle includes 9 pre-made logo templates featuring unique and modern designs. What makes it special is that it also includes 34 different shapes, 30 font combinations, and gradient swatches you can use to create your own logo design using either Photoshop or Illustrator.<\/p>\n
Outdoor Logo Creator Kit<\/a><\/h4>\n![\"Outdoor](\"https:\/\/designshack.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Outdoor-Logo-Creator-Kit.jpg\")
<\/a><\/div>\nThis is a logo designer bundle that comes with more than 100 pre-made and editable logo templates that you can also edit with Adobe Illustrator to customize the design however you like.<\/p>\n
Watercolor Logo Creator Kit<\/a><\/h4>\n![\"Watercolor](\"https:\/\/designshack.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Watercolor-Logo-Creator-Kit.jpg\")
<\/a><\/div>\nThis logo creator kit comes with 30 logo templates featuring beautiful watercolor inspired designs.<\/p>\n
Minimal Logo Templates Bundle<\/a><\/h4>\n![\"Minimal](\"https:\/\/designshack.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Minimal-Logo-Templates-Bundle.jpg\")
<\/a><\/div>\nThis is a collection of minimalist and feminine logo templates. It includes 12 pre-made logo templates featuring various styles and in PSD format.<\/p>\n
30 Premade Logos Bundle<\/a><\/h4>\n
Your logo will represent your company and your mission. It has to be planned and crafted carefully. However, this doesn\u2019t mean your logo has to be geometrically correct. Sometimes, a few flaws can make your logo more unique and authentic.<\/p>\n
For example, the new Google logo is also geometrically wrong<\/a>, but that\u2019s part of what makes the brand so unique.<\/p>\n A good logo<\/a> has to be unique and unlike any other logo design in the world. It should use the colors related to its brand. It has to be relatable to the company. And, more importantly, it has to be easily distinguishable.<\/p>\n Much like every other industry, you can also get a logo designed at different prices. If you don\u2019t care about the quality of the logo, you could hire a designer on a platform like Fiverr to get a logo designed for just $5 dollars.<\/p>\n Or, you can hire a legendary designer for about $100,000<\/a>, which is what Steve Jobs paid to hire Paul Rand to design the logo for NeXT.<\/p>\n Of course, you shouldn\u2019t spend that kind of money on a logo even if you have the budget. There are other ways to design a logo. You can use online tools, pre-made templates, hire freelancers, and more.<\/p>\n There are many online tools for designing a logo at affordable prices. You can grab a pre-made logo template for about $20. Or you can hire a freelance designer.<\/p>\n The prices for hiring <\/a>a freelancer could range from $150 to $2,500, depending on the skill level of the professional. And it will cost more than $2,500 to hire a design agency.<\/p>\n There\u2019s a debate around the specifications of logo design<\/a>. While some believe logos should be geometrically correct others think logos have to be more creatively unique.<\/p>\n A good compromise is to follow Google\u2019s strategy. You can create a unique logo design while keeping geometric accuracy by using proper measurements in the design. This makes it easier to reproduce the logo.<\/p>\n That\u2019s where logo formats also come to the discussion.<\/p>\n Today, a logo needs to be compatible with both print and digital use cases. You can\u2019t just design a logo in Adobe Illustrator and save it as a vector file. You also have to consider other uses of the logo.<\/p>\n For example, the same logo design has to be used when designing an Android or an iOS app. Importing a vector logo into an app is not an easy task. So it\u2019s important to generate your logo design in multiple formats, including EPS, AI, PDF, and even SVG.<\/p>\n We always try to look for a free alternative whenever we have to spend money on something. Of course, you can also get a logo designed for free as well.<\/p>\n There are many free online logo generator tools you can use to instantly create a simple logo. You can also download free logo templates to customize and create logos for different types of businesses within a few minutes.<\/p>\n Keep in mind, these free tools and templates are being used by thousands of other businesses. Chances are you\u2019ll end up with a logo design similar to the logo of another shady business.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t cheap out. Even if you\u2019re using a template, or a logo builder, spending a few dollars on a premium version will reward you well in the long run. Think of your brand logo as a long-term investment. It\u2019s going to be part of your business for a very long time.<\/p>\n Before we get to the nitty-gritty of logo design, here are a few things you should keep in mind.<\/p>\n Unlike many other types of designs, a logo design is something that could be used anywhere and everywhere. It may end up printed on large scale on a billboard or on a tiny wearable screen in a smartwatch app.<\/p>\n Keep this in mind before you get started on your logo design. Your logo needs to be scalable to various sizes. For starters, create your design in vector format.<\/p>\n Imagine having to print a logo with so much detail in a smaller size. Like printing the logo on a pen or a small product label. It will certainly make those tiny details blurry and hard to notice.<\/p>\n Especially in the modern day and age ruled by small mobile screens, you should always consider using a minimalist logo design that\u2019s clearly visible no matter its size.<\/p>\n Even Starbucks started out with a complex logo design. And the company recently revamped the logo into something more simple without text and with just two colors.<\/p>\n Aim for a simple, clean, and less sophisticated design to make your logo more practical and effective.<\/p>\n Following up on the previous point, you should also avoid using effects in your logos to make it transferrable in various mediums.<\/p>\n For example, your logo is likely to be printed on documents and newspapers in black in white. Effects like shadows and gradients never transfer in such cases.<\/p>\n This is especially important when picking colors as well. Ask yourself this question\u2014 Would your logo look just as unique and recognizable in black and white without its colors and effects?<\/p>\n Logo design is one of the niches in the design industry where designers are encouraged to be creative and think outside the box. However, you should also know the limits to keep that creativity in check.<\/p>\n There are certain standards and rules you need to follow in order to design a professional and practical logo. Like creating a logo that represents the brand in the long-term. And designing a logo that resonates with the target audience.<\/p>\n The first step in your logo design process is planning and doing the research on how you want to approach the design, how it will be used, and how it will relate to your brand identity.<\/p>\n Have you ever noticed how most brands use the same colors, same design style, and the same font across all of their brand-related content such as website design, print documents, advertisements, and more?<\/p>\n That\u2019s because keeping a consistent design across all types of designs is extremely important in creating and maintaining a brand identity<\/a>.<\/p>\n A great example of this is MailChimp, which recently did a complete overhaul<\/a> of its brand identity and brand design that not only looks stunning but also make sure the brand stay relevant in the ever-changing world of design trends. The company also did a redesign of their logo as a part of this new brand identity design as well.<\/p>\n It\u2019s important that you consider your brand design style when crafting a logo to make sure it\u2019s relatable to your brand identity. You should use the same colors and fonts used by your brand design for the logo as well.<\/p>\n If you don\u2019t have a brand style guide or not sure what a brand style guide is, you can take a look at some of the best examples of brand style guides<\/a> and take inspiration from them.<\/p>\n As we\u2019ve mentioned earlier in the logo formats section, what type of logo formats you need to create will depend on how you\u2019re going to be using the logo.<\/p>\n For example, a logo that will be mostly used in print design should be designed using CMYK colors. And a logo for a web app can be crafted in SVG format for better scalability.<\/p>\n Grab a pen and paper and try to list how you\u2019re going to use the logo and then you\u2019ll be able to determine which logo formats to create, what colors to use, and how flexible the logo needs to be in terms of scalability.<\/p>\n A logo is something that needs to be completely unique and original. But, this doesn\u2019t mean you can\u2019t steal a few good ideas from some successful brands and companies.<\/p>\n Of course, we\u2019re not encouraging you to copy logo designs from other brands. We\u2019re just showing you ways you can get inspired by adopting the best techniques used by other designers when crafting your own logo.<\/p>\n Here are a few ways you can find inspiration for your logo design.<\/p>\n Behance <\/a>and Dribbble <\/a>are two of the most popular platforms that allow users to create portfolios and showcase their best work. As a result, the sites are filled with different types of designs created by other professionals, including logo designs.<\/p>\n Start searching for logo designs and see how designers use different styles of colors, fonts, symbols, and shapes to craft unique logos.<\/p>\n Moodboards are great for quickly finding inspiration. If you have a particular theme in mind for your logo design, you can find images and designs related to the theme and create a moodboard.<\/p>\n Example mood board by helium creative<\/a><\/p>\n For example, if you\u2019re working on a logo for a luxury brand, you can collect images of luxury product advertisements, promotions, and more from magazines, newspapers, and websites to create moodboards. Then study the moodboards to find inspiration for your own designs.<\/p>\n Did you know that designers actually create and sell logo designs online? You can find these customizable logo templates on marketplaces such as Envato Elements<\/a> and GraphicRiver<\/a>.<\/p>\n Browse the templates on these marketplaces and you\u2019ll be able to find inspiration from various styles of logo designs and niches.<\/p>\n You know how writers carry a notepad to jot down their ideas? Well, you can do the same to come up with great logo design ideas as well.<\/p>\n Carry a notebook in your pocket wherever you go. Whenever you see or think of something creative and inspiring, doodle it on your notepad. Doodle as much as you can. You\u2019ll be able to come up with more than just a handful of logo ideas with this method.<\/p>\n You can also get in touch with a professional logo designer and ask for their advice. They\u2019ll give you tips on how to find inspiration, logo design standards, and more.<\/p>\n Try sending a message to a designer on a social network like Twitter, LinkedIn, or Behance. Don\u2019t be afraid to ask for help.<\/p>\n Once you have an idea on how to approach your logo design, how it integrates with your brand design and the right layout in mind, you can put all of that into a logo concept to see how it would look like.<\/p>\n To create a logo concept, you need to understand how designs trends are used in logo designs and how different brands use different logo types. This will help you pick the right design for your own brand logo.<\/p>\n There are a wide variety of logo types used by different brands and businesses. And it often changes from one industry to another. In general, there are 5 main categories of logo types:<\/p>\n Depending on the type of business you have, you can pick one of these categories to create your logo. To better understand how these logos function in different industries, let\u2019s take a closer look at these logo categories.<\/p>\n Symbol (or pictorial) logos are one of the most common logos used by big brands and corporations. A symbol logo features an icon or image with a customized design. Like the half-eaten Apple logo. This is the type of logo brands use to represent their bold views in a simpler way.<\/p>\n Nike, Apple, Audi, Mercedes Benz are some of the best examples of symbol logos. This type of logos is best for large international brands since symbols can be easily recognized without any language barriers.<\/p>\n To give you an idea of how a symbol logo can be crafted for your brand, here\u2019s an example logo template that you can also download and use as your own logo.<\/p>\n Wordmark (or logotype) logo is a type of logo that simply uses a clean and clear word or name as the logo. Use this type of a logo if you\u2019re creating a new brand and want it to be easily recognizable.<\/p>\n In most cases, you\u2019ll need to use a unique font of your own to design a wordmark logo. Most companies that use wordmark logos, like Coca-Cola, Google, Visa, eBay, and Facebook have created unique fonts for the logos.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s what a wordmark logo may look like.<\/p>\n Lettermark (or monogram) logo is quite similar to a wordmark logo. However, a lettermark logo is a lot shorter. Most of the time, a lettermark logo is created using the initials of the company name and combining them into a unique logo design.<\/p>\n For example, NASA, Chanel, New York Yankees, IBM, all use lettermark logos. The font you use for a lettermark logo is important, but it doesn\u2019t have to be unique to your brand like a wordmark logo. You can use a common font and still make a lettermark logo if you can think outside the box.<\/p>\n Lettermark logos are often used to simplify a long or a hard-to-pronounce company name and make it easier to remember.<\/p>\n Like this example lettermark logo template.<\/p>\n You can also create a logo by combining two other logo categories. This type of logos is called combination mark logo.<\/p>\n For example, you can combine a symbol with a wordmark to create a unique logo like Adidas, Pepsi, and Burger King. Or, you can also combine a lettermark with a symbol or an emblem, like Warner Brothers, HBO, and LG.<\/p>\n This type of logos is mainly used by established brands as a way to take the branding to the next level and to make it easier use in various promotional material.<\/p>\n For example, PayPal<\/a> recently introduced a new logo because its wordmark logo was difficult to use across different platforms like on mobile apps. So the company made a simpler logo with a combination of a lettermark and a wordmark.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s what a combination mark logo would look like for your brand.<\/p>\n Just as it sounds, an emblem logo is an iconic logo design that features a more complicated design that captures the brand into a shield or a badge like layout. Harley Davidson, Starbucks, NFL, and BMW are examples of emblem logo designs.<\/p>\n These logos are used by companies to show their attention to detail attitude and quality. Of course, these logos are also quite difficult to replicate so it will be unique to your brand.<\/p>\n The only downside to emblem logos is that they may become difficult to use in smaller brand assets when shrunk down, like on a business card.<\/p>\n Although, if you were to use an emblem design like the one on this example template, resizing won\u2019t affect the clearness or readability.<\/p>\n There are also several other types of logos you can use to design a unique or creative logo.<\/p>\n For example, you can create a Mascot logo for your brand. Like the mascot used by Android, KFC colonel, and MailChimp\u2019s monkey. Mascot logos are perfect for businesses with creative and user-friendly brand identities, especially ones that target children.<\/p>\n The next step in your logo design process is to pick a design style for your logo.<\/p>\n Trends in the world of design are something that never stops changing. You\u2019ll see some sort of new design trend almost every year. However, when it comes to logo design trends<\/a>, there\u2019s been a few that never went out of style.<\/p>\n Minimalist logo design trend has been around for decades and it\u2019s one of the few trends that will make your brand look relevant and professional the older it gets.<\/p>\n A minimal logo design is all about using less of everything. They use fewer colors, clean fonts, simple symbols, and most of the minimal logos are often black and white.<\/p>\n Uber, Nike, and Wikipedia are some of the brands that use beautiful minimalist logos.<\/p>\n As you may have noticed, minimal logos are mostly used by luxury brands and high-end corporations. Because it\u2019s a timeless design trend that never goes out of style, just like James Bond.<\/p>\n You would think that using lots of colors is a bad design practice but it\u2019s quite the opposite. Many brands and businesses have been using colorful logo designs and these colors actually made their logos more iconic as well.<\/p>\n NBC, Google, eBay, and many others use colorful logo designs. However, this design trend is mainly used by multi-corporations or businesses that cover multi-categories to show the broadness of the company.<\/p>\n For example, eBay hosts dozens of product categories and host thousands of vendors on the platform. And, before Alphabet, Google was the parent company that managed all of its subsidiaries, like Gmail, Google+, and Android.<\/p>\n Using a multi-colored design is also great to convey openness and to show that you\u2019re a brand without gender, race, language, or culture gaps.<\/p>\n Abstract logo design works just as advertised. This style of logos usually uses abstract shapes and elements for creating unique logo designs.<\/p>\n Pepsi, Adidas, Airbnb, and many new and established brands use the abstract style of logos.<\/p>\n With an abstract logo design, you\u2019ll have more freedom to explore different styles and designs to create a logo that gives a unique identity to your brand.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re planning on using a monogram or emblem type of design for your logo, it\u2019s worth considering using a retro or a vintage style to craft the logo.<\/p>\n Even some of the modern brands and startups use the vintage style of logos to make their brands look more authentic and original. It also seems to have a strong effect on building authority and trust.<\/p>\n At first glance, anyone who looks at a vintage logo will believe your brand has been around for at least a few decades. This is probably one of the secrets behind the massive success of brands like Dollar Shave Club.<\/p>\n Brands and startups that like to get a bit more creative usually make their logos more memorable by making them look fun and quirky. Like the MailChimp logo, RedBull, or the Duolingo logo.<\/p>\n Making your logo look fun is easier when you add a mascot, but you don\u2019t have to. Doritos uses an emblem-style logo and yet they\u2019ve managed to make it look fun as well.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re willing to think outside the box, using this trend could help make your brand stand out and more memorable even in a populated industry.<\/p>\n Choosing a font for your logo<\/a> design is another important part of a logo design. This is also where many designers make the wrong decisions. Since there are so many choices in fonts, it\u2019s easy to get distracted.<\/p>\n Some of the most popular font types used in logo design are:<\/p>\n Signature fonts <\/a>are the type of fonts that make your text look like a handwritten signature. This style of fonts is used in wordmark logos to give them an authentic look. A signature is something that\u2019s quite unique to only yourself, these fonts do just that for many brands, including Cadbury and Kelloggs.<\/p>\n Handwritten and script <\/a>fonts are very similar to signature fonts, except these fonts have better readability and casual looks. Some of the most iconic brand logos, such as Disney and Virgin use handwritten fonts. It\u2019s the ideal type of font that targets general audiences.<\/p>\n Monogram fonts<\/a> are the type of fonts that are used to design monogram logos. Simply put, monogram fonts come with a unique style of characters that help you create monogram logos more easily.<\/p>\n Vintage fonts<\/a> also feature a specific design style that will go along well with your vintage and retro logo designs. These fonts feature old-school designs inspired by the signage and posters from the early 1900s.<\/p>\n Decorative fonts<\/a> have various design styles and they are used to design different types of brand and business logos. You\u2019ll see decorative fonts in many forms, from the font used by Baskin Robbins to Subway and more. It\u2019s the kind of font that\u2019s more suitable for casual and general brands.<\/p>\n When choosing a logo font<\/a>, there are two important things to keep in mind:<\/p>\n Picking the right colors for your logo design requires careful research and attention. While it seems like an obvious choice, never pick colors at random.<\/p>\n Colors have a more powerful effect on the human mind. According to color psychology<\/a>, different colors have the power to evoke specific emotions and behaviors in humans. You also need to make the colors match your brand design. And there are different color groups and trends that you need to be aware of.<\/p>\n The color theory<\/a> and the color wheel suggests three main color groups:<\/p>\n There are also various color trends and color palettes, like flat design colors, material design colors, metro colors, and more.<\/p>\n Make sure the colors you choose for the logo can relate to a color group to make it a professional and an accurately designed logo. Also, you should consider using a flat color for the logo like black or white if you plan on using it as a watermark for videos.<\/p>\n There are also plenty of great tools you can use to come up with a proper color palette. These are just a few free online tools you can try.<\/p>\n Another important part of choosing colors is the background of your logo. Try to determine how your logo will be used, on what kind of paper it will be printed, what\u2019s the website\u2019s background look like, etc.<\/p>\n Knowing how color works is part of designing a professional logo. It will help make your final design look more authentic and technically accurate.<\/p>\n A good rule of thumb is to design multiple versions of logos using different colors. That way you\u2019ll always have a backup option if you decide to change the background color of your website or app.<\/p>\n The logo grid is a system designers use to craft technically and geometrically accurate logo designs. When using the grid system, you make sure that all lines, curves, and shapes in the design are constructed to perfection.<\/p>\n While some designers use square grids, there are designs that also use circular grids as well. Basically, the main idea of using a logo grid is to make the design accurate and to make sure that it can be easily replicated.<\/p>\n It\u2019s actually a complicated system that needs careful studying. You can read our detailed guide<\/a> to learn more about logo grids.<\/p>\n Of course, designing the logo concept is only the first step in your logo design process. Now you need to figure out if it matches your brand, business, and core principles.<\/p>\n The best way to do that is to test your concept design using a focus group. There\u2019s no need to find volunteers for this job, just use your social media channels.<\/p>\n Show your logo concept to your fans and customers. Show it to your team. Ask for their feedback.<\/p>\n There are also plenty of design-related groups and communities<\/a> on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Behance you can use to get feedback from professionals as well.<\/p>\n Now that you have a proper understanding of how logo design work, now it\u2019s time to make the decision on how you\u2019re going to design the logo.<\/p>\n Mainly, there are two ways you can get your logo designed:<\/p>\n If you\u2019re making a logo for a new website, blog, magazine, or a small business, you should choose the DIY method. Logo designers aren\u2019t cheap. By designing the logo yourself, you\u2019ll be able to save a lot of money that you can invest in growing your business.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re making a logo for an international brand or a corporation, you should consider hiring a professional. They\u2019ll make sure your logo is crafted to perfection.<\/p>\n We\u2019ll walk you through both these methods in more detail. Before jumping to conclusions, read through both sections and see which method seems like the best approach for your project.<\/p>\n Even though it seems like a daunting task, designing a logo is not that difficult. These days, you don\u2019t even need expert Photoshop skills to design a logo. There are many online tools and template kits you can use to craft your own logo within minutes.<\/p>\n Besides, you already learned a lot about logo design by reading through this guide. You might as well design the logo yourself, right? Well, let\u2019s get started.<\/p>\n Using an online tool is probably the best way to design a logo, especially when you\u2019re new to design. Since these tools are quite easy to understand, even someone without any design knowledge can use them to quickly put together a logo within a few minutes.<\/p>\n Here are a few online and desktop tools for creating logos.<\/p>\n Wix Logo Maker asks you a few questions about your business, before suggesting several logo designs that should be a good fit for your brand. You can easily change text, imagery, and colors to tweak the end result. Plus, you get full commercial use rights of any logo you create.<\/p>\n They have a great gallery<\/a> of logos that have been created using the tool. You can make your own logo for free and, if you need high-resolution SVG files or files pre-sized and ready for social media, you can purchase and download your logo design at any time.<\/p>\n BrandCrowd is one of the most sophisticated logo makers that allows you to create high-quality logos in just a few steps. It claims to have the biggest logo template collections in the world with a library of 50,000 pre-made logo templates.<\/p>\n Unlike most other logo maker tools, BrandCrowd doesn’t use clip art icons from other online libraries to create logos. Each template is unique. This will allow you to craft original logos for your business as well as for clients. You can try the app for free.<\/p>\n Placeit is one of the most affordable and powerful online tools you can use to create a logo with ease. The tool lets you choose from hundreds of pre-made logo templates and easily customize them online using its editor to change colors, text, and shapes to match your brand. Then you can download the logo by subscribing to the service for $29 per month.<\/p>\n Placeit is extremely easy to use and features lots of high-quality and unique logo designs you can use to create logos for any kind of a business, website, or brand.<\/p>\n Canva is an online tool mostly used to create social media graphics and blog content. However, it also includes a collection of logo templates that you can customize using the tool. While you can design and download the logo using Canva for free, you\u2019ll have to subscribe to its premium plan at $12.95 per month to download the logos with transparent backgrounds.<\/p>\n DesignEvo is another popular online logo maker tool that boasts over 7000 logo templates in its directory. The tool is quite easy to use and it has a collection of decent logo templates. Much like Canva, you also need to pay a one-time fee of $29.99 to download your logo in high-resolution and with a transparent background.<\/p>\n Looka works similar to DesignEvo but comes with more expensive pricing. To download a single logo design in low-resolution, it costs $20 and charges $65 to download your logo design in multiple file formats. Although, Looka does give you access to a collection of high-quality logo templates.<\/p>\n Inkscape is an open-source vector graphics editor, that works similar to Adobe Illustrator. The app is completely free to download and use. It has versions for Windows, Mac, and Linux. However, using the app to design logo can be challenging and it requires a bit of a learning curve.<\/p>\n GIMP is the free alternative to Photoshop that many designers also use for their professional work. GIMP is an open-source image editor that functions just like Photoshop. Except the app is completely free to download and use. The app is available on Windows, Mac, and Linux.<\/p>\n If you already have Photoshop or Illustrator installed on your computer, then you can use logo templates to create a professional looking logo by yourself.<\/p>\n There are ready-made logo templates you can download at an affordable price. These templates are available in either Photoshop or Illustrator format. You simply open the file in your preferred app and then with a few clicks you can edit the text and colors of the design to personalize the logo design.<\/p>\n Once you\u2019re done, you can export the final design in any format you want.<\/p>\n These logo templates are designed by professionals following the proper design techniques, trends, and standards of logo design so that you don\u2019t have to worry about them.<\/p>\n To show you how amazing logo templates look, here are a few examples.<\/p>\n A great logo template you can use to design a luxury logo for a high-end brand or hotel. It comes in vector file format.<\/p>\n This bundle comes with 12 logo templates featuring classic vintage designs. It also includes 11 geometric shapes, 7 antler sets, and 10 knives and blades separately for crafting your own logo designs.<\/p>\n This template kit includes a set of beautiful and minimalist line badges you can use to design simple logos for various types of modern brands. You can easily change the colors as well.<\/p>\n Another set of logo templates for luxury brands. These templates feature elegant emblem-style logos in both PSD and EPS vector formats.<\/p>\n This bundle includes monogram logos based on each letter of the alphabet. There are 26 logo templates you can use to make logos for brands with any name.<\/p>\n This bundle includes 9 pre-made logo templates featuring unique and modern designs. What makes it special is that it also includes 34 different shapes, 30 font combinations, and gradient swatches you can use to create your own logo design using either Photoshop or Illustrator.<\/p>\n This is a logo designer bundle that comes with more than 100 pre-made and editable logo templates that you can also edit with Adobe Illustrator to customize the design however you like.<\/p>\n This logo creator kit comes with 30 logo templates featuring beautiful watercolor inspired designs.<\/p>\n This is a collection of minimalist and feminine logo templates. It includes 12 pre-made logo templates featuring various styles and in PSD format.<\/p>\nWhat Does A Logo Design Cost?<\/h3>\n
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Logo Formats & Specifications<\/h3>\n
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Does \u201cFree Logo Design\u201d Exist?<\/h3>\n
Things To Know Before Designing A Logo<\/h3>\n
Scalability Is Important<\/h4>\n
Minimalism Never Goes Out Of Style<\/h4>\n
Avoid Effects<\/h4>\n
Get Creative But Follow Standards<\/h4>\n
Planning & Research<\/h2>\n
<\/div>\nWhat Is Your Brand Identity And Voice?<\/h3>\n
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Where Will Your Logo Be Used?<\/h3>\n
5 Ways to Find Logo Design Inspiration & Ideas<\/h3>\n
1. Browse Behance & Dribbble<\/h4>\n
2. Create Moodboards<\/h4>\n
<\/div>\n3. Browse Marketplaces<\/h4>\n
4. Start Doodling<\/h4>\n
5. Ask A Designer<\/h4>\n
Create a Logo Concept & Specification<\/h2>\n
<\/div>\nChoosing a Logo Type<\/h3>\n
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Symbols<\/h4>\n
<\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\nWordmark<\/h4>\n
<\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\nLettermark<\/h4>\n
<\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\nCombination<\/h4>\n
<\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\nEmblem<\/h4>\n
<\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\nOther Logo Types<\/h4>\n
Choosing a Style or Trend<\/h3>\n
Minimal Logo Design<\/h4>\n
<\/a><\/div>\nColorful Logo Design<\/h4>\n
<\/a><\/div>\nAbstract Logo Design<\/h4>\n
<\/a><\/div>\nRetro & Vintage Logo Design<\/h4>\n
<\/a><\/div>\nCreative & Fun Logo Design<\/h4>\n
<\/a><\/div>\nChoosing Your Logo Font<\/h3>\n
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Signature Fonts<\/h4>\n
<\/a><\/div>\nHandwritten & Script Fonts<\/h4>\n
<\/a><\/div>\nMonogram Fonts<\/h4>\n
<\/a><\/div>\nVintage Fonts<\/h4>\n
<\/a><\/div>\nDecorative Fonts<\/h4>\n
<\/a><\/div>\n\n
Choosing Your Logo Colour<\/h3>\n
Color Groups & Palettes<\/h4>\n
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Tools For Creating A Color Palette<\/h4>\n
<\/p>\n\n
Consider The Logo Background<\/h4>\n
Using a Logo Grid<\/h3>\n
<\/div>\nTest Your Design Concept<\/h3>\n
Time to Choose: DIY or Hire a Designer?<\/h2>\n
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Designing Your Own Logo<\/h2>\n
<\/div>\nLogo Maker Software & Tools<\/h3>\n
Wix Logo Maker<\/a><\/h4>\n
<\/a><\/div>\nBrandCrowd<\/a><\/h4>\n
<\/a><\/div>\nPlaceit<\/a><\/h4>\n
<\/a><\/div>\nCanva<\/a><\/h4>\n
<\/a><\/div>\nDesignEvo<\/a><\/h4>\n
<\/a><\/div>\nLooka<\/a><\/h4>\n
<\/a><\/div>\nInkscape<\/a><\/h4>\n
<\/a><\/div>\nGIMP<\/a><\/h4>\n
<\/a><\/div>\nLogo Templates + Kits<\/h3>\n
Flying Eagle Luxury Logo Template<\/a><\/h4>\n
<\/a><\/div>\nVintage Logo Templates Bundle<\/a><\/h4>\n
<\/a><\/div>\nLine Badges & Logo Templates<\/a><\/h4>\n
<\/a><\/div>\nHeraldic Crest Logo Templates<\/a><\/h4>\n
<\/a><\/div>\nMonogram Alphabet Logo Templates<\/a><\/h4>\n
<\/a><\/div>\nModern Logo Creator Kit<\/a><\/h4>\n
<\/a><\/div>\nOutdoor Logo Creator Kit<\/a><\/h4>\n
<\/a><\/div>\nWatercolor Logo Creator Kit<\/a><\/h4>\n
<\/a><\/div>\nMinimal Logo Templates Bundle<\/a><\/h4>\n
<\/a><\/div>\n30 Premade Logos Bundle<\/a><\/h4>\n
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