In order to design the right logo, you need to understand the client’s business, their values, and what they stand for. A great logo will communicate all of that in a simple and memorable way, but that’s only one component of a successful brand identity. It also needs to work in a variety of sizes and on different types of media, from business cards to signage on your building.
A good designer will take the time to tease out as much information about their client’s business and brand as possible. They’ll ask lots of questions about the business, its history, and competitors. They’ll also ask clients what kind of feelings they want to evoke in customers. This helps them create a logo that will reflect those feelings, so customers are more likely to choose the company’s products or services.
One of the best things that a logo can do is give a brand a sense of uniqueness. This is especially important for businesses in crowded industries. For example, the logos for Two Men and a Truck and Starbucks are both instantly recognizable, even without the company name attached. Creating a distinctive icon, typographic style, or color palette will help to set the company apart from its competitors.
It’s also helpful to ask clients about their favorite brands, both inside and outside of their industry. This can help them get a feel for what they like and dislike about other logos, and it might inspire them to come up with their own creative solutions. It can be helpful to compare the logos of those competing with your client’s company to see if there are any patterns or themes.
The next step is to determine if the client wants a wordmark or an image mark. A wordmark is a simple text logo that usually consists of just the company’s name, sometimes with a custom typographic treatment. Examples of well-known wordmarks include Office Max, Home Depot, and Walmart.
An image mark is a more complex type of logo. These can include illustrations, photos, or even 3D renderings of a product. This type of logo can be more versatile than a wordmark, but it’s still important to keep in mind that an image mark may not be easily understood by people with limited visual skills or disabilities.
While it’s tempting to incorporate colors into logo designs at an early stage, designers should hold off on doing so until the final stage of the process. Colors can be distracting, and they can often cause the designer to lose sight of the overall concept behind the logo. It’s also a good idea to start with a black and white version of the logo, so you can focus on shapes and points of contrast.
During the final stages of logo design, it’s a good idea to test your logo on dark backgrounds. This will help you to see how it looks and ensure that the colors will look good when the logo is applied in its various use-cases.