POSTED IN
Marketing
WRITTEN BY
Nay Madani
DATE
Designing a logo is never as simple as it seems. Designers need a lengthy design process. Of course, the price paid will be commensurate with the results. However, designers will always strive for the best for their clients, and it is okay if they cannot complete the process overnight.
Are logos important?
We can say that a logo is a symbol or image with meaning and represents a company. Is it important? Yes! But logos are not everything. It is a way for your company to be remembered or recognized by many people.
Some companies create meaningful logos like Amazon with an arrow from a-z, indicating that you can buy anything from a-z there. However, it is not uncommon for companies to only want a simple logo as a symbol.
- A logo is not a brand
Remember that a logo is not a brand. A brand is a reputation, what other people think of when they hear your brand name and what people will say about your brand. It builds up from multiple touch points with your customers, not just from the logo!
- A logo is not a visual identity
Creating branding is not just enough with a logo. Forming a visual identity also requires more prominent visual elements such as super graphics, colors, typography, photography, layout, etc.
“A logo is not the most important thing, but a good business always comes with a good logo.”
The important things to consider when designing a logo
Making a business stand out is a challenge. Although the logo is not everything, it can affect the customer’s first impression of your brand. These things need to be considered before starting to design.
- Make sure it can represent the brand
The logo should depict your business visuals that represent your mission, vision, values, products, and services in a clear, concise, and powerful way. By looking at your logo, people should be able to associate it with your message and brand personality.
- See similar design (so as not to be labeled plagiarism)
Research competitor logos and similar logos to avoid similarities. Your brand must be unique and different.
- Use five principles
Don’t forget the golden principle in creating a logo to ensure the success of your brand. 5 of them are:
- SIMPLE
- VERSATILE
- TIMELESS
- APPROPRIATE
- MEMORABLE
Tips from Nice To Meet You Studio designer to create a logo
Andre Sikmajas, a Graphic Designer at Nice To Meet You Studio, will share his practical tips when designing a logo.
- Knowing the A, B, C’s
Conduct deep research on your clients, industry, customers, and competitors. Misunderstanding often occurs if you, as a designer, do not understand your clients. It may affect the process and results and your credibility to the client.
- Don’t trust your first ideas
Indeed, first ideas are always intriguing but better to be avoided. Instead, because first ideas don’t always become the best, try to seek more opinions and compare them with the first for maximum results.
- Start with black and white
Always start with a black and white version. It is to adjust toward the logo’s limits. For instance, if the shape or color won’t show right on print, will it appear precisely the same on various digital platforms. In addition, to also know if the brand is known by its shape alone.
- Validation
After finishing your design, try to seek validation from the customers’ perspective. It can be your friends or colleagues that know the brand, even the stakeholders. Hence, it is necessary to know if the design is appropriate to the brand and avoid customer misperception.
- Avoid trend
Trends always fade in a couple of years or more. Still, a logo must be timeless, like McDonald’s or Ferrari’s, that stood almost for a decade or more. Make it unique and, of course, in alignment with the brand.
- Pay attention to legality
Before and after making, always ensure that your logo does not mirror another brand’s. Must pay attention to the font if it is legal for commercial use. It may harm the client’s legality and cause customer misunderstanding if forgotten.
Create your best logo!
A logo is a crucial part of a business. Therefore, designers must maximize the design process and represent a business with its design. Make sure it doesn’t copy competitors and adopt its golden principles to make it memorable in customers’ minds. You can also consider tips from the Nice to Meet You’s designer. We are ready to help you show your brand’s face to the world!
