Since ancient times, people have endowed images and objects with internal content that conveys the essence of various phenomena. This is how symbols were born as designations of the content and quality of objects related to them. In the modern world, one example of symbolism as a phenomenon is a logo - a trademark associated with a brand or organization. A high-quality logo performs several important functions at once - it gives an idea of the services and products offered by the company, distinguishes the company and makes it recognizable among competitors, inspires customer trust, and helps promote products on the market.
The use of logos is not the prerogative of exclusively large companies; it is desirable for all organizations and enterprises that count on loyal customer relations to have them. This is also relevant because the task of creating a brand name is not technically difficult - thanks to computer technology, today you can make a logo yourself without much difficulty. Special design programs will help you realize your plans, the most famous of which we will now get acquainted with.
Desktop programs for creating logos
A professional program that allows you to create a logo yourself without specific knowledge and skills. The application library has many ready-made templates of different themes that can be modified at your discretion. The principle of working with the program is very simple, and it consists in assembling a logo from available elements. AAA Logo can work with raster and partially vector graphics, colors and styles, allows you to add arbitrary text, shapes and pictures to templates, and flexibly configure the parameters of individual elements and layers.
The use of gradients and color transitions of different types, and changing the size of the logo are supported. The finished image can be saved in popular raster and vector formats, in the internal project format, and also printed in high resolution. Unfortunately, AAA Logo does not work correctly with Cyrillic fonts, which limits its use, and it is also paid.
You can also create a logo yourself using another similar program, Sothink Logo Maker. She also suggests using ready-made templates as the basis for a future logo, but it has several advantages. Firstly, Sothink Logo Maker has a wider range of tools, secondly, the application works great with Cyrillic fonts, and thirdly, you can use it for free for 30 days without any special restrictions.
The editor's functionality includes free-form drawing, the use of tools such as pen, scalpel, polygon and pencil, adding and editing shapes, of which there are simply a huge number in the program library, applying shadow, reflection, volume and transparency effects, adding raster and vector images to the project, and also dynamic SWF objects. The finished logo is saved as a project, JPEG, PNG or SVG file, optimized for the web or printing on paper.
Another specialized program that allows you to quickly create a logo based on ready-made elements. It features a more than impressive set of templates (there are about 1,500 of them in Logo Design Studio), but they are not supplied with the program itself, but are downloaded from the developer’s website automatically immediately after launching and activating the application.
The program has a bunch of different settings that allow you to change the parameters of objects, supports adding and editing shapes, applying visual effects, inserting images, Latin and Cyrillic text, symbols, alignment, color manipulation, etc. are available. The logo can be saved as an editable project, as well as JPEG, BMP, TIFF, PNG, EMF, WMF and PDF files. In addition, printing is available.
A duplicate program of AAA Logo, which has a similar set of functions and a similar interface. If so, then what is the point of it? It's very simple, Jeta Logo Designer is free and ready to use. On the other hand, the Free version of the application has an order of magnitude fewer templates and primitives; it also does not have the ability to add images from the hard drive to the project or download additional objects from the developer’s website.
Unlike the four previous programs, Adobe Illustrator cannot be called a logo maker in the narrow sense of the word, since this editor is suitable for creating a wide variety of graphics. We decided to include it in the list for the following reasons: firstly, it works with vector images that are better optimized for printing, and secondly, it has almost unlimited tools for realizing any designer’s fantasies.
The lack of ready-made templates in Adobe Illustrator means that you will have to draw logos from scratch or by composing graphics found on the Internet. Yes, to work with the program you need to have some experience, but this is the only way you will be able to create a distinctive sign that is unique in all aspects.
Online services and logo generators
In addition to desktop programs, there are also special web applications that allow you to create logos online. Many of them are not inferior in functionality to desktop software, and also provide their services free of charge.
A popular online designer that allows you to create logos using a convenient step-by-step wizard, equipped with tips. The creation procedure includes selecting a template, editing text and adding a background, everything else is optional. The service supports working with layers, adding simple visual effects, rotating and scaling, adding primitives from the online library and arbitrary images from the hard drive.
The finished logo is uploaded in JPEG, PNG and SVG formats with preliminary selection of the appropriate size and background color. Logotype Maker provides services on a paid or free basis, depending on which template was chosen.
Logaster
Another well-known service on the RuNet, Logaster, will help you draw a logo yourself online. Simple, convenient, organized in the form of a step-by-step wizard, has many templates of different directions, and fully supports Cyrillic fonts. The process of creating a logo online consists of three steps: choosing an activity, choosing a logo, editing the logo and saving it.
The set of editing tools is standard - scaling, working with color, and adding primitives to the project are supported. The finished image is saved in SVG, PDF, PNG and JPEG formats. Logaster allows you to make a logo online for free, but there is also a premium version of the web application with advanced functionality.
LogoMaker
A good English-language service that allows you to make logos online at a professional level. The operating principle of this service is not much different from other constructors, except that the sequence of actions in it is somewhat different. First, the user is asked to give the logo a name, then select a type, font, and only then a primitive.
At the last stage, the service offers to edit the image, although this step can be skipped if everything in the logo drawn online is satisfactory. Editing options in LogoMaker include changing the color and position of the primitive, replacing text, and adjusting font settings. The downside of the resource is that the services are paid.
We think that's enough for now. There are also many other designers that allow you to create a logo online for free and on a commercial basis. If you choose, we advise you to pay attention to services such as Genlogo, Canva and TurboLogo, but it is best, of course, if the logo is created by a professional designer, whose skills and experience cannot be replaced by any generator program.
Hello, dear bloggers, website owners and web builders, today’s post is just for you! Let's talk about how to make a logo for a website.
In general, it is amazing how quickly the Internet has changed our world. Just 8-10 years ago, only large companies or well-promoted brands had their own logos. And the owners of medium and small businesses limited themselves to “flashy” names like “World of Windows”, “ABC of Furniture” and other “Empires”. By the way, in Samara we still have a chain of “Planet Second-Hand” stores, and this name brings wild delight to all my out-of-town friends.
But the World Wide Web has turned everything upside down in this matter as well. If you have at least one domain, you've probably already thought about how to write it beautifully. And it is right. Every webmaster wants people not only to visit his site, but also to remember it. The logo plays an important role in this matter, so let’s figure out whether it’s possible to make it yourself and how much it costs to start your own brand.
1. Free online services
The easiest, fastest and completely free way is to generate a logo using a free service. There are a dime a dozen of such sites in the bourgeois internet, maybe there are also in RuNet, but I haven’t found them yet.
- www.logaster.ru is a very convenient and simple online logo generator. In just a few minutes you can create a beautiful logo, and then download it in all popular formats. There is a possibility of free and paid downloading of logos.
- cooltext.com - you can create a text logo with animation, although I don’t know why.
- www.onlinelogomaker.com has a pretty decent set of icons, but most of them look a bit basic.
- logotypecreator.com - the service generates several abstract options, which can then be modified and downloaded.
- www.logoease.com - it is possible to edit not only the text, but also the size, position and colors of the icon.
Pros: You don’t need any special knowledge or experience in working with graphic editors; a simple logo can be made in just a few minutes.
Minuses: limited set of graphic elements; everywhere except www.logaster.ru there are no Cyrillic fonts.
2. Draw in Photoshop
There are tons of tutorials online on how to create beautiful texts in Photoshop. All you have to do is choose the style that suits you and follow the step-by-step instructions.
Websites where you can find such lessons:
Pros: cheap, completely free and cheerful. The result depends only on your diligence and imagination.
Minuses: If you have not worked in Photoshop before, you will have to tinker and spend a lot of time creating a logo.
3. Paid online services
On these sites you can create a logo completely free of charge, but you will have to pay to download and use it for its intended purpose.
- www.logaster.ru - was already on the list of free services, but larger logo options are available after payment.
- logotypecreator.com - some (or rather, the most beautiful) logo options on this site are available only after payment.
Pros: there are very interesting ideas, it’s worth trying these services even if you are not going to buy anything there. You can create a sketch of the logo, screen it and send it to the designer; you can’t think of a better technical specification.
Minuses: expensive, considering that anyone, even your competitor, can create the same logo if desired.
4. Buy a ready-made logo
If you have money, but don’t have time to look for a designer, write technical specifications and check the work, you can buy a ready-made logo on a stock site. For example:
- www.shutterstock.com and so on.
To be able to include your domain in the logo, when purchasing, choose a vector format (usually it is the most expensive).
Pros: We save time and get professional results.
Minuses: Again, lack of uniqueness. In some cases, you can buy the rights to the image, but if someone has already made a logo using this template, you will not be able to revoke their license. 
5. Order from a freelancer
And finally, the most correct option from my point of view is to go to the freelance exchange and entrust the creation of a logo to professionals. Here, another question really arises: how to find a good designer who will take into account all your wishes, will not disappear after receiving an advance payment and will not rip you off? And you won’t find a definite answer, because lazy people and scammers are constantly improving their “skills.”
I choose an artist based on the following criteria:
- there are works in the portfolio that I would buy
- no negative feedback
- was on the site today/yesterday, maximum a week ago
Usually I don’t create a project, but rather send messages to 3-5 freelancers who meet these requirements. I briefly describe the task and ask you to indicate the cost and timing of the order.
Among those who respond within one or two days, I choose the freelancer whose work, prices and deadlines I liked the most. Then all that remains is to fill out the technical specification form (it must be sent by the designer) and start the deal.
What should the site logo be like?
A good logo should have three main qualities: conciseness, readability, and idea. There is no need to pile up a bunch of elements (especially small ones), and you should not use handwritten fonts. Your visitor will not peer at the site header for hours; he can see it out of the corner of his eye. And if one glance at the logo is enough for a person to understand what this site is about, then you did a great job!
Hello, dear friends.
Introduction
My name is Dmitry Borkov, I do graphic and web design. My main areas of focus are the development of website design, logos and printed products.
In our digital age, especially in the web environment, design is developing rapidly, but only its meaningful use makes design a truly powerful tool. To do this, you need to look at design as a visual language that takes into account information, mood and creates a powerful subconscious message.
Therefore, especially for the blog website I decided to write series of articles about how to develop a logo for a company or website, and also show an approach that will help make design an understandable and conscious tool for conveying the message you need to the world.
If you are NOT a designer and you need a logo, then you can contact me for help in developing it. You can find me on VKontakte: vk.com/dborkov82
How does the whole development process work?
The design process itself consists of the following stages:
- Development of the semantic core of the logo (we will consider this stage today).
- The birth of the main image.
- Typography or an excursion into fonts.
- The shape and polish of the final impression.
In this article I want to tell you about what a logo is, where it begins and how its semantic core is developed.
When the core is developed, you can go in several ways, choose a ready-made logo on a stock photo or order it from a designer. Any of the proposed options will allow you to get a high-quality logo for your projects. A third option is also possible - independent development, but only if graphic design is your second “I”.
First of all, we need to understand what a logo is and what purposes it serves.
Logo Misconception
Most people choose a logo without having a clear idea of it, guided by taste or subjective feelings that are not fully realized and do not allow them to see the whole picture.
This phenomenon can be found even in the sphere of design professionals; outside the professional sphere the picture is similar. At that time, the logo is the very first part of the corporate identity that a potential client sees and begins to build trust.
I wonder why this happens?
The answer, as always, is simple and lies on the surface. The traditional definition of a logo is actually false because it does not reveal the full meaning and it sounds something like this: it is a unique, recognizable, memorable sign, and so on. I will not give the entire list of these parameters; they can be found on the Internet, but they are of little use. You can find many memorable, recognizable signs, but not every one of them you will want to put on your business card!
All this is because you also have criteria for choosing a logo at the moment, you just don’t realize them, but we will discuss them later, but for now I would like to tell you one important point.
Semantic core or path from inside to outside
Why should a logo be chosen based on semantic and not just taste preferences?
Because any picture, image will evoke a whole series of associations in the viewer, and he will think of it himself and associate it with your company, and do this mostly unconsciously. We all know that words can't tell you anything. Writing with a pen on paper is a little more difficult, but drawing a picture about nothing is completely impossible, because a picture is a concrete material image.
A logo can be ironic, friendly, reliable, bright or calm. All its components - image, composition, color, shape create certain impressions, and it is very important that they all convey the same message, but each in their own way. It is then that the message will be clear, clear and understandable.
The viewer will perceive this information unconsciously, unless he is a design professional. He will not be able to understand all the meanings and ideas that I wanted to put into the logo, to understand why I chose this particular image. Therefore, hence the rule - the image that I broadcast must be as accurate as possible, simplified, cleared of all excesses, and only then will it be understandable to the majority on a conscious and subconscious level. A logo is not just a pretty picture, it is a meaning crystallized into a form.
Therefore, work on it must begin with the creation of a semantic core, the main impression that I am going to make, and in our simplified case, the process of obtaining a logo can be divided into 2 fundamental stages:
- Creation of a semantic core.
- Choosing a logo on a stock photo.
You can see other stages of logo development, working with designers and involvement in all the nuances of the process in my other articles. Now we are looking at the simplest scheme with minimal investment, which will allow you to get a high-quality brand name with an understanding of what is good and what is bad for your logo. I'll take you step by step and show you how to do it.
Creating a semantic core
The logo is me and my business
So, first, let’s correctly define what a logo is.
A logo is a brand name that answers three simple questions:
- Who am I?
- What am I?
- What I do?
First of all, you need to answer these 3 questions in relation to your niche, and to make it easier for you to look at your own activities from such a new angle, let's look at these questions with an example.
Let's imagine that I am a carpenter and am engaged in making paintings - wood inlays. For me, carpentry is a way to transfer creative ideas onto a wooden medium, to create a wooden background that will remind you that nature is the most comfortable environment for humans and you can and should interact with it carefully. My stories are about friendship between humans and forest inhabitants; they convey kindness, comfort, and interaction.
The logo is “the best me”
Answering the question “What am I?”, you need to go the other way and answer, what qualities should I have in order to succeed in my business? Imagine seeing yourself in the future who has achieved the highest goal in the business you are doing, and imagine what qualities does this “best you” possess? There can be many of these qualities; write down at least 7 that come to mind.
Choose the most key quality and forget everything secondary, a logo is, in fact, a small icon, and there is no room for secondary concepts :)
Then we get the following answers:
- I am an artist - a carpenter who works with wood.
- I create an atmosphere in which it is pleasant to be.
- I am bright, kind, joyful.
Crystallizing an idea into an image
After writing similar 3 points about your niche (and I hope you answer these questions on a piece of paper while reading), I am sure that you will begin to form certain images, this is just the beginning, and then we will help these images grow into a whole tree of ideas.
Now you need to write down what associations and images each of these points evokes, write 7-10 examples for each point.
- What does a wood artist look like and what does he do?
- What does good look like? What picture do I call light?
- How do I know if this atmosphere is comfortable?
It is very important to formulate these concepts in the form of words, and not try to turn them into a logo image ahead of time. Drawing on paper stops the flow of visual associations as you begin to get used to it.
The process of turning an idea into a form should happen in stages, some stages will go very smoothly for you, some will go through some rough spots. It is the roughness that requires the most attention, and here it is important to remember that the quality of the result depends on the most problematic stages of its creation, and not on the most developed ones.
Problem areas require the most complete disclosure; only then can we say that we have created a full-fledged semantic core and we can move on to other stages of logo creation.
So, if you've gone through the steps above, you now have an idea of what you want your logo to look like, and we can move on.
Choosing a logo on a stock photo
A little about stock photos
I specifically named this section this way, since we will not draw the logo ourselves, unless the graphic designer is your other “I”. Unless you are a professional in this field, we need to make a serious impression on potential clients, not just amuse them, so we need to entrust this process to a professional. In this article I won’t talk about working with designers, that will be a separate article, but now we’ll talk about working with stock photos.
There are several large photo stocks, such as:
We'll use any of them, but first we need keywords to search for.
The right keywords are the key to success
To do this, the first thing we do is type our keyword in the search query line, and first of all we find an article from Wikipedia for it. Open the article and select English in the left sidebar in the section in other languages. It is this method that allows us to get the meaning of our word used in English, at the same time, Google Translator can give a literal translation of your word into English and get a meaning that is not used in speech, for which when we search we will either find very little or find nothing at all.
If Wikipedia does not help us translate in this way, we will use other translation services from the same Google, for example.
The keyword obtained in this way can be safely inserted into the search bar of the stock photo, adding the word logo to it.
After this, from the search sample, we look at which of the presented works correspond to our semantic core and our criteria. I recommend selecting 10-20 logos and saving them in a separate folder, note that the logo should be marked on the stock photo as a vector illustration that you can edit.
Choice largely determines the outcome
Now you have about 20 potential logos and now it is important to make the right choice, for this I will offer you the method that I use myself.
Review your 20 logos and duplicate the folder containing them. Now your task is to count the pictures and remove exactly half of them. Then repeat the same operation with the remaining 10. When you have 5 logos left, do the following - put them away until the next morning and don’t look at them again.
Tomorrow morning you will open the folder with these 5 logos and with a fresh mind you will see which one will really be yours. Now you can register on a photo stock and buy this illustration. If your logo has text, edit it using vector editors such as Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop.
Conclusion
All! Now we have finished creating the semantic core, and we have an understanding of which logo would be the best for us. From this you can already form a technical specification for working with a designer, which you will read about in other articles in this series.
We chose a logo from a stock photo, and if you are not a designer and don’t want a designer to develop the logo, then this is the best option, and we did it.
You can now be congratulated on your new brand name that accurately reflects the essence of your business!
In the following articles we will look at all the elements of the early process, and if you ever come into contact with a logo as a client or designer, you will definitely find something new and useful that will help make your brand truly bright, meaningful and trendy.
See you in the next articles and thank you for your attention!
Friends, leave your comments and questions below under this article, I will always be happy to answer them and help you develop a logo. I left a link to my VKontakte page at the beginning of the article.
A logo is much more than just words, an icon, a color. A good logo tells a story about your company: who you are, what you do, and what you stand for.
Creating a logo is not an easy task: there are many nuances that need to be taken into account when developing it. Luckily, you don't have to do this alone. With the help of this step-by-step instructions, you can do it easily and simply. But enough words, let's get started!
What is a logo and what is it for?
But before we move directly to the recommendations, we would like to recommend you an online service from Logaster
, which can create a logo for you all in a few minutes. Just enter your company name and the site will create some logos for you!
Now let's move on to the article :)
Every day we constantly come across logos.
For example, the average US resident sees 16,000 advertisements, logos and labels per day. If you look around, you will probably also notice several dozen logos around you.
Why are there so many of them and why do many companies spend thousands, hundreds, or even millions of dollars to create this small element?
What do we, first of all, understand by the word “logo”?
A logo is a symbol or emblem that is used
to identify services, products and the company itself.
How to choose a color for a logo?
Color, color and more color! It's the first touchpoint and the most memorable item, says Leslie Harrington, executive director of The Color Association.
Understanding how color affects human perception is important when creating a quality logo, says Martin Christie of Logo Design London.
Color can help you enhance the right feelings and create a strong emotional connection. Use the infographic (large size) to choose the color you want for your logo.
How to choose the right logo color?
To answer this question, you need to ask yourself 3 questions:
What color highlights your brand's personality?
What colors characterize your products/services?
What color is your competitor using?
The colors are not tied to any specific industry, but certain colors are better suited to some services/products than others.
You should aim to choose a color that will highlight your company's personality. The color should make the right impression on customers who see your logo for the first time.
What to do when you've figured out your competitors' colors?
One option is to use a color opposite to the color of the main competitor's logo. This will help you stand out. But it's worth considering the colors of your industry so that the opposite color matches the industry. For example, the pink color for the logo of a bank or law firm looks inappropriate and ridiculous.
Consider the characteristics of color in different cultures. For example, in the Western world, white is considered the color of purity and peace, and in some Asian countries it is the color of death.
One color or several?
To convey the desired feelings and emotions as much as possible, one color is usually used when creating a logo design. However, there are many successful logos with multiple colors - Google, eBay.
Therefore, you can safely use one color or several. The main thing is that they combine! But, of course, you shouldn’t overdo it and use a large number of colors.
I recommend choosing two primary colors. This makes it easier for your brand to communicate with your customers. Many companies, from sports teams to corporations, have used only two colors for many years.
— Pamela Wilson.
How to choose several colors for a logo?
The easiest way to choose the right colors for your logo is to use color schemes.
There are many online services for finding great color schemes. You can find several in this one.
For example, Adobe Kuler or the Russian-language Colorscheme service.
Designers often use the 60-30-10 formula. It consists of choosing 3 different colors and using them in a ratio of 60%, 30% and 10%. This rule provides an easy way to create a professional color scheme for your brand.
— Jared Christofferson, Yellowhammer
Where can you find logo inspiration?
It is often very difficult to take the first step when we are dealing with something unfamiliar. For example, with the creation of logos. You can spend a day, or even a week, thinking about and making logo drawings, which is very exhausting.
Fortunately, there is a good way to get rid of the stupor as soon as possible and make the first step less painful. For example, gain inspiration from other logos and designers’ works.
For this we have selected 10 best sites, where you can get ideas for your logo.
Logo Pond
Logo Moose
This site's community has collected the best logos from professional logo designers from all over the world.
Logofi was created to inspire designers and other creative people. On this site you can see the work of not only professional designers, but also ordinary visitors who have uploaded their logo.
Logo Gala
LogoGala is one of the most outstanding resources for finding inspiration. On the website you can select a logo filter by color.
Logospire is a logo gallery. But the main difference between this site and others is that you can see the best designer logos. The site has a rating system and every month a list of the best logos is compiled.
Logo Heroes
Here are the best logos on the internet.
Logo Fury
Another gallery of logos, which is regularly updated with fresh works. The site has a convenient search by tags, so finding a logo on the desired topic is very convenient.
Logo Faves
One of the most popular sites. The site contains logos of many famous designers. There is a tag search to find the logo you need.
Errors when creating a logo
To make a really good logo, you need to avoid certain mistakes.
Below we have collected the most popular of them.
Mistake 1: Using a bitmap
The use of raster images in logos is not recommended because it may cause problems when reproducing the logo. If you enlarge a bitmap image too much, it will appear tiled, making it unusable.
Therefore, standard practice when developing a logo is to use programs that work with vector graphics - Adobe Illustrator or Corel Draw. Vector graphics are made up of dots calculated with mathematical precision, ensuring a consistent visual experience no matter the size of the image.
Basic advantages of using vector graphics when developing a logo design:
1. The logo can be scaled to any size without loss of quality.
2. Subsequent editing of the logo is greatly facilitated.
3. A vector image is easier to adapt to other media than a raster image.
Mistake 2: Following trends
Trends come and go. Eventually they turn into clichés. A well-designed logo should be durable. This can be achieved if you do not rely on newfangled tricks and techniques.
To create a unique identity for your company, it is best to completely ignore logo trends.
Logo Online Pros has a huge section where current logo design trends are updated annually. It is important that you are aware of the latest fads and avoid them at all costs. — Smashingmagazine
Mistake 3: Overcomplexity
An image that contains too much detail will not be perceived well in print or when viewed in a smaller version.
Details of a complex design will be lost, and in some cases it will look messy or, worse, not be perceived correctly.
For example, the fingerprint pattern on the fictional Smashing logo can only be seen upon very close inspection. When you zoom out, details are lost.
Look at the corporate logos of Nike, McDonald's and Apple. Each of these companies has a very simple image that can easily be reproduced in any size.
Mistake 4: Dependence on color effects
Without color, your great logo can lose its identity. Right?
No! This is a very common mistake. Designers can't wait to add a few of their favorite colors, many even rely on it entirely.
Choosing a color should be your last decision, so it's best to start designing in black and white.
Mistake 5: Poor font choice
When it comes to creating a logo, choosing the right font is the most important decision you will make. Due to poor font choice, the logo most often fails (our example shows the infamous Comic Sans).
Choosing the perfect font for your logo is all about matching the font to the style of the image. But there may be tricks here. If the match is too close, the image and font will compete with each other for the viewer's attention. If it’s the other way around, then the viewer won’t understand what to focus on. The main thing is to find the right balance.
The entire brand message will fall flat if the chosen font does not reflect the characteristics of the image.
Mistake 6. Designing a logo for yourself, not for clients
Often, when creating a logo, there is a desire to use your favorite font, color, etc. Do not do that!
Ask yourself, is this font and color really suitable for my business?
For example, that gorgeous modern typography font you love might not be suitable for a serious client like a law firm.
Mistake 7: Typographic chaos
Typography can make or break a logo, so knowing the basics of typography is vital. The logo should remain as simple as possible, but at the same time convey the desired message. To achieve this, you need to consider all typographic aspects of the design.
Don't use too many fonts or weights (two is the maximum). Don't use fonts that are predictable, pretentious, or too thin. Pay close attention to kerning, spacing, and size. Most importantly, make sure you choose the right font(s) for the project.
Mistake 8: Creating a monogram
One of the most common mistakes made by non-professional logo designers is trying to create a monogram from the initial letters of a business name (for example, B&H for Bob's Hardware). Although it looks creative at first glance, it is difficult to be convincing or convey the desired message using company initials. You can certainly try, but don't stop there if there are other logo design options.
Also try not to turn the name of the company into an abbreviation if it has not become commonly used and this does not correspond to the goals set.
HP, FedEx, IBM and GM didn't start out with acronyms; they became such many years after gaining a high-class reputation.
Mistake 9: Using Visual Cliches
A light bulb as a symbol of an idea, a bubble with text - discussion, strokes - dynamism, etc. These are the first ideas that come to mind during brainstorming, and for the same reason they are the first to be abandoned.
How can your design be unique when many other logos have the same idea? Avoid visual clichés and come up with an original idea and design.
Mistake 10. Copying, stealing or borrowing a design
It's sad to have to say this, but this practice is common these days. A logo designer sees an idea he likes, tweaks it a little, changes the colors or words, and makes the idea his own. It's unethical, illegal, stupid and you'll get caught sooner or later.
How to Create a Logo - Step-by-Step Guide
We've already covered almost everything you need to know about creating a logo.
Now all that remains is to sort out the information received.
Take another look at:
Step 1: Create multiple drafts
During the early stages of logo design, you may have several ideas that you want to express in the logo. You shouldn’t neglect them, it’s better to write them down; perhaps some of them will be useful to you when creating the final version of the logo.
Step 2: Sketch your logo design
Sketching is a quick and easy way to get ideas onto paper where you can evaluate them more easily.
Do not erase or throw away sketches. Design is not a linear process. All ideas can be valuable, even if you don't think so right away. 
If you don't know how to draw, don't worry. You can try sketching your logo using screenshots. Go to the sites of several online generators, icon galleries, etc. Try to find the right images that you like and save them. You can then use them to create your unique logo.
Step 3: Select Logo Creation Tools
You can create a logo using:
— graphic programs — Adobe Illustrator, Inkscape, Photoshop;
— platforms for ordering logos — 99Designs:
— online services and designers — , Logaster
. Very useful service, I recommend it!
If you're comfortable working with graphics programs, don't hesitate to use them to create your logo.
But you should not neglect online services. They can be used to find inspiration or test ideas.
Step 4: Create a Logo
Step 5. Test the logo
Have you created a logo and decided it's perfect? Perhaps this is not the case. It will be more effective to show the logo to colleagues, friends, and some clients and get feedback. Ask them a few questions: what do they think of the logo, do they like it? If the answers suit you, then you did everything right.
However, be careful with reviews from friends and relatives. If they are not professional designers, their advice may not be entirely useful to you or may even be false.
Step 6: Check your logo's scalability
Check the logo image in different versions - in newspaper ads, on a business card, on your website. The logo should look good whether it is reproduced in a large or small format. 
Some tips:
- If the logo has a lot of detail or lines that are thin, then the logo may look too fussy at small sizes.
— If a logo is created for a business card or website, then it will, as a rule, look awkward when large.
- Use graphics programs such as Adobe Illustrator or Inkscape, they allow you to check the scalability of your logo.
Step 7: Create Multiple Logo Formats
You may have created your logo in a graphics program like Adobe Illustrator from the beginning. If this is not the case, you need to transfer the logo sketch from paper to electronic form.
Some tips:
— Save the logo not only in .
The latter will allow you to easily scale your logo without losing quality. If you already have a logo in raster format, you can convert it to vector using vectormagic.com.
— Use the logo in PNG, JPEG format for the Internet and in PDF, EPS, SVG for printing.
— Save the logo version in black and white for printing the logo, for example, on bags, pens, stationery.
Step 8: Continue to Get Feedback
Even after you've created a logo, you still need to remain open to feedback. Use various tools such as social media, customer comments, expert opinions to make sure your logo looks perfect.
Step 9. Redesign
Nothing lasts forever, and a logo is no exception. If your logo has ceased to be relevant over time, it is better to redraw it. It is worth making small edits, leaving room for the key idea in the logo, because radical changes are unlikely to be appropriate.
Is your logo really great? [Check list]
And so, you've probably already created a logo. Congratulations!
But is he really good? Will it look great in different sizes? Well, let's check the effectiveness of your logo with our checklist.
Go through each question and answer “yes” or “no.”
1. The logo looks attractive to at least three people
2. The logo looks good in black and white
3. The logo is recognizable in an upside-down position (view)
4. The logo is recognizable if its size is changed
5. No complicated parts
6. The logo is visually balanced - the icon, font, color look harmonious together
7. Do not use too many fonts, colors, effects
8. The logo is noticeable among other logos
As we have already written, it is very important to stand out from other companies, especially competitors.
Collect your competitors' logos and place yours somewhere between them.
Is it noticeable? Noticeable compared to others? If yes, everything is great!
9. The logo is adaptive
Adaptability means that the logo will look great on any object or surface - a T-shirt, website, road sign, etc.
10. The logo is memorable
Show your logo to your friends or anyone and ask them to draw an image of it in a few hours or days. If he can roughly accurately sketch your logo, then everything is fine and your logo will be memorable.
11. Universal logo
The universality of a logo means that it is perceived in the same way by a wide range of people. All people are different and the main thing is that the logo retains a single meaning for all its viewers.
12. The logo is easy to read
Imagine that your logo is placed on a banner, and you are driving a car at a speed of 70-80 km per hour. Could you read the text of your logo? If yes, everything is fine. If not, it might be worth working on the fonts.
13. Do you have vector logo formats?
It is very important to have logo files in vector (AI, EPS, SVG, PDF). This will allow you to print your logo at any scale without losing quality, as well as edit it. For example, make a logo in a different color.
We hope you find our tips helpful and that you can create a great logo!
How to create a logo - step-by-step instructions from A to Z updated: March 11, 2019 by: admin
If the face is the mirror of the soul, then the logo is a reflection of the entire essence of your company. You may not even realize it, but sometimes logos say much more about a company than its description.
Any company, any business or startup faces a moment when it needs to clearly decide on a logo. This is a very important, difficult and time-consuming task that can take more than one month. Logical questions arise: how to create a logo, what the logo should be, what color it is and what it is responsible for in various logos. Believe me, many questions will arise, and each of them needs a detailed and reasonable answer.
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Almost any detail of the logo - its color, shape, font, small details - carries hidden information for the client, and can subconsciously influence certain desires, decisions and preferences. For the development of your company, it is very important that all the details of the future logo are meaningful, have a certain meaning, and meet all specified criteria and topics.
Therefore, if you have wondered how to create a logo, or have been looking for useful information regarding the color of the logo and its influence on the subconscious of buyers for a very long time, then in this article you will find answers to all your questions.
I would like to answer that the article was written not just based on theoretical facts, but is based on my own experience of creating logos for several large companies, as well as on the experience of good friends who have PR and a design studio.
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1. Consider the scope of the business
The shape and details of the logo largely depend on the scope of your company. Not even from the field of activity itself, but from clients, their preferences and vision of this field. If you are engaged in a serious business, for example the supply of industrial equipment, then the logo should be made in strict colors, with clear shapes. Looking at such a logo, the client should immediately understand three factors: seriousness, responsibility, solidity. There should not be anything superfluous on such logos.
Conversely, if you sell clothes for young people, then the logo should be bright, with rounded shapes, various curls and fancy images. Focus on what is interesting to your target audience.
Of course, there are also “anti-logos” that work successfully although they do not meet any standard. I don’t deny that you can follow this path and create something unusual, creative, shocking. But, as a rule, choosing such a logo is a risk. Perhaps clients will understand and appreciate your idea, then there will be a super effect, but, most likely, such a logo will not be successful.
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2. Be clear about what you want
When the question of creating a logo comes up, as a rule, the customer does not know what he wants. The dialogue between the customer and the designers is usually like this: “We don’t know what the logo should be, but we should like it and surprise everyone.” Unfortunately, 99.99% of designers do not have foresight abilities and do not use the services of psychics in their work. Therefore, if you want to get a good logo, then you need to clearly understand what you want and convey your idea to the designer as accurately as possible.
How to do it? Before ordering a logo design, you should search the Internet for images from other companies. Collect 10-20 of the ones you like the most. Find particularly successful details in each and tell the designer about it. The logos you choose do not necessarily have to be from the same field in which your company operates. The main thing is to decide what you liked most.
Also, along with “I like”, select the logos of companies that you think are terrible. Point out what you definitely shouldn’t have. If this is done, then the designer will have an initial idea of what the logo should look like, which elements to include, and which ones to avoid. However, it is important here not to fall into outright plagiarism. Especially if you are going to register the resulting masterpiece as a trademark. If it is too reminiscent of the logo of famous brands, you may be denied registration.
3. Use no more than 2 colors
There are certain companies and areas of business where God himself ordered the use of many colors in the logo. For example, innovative companies that bring something new to the world and want to emphasize this with their logo. As a rule, these are large companies with huge investments and prospects. Among the most famous are Google, Microsoft, Apple. Also, multi-colored logos are used by entertainment companies (just remember the logo of the NBC television channel). Well, don’t forget about printing companies, on whose logos it would be a shame not to include the entire palette of colors, thereby emphasizing their field of activity.
But there are not so many companies that can afford to use all the colors of the rainbow in one logo. As a rule, there are no more than 5% of them, and the remaining 95 should adhere to a strict rule - no more than two colors. This will give the logo rigor and allow you to focus on those shades that you consider the most successful in your field.
Using two colors is the best choice not only for aesthetic reasons, but also for practical ones. It often happens that a logo needs to be printed on a black and white printer, and any color logo will look ugly and sloppy. We must not forget that multi-color logos have a number of problems when used in various printing products. They look optimal only on a white background, and if there is any other background, the effect is instantly lost.
The color of the logo plays a very important role
4. Remember that colors have semantics
The top three colors used in company logos are blue (33%), red (29%) and black or gray (28%). Another 13% of companies use yellow. The remaining colors are in demand by an insignificant share of firms - green, purple, pink account for no more than 5%. The explanation here is quite simple: the leading colors are the most noticeable and striking. Moreover, each of them carries its own hidden message to the consumer. Red is energetic and aggressive: it is a common color for the logos of automobile brands (Toyota, Jaguar, Audi). He is loved by brands that emphasize modernity and promote an energetic lifestyle (Canon, Coca Cola, MTV, Red Bull, from Russia - MTS). At the same time, red is often perceived as a youthful color (the combination of red and yellow is even more youthful): it is not suitable for companies whose business wants to emphasize “moderation and accuracy.” Blue is better suited here - it calms and puts you in a pleasant mood. This is the best color for technology companies (Intel, IBM, Samsung, Siemens): it casts metal and glass. Among automobile companies, it is loved by those who emphasize simplicity and reliability rather than energy (Ford, BMW, Volvo). For the same qualities, banks (Deutsche Bank, VTB), payment systems (Visa, PayPal, Webmoney) and postal services (remember the blue eagle on the Russian Post logo) love it. Blue encourages positive communication; it is not without reason that it is the leader among the logos of social networks (Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, VKontakte). Black is a minimalist and precise color: it must be used with great care, as it can easily add a hint of gloom. It emphasizes quality and representativeness (Mazda, Mercedes Benz, Nike). However, in most cases, black is not used as the main color - it serves mainly to highlight the inscriptions (Renault, Lego). Yellow is the ideal color for companies in the food industry (McDonalds, Burger King, Subway) and the entertainment industry.
5. Picture or text – what is more important?
41% of companies use only text in their logo. You also need to decide what is more important to you – a beautiful graphic picture or a well-written text. On the one hand, the text increases brand awareness, the name will always be heard and will be easy to read. But on the other hand, the absence of a picture minimizes the hidden message to potential clients.
Small companies, in our opinion, should choose the text version of the logo also because they very rarely have a good designer who can successfully draw a picture and correctly position the text. Professional designers who specialize in creating logos charge thousands of dollars for their work. Sometimes these costs are not necessary for small companies.
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The vast majority of small companies choose text. Although if you look at world-famous companies, you can find similar logos here too. For example, YouTube, Skype, Yandex, Yahoo!, Google - they all followed this path.
“For small companies the situation is not so dire. You can act like one of my friends, who drew an incomprehensible “doodle” in Photoshop and wrote the name of the company underneath in a beautiful font,” says the head of the design company. An example is the Nike logo, which was designed by an amateur designer, but became famous throughout the world. And few people know that the Disney logo is just a beautiful painting by Walt Disney, which was taken as a basis.
6. Using the company name is highly desirable, but not required.
About 10% of companies do not use their name when developing a logo. This is very strange, because recognition is deteriorating significantly, but the fact remains. The most famous brand that uses only a picture is Apple from Apple. Back in 1978, a rainbow logo appeared, which seemed to shout to the whole world: “We are a new, but rather unusual company. You can expect a lot from us, and you will see it.”
The image of only a picture on the logo dates back to the Middle Ages, when in front of the craft workshops there was a tin sign with the selected goods produced in this workshop. But then there was a monopoly on manufacturing, and if a buyer saw a shoe in front of a store, he knew that this was where he would buy the shoe, and nowhere else. Nowadays the competition is huge, and the image of a shoe is unlikely to help you tell about yourself fully.
If you still decide to limit yourself to a picture, then follow the path of Apple and take a bright, memorable image. Although our advice will be rational: do not take risks, because Apple is a unique company, and it will be very difficult to repeat their success. Choose a logo option that combines a picture and an image.
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7. Correct font
If you choose a text version of the logo, then the font is an important component. Of course, it is much easier to choose than a color or the right picture, but it also has its own characteristics. The font is also easy to match to the direction of your business, just like the rectangular shapes and curlicues we talked about above.
Try not to use standard fonts that everyone already knows. If you write the name in ordinary Times New Roman or Arial, then many will consider you a lazy person who did not particularly care about the appearance of the logo.
Although there are exceptions. One has only to look at the logo of the social network VKontakte. And when Pavel Durov was asked how long it took them to create the logo, the answer came immediately: “30 seconds. I just typed the name in a standard font and I liked it.”
But again, VKontakte is the exception rather than the rule, and you shouldn’t look up to them in the area of logo creation. Choose unusual fonts that are little known. Yes, you can do something interesting yourself if you slightly modify little recognizable types of writing.
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8. You need to choose the original picture
Choosing the right and successful image for your logo is a whole task. Let’s say right away that the task will be extremely difficult, and don’t despair if you don’t find anything useful the first time. How many of you know what the Apple logo looks like? I am sure that everyone now imagined a bitten apple. Now remember what the very first logo of this company looked like? Do you know? It was a jumble of all sorts of elements: the canvas depicted a landscape, a tree, and Isaac Newton was sitting under a tree, biting an apple. To be honest, the logo was very lousy. As a result, it was simplified to a minimum and only the apple was left.
Believe me, in the process of work, your company’s logo will also change and evolve, acquiring new features and characteristics. This is a normal and integral process of development of any company.
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