{"id":8285,"date":"2022-04-09T08:01:00","date_gmt":"2022-04-09T12:01:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplifiedblog.wpengine.com\/?p=8285"},"modified":"2023-10-09T06:16:57","modified_gmt":"2023-10-09T10:16:57","slug":"how-to-design-a-logo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplified.com\/blog\/branding\/how-to-design-a-logo","title":{"rendered":"Logo Design 101: How To Create A Logo That Captures Your Brand Essence"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Close your eyes and recall some of your favorite brand logos! Which are the ones you could remember and why? Is it the vibrant color, an unusual design, or a catchy tagline that you could resonate with?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Logos are the cornerstone of a brand and are usually represented with some designs, a few fixed colors, and a tagline. But a logo is not just a part of the brand\u2019s identity; a well-designed logo can communicate so much about a brand. If you\u2019re looking for a guide to help you understand how to design a logo, this step-by-step guide is all you need. Also, yes, you can create a logo if you don\u2019t know how to design using this guide. Read till the end because we have a cool free tool that will do the design heavy-lifting for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/span>Example of some Iconic logos throughout history<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n
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<\/span>1. Starbucks<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The siren has been around since 1971 and has evolved since then. Today we can easily recognize the logo even if they have done away with the brand name in their logo.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\"Starbucks<\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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<\/span>2. Apple<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

People can love or hate Apple products, but everyone is familiar with the brand\u2019s clean logo.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\"apple<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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<\/span>3. Mickey Mouse<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Disneyland\u2019s famous Mickey Mouse logo is everyone\u2019s favorite mouse and one of the world\u2019s most iconic logos.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\"mickeymouse<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/span>What makes an effective logo?<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Each business has its perception and interpretation of a logo, but a good logo should meet four goals irrespective of the business or the industry type. Remember, a good logo is important for your small business to create a brand identity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/span>1. Logo legibility<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Anyone should be able to read the logo easily, especially if it has only text. Think about brands like IBM, SONY, Coca Cola or Canon. All these brands have a simple text logo but can be easily read and understood by their audience even from a distance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Sony's
Sony\u2019s text logo is simple, yet powerful.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/span>2. It is distinct<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

While you can look around for inspiration for how to design a logo and take cues from the logo design trends to create your logo, your ultimate goal is to create a unique logo that is distinct from others \u2013 that can help you stand out. Remember, a distinct logo can make your brand memorable. So whenever your audience is ready to purchase, your logo should strike first to their mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/span>3. Appeal to your audience<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A logo is not just for your brand communication but also for your audience to relate to it. To create a logo that appeals to your prospective audience, consider the audience persona. For example, if you\u2019re a children\u2019s party organizer, your logo should be bright and colorful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/span>4. It can be scalable<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A logo is a part of your brand identity, and you will be using it across different media channels in various sizes. So, ensure you have a versatile and scalable logo that looks perfect in any dimension. It should be easy to scale and fit in any media channel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/span>Understanding the anatomy of a logo<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A logo has several sections like an icon, the typography, a tagline. Understanding the purpose of each section and how to create them can help successfully create a logo where all the elements stay in harmony.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"parts<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/span>1. An icon<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

An icon\/symbol\/or imagery is one of the important parts of a logo. It can be anything as simple as a dot or a line to a more complex shape with some typography.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/span>2. Logo color<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Logo color is distinct that remains constant throughout the brands\u2019 communication channels. A logo can be in monochrome, black and white, or multicolored. If you\u2019re creating a multicolored logo, make sure only to use the hero colors from your brand kit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/span>3. Typography<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You will often come across a typography-based logo. It can be a monogram of a single letter, a few abbreviations, the complete brand name, along with a tagline. The typography is usually done in a fixed font style size and follows a particular pattern across all the media channels where your logo appears.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Google<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/span>4. Logo background<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The logo background can be any color. Since the logo can appear on multiple backgrounds (like a website or a t-shirt), create a few background options so it fits on all designs. And, one without any background\u2014 a transparent logo to give you more flexibility when designing digital creatives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/span>5. Negative space in logo<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Negative space in logo is the space in and around the logo that doesn\u2019t have any shape, text, or color. The negative space works as a padding between the icon and the typography. It helps to keep the logo neat and clean. You can also use the negative space to create a unique shape for your logo. The famous FedEx logo makes an arrow out of the space inside its letters. Using a monochrome palette, you can create different silhouettes with negative space.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Fedex<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n

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<\/span>6. The frame<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Logo\u2019s frame is an optional feature, and you may or may not have a frame in your logo. A-frame encloses the logo in a seal or a box. It can be as simple as a box or more complex with designed lines.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\"Logo-frame<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

<\/span>8 steps for creating a great logo<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

<\/span>1. What do you want to communicate?<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you are selling a product or a service to a customer, a great story can help you sell. Because people connect to stories, you can hook your customers when you tell a great story. So, create a logo design that can communicate your story to the world. You can tell your brand story, your product story, a particular USP of the product that can influence the buyer\u2019s life\u2014 so brainstorm and note down what you want to communicate and how you want your customers to perceive your brand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/span>2. Brainstorm and note down all your ideas<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Now that you know what you want to communicate, it is time to brainstorm ideas for creating a logo<\/a>. Here are some tips to help you brainstorm effectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Involve all the stakeholders. Remember, you want to gather as many ideas as you can at this stage. Note down all the ideas, and don\u2019t discard any because they can help` shape your final logo design! Put yourself in your consumer’s shoes and see how you want to perceive your brand. Open the thesaurus and jot down all the words that describe your brand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/span>3. Take cues from the competition<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re stuck on ideas, always look around and take logo inspiration from the competitors. This will give you a fair idea of what is already there and what is not out there yet. While we suggest you take inspiration from your competitors, you certainly don\u2019t want your logo to copy the competitor. So, write down notes, what makes the competitor logo appealing, what color palette they have used, how your brand is different from them, and how you can communicate that to your audience through your logo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/span>4. Keep your audience persona in mind<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

While you\u2019re into logo design brainstorming, keep the audience persona in mind. Which demographics do they belong to? What are their preferences? All this will help you choose a style for your logo like retro or vintage, modern, minimalist, quirky, fun, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/span>5. Know the logo color theory<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The next step is to choose a color for the logo. As we have already discussed, it can be monochrome or multicolored. This selection needs to be mindful as each color has a meaning and reflects an emotion. Here\u2019s a list of some common colors and what they mean.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meaning of different colors and how to pick the right color for your brand\u2019s logo<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Basic<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Green<\/strong> \u2013 This is one of the most versatile colors in the color palette, and any brand can go for it. But, if your brand has a connection with nature, then this is the color for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Red<\/strong> \u2013 Red denotes excitement and happiness. Go for it if your brand wants to be known as loud and youthful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Blue<\/strong> \u2013 It\u2019s a cool and calm color that reflects trust and maturity. Go for it if you are in the business-to-business (B2B) industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Purple<\/strong> \u2013 Purple depicts luxury, eclectic feminine, and mystery. If your brand represents any of these, pick this color for your logo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/span>How to create logo color combinations<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Now that you know the meaning of some of these colors, you can go ahead and create logo color combinations for your design. But before that, let\u2019s understand the color wheel to have a fair idea of combining colors and create stunning palettes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Complementary colors<\/strong> \u2013 as the name goes, complementary colors complement each other. They lie exactly opposite on the color wheel. Go for them if you want a dynamic look for the logo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"High<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Analogous colors<\/strong> \u2013 These are the colors that lie close to each other on the color wheel. So if you want to create a gentle, harmonious look, choose analogous colors from the color wheel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Analogous<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Triadic colors<\/strong> \u2013 Draw three equal sections on the color wheels and now pick colors from each section for a bold effect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Color<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pro tip:<\/strong> Create different color variations for your logo, especially one with a dark and one with a light background. That\u2019s because you can use your logo for printing promotional products like different merchandise for which you will need different color variations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Cola<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/span>6. Choose the logo typography<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Now that you have sorted the color, it is time to blend the text with the color. Begin with selecting the font. You can choose a font that’s either Serif (with stems on each letter) or Sans Serif (no stems). Avoid choosing generic fonts like Comic Sans or Times New Roman that we generally see in Microsoft Words. Generic fonts won’t help your brand stand out and create anything memorable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/span>Why does it matter?<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Choosing the right typography matters a lot while working on your logo. The way you arrange the letters, the font size all contribute to giving a character to your brand. Your brand can be modern or retro, shy or loud, depending on the typography you choose. The right typography can also increase readability and soothe your audience\u2019s eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Sans
Created using Simplified<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/span>How to effectively use typography in branding<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Choosing the right typography matters a lot while working on your logo. The way you arrange the letters, the font size all contribute to giving a character to your brand. Your brand can be modern or retro, shy or loud, depending on the typography you choose. The right typography can also increase readability and soothe your audience\u2019s eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Never mix several font types in your logo as a rule of thumb. Your logo design should be harmonious and pleasing to the eyes of the audience. Here are some steps to ensure your brand name and tagline fit cohesively in the logo:<\/p>\n\n\n

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  1. Choose a font for the brand name and a separate font for the tagline. Try different variations to see which one fits neatly and compliments each other.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. If you need to write other information like the year of establishment, consider writing it in the same font with a different weight to maintain the visual harmony.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Keep it clean, simple, and easy to read.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n

    Look around for ideas – Famous brands and understanding their typographies<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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    Vogue has used the font, Bodoni. The mix of thick and thin lines with sharp perpendicular serif gives a dramatic appeal to the logo.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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    \"Vogue<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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    Garamond is one of the oldest fonts that\u2019s used mostly in newspapers and magazines. However, many popular brands like Apple, Rolex, American Eagle use it too. The small serifs, moderate contrast, and rounded shapes are the main highlights of this font.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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    \"Rolex\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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    IBM uses ITC Lubalin Graph, a geometric font with intensive serifs. It creates an edgy, bold, and energetic vibe for the brand.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

    \n
    \"IBM<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    <\/span>7. Creating your company tagline<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Taglines are crucial for marketing a brand. But, not that every time a brand uses its tagline with its logo. Rather a tagline is used for running a special campaign to provoke a certain emotion. Remember the iconic tagline Just do it, or I\u2019m lovin\u2019 it? Do you know why they are so insanely popular and memorable? Because they are simple, short, easy to remember, and above all \u2014- it provokes emotion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    If you\u2019re planning to include a company tagline in your logo, keep it as crisp as possible. Use a few words instead of using a long sentence. Avoid cramming the space with too many ideas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    While choosing the font for the logo tagline, pick a simple font that won’t distract the audience from the brand name. Instead of scripted fonts, choose sans or sans serif fonts for the tagline. It is a good idea to use the same font for your company name, the tagline, but you may reduce the weight of the tagline fonts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    <\/span>How to create a tagline<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    Choose a tagline that serves a purpose. Ideally, your tagline stays as long as your brand exists, so do not try to contextualize the tagline with any recent news or trends. Be honest with your tagline, or you may end up changing it frequently. For example, Campbell\u2019s soup in the \u201980s used \u201cSoup is good food.\u201d But this tagline was challenged by the FDA since the soup had way more sodium than recommended daily intake dose. The company ended by changing its tagline to \u201cMmm! Mmm! Good!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    <\/span>Famous brands and their tag lines<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n

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    \"Subway<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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    The Subway tagline \u2018eat fresh\u2019 has been around for a long time and it indicates the fresh ingredients they use for their subs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n

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    \"Mastercards<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Mastercard\u2019s iconic tagline \u201cthere are things money can\u2019t buy. For everything else, there\u2019s MasterCard\u2019 was created in 1997 and since then the tagline went viral globally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    De Beers group created the slogan \u2018a diamond is forever\u2019 in 1947 and won the best advertising slogan of the year. The company increased its sales by 55% within three years of coming up with this tagline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n

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    \"Dr<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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    <\/span>8. Assess your logo<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Now that you have got all the style points and ideas in place, it\u2019s time to get into designing and transforming your ideas from paper to a digital format. Create a few options for your logo and evaluate which one would represent your brand best. It is always a good idea to get your options reviewed by others. While assessing the final logo, keep the following points in mind.<\/p>\n\n\n

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    1. Is it unique or looks just like one of your competitors?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    2. Can the logo say in 2 seconds what the brand does? Is it solving your purpose?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    3. Is it appealing? Will it be memorable?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    4. Is it timeless, or will you need to redesign it after a few years?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    5. Will it work across different media channels or promotional merchandise?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n

      <\/span>Free tool to create a logo<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      <\/p>\n\n\n

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      \"Simplified-logo<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

      <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Simplified is a great design and AI copywriting tool that can help you build your logo. The design tool has numerous templates, fonts, design elements already inbuilt so you can get started within seconds. The intuitive UI is easy to use, and you won’t need any prior designing experience to get started. Use the AI copywriter to generate your taglines within minutes. Feel free to play around with the tool to create your logo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/span>Conclusion<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      Logos are a vital element of your brand identity. When you have all the ingredients of a logo in the right proportion, it can tell a lot about your brand, product, service, and how your audience would perceive your brand. If you are tight on a budget to hire a designer, this step-by-step guide on how to design a logo is all you need to get started. Simplified\u2019s custom fonts<\/a>, ready-made icons, and free templates can help you design your first logo in minutes. What are you waiting for?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      P.S. We have also created this logo design checklist that you may find handy. Check it out!<\/p>\n\n\n\n