25 Pro Design Tips for Killer Logos

Develop a Top-Shelf Identity for Your Company, Product or Service!Presented by The Logo Factory

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Pro Tip #1Pro Tip #1

Time (or money) saving solutions, are often neither time or money saving. You'll only have to redo your logo later.

This also applies to "template" & "ready-made" logos.

Time (or money) saving solutions, are often neither time or money saving. You'll only have to redo your logo later.

This also applies to "template" & "ready-made" logos.

Shortcuts can be costly. Start out right.

Pro Tip #2Pro Tip #2The logo design process

isn't always fun.

Developing a logo for your company can actually be frustrating & seem fruitless. Design is an organic, iterative

process. Have patience - you will get there.

Developing a logo for your company can actually be frustrating & seem fruitless. Design is an organic, iterative

process. Have patience - you will get there.

Pro Tip #3Pro Tip #3Do not copy anybody

else's logo.

Even though you found a great logo on Google, that doesn't mean you can use it as yours. Logos are

protected by copyright and/or trademark.

Even though you found a great logo on Google, that doesn't mean you can use it as yours. Logos are

protected by copyright and/or trademark.

Pro Tip #4Pro Tip #4Avoid overused trends & clichés.

The easiest answer is often very common. These are some of the most overused & cliched concepts of all time

(you'll find a lot of these in logo design contests.)

The easiest answer is often very common. These are some of the most overused & cliched concepts of all time

(you'll find a lot of these in logo design contests.)

Pro Tip #5Pro Tip #5A logo should depict your

company personality.

Serious. Whimsical. Cutting-edge. Friendly. Your logo needs to graphically portray the essence of your

company. A mismatch can be disastrous.

Serious. Whimsical. Cutting-edge. Friendly. Your logo needs to graphically portray the essence of your

company. A mismatch can be disastrous.

Pro Tip #6Pro Tip #6A logo doesn't have to portray what you do.

It’s often better to have a mark that doesn't depict your company functions literally. Abstract and symbolic logos

are much more adaptable & flexible.

It’s often better to have a mark that doesn't depict your company functions literally. Abstract and symbolic logos

are much more adaptable & flexible.

Pro Tip #7Pro Tip #7Your logo is for your

audience.

Sure, it's important that you "like" your logo but that's secondary in importance. It must appeal to the

customers you're trying to attract. Your logo is for them.

Sure, it's important that you "like" your logo but that's secondary in importance. It must appeal to the

customers you're trying to attract. Your logo is for them.

Pro Tip #8Pro Tip #8Your logo needs to have

instant impact.

Nobody is going to take minutes to admire the subtle symbolism and intricacies of your logo. It has a fraction of

a second to grab the viewers attention. Be bold.

Nobody is going to take minutes to admire the subtle symbolism and intricacies of your logo. It has a fraction of

a second to grab the viewers attention. Be bold.

Pro Tip #9Pro Tip #9Keep your logo nice & simple.

Complex logos are harder to remember,don't have instant impact and won't reproduce well

when used at small size.

Complex logos are harder to remember,don't have instant impact and won't reproduce well

when used at small size.

Pro Tip #10Pro Tip #10Size matters.

A lot.

Your logo needs to be recognizable at a wide range of sizes. Social media icons & avatars are very small, so

there's not a lot of pixels for extra detail.

Your logo needs to be recognizable at a wide range of sizes. Social media icons & avatars are very small, so

there's not a lot of pixels for extra detail.

Pro Tip #11Pro Tip #11Select typefaces carefully.

Use two fonts max.

Font styles can be highly symbolic of the theme of your business. Bonus tip: use more than two different fonts &

your logo may look like a ransom note.

Font styles can be highly symbolic of the theme of your business. Bonus tip: use more than two different fonts &

your logo may look like a ransom note.

Pro Tip #12Pro Tip #12A logo's shape, proportion

& footprint are critical.

For maximum adaptability, your logo should be square or horizontal. A footprint is an imaginary box around

your entire logo. Trailing elements can cause problems.

For maximum adaptability, your logo should be square or horizontal. A footprint is an imaginary box around

your entire logo. Trailing elements can cause problems.

TheGoldenRatio

Actual'Footprint'

Pro Tip #13Pro Tip #13A detachable icon makes

for a versatile logo.

A detachable icon can be used with or without your company wordmark. Square icons are adaptable for use

on everything from social media to baseball caps.

A detachable icon can be used with or without your company wordmark. Square icons are adaptable for use

on everything from social media to baseball caps.

Pro Tip #14Pro Tip #14If you want to use a tagline,

make it optional.

A tagline is the description of a company that usually sits under their logo. They're great and all, but can cause

problems when the logo is reproduced at a small size.

A tagline is the description of a company that usually sits under their logo. They're great and all, but can cause

problems when the logo is reproduced at a small size.

Pro Tip #15Pro Tip #15Color is secondary in the

design of your logo.

Your brand colors are important in the use of your logo but not in the design of it. A logo that's "held together"

by color is a poor one - it should "work" in any color.

Your brand colors are important in the use of your logo but not in the design of it. A logo that's "held together"

by color is a poor one - it should "work" in any color.

Pro Tip #16Pro Tip #16Select your brand colors carefully.

When it's time to pick colors for your logo, choose wisely. Different colors mean different things & colors have

powerful relationships with each other.

When it's time to pick colors for your logo, choose wisely. Different colors mean different things & colors have

powerful relationships with each other.

Pro Tip #17Pro Tip #17Color is wonderful but try and keep it down to two.

A logo that uses a maximum of two colors is adaptable to a wide range of applications. Best practices: your logo

should also be able to work using only one color.

A logo that uses a maximum of two colors is adaptable to a wide range of applications. Best practices: your logo

should also be able to work using only one color.

Pro Tip #18Pro Tip #18No glows, lens flares, drop

shadows or bevels.

Special effects & filters are usually added to a logo when it's thought to be "missing something." These eye candy

solutions only lead to reproduction headaches.

Special effects & filters are usually added to a logo when it's thought to be "missing something." These eye candy

solutions only lead to reproduction headaches.

Pro Tip #19Pro Tip #19View your logo

from every angle.

Sometimes your logo may look like something entirely different if viewed upside down or sideways. Better you

find this "hidden" symbol than everybody else.

Sometimes your logo may look like something entirely different if viewed upside down or sideways. Better you

find this "hidden" symbol than everybody else.

Pro Tip #20Pro Tip #20Just pick one

already.

We're often tempted to continue tweaking a logo, long after settling on a design. If we've utilized sound design

rationale all along, this can be counter-productive.

We're often tempted to continue tweaking a logo, long after settling on a design. If we've utilized sound design

rationale all along, this can be counter-productive.

Pro Tip #21Pro Tip #21Make sure your logo is in

vector format.

Vectors are outline digital file types that allow editing & unlimited scaling of your logo. Never use a photograph

in your logo because they are bitmaps, not vectors.

Vectors are outline digital file types that allow editing & unlimited scaling of your logo. Never use a photograph

in your logo because they are bitmaps, not vectors.

Pro Tip #22Pro Tip #22Make sure you have

professional brand assets.

To use your logo effectively in print, on the Internet & in marketing, you'll require various files and formats. These

brand assets are also important for consistency.

To use your logo effectively in print, on the Internet & in marketing, you'll require various files and formats. These

brand assets are also important for consistency.

Pro Tip #23Pro Tip #23Repetition. Repetition.

Repetition.

Often a great logo becomes great just by gettingused a lot (think Nike.) Use yours. A lot.

On everything!

Often a great logo becomes great just by gettingused a lot (think Nike.) Use yours. A lot.

On everything!

Pro Tip #24Pro Tip #24Don't change your logo.

(almost ever.)

Whenever you get bored of your logo, chances are it's just starting to get traction.

Only change it for a really good reason.

Whenever you get bored of your logo, chances are it's just starting to get traction.

Only change it for a really good reason.

Pro Tip #25Pro Tip #25A logo is not

a brand.

A logo is the cornerstone of your brand but it isn't the entire picture. You can build a brand with a combination

of consistent visuals, themes & colors.

A logo is the cornerstone of your brand but it isn't the entire picture. You can build a brand with a combination

of consistent visuals, themes & colors.

Click here for our blog. Logo design news, views & tutorials.

Click here for our blog. Logo design news, views & tutorials.

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