When you are providing logo design solutions as a professional to corporate clients, it's natural that you would want to market yourself. To market yourself well in the design field, there's no comparison to a portfolio. You should not only include a variety of work examples of yours but also follow some steps so that you don't leave negative impression to any potential client.

• Refrain from using tag lines. Keep in mind that you are a designer, not a writer. You do not need to write tag lines to impress your clients. Your portfolio should speak for your design creativity.
   
• Just because a design is 'edgy', doesn't mean it should be included into your portfolio. The aesthetic appeal of modern designs may appeal to you, but care to include some sober logos. See to it that, in the rush to attract modern preferences, your portfolio does not overlook the preferences of older clients who prefer more traditional designs.
   
• Logos that do not say anything will not appeal to anyone. Try to grasp the message behind a logo. Do not forget that in today's business world, branding is what a company wants its logo to do. So, when it comes to corporate identity design, your logo should communicate a message. This will show that you can listen to and picture your clients' vision through your design.
   
• Monochromatic/ subdued color combinations can do more harm than good to your portfolio. Demonstrate your creativity through your design, not your love for subdued colors. Do a little bit of research and mix and match different colors. Let your potential clients guess what you are about to offer next.
   
• Do not change the samples in your portfolio. Ever. As you grow as a designer, your portfolio should grow too. Let your portfolio reflect your talent in various phases. Always add fresh samples.

Ask a logo designer colleague/friend of yours to review your portfolio. They can give you a good idea about how it is going to be. Ask them about the areas that need improvement. Also, offer to review their portfolios as well. This would help you create your image as a true professional, which would be very helpful if you want to start a logo design company someday.

Do not be disheartened if you get negative reviews. Every designer goes through positive and negative phases in their career. Every designer wants to shine in their field. Follow these tips and tell us about your experience!

All the best in creating your portfolio!

Conflicts are not uncommon in the field of business logo design where you have to work with client's preferences and opinions. It all starts with some minor verbal disagreements and then rises up to major decision changes from the client's side. As a result, what suffers the most is your business.

Most clients try to influence the designers into doing something they think is right and most designers try to explain the subtle points of logo design to clients who don't care about it. Here are some of the ways you can deal with disagreeing clients:

Control Your Emotions

While most designers are very talented, they are not very good at the emotional front. Do not be emotional when your client disagrees with you. I understand how difficult it is to get rid of your own creation if the client wants so but have control over your emotions. That's the most important way you can control your situation.

Back Your Point Up with Facts

Gather data and whatever information is required to support your point. Bring in some statistical analysis and hard facts that would validate what you are saying.

Lighten the Situation with Humor

Try to make the situation a little less serious by bringing in some humor. Be witty and say something that you know for sure would bring a smile on your client's face. This would buy you more time and give you the scope to look for a chance of improvement. Plus, on the client's end, it would make him feel a little less bad about the whole problem.

Accommodate

I'm not telling you to compromise but since you are the service provider, you have to arrive at a point of agreement with your client. After all, your client is the one who is spending the money and if there is no client, there will be no money for you. You do not want that to happen. Adjust. Accommodate his/her wishes.

Communicate

Lastly, keep in mind the fact that you do not only have to have technical skills but also good communication skills to liaison with you clients on every step of the logo design process. Disagreements and conflicts are bound to occur. Getting past them and delivering your work as requested by the client is the key to success for you and your logo design company.

Best of luck!

Referrals are critical for expanding any business. This is true for a logo design company as well. Referrals help you to build a positive image of your company and encourage potential clients to trust you.

Asking for referrals, however, can be a tricky process. If you request for referrals in a timid manner, people may not take you seriously. On the other hand, if you opt for an aggressive attitude, it may offend people.

The trick lies in using strategies that maintain the delicate balance between aggression and timidity. Learn more.

Enhance Quality of your Work

Good work simplifies the process of availing referrals. This means that if you produce interesting logo and corporate identity design regularly, people will not hesitate referring you to others.

On the other hand, if you produce unoriginal business logo design, chances are high that you would face difficulties for acquiring referrals. This is because most people avoid referring a person who fails to produce quality work.

Request for Referrals

It is impossible to acquire a referral, unless you specifically ask for it. Ironically, many designers fail to acquire referral, simply because they do not ask for it. If you are yet to develop the habit of requesting for referrals, start by considering it as part of the project.

This will help you to develop the habit of asking for referrals, every time you complete a project.

Work Free, Ask for Referrals Instead

If you have launched your own company recently, this can be a good strategy. Of course, working free will have a negative impact on your financial goals. Still, if you want to develop a positive image of your company in the industry, choosing this strategy can be a good idea.

To stay on the safe side, discuss about your expectations with the clients beforehand. Create a contract so that there is no confusion later.

Do Not Forget to Refer Others

Referring other designers/experts can help you to acquire more benefits in future. More specifically, by referring each other, you can build up a strong team of professionals who understand preferences of every member.

Let us assume that you are a logo designer and know a person who is an expert at blog customization. In case you come across a client who is looking for blogging experts, you can request him to get in touch with this person. Your acquaintance will be grateful towards you and may even pass on relevant projects to you in future.

In brief, referring each other creates a win-win situation for all the involved parties.

Of course, before referring a person, do not forget to check quality of his work. Avoid recommending people who are not serious about their jobs.

Opt for these strategies to acquire referrals and thus, expand your business.

As logo designers, we always search for sources that will allow us to express our creativity. These can include books, work of other designers, and even art movements. In this article, we will exclusively focus on few art movements that introduced changes in the logo design industry. You can study these art movements and draw inspiration from them.

Hard-Edge Painting

This art genre was introduced by famous American painter Frank Stella. It lays utmost importance on simple stripes and forms that contribute in the creation of bright pictures. It reinforced the belief that ideally, a designer should lay utmost emphasis on designs, rather than client specifications.

The disadvantage of using this art genre is that if you are creating business logo design, it may not help you to fulfill your purposes. This is because hard-edge painting ignores the rule that a design should highlight values of a company. Still, you can consider this art genre for adding interesting touch to your corporate identity design.

Tibetan Art

Boasting of a rich cultural tradition, Tibetan art can be a good source of inspiration for any designer. One of the most famous icons of Tibetan art is the hand gesture that highlights respect and happiness. Another icon is the lotus, which represents fulfillment and fertility.

If you are associated with a logo design company, check whether the client is fine with the idea of using Tibetan art as your source of inspiration. This is important because such a strategy can create the impression that the company is spiritually inclined. If your client hates the idea of creating such an image, use Tibetan art for your next project.

African Art

Traditional African myths and rituals had a powerful impact on African art. Furthermore, for creating designs and art works, African artists opted for a spiritual approach.

Therefore, it is hardly surprising to find that figures and masks play a dominant role in African art. Designers can take help of this approach to create eye-catching designs.

To include the essence of traditional African art in your designs, opt for heavy abstraction. This will allow you to create simple and yet, powerful shapes. Depending on your requirement, you can use abstraction and cheerful colors in the designs.

Alternatively, reduce the abstraction and opt for familiar shapes that will make people recall African art. Remember that even a simple thing, such as a child's profile can take an interesting meaning, if you add dominant patterns of African art in the logo.

Light Painting

Famous light painters can include Pablo Picasso and Gjon Mili- a renowned photographer. By manipulating light sources, Picasso developed beautiful images. As a passionate logo designer, you can use these creations as your sources of inspiration.

Many logo designers worry about the fact that creating inspired designs can make people label them as unoriginal. However, this is a wrong idea. You can always draw inspiration from existing ideas and change them to create intriguing designs. Therefore, look for inspiring sources and adopt the ideas, as required.

In the logo design industry, the competition to acquire good clients is intense. This in turn makes designers wonder about the qualities they should possess to attract clients. Today, we will discuss few criteria that clients consider to select a designer. Read on.

Experience

Clients prefer designers who are well-experienced and possess relevant expertise. Therefore, you may have to show the client proofs of your creations. If you are associated with a logo design company, you may have to send them your experience certificates. To stay on the safe side, arranging these documents beforehand can be a great idea.

Design Portfolio

A well-made design portfolio highlights expertise of the designer and convinces clients about his/her seriousness. To enhance your reputation as a designer, create an interesting portfolio. Include the most appreciated logo design solutions in the portfolio.

Consider the fact that portfolio acts your representative-it highlights your creativity and strong points.

Professional Approach

Clients also give importance to professional communication. They evaluate communication skills of a designer by judging his/her emails and online conversations.

For best results, check emails carefully, before sending them. Maintain a professional approach. Additionally, while talking on the phone, opt a clear and direct tone. Be polite.

Pricing

Pricing is another crucial criterion for the client. This is especially important if the client wants to stick to a certain budget. In case you quote a price that is high for the client, he may avoid contacting you again.

In such a situation, you can negotiate with the client. Alternatively, stick to your price. However, do not forget to ensure that your quoted price justifies your experience and expertise.

Contract and Project Deadline

Most clients prefer designers who agree to sign a contract. This is because a contract protects interests of both parties, in case something goes wrong. Signing a contract can also increase your professional reputation. The reason is that such a strategy convinces clients that you are willing to undertake responsibility as a designer.

Project deadline is another crucial criterion. The client may ask you number of days/hours you may require to complete a project. He may want to acquire the logo designs earlier. In such a situation, you can either adjust and take up the project or reject it. Even if you take up the project, ensure that you do not compromise with quality in any situation.

Testimonials

Some logo designers fail to recognize the importance of a good testimonial. However, for clients, testimonial is important. A good testimonial convinces them about your expertise and encourages them to trust you.

For this reason, once you complete the project, always request the client or company for a testimonial. This will allow you to acquire important projects in the future.

As a logo design company, it's very important to shine in your field. You should definitely provide the most customized and comprehensive logo design solutions but you must also pay attention to the fact that providing these solutions are not the sole key to success. Back your business up with the support of the right font, the right layout, the colors and in short, the right logo design on all your marketing materials, including the type of paper.

These visual elements need to have flexibility, especially if yours is a small business. Having a uniformity in your logo design is essential. But using these visual elements will add flexibility to your brand. Many reasons can propel this change such as – distinguishing your products/services from each other and some special needs that might occur unexpectedly and call for your attention.

The primary reasons why it is advisable that you modify your visual elements from time to time are as follows:

• This helps you better use the media that you use. When you create printed marketing materials, use not more than 1-2 colors as that would reduce the production costs. But when you are designing your website, it's better to adjust the use of fonts so that the on-screen legibility and compatibility is doubled. For instance, if you are going to place an ad in a newspaper, you should use a simpler image than what you would use in a brochure because newspapers come in poor quality paper where using high-quality images will yield no results.

• A big logo design company may move at a fast pace, but small companies have to spend considerable time on their marketing materials. This is where interesting visual elements come useful. They relieve you of boredom and allow you to look at something fresh. In fact, this boredom is one of the primary reasons why small business owners go for a logo revamping. But this is not actually necessary. It can waste a lot of money, effort and time of yours to revamp your logo design completely. Consider the fact that you are probably getting bored because you are looking at your logo all the time, or too frequently.

If you are really bored of the way your logo looks, don't go for a revamp. Instead, include some new fonts, colors etc. to your existing marketing materials. They will look different, your design consistency will be maintained and yet you will not be bored anymore.

• Change in visual elements allows your audience to differentiate one of your product lines from another and one of your marketing materials from another. If all your marketing materials look the same, they will fail to be noticed by your target audience. But by creating each of these materials in a visually different way with different types of logo design solutions, you will be able to grab the attention of your potential clients and customers to look a plethora of offerings and as they say, 'the more the better'.

Bringing flexibility in your promotional materials adds an element of freshness in your marketing campaign and helps your company stand apart from the rest.

Workaholic people are obsessed with work. They spend majority of their time by working and consequently, ignoring personal relationship. However, the harsh truth is that most people working at a logo design company do not start their career as workaholics.

During the initial stages of their career, they attempt to balance their personal and professional lives. However, due to job pressure and other factors, they slowly turn into workaholics.

How would you identify whether a person is workaholic? What are the symptoms? Answers are stated below.

Skips Food - This is the most obvious symptom. A person obsessed with work prefers to skip meals because of lack of time. If he manages to find time, he will opt for fast food, rather than wholesome meals. They prefer fast food because it provides them with a 'feel good factor', especially when they are stressed.

Sleeps Less - A workaholic person hardly sleeps for 4-5 hours at night. He works until late hours at night and wakes up early to finish the pending tasks.

Avoids Taking Breaks - A workaholic logo design professional considers breaks as wastage of time. He prefers to work, even during the breaks. Even if he is tired and stressed out, he will continue working. He avoids opting meaningful activities, such as reading a book or going out for a stroll during the breaks.

Does not Enjoy Holidays/Vacations - A workaholic person will finish pending tasks, even during the holidays. He does not enjoy holidays and waits for the office to reopen. Even if he is sick, he will pop a medicine and rush to work.

Avoids Socialization - A person whose life revolves around work avoids catching up with friends and relatives. Rather, he prefers to stay at office and complete the tasks. He may even miss the special occasions of his life.

Does not have Time for Family - A workaholic person fails to understand the importance of meaningful relationships. He remains busy with work, thus ignoring personal relationships. Rather, he prefers to be alone so that he can concentrate more in the work.

Does Not Believe in Team Work - A person obsessed with work assigns himself all the tasks. He does not advocate teamwork. This is because he believes that quality of work produced by other team members could be unsatisfactory.

Talks about Work in Every Situation - A workaholic person will talk about his job in any situation. His conversation will always revolve around work and work-related issues.

Prefers Multitasking - A workaholic person opts for multitasking because he believes that it prevents wastage of time and enhances productivity. He loves to perform various tasks at the same time.

Hates People who Gives More Importance to Personal Life - A workaholic person believes that work should be considered the topmost priority in any situation. He hates people who give greater importance to personal life, rather than professional life.

We highlighted some symptoms of a workaholic person. If you think that you are exhibiting some of these symptoms, sort out your priorities. Remember that maintaining a balance between personal and professional life will provide you with both emotional and material satisfaction.

Many logo designers have faced clients who disappeared after receiving a project, without paying any money. This is a common problem, because it is impossible to understand beforehand who will disappear without paying and who will stay to pay.

We believe that the best way to avoid such a situation is by demanding a down payment (an initial deposit, in other words) before commencement of project. Of course, this is a relatively new concept in the logo design industry. However, such a trend is common in other industries, such as real estate and law.

Reasons for Charging a Down Payment

Traditionally, designers charge payment after completing the project. This allows some clients to disappear, without paying. A down payment system can be beneficial for both the client and designer. We highlight these advantages in details.

• Motivates Clients and Designers- If designers receive a down payment prior to the project, it will encourage them to work harder and complete it within the agreed deadline. Clients will also communicate with designers regularly, because they have invested money.

Ideally, designers can prepare a contract, where they should clearly mention the respective deadlines for each part of the project.

• It Encourages Both Parties to be Honest- Offering a down payment is a client’s way of declaring that he/she trusts the designer. This in turn, motivates designers to pay complete attention to the project. It also offers designers peace of mind and allows them to devote themselves to the project whole-heartedly.
   
• It Creates a Bond of Trust- Down payment can be a good way to build a warm relationship with your clients. Since clients will pay you a certain amount of your fees beforehand, they will expect timely delivery and quality work. If you can manage to fulfill their expectations and respect their trust, chances are high that they will assign you future projects.
   
• Helps Designers to Handle Project-Related Costs- Project cost is one issue that bothers designers regularly. They may have to spend money for printing mock-ups or availing hosting service for the client’s website. With down payment, they can handle these expenses effectively and thus, concentrate on the project.

Of course, for remaining on the safe side, you should avoid spending the entire down payment. Remember that in case of any breach of contract or other unfortunate situation, you may need to return the amount.

Do We Really Deserve Down Payment?

Many people (mostly clients) believe that offering a logo design company a down payment is an extreme approach. Designers, of course, agree that down payment simplifies their problems. It offers them financial and emotional security. If a designer works hard on a project and does not receive any payment, it can have a disastrous impact on their profession, at least financially. Down payment safeguards them against such a situation.

Solution lies in Creating a Robust Contract

The above discussing highlighted the fact that clients and designers have contradictory opinions about down payment. So, what is the solution?
We believe that the best way to deal with this problem is by drawing up a good and detailed contract. Mention clearly the down payment that you expect. Additionally, include cancelation and refund rules. Make it easier for the clients to trust you. Furthermore, explaining the reasons for your demand of down payment can be a good idea. What is your opinion about offering down payment to designers? Do they deserve it? If you hire a designer, would you pay him/her an initial deposit? If you are a designer, would you accept projects, only if you receive a deposit? Share with us your ideas and suggestions.
 

Let us admit the fact-no one loves criticisms, especially the harsh ones. However, the truth is that criticism helps us to grow. Honest feedback about your work will help you to understand the flaws and consequently, correct them.

If you are associated with the logo design industry, this will help you to enhance quality of your work. We offer you few tips that will help you to accept criticisms gracefully.

1. Ignore that Ego

Most people find it difficult to accept that they have committed a mistake. Unfortunately, no one can be right in every situation. If you possess an open mind and admit mistakes, it will be easier for you to accept criticisms gracefully. 

2. Judge an Idea from Various Angles

Avoid blindly assuming that all ideas of yours will be correct. To gain a better understanding, judge the ideas from different angles. This technique will also sharpen your analytical skills. 

3. Listen Carefully

To accept criticisms carefully, you have to listen to the viewpoints of other persons. This will also help you, while dealing with clients. Unless you clearly hear and understand preferences of clients, you will not be able to develop a successful project. In case you do not understand a certain point, always request for a clarification. 

4. Understand that People are Different

Every human being has a unique personality and viewpoints. Accepting the fact that opinions of others may vary from yours will help you to handle criticisms in a positive manner. For best results, judge situations from point of view of others.

5. Be Open towards Discussions

Accepting criticism does not mean that you cannot present your ideas. The best way to deal with criticism is to participate in an interactive session. Listen to the point of view of your colleagues and present your ideas. All these tricks will help you to learn new things and offer you an enriching experience.

6. Try New Skills

The process of learning new skills involves committing mistakes and correcting them. This in turn, will help you to develop an open mind and thus, accept criticisms.

7. Deal with your Fears

If you are afraid of anything, deal with it. Fearing something constantly will not allow you to develop an open mind. This in turn, will interfere with your ability to handle criticisms positively. 

8. Do not be obsessed with Perfection

We all search for a ‘perfect’ job or life. Unfortunately, the moment your life becomes perfect, you stop learning. For this reason, experimenting with new things and pushing yourself out of the comfort zone are critical.

9. Ask Questions

To gain an open-minded attitude, do not shy away from asking questions. Developing a curious attitude will keep you mentally fit.

10. Pay More Importance to Positive Criticisms

Positive criticisms will help you to grow. Negative ones, however, can destroy your confidence. For this reason, filter out the negative criticisms and focus only on the positive ones.

11. Handle Arguments

Handling arguments in a calm way will encourage you to accept criticisms. This will also help you in other areas of life, such as negotiating a raise at work or handling a difficult person.

12. Try to know the Truth

We are not saying that you have to accept criticisms blindly. Evaluate the feedback honestly. In any situation, try to know and accept the truth.

13. Learn to Deal with Uncertainty

Despite the quest for truth, you may not be able to find out answers of certain questions. Learn to accept uncertainty gracefully. This will help you to develop an open mind.

Opt for these points to deal with criticisms.
 

People starting a new logo design business often prefer spending limited amounts of money for marketing their products. The reason is that they have limited cash flow and customers initially. They think that once they acquire more customers, they will opt for professional services for marketing their products.

Unfortunately, they are unaware of the fact that not taking help of professional services for creating a logo or marketing their products can complicate the goal of drawing more clients. Additionally, it may create an unprofessional image of one’s business. If you want to know how amateur marketing can harm your business, read on.

1. Your business will appear unprofessional

Professional marketing can create a polished image of your logo design company. Amateur marketing, on the other hand, can make customers feel that you are not serious about your company. This in turn, will convince them that you do not care about the quality of your work or services.

2. It will create an unstable image of your company

Unprofessional marketing can never earn trust of clients. Rather, it will convince them that your business will fail within few months. It is obvious that no one prefers to associate himself/herself with a company that is likely to fail soon.

3. You will not appear a genuine company

Companies willing to establish themselves as reliable companies always opt for professional marketing services for enhancing their image. For this reason, if you use amateur services or avoid using a logo, you will fail to create a positive impression on minds of the people. Furthermore, they may suspect that you are a fraudulent company.

4. You will appear uncoordinated

Uncoordinated marketing products can create a confused image of your company. More specifically, if your website and business card have different looks, it may confuse your target customers. Sometimes, they may not even realize that all these products represent the same company.

Surveys reveal that nearly 50% of new companies experience failure within 2-3 years. They further state that ineffective marketing is one common factor that contributes to the failure of most new companies. To avoid such a situation, it is important to opt for professional services that will distinguish your company from that of your competitors and provide you with an extra edge.

Take the help of professionals to create awareness about your company, highlight your products and you will receive a loyal fan following within a short time!