Creating a unique logo design is not an easy process. You need to opt for several brainstorming sessions and develop original ideas. Additionally, you should ensure that the logo represents values of the company correctly. In the midst of all these activities, it is easy to commit mistakes that can hamper quality of the design.

In this article, we will discuss why you should avoid these mistakes. Furthermore, we will highlight the alternative strategies.

1. Using legal phrases in business logo design

Many people are desperate to convince people that their companies are genuine. For this reason, they ask logo designers to incorporate legal phrases, such as LLP, Inc., or LLC in designs. However, this is not a right strategy.

Consider business logo designs of famous companies, such as IBM, KFC, and Shell. Did they include legal phrases in their logos? No. Still, they have managed to convince people about their authenticity. Likewise, you can also encourage people to trust your company, without putting phrases in logo designs.

As mentioned above, people are not used to seeing legal phrases in logo designs. Therefore, if you incorporate them, chances are high that it will confuse them. Rather, incorporate these legal phrases in legal documents.

2. Incorporating contact information in logo

Placing contact information in logo messes up the design. The aesthetic appeal of the logo is lost and it appears like a forced advertisement. Another disadvantage of this strategy is that your contact information may change occasionally. In such a situation, you will have to redesign your logo.

For these reasons, avoid putting contact information in the logo design.

3. Relying heavily on colors

A creative logo design should be simple and soothing to the eyes. For this reason, sticking to one or two colors can be a great idea. Consider logos of famous companies, such as Coca Cola, Shell, and Starbucks. They have used one or two colors in their logos - red, yellow and red, and green respectively.

If you use excessive colors in logo designs, it may confuse the viewers. Furthermore, it may interfere with the recall value of designs. People usually associate a company with a particular color. If you use excessive colors, they will fail to pick out a particular color that could have helped them to relate with the company.

We highlighted few logo design mistakes. Avoid them and consider the alternative strategies.

Most people will agree that when it comes to developing logo designs, creativity is the most critical skill. An intriguing and original logo design is bound to attract attention of people and increase awareness about the company it represents.

The latest trend in the logo designing industry is to incorporate eye-catching fonts and symbols in logos. Apart from these, many designers now use images of fruits and vegetables in logos to create an interesting effect. Colorful fruits and vegetables symbolize health, happiness and have a positive effect on the minds of people. Many designers are utilizing this psychology cleverly to lend a unique appeal to their logos.

Read on to know more about creating fruit and vegetable logos:

• Pay attention to simplicity

Some designers mistakenly believe that complicated designs will leave a lasting impression on people. However, this is a wrong concept. Complicated logos include more elements and this in turn, interferes with their recall value.

A simple logo, on the other hand, has a clean appeal and allows people to remember it easily. Therefore, if you want to create a logo that people will recall even after many years, go for simple ones.

• Color is crucial

When it comes to fruit and vegetable logos, color is a critical factor. If you are highlighting a particular fruit or vegetable, retaining its original color would be a great idea. This means that if your logo includes a cherry, do not change its color to yellow for the sake of creativity. Retaining original color of the fruit or vegetable will help people to identify it more quickly.

Additionally, if you are using two or more colors in the logo, ensure that they complement each other. Make sure that the logo has a refreshing and soothing effect on the eyes.

• Consider your target audience

Before you create fruit and vegetable logos, consider your target audience. If you own a serious corporate website, for example, a fruit or vegetable logo will not be appropriate. On the other hand, if you specialize in online delivery of fruits, vegetables, groceries, and organic foods, this type of logo is suitable. Additionally, graphic design companies and even restaurants can opt for this type of custom logo design.

• Make it memorable

Try to create logos that are stylish and memorable. For example, you can twist a certain aspect of the fruit or vegetable to create a smiley. Furthermore, ensure that the logo contains a timeless appeal, so that people will remember it even after 10 years.

Fruits and vegetables represent health and happiness. Incorporating them in logo designs, therefore, can evoke a positive reaction from your target audience. However, these logos may not be suitable for every target audience. Therefore, evaluate preferences of your target customers, before creating fruit/vegetable logo designs.

Did you know that a business logo design consists of three aspects and each part has a specific purpose? These aspects can include icon, color scheme, and font. All these three aspects work together to convey message of your company to the targeted audience.

Isn’t attracting attention of people the only purpose of a business logo design?

This concept is partially true. One of the purposes of the logo design, of course, is to attract attention of the target audience. However, it has other purposes as well.

The main purpose of your logo’s icon is to convey your brand story to the clients, via the symbols. It can be added here that using symbols to tell a story or deliver a message is known as symbology. Implementing this strategy is a good idea because it will help you to connect with your target customers.

To gain better understanding of the concept, you can consider logo of the popular ice cream store, Baskin Robins. You may think that their logo highlights initials of the company, i.e. BR. However, if you look closely, you will find that the number 31 is highlighted in the logo. The company has used the number 31 in their logo to spread the message that it sells 31 varieties of ice creams, a different one for every single day of the month.

Types of symbols

Symbols are usually of two types - representational and abstract.

• Representational symbols usually highlight animal, person, or an object. Logo design of the famous Jaguar car company smartly utilizes a representational symbol (a jaguar) in its logo.

• Abstract symbols, on the other hand, highlight basic shapes that can include circles, squares, and even swooshes. Logo of the Nike company utilizes abstract symbols.

Which symbol should I Choose?

Picking out the right symbol can be quite tricky. You need to consider your brand story, target audience, and the message that you want to deliver. It is difficult to state the type of symbol you should choose, without observing your logo.

However, we can advise you to study meanings of various symbols. It will help you to choose the one that complements the story of your company. Gather as much information as you can about logo designs. Alternatively, you can hire a logo designer for developing an interesting design.

Other purposes of a logo design

Apart from telling a story, a logo needs to fulfill other functions. It should be-

1. Memorable- It should leave a lasting impression on minds of the audience.
2. Unique- It should possess a unique appeal.
3. Timeless- It should not rely on current trends. Rather, people should be able to relate with the logo, even ten years down the line.
4. Scalable- The logo should be scalable. This means that it should look good, in any size.

If your logo possesses these qualities, chances are high that it will be able to win hearts of the audience. Consider these tips to create an intriguing logo design.

As designers, we create logos for various projects. While clients approve some designs, others wait to be picked. These rejected designs, in turn, can lead a designer to various types of dilemmas and problems.

Let us assume that you developed a corporate logo design, one that highlights your skills. Unfortunately, the client, for whom you created the design, rejected it. After few months, you find a client who offers a brief description of his requirement. Immediately, you realize that the previously rejected logo would meet requirement of this new client.

This situation lands you in a dilemma. You are aware of the fact that if you tell the truth to your client, chances are high that he will pay you a negligible amount. The client may argue that you did not research about his industry and target audience, and therefore, he will not pay you your usual fees.

On the other hand, you think that you have invested sufficient efforts (for a previous project) and deserve to receive the normal rates. You realize the fact that honesty may help you to earn appreciation from the client. However, it will not help you pay your bills. The problem lies in the fact that you want to be honest and acquire your usual fees at the same time.

Therefore, what should you do? We offer few tips that will help you to deal with the situation. You can choose any one of these or even combine few strategies:

• Logo design is a constantly evolving industry. Therefore, the design that you created few months ago, may not be suitable currently. To prevent suspicion of the client, evaluate the old design and make necessary changes

• It is true that you have not invested any effort for this particular project. Charging a client full amount, without researching about his/her industry and audience is ethically incorrect. Therefore, even if you think that the logo is perfect, you should evaluate it and make modifications, if required. This will allow you to stay true to yourself.

• If you want to be honest to the client, tell him that you already possess a design that fulfills his requirement. As mentioned earlier, the disadvantage of this option is that you may receive a negligible amount, despite investing efforts earlier. To protect your interest and retain your values, request the client for a security fee beforehand. This means that even if the client pays you a reduced amount, you will still manage to pay your bills.

We highlighted few strategies that will help you to deal with the situation. Opt for the one that helps you to maintain your values and protects your interest at the same time.

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!

Some logo designers believe that only creative skills are required to gain a strong foothold in this industry. This concept, unfortunately, is only partially true. Of course, when it comes to developing unique logo designs, creativity plays a crucial role. However, to sell your designs and create a strong identity as a designer, you need to implement additional techniques.

We provide you with few tips that will help you to impress any client, enhance your income, and most importantly, acquire more logo design projects.

1. Identify your potential clients

Figuring out for whom you would like to work, is critical. It helps you to identify people whose requirements and values match with that of yours. This in turn, would save your time, money, and energy.

Let us assume that you want to start a logo designing project as quickly as possible (for reasons such as money, impending holiday, or whatever). If your client says that he/she can approve after the project, only after his/her higher authorities agree to it, it can be a difficult situation for you. You are already running out of time and in this situation, you have to wait for an indefinite period.

In this case, if you had identified your potential client beforehand (a single person or a small group of people), it would not have resulted in such a complicated situation.

2. Ask the client to provide you with detailed information

Before agreeing to the project, ask the client for detailed information. You can ask questions, such as ‘What logos you like the most?’, ‘What message you want the new logo to convey?’, ‘Who is your target audience?’ Asking these questions will help you to modify the design, according to the client’s preferences.

3. Research about the client’s company

This step is important because it would help you to set your price correctly. If you ask for a mere $500, for example, from a company that is worth $30-50 million, you will not gain anything financially. Moreover, it will lower your value in the industry.

For this reason, before you quote a price, research about the client’s background. If he/she is unaware of how the logo should be used, arrange an educational session for the person. This will help you to enhance your worth, in eyes of the client and get your quoted price.

4. Opt for full color

Presenting logo designs in full colors will help you to earn appreciation of the client. Even if the client does not offer any color specifications, always present colored logo designs.

5. Highlight a great logo by comparing it with a horrible one

Many designers use the trick of presenting few great logos, along with a horrible one. This horrible logo forces clients to observe positive features of a good logo and reaffirms the belief that they are on the right path.

Of course, sometimes, clients nearly cause a heart attack by picking out the horrible logo. In such a situation, excuse yourself for few minutes and think about the possible options.

Opt for these tips to earn what you deserve and maintain a warm relationship with your clients.

Creation of a good logo involves investment of time and energy. Unfortunately, sometimes, clients reject logos that in our opinion are ‘good’.

For any designer, the process of redesigning a logo can be traumatic. To avoid this, one should always aim to create a logo that suits the client’s needs perfectly. This would discount the risk of redesigning the logo once again.

Here are few strategies that you can consider to develop a logo design that would earn the client’s approval instantly.

Research

Research is the most critical step, because it will help you to understand the client’s preferences. Start by asking the client necessary questions. These queries can revolve around the client’s personal preferences, use of logo (on company letterheads, business cards, or websites), and mediums (print, web) where it will be displayed.

Remember that asking the client for clarifications will reduce the risk of introducing drastic changes in the logo at a later stage. Do not attempt to memorize the client’s suggestions. Rather, note down everything so that you do not miss any point.

Use good logos as inspiration

Most designers will not admit it, but fact remains that they often use other logos as their inspiration. You can also use this strategy to create interesting logos. However, consider the fact that using logos as inspiration is not equal to copying them. Remember that if you present a duplicate logo to your client, it will have a drastic effect on your career.

For inspiration, study good logos. Look for an element that you can use in your logo. New logos will provide you with an idea about current color trends and styles.

Utilize your creativity fully

Creating a great logo in the first attempt is impossible. Rather, you should aim to play with various objects, fonts, and shapes until you are satisfied. For this purpose, you can use tools, such as CorelDraw and Adobe Illustrator. Remember that good art does not happen ‘just like that’. You need to juggle various ideas and play around with shapes and objects, until you create an eye-catching logo.

Presentation is critical

The way one presents a logo also plays a critical role in earning approval of the client. Present at least 5 logo design ideas, so that the client can choose the one that suits his/her needs. Use different colors in each of these logos.

Numbering your logos is a great idea. It will reduce chances of confusion. Let us assume that your client informs you that he wants you to change ‘the logo on right side of the cool content’. If you misinterpret the client’s comments and modify the wrong logo, chances are high that you would take a drastic act, after realizing the truth.

Therefore, always number your logos so that there is no chance of confusion.

Implement these tips to create a fascinating corporate identity design.

Have you wondered why you manage to remember a particular logo design and forget the rest? This is because of the fact that the human brain tends to remember unique designs.

If you are planning to introduce the logo of your company, choosing customized designs would be a great idea. Customized designs create a powerful impact on the audience’s mind, thus encouraging them to remember your company and its services. We discuss the various benefits of custom logo design.

1. It will highlight your uniqueness

A custom logo design provides the company with a different appeal. It convinces the audience about your uniqueness and encourages people to opt for your services or products. The logo of the Apple company can serve here as a great example. Their logo highlights a half-bitten apple and this has provided it with a unique appeal.

2. It helps to create a good impression

Another advantage of custom logo design is that it creates a positive impression. Logos evoke various responses and if used cleverly, they can encourage the audience to view your company in a positive light. The logo design of KFC, for example, highlights a smiling Colonel Sanders, the founder of the company. It invokes a warm and friendly feeling, thus encouraging customers to try out the products offered by the company.

3. It establishes a brand identity

All companies target to create a powerful brand identity, one that will highlight their values and connect them to the audience. A custom logo design can help you to fulfill these requirements. Consider the logo of ‘Allstate’. It symbolizes trust, protection, care, and evokes a warm feeling.

4. It represents your company

Many companies have successfully created logos that represent goals of the company. Furthermore, many of these logos have retained popularity, even after a decade. Created in 1971, the Nike Swoosh logo, for example, is popular amongst sportsperson and common people, alike. Even 40 years later, the logo has retained its popularity. With help of a simple logo, popular brand ambassadors, and a powerful slogan, Nike has emerged as a successful sportswear and equipment company.

5. Custom logo design indicates professionalism

A custom design can convince the audience that you are serious about your marketing your products/services and enhancing reputation. This in turn, increases their faith and trust in your company. For these reasons, all companies these days emphasize on introducing a unique logo design.

Coming up with creative logo designs is not an easy process. It will involve unexpected challenges, fierce disagreements, and several brainstorming sessions. However, if you handle these issues gracefully, it will contribute in creation of a unique logo design.

If you are planning to hire a logo design company for working on your behalf, ask them to come up with designs that will highlight the positive aspects of your company.

Graphic design is a creative profession but at times, it can take a toll on design professionals. Designers may have to work late hours and over time, their workspace may get so cluttered that it can affect productivity. In some instances, they tend to overlook maintenance of their hardware and PCs properly which can lead to system breakdown.

If designers are not organized enough, it is possible to lose track of commonly used resources and data. While it is true that a logo design professional is not a hardware expert, it is important for such a person to keep his system in proper shape and work in an organized manner.

•  Keeping System Cool and Clean

Basic as it may sound, this is important for a corporate identity design professional. Professional design apps like Photoshop, InDesign and Coreldraw draw huge system resources. Often, designers need to multitask with these apps running in background for their work. This exerts pressure on the CPU and graphic subsystem, which makes the interior of a PC really hot. Hence, a designer should ensure that system temperature does not cross permissible limits.

Basic as it may sound, this is important for a corporate identity design professional. Professional design apps like Photoshop, InDesign and Coreldraw draw huge system resources. Often, designers need to multitask with these apps running in background for their work. This exerts pressure on the CPU and graphic subsystem, which makes the interior of a PC really hot. Hence, a designer should ensure that systemModern desktops come with chassis temperature monitoring. However, designers must ensure a desktop PC cabinet does not get overheated. It may lead to system crash and damage to hardware components. Since, heat generation is often caused by dust accumulation, it is important to perform periodical cleanup of desktop and laptops running these apps. Those designers who use laptops for their work should use laptop cooling docks while working. temperature does not cross permissible limits.

• Keeping Backups

Irrespective of his type of work, a logo designer should keep backups of critical and frequently used data and resources. Despite best intentions and maintenance, PC hardware components can crash unexpectedly and in such an unfortunate event, a designer who does not keep backups of his data will land in trouble. He may lose client project data and his own resources.

A designer can use backup applications that perform regular data backup automatically. Mac users can benefit from Time Machine, which is a very efficient data backup application.

• Resorting To Cloud Services

Cloud computing has caught the fancy of designers and large technology companies alike. Cloud web based services can help designers tremendously. They can save their resources in storage and access these later from any place with an internet connection. This eliminates the need to carry presentations, designs and media files physically. Designers can also use Cloud based design apps to supplement their work.

• Using Tablets for Enhanced Productivity

Touch screen tablets like iPad can help designers in enhancing their workflow. Design giants like Adobe have unleashed tablet centric design apps that can aid designers significantly. Using tablets, designers can jot down design ideas on the move. They are easier to carry than laptops and can also be used for presentations at various places.

• Organization is Not Merely a Habit. It’s an Attitude!

Time management and streamlining workflow can significantly help complete project work efficiently. Discipline is important. A disorganized or haphazard style of work may cause a designer to lose his clients due to poor output. Planning a project before implementing it, organizing resources and setting personal goals and sticking to it are some of the ways a logo designer can see his project through successfully.

If you are planning to print your logo design, choosing high quality printer paper is important. Paying attention to paper quality is critical because a shabby paper can ruin even the most beautiful design. Additionally, poor paper quality may create a negative impression and can prompt people to reject your promotional brochures or leaflets.

We will first discuss in brief, features of various types of papers. Later, we will provide you with some useful tips for choosing the right paper for your design.

Types of Papers

Fine quality card- Fine quality card is high quality and reliable. However, one must exercise caution while inserting it in the printer. If you want to use fine quality card, opt for a test session to evaluate the outcome.

Pulp - Pulp is a risky option. The reason is that pulp papers are usually soft. In addition, they do not score high on quality. They also jam printers easily. Therefore, if you are using pulp papers for printing logo designs, insert a single sheet at a time in the printer.

Typing paper - This type of paper suits basic color layouts and simple graphic designs. It may not be ideal for complex print work.

Fine/Printer Paper - In most cases, professionals opt for fine/printer paper. They are perfect for any type of graphic jobs.

Handmade paper - This one scores high on the aesthetic aspect. Various types of handmade papers exist, with each of them exhibiting various features. Some types of handmade papers are soft and can interfere with the printing process.

Photo quality paper - If you are looking for accurate printing, opting for photo quality paper can be a great idea. However, it may not be suitable for certain types of printing.

Choosing the Perfect Paper

• The paper type should complement the final product. If you want printout of simple text or mails, standard copier paper can fulfill your purpose. High-budget promotional campaigns, on the other hand, require glossy and heavyweight paper.

• If you are printing by yourself, reading the printer manual thoroughly would be a good idea. Each of type of paper possesses certain features that produce different results, when used on different printers. A matte finish paper, for example, allows ink to dry easily. A glossy paper finish offers a bright look and highlights artworks and designs.

• Research about the features of paper you have chosen. Paper has four major features-opacity, brightness, weight, and smoothness. Opacity refers to the amount of light that can pass through the paper. Brightness refers to how white it appears. Weight is calculated per 500-sheet ream. Smoothness refers to paper texture. Smoother paper is ideal for laser printers. Inkjet printers, on the other hand, require textured paper.

• Consider basic guidelines. If you are planning to use printer paper, consider its brightness and weight. For printing colorful logo designs, opt for brighter and heavier paper. It will grab attention of your target visitors.

Choosing the right paper can have a positive impact on the quality of your corporate identity design. Additionally, it can reduce your printing cost and save the environment (since you avoid wastage of paper).