LOGO DESIGN

DEVELOPING A BRAND

There are many things that have to be considered and implemented in order for a logo to make sense, catch the attention of an ideal audience, and set it apart.

To help you decide what kind of logo works for you, consider these factors.

EVOLUTION OF A LOGO

ORIGINAL LOGO

Stewart Marks Construction - Logo Concept Art

COLOUR ADDED

Stewart Marks Construction - Logo Concept Art

NEW CONCEPTS

Stewart Marks Construction - Logo Concept Art

CONCEPT FOCUS

Stewart Marks Construction - Logo Concept Art

COLOURS TESTED

Stewart Marks Construction - Logo Concept Art

FINAL LOGO

Stewart Marks Construction - Logo Concept Art

DOs

The purpose of a logo (and furthermore, a brand) is to attract your ideal audience; your logo should be appealing to them… NOT TO YOU. You might love certain colors and fonts, but if they don’t catch the attention of your customers, clients, or readers, you’ve missed the boat. Spend some time defining your audience and do some research into their interests and tastes to create a logo that will appeal to them.

You have a great opportunity to set your business/brand/self apart by creating a unique logo. It’s easy to be inspired by what’s already been done before, but strive for a logo that’s different and distinct.

Keep It Simple S…

Efforts to create something original and creative can often result in making things more complicated than they need to be. The best logos are simple. This doesn’t mean that the designers behind them sacrificed creativity, but they didn’t add a million bells and whistles, either. A common design rule of thumb is to highlight one feature in a logo. Just one. Keep it simple!

It’s helpful to have variety and versatility when you’re creating a logo for a business or blog. The logo will most likely be used in a number of different places, whether it’s in the header of a website or the back of a business card. Create a couple variations of your logo. Consider what your logo will look like on colored backgrounds or on top of photos, and account for that by creating different color variations. Be sure to maintain the same consistency and proportions throughout all variations.

It can be easy to get tunnel vision when you’ve been pouring time and effort into a logo concept. Take a step back and ask for feedback from trustworthy friends and family. They may see something you didn’t pick up on. It’s always good to get a second and third opinion, but remember to it is constructive criticism and not intended as a personal attack on your tastes.

DON’Ts

Strong logos are simple!
They focus on one key feature. The more you add onto the design of your logo, the higher the chance is that it will be confusing for your audience.
Keep It Simple Smarty!

Trends come and go… if you follow everyone else, you’ll end up continually following with every new trend and replacing your logo when it becomes outdated in a few years.

Strong brands are consistent. They do not flip flop from one design to the next. How many times has McDonalds changed their logo?

If you want to create recognition with your audience, be consistent. Consistency has always been the fastest way to develop trust.

Not only is this plagiarism (and possibly a copyright violation), but it can be detrimental to your brand.

One of the largest benefits of branding is the ability to set yourself, your business, or your blog apart from everything else that’s already out there. By imitating someone else’s logo, you’re stealing their creativity and robbing yourself of yours.

A good rule of thumb is to keep the fonts to two or less. The use of several fonts has the potential to result in a logo that isn’t cohesive and ugly.