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How do I design a logo?
The various approaches you can take in creating your new brand.
 Well, isn't that the question that brought you to our website in the first place? You need a logo for your new or expanding company. Probably started where many people do these days, by running an Internet search for logo design or some related keyword phrase. You've been presented with loads of suggestions, websites, and options and you're ready to take the plunge. So how, you ask yourself, "do I design a logo". Good question. And as it turns out, you've many options to choose from, some better than others, some to be avoided at all costs. Let's take a look at how you can begin the sometimes harrowing journey to branding Nirvana, and how hopefully you can save time, and money on the way.
Design it yourself.
This is often the first choice for entrepreneurs and 'hands on' business owners and certainly worth looking at, if you have some design skill or rudimentary talent. It is true that you know your business better than anyone else, are more familiar with your products or service more than anybody on the planet - even the most experienced and capable designer will have to spend some time bringing themselves up to speed. And even then, they'll only be able to absorb a fraction of what you already know. Armed with your intimate knowledge of your business venture, you may be able to jot a few ideas down on a napkin at lunch or scribble a few concepts on your Day Timer. They may even look pretty decent. But here's where the caveats come in to play. It's one thing entirely to scribble out a rudimentary logo, it's another thing entirely to take that doodle to final art, especially in this digital age when any logo design requires a full array of assets and file formats for a myriad of reproduction applications. You'll need to educate yourself on various files, color systems and what can, and can't, be done with this or that format. You'll need access to some pretty hefty and specialized design software - most business applications are woefully inadequate when it comes to developing any type of design work, and a logo created in Microsoft Word is almost guaranteed to cause you headaches down the road. There's also the aspect of design 'eye' - while you may be able to recognize a good logo, do you have the 'eye' to recognize a good logo in its most rudimentary doodle form? Most designers take years to develop the necessary skills and design sense to create logos on a fairly predictable timetable - and while it is possible, it's highly unlikely that you'll be able to 'hit one out of the park', especially if this is your first attempt. You're also very close to your design subject, and may not have the objective 'eye' required to develop a logo free of emotional attachments or baggage - we often design logos for other design studios due to this very reason - and while you certainly know your business more than anyone, a little distance is often required for truly creative decisions. That's not to say you shouldn't be part of the creative process - your participation is pretty much a pivotal aspect - but sometimes its better to bring a 'fresh' set of eyes and ideas into the mix. Your doodles and rough ideas would be welcomed by most designers as they try to gauge what you're aiming for in your new brand. They can even bring your scribbles into finalized digital form through a process we refer to as logo repair.
Hire a designer or a design firm.
This is the solution that we recommend (and while we obviously have an axe to grind, let me say that you don't have to hire The Logo Factory - as much as it pains me to tell you, there are loads of other designers and logo design firms out there, locally and all over the Internet). Like any service required by your business, it's often recommended to hire someone who's expert at what they do, while you concentrate on what you're expert at - namely running your company. Design takes time, a lot of of pre-design R & D, and most designers are an awful lot faster than you are (unless you know your way around design software in the first place). While you're likely to struggle with one idea, a seasoned designer can probably come up with a handful of ideas in a lot less time, and offer up some options and directions that may not have occurred to you. Too, a designer has a skill set - honed by natural talent and (hopefully) years of experience - that they can bring to the table in the development of your new corporate identity. A skill set that you may not posess. From a technical aspect, hiring a designer also insures that when you finalize your logo, you'll have access to properly formatted files and formats so you'll be ready for any reproduction contingency.
Next Page: Do it yourself logo design - a closer look.
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Deciding if you need a logo
What makes a great logo
How do I design a logo
Do it yourself logo design
Clip art logos
Free logos
Logo Templates
Logo design contests
Online logo design
Selecting a designer
What's a logo worth?
Cheap logo design
Unlimited revisions
Working with our studio
How long does it take?
Getting started step-by-step
Logo design pointers
Logo design guidelines
Logo aspect ratios
Logo footprints
Common logo design mistakes
Logo design types
Illustration based logos
Text only logos
Icon driven logos
Cartoon logo design
Colors & your logo
RGB colors
Spot colors
CMYK colors
Pantone Matching System
Black & white logos
File formats
EPS file formats
JPG file formats
PNG file formats
GIF file formats
Your logo in a .PDF
Logo copyright
Poor man's copyright
Logo trademark
Stationery design basics
Business card design tips
Letterhead design tips
Envelope design tips
Design assets
Managing design assets
Having your logo printed
Print resolution
Gang run printing
Web friendly logos
Logo embroidery
Logos & signs
Uses for your new logo
Updating your logo
Logo repair or design
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