{"id":162427,"date":"2017-02-02T13:00:00","date_gmt":"2017-02-02T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/premium.wpmudev.org\/blog\/?p=162427"},"modified":"2017-08-31T08:29:06","modified_gmt":"2017-08-31T08:29:06","slug":"designing-logos-tips-resources","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wpmudev.com\/blog\/designing-logos-tips-resources\/","title":{"rendered":"Designing a Great Logo: 10+ Pro Tips and Resources"},"content":{"rendered":"

So you need a logo for yourself or a client? An easy enough task, right? All you need to do is find a nice font for the company name, maybe add an icon, simple! Well, yeah\u2026 if you want the logo to suck.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve lost count of the number of times the guys on our design team here at WPMU DEV have rolled their eyes at the mere suggestion that it\u2019s easy to make a logo. It actually takes a lot of time and research to create a logo that looks great and also successfully conveys a business\u2019s identity.<\/p>\n

So how do you design a stunning logo?<\/p>\n

In this post, we\u2019ll go through some tips and tools to help you research and design the perfect logo.<\/p>\n

#1. Understand Your Brand and Do Your Research<\/h4>\n

If you\u2019re designing a logo for yourself you should know your brand inside out. But if you\u2019re designing a logo for a client, it\u2019s important to keep in mind that a logo isn\u2019t just an image but an introduction to a brand. It needs to convey what the company represents.<\/p>\n

Spend some time getting to know the client, their business, who they are and what they do. Talk to your client about what kind of design they want, ask them to draw some simple sketches to convey their ideas, and also ask for examples of logo designs they like so you can get a clearer picture of their expectations.<\/p>\n

#2. Know Your Audience \u2013 and Tell a Story<\/h4>\n

A powerful logo is one that doesn\u2019t just identify a brand, but also has a deeper, hidden meaning that appeals to the target audience.<\/p>\n

Take, for example, Airbnb\u2019s logo redesign. Putting the icon shape controversy aside, a lot of thought and research went into the design. Nicknamed \u201cThe B\u00e9lo\u201d after the brand idea of belonging, it is an abstraction of four principles \u2013 people, places, love, and Airbnb \u2013 that have been blended into a single \u201cA\u201d shape.<\/p>\n

\n
\"Airbnb's
Airbnb’s old logo on the left and the redesign “B\u00e9lo” on the right.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Put simply, the logo represents the idea that Airbnb brings people together and helps them belong somewhere, wherever they may be in the world.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a symbol for going where the locals go\u2014the cafe that doesn\u2019t bother with a menu, the dance club hidden down a long alleyway, the art galleries that don\u2019t show up in the guidebooks. It\u2019s a symbol for people who want to welcome into their home new experiences, new cultures, and new conversations.\u201d – Airbnb logo announcement<\/a>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

#3. Keep It Simple<\/h4>\n

Simple logos are everywhere in the business world and stand the test of time. There are plenty of examples\u00a0\u2013 Apple, Nike, Fed Ex, Google, McDonalds, Coca Cola. I bet as your read those names the logos popped into your head.<\/p>\n

\n
\"Three
Three very recognizable logos.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

A simple logo will help your brand be easily and instantly recognizable, versatile and memorable.<\/p>\n

#4. Color is Key<\/h4>\n

Color plays an important role, connecting to our feelings in a unique way, making it a powerful marketing tool when making design decisions. So your color choices need to reflect the message and meaning you want to convey with your logo.<\/p>\n

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\"Colors
Colors and the emotions they can elicit.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

According to a Kissmetric infographic, 85% of shoppers base their decision on color alone. And according to the same infographic, proper use of color leads to an 80% increase in brand recognition. So when designing your logo, it\u2019s important to consider color theory and the psychology of color. You can read more about it in our post Using the Psychology of Color to Boost Your WordPress Website Conversions<\/a>, but here\u2019s a quick run-down of what each color represents:<\/p>\n