Whether you’re starting up a new brand or tweaking an existing one, it’s important to recognize the value of a good logo. You might be overwhelmed or unsure of where to start, as the options for a logo are virtually endless. The logo of your business or brand is the first point of contact between yourself and potential clients or customers. Given this, it’s extremely important that your logo aligns with what you brand believes, represents and caters to.

Those that are drawn to or can recall your logo are likely interested in what you have to offer. We’re going to be unveiling 7 of the best tips and tricks to note when designing the ultimate logo, including the importance of colour, negative space and scaling to name a few.

Simplicity Is Key

As I’m sure you know, the simplest of logos are usually the most effective. The more intricate or complex a design is, it’s likely it will be harder to recall or recognize. Looking at logo design in the past, those that have been increasingly simple have withstood the test of time and tend to be more eye catching.

When we say simple, here’s what we mean – the use of one or two colours, one font (two maximum) and limited elements. At first glance, the viewer should be able to identify your brand and have an idea surrounding what you offer. If they are met with numerous colours, fonts and elements, its likely they will feel overwhelmed and a little confused by the mixed signals.

Aim for simple, neat, clean and clear. Most of the international brands and businesses of today are represented and recognized by simple logos, namely Nike, Pepsi, Twitter and Chanel to name a few. For a closer look at some of the most iconic logo designs of all time, check out our article here.

Aim For Easy Recall

By adopting our previously mentioned tip, simplicity, you should be able to achieve easy recall. A simple design aids in quick recognition, recall and identification with the brand itself. Nowadays, with new businesses and brands being launched every day, there is increased competition to be recognized. Why not boost your chances by putting out a simple, eye-catching logo that avoids confusion and results in easy recall for your potential buyers, clients or customers.

Although your logo design may be simple, it’s important that it leaves a lasting impression on the market and potential clients. A logo that mesmerizes viewers with its symbolism, wit or aesthetic is likely to entice customers to return.

Consider Using Logo Templates

Starting a new logo from scratch can be overwhelming and it can feel impossible to get started. If you’re looking for an easier alternative, you can experiment with different logo templates to use as a starting point. Once you’ve found one that matches your expectations, you can then alter, adapt and specify the design further.

Envato Elements has a number of different logo templates, icons, photos and graphic templates that will undoubtedly aid in your logo design process. As an alternative, you can also experiment with the Wix Logo Maker tool or use Canva as a starting point.

Pay Attention To Colour

It’s no secret that colour has broad reaching impacts, and tends to interact with our psychology. Your use of colour plays a crucial role in portraying your brands message. Each colour is known to have its own effect on emotion, for example – red symbolizes passion, aggression and energy. In contrast, blue symbolizes calmness, togetherness and intelligence. With this in mind, it may now make sense why a number of social media platforms use the colour blue (Twitter, Facebook, Skype).

Because colour carries meaning and communicates ideas, it’s a good idea to use colours that align with your brand ethos and mission when designing your logo. For more on this you can check out our article on the importance of colour theory in design.

Symmetry, Proportion & Scale

Using the basics of geometry, symmetry and proportion are crucial steps when designing a logo. Designing a logo that has consistency within its curves and arcs is likely to appear more visually and aesthetically pleasing – which is the ultimate goal.

Another thing to pay attention to, something perhaps even more important than symmetry and proportion, is scale. With growth, the logo of your company or brand is likely to appear in number of different mediums – billboards, magazines, social media, business cards and more. With this in mind, it’s extremely important that your logo is easily scalable to be featured in a variety of advertisements, for example.

Your logo should be able to appear clearly on a phone screen as well as on a large billboard on the highway. This can be used as an easy test on whether your logo design thus far is a success. If it loses its proportions and details when scaled up or down, perhaps consider revisiting the design.

Negative Space

One of the most effective methods of logo design is the use of negative space. If you’re unsure of what negative space is exactly, negative space logos use the white spacing between the elements to create new images. A well-known example is the FedEx logo in which an arrow can be seen between the E and the X. The advantage of using negative space when designing your logo is the possibility of layered meaning. Images within images and words within words, think of negative space as an optical illusion or hidden compartment that is in fact hidden in plain sight. Why not give it a try?

Reflect your Brand Identity

Last but definitely not least, it is incredibly important that your logo design represents and reflects your business or brand. This applies to colour, font, elements, shapes and imagery – these should all in some way tie to your business and what you cater to. By aligning your logo with your brand, you’ll begin to establish a brand identity within the competitive market. You’ll also be able to target customers as your logo aligns with your values, attributes and ethos as a whole. 

Bonus: Hire a Pro

One final tip: when you are in doubt or the results aren’t as you expected, hire a professional. Your logo is the face of your business, it has to look perfect. A great place to start is 99designs (specialized in logo design, branding). They have a great process in developing the logo, so you are almost guaranteed to get a logo that fits your needs. Another alternative is No Limit Creatives. Last but not least, you could also try Fiverr, a freelance platform where you can search for a freelance designer to help you get the desired design.