92% of consumers choose whether or not to make a purchase based off of a brand’s visual appeal alone.

You don’t need years of experience to design a logo that is effective at attracting customers to your brand.

Knowing some basic design tips, and common design mistakes, will help you design a logo that leaves a memorable impression on your potential customers. 

Incredible graphic design, including incredible logo design, is in the details. Getting one small detail wrong can throw off your whole design. This leaves your brand with an unprofessional logo and feel.

Designing a beautiful logo is easier, and less expensive than you think. That’s why we’ve crafted this post, which shows you how to create an effective logo with little to no experience

Let’s dive in!

Use An Online Logo Maker

Creating your brand’s logo from scratch? Unsure where to begin?

You’re not alone. Many brands find themselves in this position.

The answer?

An online logo maker makes the process easier and serves as a less stressful starting point. These tools allow you complete control over text, font, colors, and images or symbols.

When you design your own logo, you might find yourself buried in a million logo comparisons, trying to see which works best for your brand.

If you’re in this spot, an online logo maker creates an easy way to compare branding images.

It gets better. An online logo maker is much less expensive and cost efficient than mocking up an enormous amount of designs with no clear winner in sight.

An online logo maker knows the tenants of graphic design so you don’t have to. It helps you apply them in unique and creative ways you didn’t think possible.

This tool serves as an easy way to boost your brand recognition. What are you waiting for?

To Design A Logo Start With Your Color Pallette

Colors come with the power to impact emotions and customer action. Understanding color psychology helps you make the right decision when choosing colors for your logo design.

Different colors affect customers in different ways.

Think about the message you want your logo to convey about your brand. How do you want your customers to feel about your brand? What is your brand mission or promise?

Choose a set of colors that communicates the answers to these questions.

Beyond their emotional effects, colors create visual harmony in your design.

A good rule of thumb is to select 1 to 3 primary colors and 1 to 3 secondary colors. Different tones of the same color create consistency. To achieve different tones of the same color, play around with brightness and contrast.

Your color choices should complement and contrast one another.

For more on color theory, click here.

Typography Matters

First thing first. Use a font that is easy to read. This is a simple but impactful graphic design tip.

The eye doesn’t take well to scanning multiple typefaces. Stick to a simple, readable collection when it comes to your logo and beyond.

Choose a typeface that, like your colors, communicates your brand’s personality to a potential customer.

Want a friendly feel? Use sans-serif fonts with rounded edges.

Looking for something more sophisticated? Go with a serif font that conveys elegance.

Your font should correlate to every other element of your logo design including color and images or symbols. Not doing this proves a huge mistake for many first time and seasoned designers.

Balance Elements

Make sure the elements in your design look proportional. Do not insert images or text in any random order or place.

Inaccurate proportions leave your logo and your brand looking unprofessional.

Of course, there’s something to be said for breaking the rules in graphic design. Balancing your elements does not mean creating perfect symmetry. Depending on your design, this could prove boring.

The right amount of balance and alignment depends on the direction you want your logo to take.

Order Content Using Hierarchy

Design a logo with the most important information as the visual focal point. In the world of design, we refer to this as a hierarchy.

Hierarchy orders elements by scale, typography, placement, and color. You use hierarchy to direct the eye of a potential customer.

Do not keep everything the same size. Proper scaling helps you emphasize the parts of your design you believe the most important.

White Space Is Your Friend

White space or negative space allows elements in your design to breathe. Instead of creating a cluttered design that is hard to read, use white space to craft a fluid design.

The use of white space attracts more attention to a brand’s design than one that uses color.

Less really is more!

Contrast

Contrast in design conveys mood, bolsters readability, and makes your design pop.

Use a contrasting palette for your background, fonts, and any images or symbols. Does your logo use a light background? Go for a dark font.

Dark background? Choose a light colored font.

A color wheel is a great tool for identifying contrasting colors.

Stay Current But Don’t Fall Victim To Fads

You want your brand to stand the test of time. Communicate that via your logo design.

While logo trends and fads pop-up all the time, they fade away fast. No one wants to design a logo that ends up looking like an antique.

Design a logo that is current but not trendy so that your brand stands out from the crowd. Your business will look unique to consumers and their interest will peak.

Avoid A Static Design

Your logo design will appear on all marketing materials for your company. These materials take many diverse forms.

Optimize your logo for these many platforms so that it appeals to as many people as possible.

When you design a logo, a good tip is to pick one element you can tweak to fit different platforms. Can you perform a slight color change of a symbol?

If so, you’ll save time and money on redesign across platforms.

Remember Your Audience

Never forget your audience. They serve as the people you’re designing for.

Design a logo your target audience wants to see. Your logo should generate positive reactions.

Consider the context of your brand and your audience. For example, a family oriented brand should avoid dark, dismal designs.

Keeping your audience in mind every step of the way will help avoid any miscommunication between your brand and your target audience.

A Note On Graphics

Using a symbol or image in your logo is a great way to draw someone’s eye to your design.

Make sure any images you use fall into some sort of alignment. Just as with text, graphics need balance.

The graphic you choose should echo or reinforce your brand message. A talent agency for full stack developers should choose a graphic or symbol that reinforces the idea of web development.

People will ask about your logo. They’ll want to know how you came up with such a unique, clever design.

If you chose a random image that doesn’t connect to your brand, you’re in trouble.

Make meaningful choices. When others ask about your logo, you won’t hesitate to talk about your brand and the importance of each element in your design to that brand.

Simple Is Beautiful

We can’t stress keeping it simple enough.

Too many elements or fine details start to become one big mess after a while.

Your design will suffer. Your brand recognition will take a hit. People will associate your brand with a claustrophobic feeling.

Use special effects or elements with strategy. Design a logo with elements that highlight your design, not overshadow it.

Plan Your Design

Planning does not need to serve as your first step. If you’re someone with no experience, you’ll begin to plan once you’ve gotten your feet wet and your hands dirty.

Once you’re familiar with who you’re designing for, what your brand message is, and you’ve played around a bit, planning can set you up for serious success.

You’ll design quicker and execute the feelings and actions you want to convey with ease.

This planning stage doesn’t need to halt your progress. It can take up as little as one minute of your time.

You’re Ready To Design A Logo!

Designing a logo with no experience proves easier than most people think.

You want to design a logo that communicates your brand’s personality and message. To do this, keep your audience in mind every step of the way.

You don’t need to hire a professional. After all, you know your brand best.

If you’re considering designing your own logo, consult your team for help. Your employees and coworkers can add different perspectives and fresh ideas.

Need more inspiration? Take a look at these awesome logos from the history books.

As you can see, many elements go into a great logo design. You can achieve this by following the graphic design tenants laid out in this article.

If you have more questions about logo design or want to try out an online logo maker, contact us today!

The Golden Arches. The Nike Swoosh. The Disney “D.” 

Nothing grabs your customer’s attention like a good logo. Not to mention how much a logo increases brand recognition.

It’s not just marketing jargon. Children can recognize logos before they can even read.

When it comes to your own business, you can’t ignore how effective logos are. You need a quality logo that is cleverly made and instantly recognizable.

But choosing a logo can be an overwhelming task.

Identifying a timeless logo is one thing, but creating one from out of thin air is quite another. Especially if you want to avoid the expense of hiring a graphic designer.

In this article, we’ll look at the best tips to keep in mind while choosing a logo and maximizing brand recognition.

Your guide to choosing a logo for your company

What does your brand stand for? 

A logo speaks volumes. You’re going to need to make sure it says the right thing.

What values does your company want to present to the world? 

Strength? Creativity? Whimsy?

When you’re choosing a logo, you want to make sure that you find a design that strengthens that message and stays on brand. The worst thing you can do is choose a logo that undermines your company’s values.

Nike’s Swoosh is a great example of a logo that works for the company’s values.

Nike is an athletic company, and its logo has a feel of movement, sleekness, and speed. What else would an athletic shoe company want to communicate?

But for a moment, let’s imagine that in an alternate universe, Nike’s logo was switched with Burger King’s. 

Would a colorful cartoon burger communicate the kind of message an athletic company would want? Of course not.

This is an extreme example, but many companies make similarly off-brand mistakes.

Before you even start brainstorming about a logo, identify what ideals your business wants to associate itself with.

Types of logos

There are many different logotypes. Before you get to choosing a logo, narrow down what sort of design you want to use.

Most logos can be broken down into three types.

Typographic

In a typographic logo, the company name is stylized to make the logo. Some examples of famous typographic logos are Coca-Cola, Netflix, and Nintendo.

Typographic logos are great because they are typically easy to design. They also leave no confusion as to the company’s name.

Illustrative

Illustrative logos utilize drawings that usually communicate the company’s product.

For instance, Red Lobster, Olive Garden’s vines, or Chuck E. Cheese’s cheery portrait (even if the new Chuck looks creepy. Branding, people).

Abstract

Unlike illustrative logos, which are often quite detailed, abstract logos are very minimal. Many utilize simple shapes and only one or two colors.

Abstract logos are generally standalone icons that represent the company. The strongest of them can communicate the company’s identity without the need for text.

For example, the Target bullseye, the Pepsi swirl, the Starbucks siren, or the oft-mentioned Nike swoosh.

The most recognizable logos tend to be abstract. But creating a simple logo that is strong enough to be recognizable is challenging.

Many logos are a blend of two of these types.

For instance, Wal-Mart’s star logo, which accompanies their typographic logo. Another great blended logo is the World Wildlife Fund, which uses the strong simplicity of abstract logos to illustrate a panda bear.

Consider colors

In nature, color is its own language.

Peacocks use their colorful plumage to attract a mate. Many snakes use colorful markings to warn other animals that they are venomous.

It’s just as vital in marketing.

Color is one of the most important things to consider when choosing a logo design. 

And not just for aesthetics. Psychology has shown us that different colors evoke different feelings.

When you’re thinking about brand’s values, choose colors that will say the same thing.

Red communicates vibrancy, strength, and urgency. This makes it perfect for health companies and gyms. 

Blue evokes a feeling of trust and familiarity. Ever wonder why almost every social media uses blue in their logo?

If you want to instill a sense of joy in your customers, think yellow. You’ll notice that yellow logos are popular in fast-food and retail. This is because these companies want to be associated with happiness.

Green is often associated with growth and wellness. This is the go-to color for yoga studios, financial firms, and health food stores.

For companies wishing to appear strong and authoritative, nothing speaks louder than black. It’s no-nonsense and sends a clear message.

Maybe your company likes to have a little bit more fun. You might want to consider an orange logo, as it evokes playfulness and youth.

But don’t limit yourself to only one color. Combinations can speak just as loudly.

For example, look at all the All-American companies using three colors (two guesses as to which three). This is intentional.

Mix and match colors to align with the message you want to send the world.

Go subliminal

Everyone loves a clever logo. 

To stand above the pack, consider implementing some hidden messages.

The most famous example of subliminal the FedEx logo. Hidden in the negative space between the E and X is an arrow.

It’s very subtle—you may have never noticed it before. But this hidden arrow does a great job communicating speed and progress, even without realizing its there.

Amazon’s logo is another great logo with a subliminal message.

The orange line beneath the company name evokes a friendly smile, right? But take another look.  

You’ll notice that the line goes from A to Z. Clearly, this is to communicate that their inventory is just as diverse. 

So when choosing a logo, don’t be afraid to hide some hidden meanings in there. 

Don’t be afraid to go negative (space)

When designing anything—logo, website, whatever—it can be tempting to use as much of the available space as possible.

Typically, this is how you get bad design.

You might feel restricted if you focus on creating a logo as iconic as the Nike swoosh out of a single solid object.

But before you panic, remember that you can make empty space work for you as well.

Many logos (like FedEx) make clever use of negative space to create a sophisticated logo.

Take another look at the WWF panda. Notice that the most recent versions only use black.

The rest of the logo is empty space. Yet your brain fills in the outlines automatically.

Another logo that makes great use of negative space is the USA Network. If you look closely, you’ll notice that there is no S in the logo. 

Rather, the U and A shapes include portions of the S’s negative space. This makes the S plainly visible despite not actually existing. 

Similarly, the Girl Scouts logo features the profile of three girls, despite using only a single color. 

Negative space opens up a whole slew of possibilities for logos. Try it out! 

Size matters

Remember that despite whatever size you make your initial logo design, it will be displayed in tons of different sizes.

From billboards to business cards, your logo is going to have to be recognizable in any size.

Recently, Instagram made waves when they rolled out a new logo.

The original logo was an intricate illustration that evoked the charm of the original Polaroid cameras. The new logo was criticized or being crude in comparison.

Despite the original logo’s well-loved reputation, it had a big problem.

Because it was so detailed, it didn’t look great when it was scaled down to the size of an app icon on a smartphone. 

And considering that Instagram is a mobile app, that’s no bueno. 

The new logo may seem overly simplistic in comparison, but it is far more scalable than the original.

Keep scalability in mind when choosing a logo. Zoom out on your design to see how it looks 

Zoom out on your design to see how it looks at a small size. Do details get lost? Does it get cluttered?

If so, simplify the design. You’ll be much happier with your letterhead.

Versatility is key

You’re likely designing your new logo on a computer screen. But that’s not the only place it will be seen.

Your logo will be printed in a plethora of mediums. Your company will put it on everything from building signs to shirts to pens.

Colorful, intricate details look great on screen, but if you’re trying to get embroidered work shirts, it’s going to lose clarity.

Simple is better.

No matter how great it looks on a computer screen, you have to keep the design’s other uses in mind.

Spare no expense 

Choosing a logo is not something to enter into lightly. This is your company’s identity, after all. 

Not to mention that ditching a bad logo is expensive.

Choosing a logo is going to be costly.

And not necessarily financially. Even if you design a new logo yourself, you need to spend time on it. 

It may seem expensive, but you can’t afford not to have a great logo.

Get designing!

Choosing a logo is important, but it doesn’t have to be a headache. 

Try out our free logo maker and get started choosing a logo that will make your company stand out!

Looking to bring your business’s brand to the next level?

Did you know that companies that utilize creativity command 1.5x the market share compared to less creative brands?

Here are 5 design tips for brand logos that will help your answering service stand out to doctors!

1. Brand Logos and Purpose

Have a strong sense of what your company is trying to accomplish with its logo.

What will be the primary function of the graphic? Will it be used in print media, videos or ads, on your website, on social media, or a combination of all?

Consider your audience.

For example, if your company is a Doctors Answering Service, you probably wouldn’t want to use food-related imagery in your logo. That would work against you and confuse people.

Research the branding of your competitors, if you’re feeling unsure. Ask for feedback from people that you trust.

Ask for feedback from people that you trust.

The sooner you understand your brand the sooner you’ll be off to creating a solid logo.

2. Choose Your Color Wisely

When deciding how your brand will represent your business, choosing colors for your logo is an important process.

Attention-grabbing colors, like neon green or sky blue, might work for one company but may not work for yours.

Do some research into how people perceive colors.

Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• Yellows: Optimistic, warm
• Reds: Loud, young
• Greens: Natural, growth
• Blues: Dependable, strength
• Purples: Creative, smart
• Grays: Tranquil, Even

Once you’ve decided upon the colors for any of your brand logos, keep consistent across the rest of your content.

3. Typeface Matters

If your logo will contain any text, choosing a font is just as important as choosing colors.

Compare fonts side by side to see which displays your company name best.

You don’t want potential customers to squint to figure out words in your logo.

Consider working with your designer or software to create a custom font that will be unique to you.

Pick a typeface that works across many different types of media.

Everybody knows and loves the Coca-Cola logo; it’s a great example of a brand with a unique custom font that has stood the test of time.

4. Get Creative and Clever

Getting creative with your logo means you can be as simple or as complex as you’d like.

Consider combining two graphics images in your logo to create unique subliminal messages.

Make use of negative space.

Experiment with proportions, sizing, symmetry, and shadow.

Add text or remove text. Think about Apple’s or Nike’s simple brand logos.

5. Make It Yours

Once you’ve picked your colors, fonts, and overall ideas, mock up a few designs for consideration.

When designing a logo, try your best to avoid graphic cliches and current trends.

Instead, work to create a design that will set you apart from your competition and help your business grow.

With these design tips under your belt, you’re ready to create some memorable brand logos for your business.

Do you have any logo design tips that we might have missed? What’s your favorite famous brand logo? Got a design that you’re working on? Let us know in the comments!

Is your trailer logo lacking a certain something? It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when first creating a logo. Knowing which tips make a better logo will make this process much easier.

A logo is often the first visual someone has of your company. First impressions are important.

Creating the right logo is the first step for providing an amazing first impression. Knowing the right tips will make creating your logo a breeze.

You don’t want to make logo creation mistakes that end up costing you business. In this article, you will learn five easy ways to make your trailer logos stand out.

1. Appeal to Your Audience

Most trailer companies want a logo to reflect their products. People using trailers will need them for work situations. Teardrop camping trailers are powerful devices.

Your trailer logos should not have a cutesy appearance. People using trailers want a machine that will help them get the job done.

Make sure your logo reflects a serious and realistic tone to match the wants of your audience.

2. Colors Make or Break Trailer Logos

Consumers tie color with emotions. You’ll want to think about what your customers value.

Many trailer companies utilize the color black for its masculine feel. Blue is a color associated with trust that you’ll see in many company logos.

It’s generally recommended you avoid feminine colors including pink and purple.

3. Choose the Right Font

A font is important for having an effective logo.

Your trailer company will likely want a logo with sharp and bold lettering. Rounded letters sometimes provide a font that lacks seriousness. Rounded letters look great for toy stores but you’ll need something more rugged.

Always choose fonts that are easy to read without a second of hesitation. White Mountain Footwear noticed a 20% sales increase by changing their logo font.

4. Avoid a Busy Logo

You’ve chosen the right color and font but you don’t want to go overboard. It might seem nice to include many elements to have your logo stand out.

Having a logo with too much going on only creates distractions. A logo should be simple, to the point, and memorable.

Iconic companies create logos to stick in the minds of consumers. Including too many words, colors, and images makes a logo clash, steering away potential customers.

5. Consider Multiple Platforms for Logo Placement

Your trailer logo might look great on a business card but how about on a billboard? It’s important that you choose a logo that works in any situation.

The best way to have an adaptable logo is to create designs on different platforms.

Adjust the size of your mock logo to see how it looks on small and large surfaces. In some cases, a logo that looks great on a billboard looks smudged on a business card.

Don’t forget about online logo creation programs. These programs give you the ability to create, edit, and complete your trailer company logo. Following these tips will help to ensure you have a great looking logo for your trailer company.