When you take the plunge to start your business, it would probably be fair to say that thoughts of designing your logo are not at the forefront of your mind.
There are of course plenty of other key considerations, and worries, that blight new entrepreneurs. This is the reason so many financial planning companies emerge which can assist with this.
However, like it or not, branding can make the difference for a lot of companies. Those that create powerful brands do tend to stick around for a lot longer and it will always play to their advantage.
In relation to logos, we have seen a lot of changes over time with the design of them. As such, we have tapped into Design Shack, who have come up with several tips that you must abide by if you are serious about not falling foul of basic design guidelines with your company logo:
Your logo should work in greyscale
First and foremost, let’s put something of a disclaimer out there. While color is crucially important, and some work better than others, a good logo will work perfectly well in greyscale. Sure, it might not reach its full potential, but if it is designed well it will still look the part when printed.
Avoid the new cliché in town
Sometimes, you’ll see a load of new companies hit the market with very similar logos. They haven’t used the same design agency, but they have instead jumped on the bandwagon in relation to the latest trends.
Put simply, this is an approach you need to avoid at all costs. Your company will scream cliché and over time, as more and more businesses start to use these elements, you’ll start to cheapen your brand.
Custom fonts can be your savior
One way to always stand out is to use a custom font. No, we’re not talking about the type that aren’t available on Office and you instead download from the internet. Instead, these are custom designed fonts – just for your business.
If you take this step, the value of your branding increases, and the chances of your logo being ripped off is slashed.
Try and tell a story with your logo
Some logos will have hidden meanings (there’s a great example involving FedEx and the hidden arrow) and some will be more obvious when they tell a story. Regardless, this story element is crucial. Some companies will get away with a Nike swoosh, but others might have to be more obvious about the message they want their company to get across. Sometimes this isn’t about what your company does, but perhaps its values. It needs something to associate with you though as if not, it goes from being a logo to a block image.
The visual double entendre tip
Out of all the tips that Design Shack showcased, this final one was a particular favorite. They referred to it as the visual double entendre, and it basically involves two images being merged together. Obviously, the effect is subtle, but anyone who does notice it can immediately appreciate the smart designer behind it!
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