Tips and Tricks for Creating a Stunning Logo

Creating your brands' logo is the first step to creatingyour brands' image. The logo can set the tone for your entire online presence. It canbe one of the deciding features for a client to learn more about your businesswhen they click on your website. Having a memorable logo can stamp your brand into the clients mind - An effective stamp can consequently adhere to a product or service. Then, the next time that client is in need, that stamp will be the first thing in their mind. But what makes an effective logo?

There are 3 types of logos: Logo Type – is a logo that is only text. There are noimages, shapes or clip art pictures within the logo Logo Mark – is a logo that is only graphics. There is notext or wording within the logo Combination – is a collective piece that contains both textand graphics. This is the most popular and can better help get yourmessage across.



A brands' logo is sometimes referred to the face of the brand - and after-all, don't we all want to have a pretty face? Let's take a look at some of our best Tips and Tricks for Creating a Stunning Logo for Your Small Business or Professional Practice.

Think about the Future

The world of design is always changing. We live in an era ofconstantly changing perceptions and new businesses are being created daily. Alogo created with intention can evoke a need in the clients' mind.Consequently, a logo that is timeless is just as important as the product or servicethat your brand offers. When creating your logo, it’s important to think aboutthe future of both your business and the future of design. A timeless designneeds to encompass the market, the target audience/customer, and the branditself.


Let’s look at some of the best logo changes over the years:

Let’s look at some of the most creative logos over the years:

• Pro Tips for Creating a Timeless Logo:
  Simple Design + Colors
  
• Easy to Read Text
  
• Subtle Design
  
• Created with a Purpose
  

Avoid Templates

One of the most important things to note is that a template logo will always look like a template. There are free programs with thousands of overly used logo design templates. Most of them are a simplistic shape, with the business name and one simple color. No matter how much you customize it, there are going to be others that look exactly like you. This will reflect poorly on your business and will portray a lack of effort on your side. Your brands' logo really is your time to shine, so don’t be afraid to be creative.

Some of the free programs you can use to create a logo are: Canva.com, Logojoy.com, Logomakr.com and more! Of course, if you're like most business owners and don't have time to create one, Dr. Marketing offers logo design services at a reasonable rate. Whether you're looking for word mark, pictorial mark, letter mark, emblem, combination mark, mascot, or abstract, Dr. Marketing can help design your logo with your products and services in mind.

Pro Tips for Avoiding Templates:

Take a look at some of the most popular logos in your industry. Get some inspiration and make a few sketches before you take it to the drawing board. 
Hire a professional. If designing and creativity aren't your thing, there are professionals available (like us!) who create impeccably designed logos that encompass your brands mission.

Think outside of the box

Shapes and images aren’t your thing? Maybe your business isin a highly professional field, or you just simply don’t like the look of clipart and geometric shapes. A font is a new way to show your brands' personalitythrough its logo. There are limitless possibilities with font – all the wayfrom handwritten to modern type. You can now even create your own font to usefor your logo! You will need a few fundamental programs and a quick lesson incalligraphy and typography though. However, the end result of a logo made with customfont will stand alone and be highly impactful.

Pro Tip for Creating an All Text Logo:

• Colors are your friend
  
• Add in a short slogan
  
• Stick to 2 fonts maximum
  
• Understand the client (needs, demographics, skills, etc)
  

Make it Clear

Some brands choose to hide a hidden meaning, symbol ormessage in their logo. This can be interesting and compelling – it might evenland your business some free marketing as it sparks a conversation. However,hiding a hidden message in your logo can easily be misconstrued. It’s importantthat you make it clear for individuals to understand what it means, oncethey’ve found it. It’s important that your hidden message or symbol only hasone meaning, you, and couldn’t be considered hateful or harmful to anyone.


Let’s look at some of the hidden messages in logos over theyears:

• FedEx - Arrow between the 'E' and the 'X'
• Baskin Robbins - 31 in between the 'B' and the 'R'
• Tostitos - 2 people sharing salsa and chips in between the 'T''s and the 'I'
• Hope for African Children Initiative - Africa map view and 2 faces looking at each other

Pro Tip for Adding Hidden Messages in your Logo Review, review, review. Before you send anything to thepress, get a second look at your logo without the hidden message, and askyourself: Does it have the same (or a better) impact? Does it bring across the message I'm trying to convey? Ask your colleagues, your audience, your family, or even yourclients what you think before you make it official.

Use Complimentary Colors

Each year, Pantone sets the mood for the popular colors ofthe year. In 2018, the color of the year was deep purple. This influenced thepopularity of darker colors like navy, forest green, grey and black to becomemore common in design. As each year ends, a new color is announced, so best notto follow the trending colors. Colors also can play to different feelings and emotions. Oneof the most popular colors used by brands is Blue. The color Blue evokesfeelings of security, tranquility, trustworthiness and can stimulateproductivity. Perhaps that is the reason that some of the biggest brands useblue in their logos - like Facebook, Twitter, P&G, Dell, Samsung, IBM,Volkswagen, and so many more.

Emotions and the Colors they are Evoked by:

• Red – urgency, encourages appetite, physically stimulatesthe body, raising blood pressure and heart rate, associated with movement,excitement, and passion.
  
• Blue – peace, water, tranquility, and reliability, providesa sense of security, curbs appetite, and stimulates productivity.
  
• Green – health, tranquility, power, and nature.
  
• Purple – royalty, wisdom, stimulates creativity and respect.
  
• Orange & Yellow –promote optimism.
  
• Black – authority, power, stability, intelligence, andstrength.
  
• Grey – practicality, old age, and solidarity. But too muchgrey can lead to feelings of nothingness and depression.
  
• White – purity, cleanliness and safety.

There are a few color combinations derived from the colorwheel that go together perfectly. It’s best to use colors that pair welltogether on the color wheel. This will result in a perfectly harmonious logo.

Color Combinations:

• Pairing with the color(s) directly beside it on the colorwheel
• For example, if Orange is the main color, you should pair with red to the leftand yellow to the right
• Pairing with the color directly opposite on the color wheel
  

For example, if Yellow is the main color, pair with blue on theopposite side of the color wheel.

Pro Tips for Choosing Colors for Your Small Business Logo:

Choose a color (color combination) that encompasses yourbrands mission. Don’t be afraid of color, the emotional language of color mighteven help you in the future. If you have no idea which colors to turn to, optfor blue. Like many of the big brands have shown us, blue suggests skill,reliability, and success.

Keep it Simple

The best advice for logo design is really the simplest ofall – Keep it Simple. One of the biggest mistakes that designers have, is thatthey overdo it. They may pay too much attention to the font styles,color choices or the hidden messages that they can hide in the logo.

Pro Tip for Creating the Perfect Logo for your SmallBusiness When creating your logo, you want to keep one tip in mind: Picture yourself as an outsider, who has no idea what yourbusiness is or what you do. Then take a look at your logo. Are you able toguess what industry you are in just by looking at it? Am I able to know whereyou are located? Who you service?

Your logo should give potential clients a general idea aboutwho you are. Keep in mind that your small business is also your brand – and thelogo is the first step in defining your brand to the client. Make sure thatyour logo gives your clients the confidence to put their trust in you.

Don’t be Afraid to Get Creative

Just because we’re saying to keep it simple, doesn’t meanthat you can’t be creative! Let your creative juices flow and create somethingone of a kind. Just be sure that:
You will still like it in 5 years

• Your clients will understand the message
  
• Users will know what field you are in and/or what your business isabout
  

If you're stuck in your logo design and have no idea where to start, give us a call – we gotchu’. Logo design is one of our many areas of expertise. We’ve created hundreds of unique logos for our clients, all of which have all set the tone for their online presence.