as a designer, logos have been my worst suit, it’s hard to conceptualize logos for me.

I actually enjoy logo and identity design the most. Coming up with concepts can be extremely challenging for certain company names though.

Great post. My thing is that I have a hard time sketching things out and find myself wanting to go right to the computer. I’m trying to get away from that though.

I love doing logos. I think its the most fun thing to design. I like designing websites also, but I find logos to be the most fun.

@Brian - I usually do sketching first. I usually fill a page up with thumbnail size sketches. Though, I usually don’t need to scan it. Usually I can just look at it and then make the logo on screen. But sometimes it helps to scan the sketch in.

Also, if you have a concept in your head I find that I can just go straight to the computer and make it. This often works if its something that it a composite of simple shapes. For example, I just designed a lightbulb with some abstract shapes in it for a client. I didn’t need to sketch with that one.

Good list of tips. I think the one about communicating with the client is really important. I’ve found that some clients have an idea of what they want. It helps to design that idea and then present it in comparision to some other ideas. Also, it helps to find out the style the client is expecting. The more good information you get the more likely you are to be on target with the customer.

Thanks.

Gino, you outline some very valid points and give good resources for logo design. Good post… oh and thanks for the link back to my guest article on David Airey. Have you got any logo books? If so what one/s?

Thanks, I have the first two I listed under books in this post and the other two come highly recommended by several friends. I have a bunch of other random design books as well and I have about 12 books bookmarked that I want to buy soon, I’m gonna order a ton of books at once. =)

Nice article with some great tips. Dugg.

Great article about logo design. Many people think that a logo is just a nice picture, and forget about creating a meaningful symbol that depicts the main ideas of the customer business. That’s why communicating with the customer becomes so important.

I totally agree about sketching: it’s the quickest way of finding out innovative ideas. Behind a simple and clean logo design there are dozens of sketches. In fact, creating something simple but meaningful at the same time is the real challenge about logo design.

Great tips. Glad to see you recommend using a professional program, such as Illustrator, but how about a big bold discouragement of using something like Microsoft Word to design logos?

Most professionals know better, but the aspiring designers need to hear that. Frequently.

[…] guide Youthedesigner vient de mettre en ligne le guide ultime pour faire un design de logo. Dans les grandes lignes il […]

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In one of my art classes we had to come up with a fictional company and sketch logo after logo, for a couple hours on different days. It really helped in the end. Often the first idea you have is the simplest. If that’s what you want - that’s fine, but it’s also something that a lot of other’s might come up with first, too. If you want innovation, sparking your creativity through sketching is the best way to go.

Oh - but there is something you can buy to attach to your computer that lets you draw on a flat screen in front of you, and it translates it as you draw to your computer monitor. Costs a pretty penny, though.

Great article. Been in design for 15 years, logo design can be fun and rewarding, but depending on the brand and breif can be very challenging also.

I’ve found over the years that, usually your first concept is the best. If you have to push it out you won’t be happy with it - good logo’s practically ‘fall out’.

Couple of tips for aspiring designers;

- You often have to sell your ideas to the client - good logo presentation is imperative.

- Effective logo’s should look good in two colours.

- Less is always more.

Definitely Dugg. I completely agree on sketching out logos and any design concept for that matter. We have a policy here that no mouse (or Wacom tablet) is ever touched until a clear concept is sketched out on paper.

There’s something about that direct connection between the pen and hand that just triggers creativity when you’re developing concepts.

From my experience, it also helps to start in black and white. Adding color treatment only after the final concepts are ready keeps you focused on the logo design.

I would recommend a book called “Designing Corporate Identity” by Pat Matson Knapp. It shows you real case studies of identity design projects and walks you through the process. It’s a great book, published by the best, Rockport.

On a side note, I personally believe logo and identity design are very specialized fields. If it’s not a designer’s forte, they should definitely work with someone who’s good at it. There’s nothing like team work in a creative projects. Plus, specializing helps position you as an authority in your field.

[…] Design a Logo - The Ultimate Guide at You the Designer - Graphic Design Blog (tags: design howto web2.0) […]

Thanks for the good tips!

I agree with the fact that “less is always more” and you don’t want the logo to be too busy. The push/pull comes from clients who want that, but you have to be disciplined enough to help them along the way.

Well you guys, you should try to read Andrew Glassner’s Logo Design published at Siggraph 98′.
That is what should be called “How to make your logo”

Here’s a few more tips for designing logos I wrote about 6 months ago. They’re a great complement to what you’ve posted here.

Don’t forget us over at Logosauce.com.

Logo inspiration, information and competition.

At Logosauce you can run a competition and get concepts and finished designs from hundreds of logo designers around the world.

Check it out at http://www.logosauce.com

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Perfect. Thanks for the tips!

Not bad, this delivers the essential basics. Especially good advice is sketching something before you start on the screen.

I don’t know a single professional NOT starting with a simple sheet of paper! You might want to look at this article I wrote back in July 07: http://nubloo.com/design/the-sheet-vs-the-screen

[…] Design A Logo - The Ultimate Guide This was an article written by Gino over at You The Designer which showcases exactly how to go about making a logo for yourself along with some tips, references and inspiration. This got featured on front page of Digg. […]

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I also love designing logos and find the books ‘los logos’ ‘dos logo’s and ‘tres logos’ are a great source of inspiration.

[…] Read the Article […]

Simple is the best. Good logo usually means good website. I hate to design website for someone who’s logo is crap.

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Some great logo design tips. I highly recommend the ‘logo lounge’ set of books; excellent for inspiration!

This is great stuff. I love designing logos! I’ve been frustrated… ?? how do you get clean lines for images on color backgrounds? I get very pixelated and white outlines. Very frustrated! (both illustrator & photoshop)

Thanks for your help!

thanks for such great article

mhmmm T___T
wahhhta article .