Business Logo Design

Are you thinking of updating your logo or do you need a new logo? We recommend taking some time to think through the design from more than just an aesthetic value. Thinking about it from top to bottom let's review a logo design:

Your logo is the primary visual branding element for your business. As such the design should be reasonably neutral with regards to elements that are trendy and could quickly cause your logo to look dated. Currently this would be something like a drop shadow or any type of elliptical lines. Text treatments are increasingly popular and a viable option for any B2B or industrial business.

Color selection is very important. Generally speaking you want colors that are suitable for your business. Black may look sleek and elegant but it's much more suited for a limo company than a daycare center. If you market globally you may also consider perceptions of colors in different cultures. For example, white is a funeral color in many parts of the far east. Scalability is another consideration. Something like the Starbuck's logo is okay for large signs and on trucks but it becomes unattractive in small scale use like business cards. Remember that using more colors will cause any printing costs to go up. Also, treatments done for internet use may not be able to be reolicated in print.

If your business is new you obviously have no real constraints, but there are considerations. You should try to avoid color schemes that mirror competition color schemes. Never use any graphics or images that are not your property or that you do not have authorization to use.

If you have an existing logo and want to change colors you should consider implementing slight color variations over several years to make the change gradual and virtually unnoticeable.

Some of the best logos are simple, iconic and free of distracting elements. When you hire a logo designer, don't pay over 50% for any deposit, and make ceratin that you get the logo in 72dpi for web use (jpg, gif or png format), 300dpi (min) for print use, a color and a grayscale version. Also be certain to get the original art files (psd or ai files) in case you need to make changes. It is highly recommended to get the logo designed in vector format so that you can resize it without loss of clarity.

Assuming that you hire a good logo designer, don't argue to much with the designer, and don't get design advice from friends and family. Trust your professional designer.