10 Mind Blowing Logo Design Tips! 🤯

Summary

In this informative video, a seasoned logo designer shares 10 essential tips for aspiring logo designers. Starting with black and white sketches to simplify shapes, understanding that a logo is the face, not the entire story of a company, and adjusting letter spacing are just a few of the insights offered. The designer also emphasizes the importance of sketching at least 20 concepts, avoiding online inspiration initially, creating compelling presentations, and checking for design uniqueness to ensure a logo's success and avoid legal issues.

Takeaways

• 🎨 Start with black and white: Focus on the shape and simplicity of the logo first, ensuring it works without relying on color.
• 🏢 A logo is the face of the company: It should be unique and memorable, not necessarily descriptive of the company's industry or products.
• 🔠 Adjust letter spacing for logos: 'Kerning' should be tighter in logos than in paragraph text to ensure the logo looks balanced.
• 🚫 Avoid immediate online inspiration: Create at least 20 concepts without looking at online sources to prevent unintentional copying.
• ✍️ Sketch at least 20 concepts: Pushing beyond the initial ideas can lead to more unique and creative logo designs.
• 📑 Present logos effectively: Use storytelling and mockups to show how the logo can be used in various contexts, enhancing client understanding and approval.
• 🤔 The Noun Method: Combine two standout nouns from the client's brief in their simplest forms to create a distinctive logo.
• 🌏 Change your location to refresh creativity: Shifting environments can provide new perspectives and inspiration for design.
• 🔍 Overshooting in custom typography: Adjust the size of certain letters to create visual balance, compensating for optical illusions.
• 🔒 Check logo availability: Before presenting a logo, ensure it isn't already claimed by conducting thorough searches in databases and using tools like Google Lens.
• 📝 Proof check thoroughly: Avoid potential legal issues and client dissatisfaction by verifying the originality and availability of your logo designs.

Q & A

Why should a logo designer start with black and white colors when creating a logo?

Starting with black and white helps to focus on the shape and simplicity of the design, avoiding overcomplication or dependency on texture and color. It ensures the logo design works well even when it is shrunk to smaller sizes like on a business card.

What is the main purpose of a logo according to the speaker?

The main purpose of a logo is to serve as the face of the company, not to explain what the company does or sells. It should be unique and memorable, representing the company's identity.

Why should the spacing between letters in a logo be tighter than in paragraph text?

The default spacing in Adobe Illustrator is set for paragraph text, which is usually wider than needed for logos. Tighter spacing ensures the logo looks cohesive and fits well within its intended use.

Why is it advised not to look at online sources for inspiration when starting a logo design project?

Looking at online sources too early can lead to unintentional copying or creating a design that's too similar to existing logos, which can result in legal issues or client dissatisfaction.

What is the significance of sketching at least 20 concepts before finalizing a logo design?

Sketching at least 20 concepts helps to challenge the designer's creativity and push past initial cliché or existing ideas, leading to more unique and original logo designs.

How can a logo designer effectively present their logo designs to clients?

A designer should create a story and a presentation that shows how the logo can be used in different contexts and make mockups specific to the brand. Presenting the logo ideas over a call can further help in convincing the client.

What is the 'Noun Method' for creating logo designs as mentioned by the speaker?

The Noun Method involves taking two nouns from the client's brief and drawing them in their simplest form, then finding similarities and combining them to create a logo that represents both elements.

Why is changing the design environment important for a logo designer?

Changing the design environment can help refresh the designer's perspective, draw inspiration from different cultures, and understand new design aesthetics, which can enhance creativity.

What is 'overshooting' in the context of logo design, and why is it important?

Overshooting refers to the optical illusion where certain shapes, like circles, may appear smaller than they are due to their curves. Adjusting for overshooting helps to create a visually balanced logo.

Why is it crucial to check the availability of a logo design before presenting it to a client?

Checking the availability of a logo design ensures that the design is not already in use or claimed by someone else, preventing potential legal issues and maintaining the trust of the client.