Being a designer has many exciting aspects. You learn something new with every project. Each client is unique, so even within the same field, everyone does their job differently. It is essential to do some research before you start designing a logo. Knowing the product and client well will help you decide the best direction for your logo and allow you to reach a consensus later on.
Ask your client the reason they are here. How do they accomplish their tasks? How are they different from other brands? What do they value most? While some of these questions may seem obvious, others can be challenging to answer. This will allow you to learn more about the make a wish logo businesses of your clients. This initial phase can help you to identify the right market and ensure you aren’t missing any opportunities when designing your logo.
You might think that you can just use any of the digital tools to make a logo, but a sketchpad lets you take your mind off the brightly lit pixels and record your ideas faster and more freely. You have total freedom and control. If you awake in the morning with a statement you want to keep, it’s best to still have a pencil and paper at your side.
It is easier to place shapes precisely where you need them with sketching. You will still have time later to digitize your marks (see our drawing tips for additional advice). When describing your design ideas to clients, showing them some sketches before digitizing a mark can be helpful. Clients can visualize the final result more easily without distracting by typefaces or colors. This is a great way to make clients feel less overwhelmed and help them avoid dismissing whole ideas. Do not share too many ideas.
Although color is an essential part of branding, as we have already mentioned, it can also be distracting and make it complicated for clients to think about the core concept of the logo. You can focus more on your logo’s idea and not on a color that is easy to alter.
A beautiful palette can save a poor idea. However, a great idea is still good regardless of the color. You will most likely think about the symbol before thinking of the color palette. The lines and shapes matter most, regardless of whether you’re thinking about a slice from an apple or three horizontal stripes, four connected circles within a horizontal line, or any other symbol.
The logo must be appropriate to the values, ideas, and activities it represents. A high-end restaurant will appreciate a more elegant font than a nursery for children. A yellow and fluorescent pink palette will not help you reach male pensioners. It doesn’t matter what industry you are in; crafting a brand that resembles a swastika is not going to work.
These are things you may already know, although they might seem obvious. However, appropriateness is more than that. It is easier to convince clients to go with a design that you believe to be appropriate. This can often be the most challenging part of any project. Remember, designers don’t just design. Designers also sell.