A logo has to be relevant and catchy as it helps to establish the connection between the brand and the customers. It’s often the center of a brand strategy that requires creativity, design skills, and proficient execution. Businesses are ready to pay handsomely for an effective logo. Therefore, logo designing has become a lucrative freelance gig or side-hustle option.

This article compiles the best logo designing tips you need in one place.

1. Know the Brand

For your audience, the brand logo will make the first impression. To make your logo impactful, it should communicate what your brand stands for. The logo must convey information about your brand to the audience. Before starting the logo design, you need to perform proper research about the brand and its industry, along with its competitors.

Once you know the personality and value of the brand, you can communicate that into the logo. Find out what makes the brand unique compared to the rest of the flock and the demography of the target audience. These insights will help you understand the brand identity and transform it into the logo.

2. Get Inspiration From Others

There is no harm in checking out what other brands are doing, even if you have already decided on a creative design. In fact, having a clear idea about the works of competitor brands will help you decide how to make your logo different. You can also seek inspiration from big names in other industries.

While stealing ideas is a big no-no, you can get refreshing ideas by going through the logos of established companies—such as these iconic tech businesses. Then, you can add your own creative spark to make your design unique.

3. Ask for a Second Opinion

An illustration of a second opinion or discussion

Most logo designers work alone, and lack of a second or third pair of eyes may result in a blunder. No matter how experienced you are, always ask for the opinion of a colleague or a friend about the logo you made.

While working on a design concept, double-check for innuendos or cultural misunderstandings to avoid design fails. Besides asking friends and colleagues, you can also seek advice from people on internet forums.

4. Choose the Right Colors

Color is the first thing the audience will identify in a logo. Therefore, you must prioritize the task of choosing the right color palette and style. Different colors convey different meanings, so make sure the logo colors align with what your brand does.

For example, while creating a logo for an energy drink company, using light colors like baby pink, light gray, or pastel rose would not be the best choice. Instead, you can go for colors like red, yellow, orange, or green that stand for youth, energy, excitement, and life.

Related: How to Use Color Theory to Elevate Your Creative Projects

Depending on your brand, you can use several colors in your logo to complete the brand story. You can use an online color wheel to select colors that look good alongside each other.

5. Pick an Appropriate Font

Choosing the right font or typefaces for your logo is equally essential. Make sure the font complements the logo. While doing so, try to broaden your ideas and avoid typical or traditional typefaces. Instead, go for unique fonts that still give your logo a professional look.

If you want a vintage look, consider going for Serif fonts. In contrast, Sans serif fonts will give you a modern look. You can also use highly stylized and decorative display fonts or script fonts that look like handwriting.

6. Be Distinct From Industry Cliches

A designer has to think outside the cliches while designing logos and come up with a distinct one. If a brand logo gets popular, industry competitors try to mimic the logo and create something similar. While checking out the competitors or deriving inspiration from popular brands, you may end up following the same color palette or using the same fonts and symbols.

Most industries are crowded these days, so it's best to avoid such mistakes. Instead, you should strive to create a unique logo that stands out from the crowd.

7. Make the Most of Shapes and Empty Space

By incorporating shapes and using blank space tactfully, you can make a great logo and create a distinct identity. You can also use eye-catching color gradients or textures within your chosen shape to create something that appeals visually.

The audience should read the logo even from a distance. If that’s not possible, keep the logo clean by adding lots of blank space. The use of blank space is crucial while designing a logo for a brochure, poster, or T-shirt. It'll help your logo integrate with various designs and formats. Empty space is also perfect for minimalist logos.

8. Try to Make Your Logo Memorable

Since the logo is a direct link to your brand identity, it should help your audience recall the brand you're promoting. Hence, you need to create a memorable logo that the audience will remember for a long time.

Thorough market research will help you know which colors and fonts the competitors are using in their logo. Select a color closely relevant to your brand, avoiding colors that your competitors use. Follow the same policy when choosing a font.

9. Create a Logo That Is Simple and Scalable

To create an exceptional logo, you may end up designing a complex one. Remember that every great logo reflects the tone and value of the brand through simplicity. Similarly, you need to make a simple logo that’s easy on the eyes and describes your brand to the audience.

When designing your logo, avoid over-design and stick to simplicity. Also, create a high-resolution logo that you can continue to use as your company grows.

Related: How to Vectorize an Image in Adobe Illustrator

Logos That Speak for You

You need to come up with a logo idea that matches your client’s requirements. At the same time, the target audience should be fond of the logo. By implementing the tips and techniques mentioned above, you’ll be able to make appropriate logo design choices.

Many online tools and websites assist you in creating awesome logos. So, what are you waiting for?