Where do all the ideas for creative company logos come from? While selecting a company name may be the first thing an entrepreneur does, matching it with the right logo is or should be the second. Together in combination these are two of the first decisions that you are likely to make when starting a new business. And, they are two of the most important.
In this article, our graphic design professionals at Brandings® will share the fundamentals in creating a great logo for your company. We’ll help jump-start the logo creation process and provide you with some key tips that separate the great logos from unsuccessful logos. Check out some of the recent logos developed by the Brandings® design team:
Creative Ideas for Your Company Logo – Great Ideas and Design Suggestions
Your logo design is an integral part of the strategic plan of your firm. The cost of logo creation can vary significantly. There are many logo design “contests” on the internet and other very low costs options. We’ve received feedback from hundreds of startups that have fallen prey to supposedly free logo designs, fake-contests or have been lured in by low quality $99 specials.
The overwhelming consensus among those who have used these services is that the final product was “boilerplate,” “unprofessional,” and “amateurish.” The design quality from some of these super-discount services is often so poor that you are better off creating your own logo.
Logo Design Strategy
A great logo design emanates from your company’s strategic plan. A great logo stems from a sharp understanding of your internal and external environment and your grasp of competitive advantage (what it is that you do better than your competitors).
It is essential to develop a logo that communicates the central elements of your firm’s advantage clearly and concisely. You’ll want to create a design that is memorable and relevant to your target market. Consider the differences in the following designs:
Here are 4 tips for an aesthetically successful logo:
- Use a typestyle that matches the style of the graphic image.
- Avoid color overload – some of the most successful logo designs consist of only one or two colors.
- Consider the weight of design, placement of graphics and objects.
- Keep the design visually balanced with contrasting and similar objects.
Each logo communicates a very different message to their respective target audiences.
In designing your own company logo you’ll want to consider the purpose of the design and where it will appear. Just think of how differently the design will look on letterhead, website, building, packaging merchandise … and more.
It is essential to contemplate what the design will look like with and without color. You’ll also want to envision how the logo will look if it is reduced to a very small size or enlarged to the size billboard or building.
Your logo is usually communicated to your target audience in a split second. The image, typeface, color, visual appearance and other elements need to come together to communicate your message in that flash of a moment.
Elements of a Great Creative Company Logo
So if you can work the cost of logo design into your budget, a professional graphic designer is usually worth every dollar; the decision is simply too important. If you don’t have the budget to hire a professional logo design firm, we’re here to help! We’ll walk you through the essentials to help you create your own company logo for free.
We’ll provide you with logo ideas and the foundational elements of design to enable you to create and develop a great company logo yourself. In this article we’ll show you how to create logos for free.
We’ll now examine the 3 Primary Logo Elements:
- Color Palette
- Typeface & Typestyle
- Image
#1 Color Palette Selection in Logo Design
Make sure your logo is utilizing the colors that represent your brand accurately and in a way that doesn’t negatively impact your brand’s perception. There are many, many evocations that our design team considers in color selection, here is a quick rundown on the basics that should help you select the right colors for your business.
Keep in mind that this is just a general overview. There are many exceptions, nuances and subtleties that alter the application. Our discussion pertains primarily to western cultures.
Color Makes Creative Company Logos Stand Out
- Red
Evocation: energy, strength, love, sex, stimulating, intensity, courage
Industry Application: bold firms, women’s products, intimacy products - Green
Evocation: growth, money, nature, healing
Industry Application: financial services, environmental companies, healthcare firms - Dark Blue
Evocation: stability, power, strength, masculine
Industry Application: banking, financial services, technology firms - Light Blue
Evocation: softness, spiritual, tranquility, clean
Industry Application: spas, religious groups, baby products - Orange
Evocation: heat, vibrancy, stimulating, different
Industry Application: unique companies, standout firms, children’s products - Black
Evocation: luxury, elegance, stability, death
Industry Application: technology, manufacturing, industry, men’s products, good contrasting color - White
Evocation: tranquility, purity, cleanliness
Industry Application: healthcare firms, purity products, good contrasting color - Brown
Evocation: earth, solid, masculine
Industry Application: men’s products, clothing, industry - Pink
Evocation: feminine, soft, different
Industry Application: women’s products, edgy companies - Yellow
Evocation: energy, light, joy, divinity
Industry Application: baby products, women’s products, good contrasting color - Purple
Evocation: creativity, royalty, magic
Industry Application: edgy businesses, women’s products, whimsical firms - Gold
Evocation: wealth, power, quality
Industry Application: luxury goods, status items, prestige groups - Grey
Evocation: steel, future, stability
Industry Application: technology, industrial firms, good contrasting color
The Brandings Brand Development Team has researched the use of color and the emotional associations with them. To learn more about our research, we’ve suggest your check out our article: Brand Development Color Guide, What you Need to Know
#2 Typeface and Typestyle For Your Logo
An image is not always necessary and many great logos are composed of only typeface. While it is possible to have an “image only” logo (think Nike) most small and mid-sized business will require typeface.
The typeface (also known as typestyle or logotype) must be consistent with the overall strategy of the firm and be in harmony with other elements of the logo.
A good typeface should be clear and easy to read and should not be so detailed that it cannot be viewed clearly when enlarged or reduced.
You’ll want to consider weight, boldness, italics, height and kern (the space between letters). Other factors include the use of capital letters, lower case letters or a combination of upper and lower case letters.
Think about whether you want a typeface with serifs or without serifs – called san serif (serifs are the small strokes on the end of a letter). Serif fonts tend to be a bit more readable while san serif fonts tend to be a bit cleaner.
#3 Image Selection in Logo Creation
An image, (also known as a graphic element or icon) is not an essential element of every logo. Consider adding an image only if it helps add distinction to your overall logo design.
The right image can quickly evoke a positive impression in the mind of your consumer. The wrong image will just as quickly evoke an impression – just not a positive one.
Our research shows, if the image does not increase the strategic objectives of the firm, an image should be omitted.
Lastly, we invite you to check-out our online inventory of thousands of logo designs to obtain logo ideas. Take a look at wide selection of color choices, images and typestyles. Get a feel for what you like and what you don’t like. You are welcome to use our designs as inspiration for you create your own unique, individual company logo. Get a feel for what you like and what you don’t like.
Finding Examples & Ideas for Creative Company Logos:
Finally, while you are free to get ideas for creative company logos from our logo collection, don’t mess with the “TM.” Each of our creative logos within our online catalog bears the “TM” designation. Brandings® and Brandings.com have claimed rights to each mark. The “TM” designation is governed by the laws of the state of California and the United States of America. Brandings® maintains a sophisticated monitoring system to ensure that its rights have not been infringed upon.
Mark infringement is in violation of United States copyright and trademark laws as well as foreign laws, and the laws of pertinent jurisdictions which further identify the mark and our firm’s claim hereto. Under 17 U.S.C. 504, the consequences of copyright infringement include statutory damages of between $750 and $30,000 per mark, at the discretion of the court, and damages of up to $150,000 per mark for willful infringement.
So, if you’re looking for logo ideas or to create company logos for free, check out the collection of great designs at Brandings. We hope that is article helps you create a great logo for your firm without cost.
If you would like the Brandings® design team to create a custom logo for your company, just give us a call. Our design services start at $1595 (USD) – perfect for a startup business.
