Some Tips for Effective Logos

Posted on: April 10, 2009 | Category: brand identity | 25 Comments

Hieronder een artikel met een paar goede tips om effectieve logo’s te kunnen maken. Er wordt o.a. gesproken over kleurgebruik, grafische formaten voor een logo, etc. Maar het allerbelangrijkste is dat een goede logo-designer nodig is om het belangrijkste grafische (visuele) marketing-tool van uw bedrijf te ontwerpen.

Choosing a Logo Design for Your Company

A picture is worth a thousand words. This adage is especially true when it comes to logo design. People have an immediate psychological and emotional response when they view a logo. Before anyone picks up the phone to call you or hits send on an e-mail, they will most likely first see your logo. A good logo can be just the right push to get them to call and a bad one can be enough to scare them away. You want to make sure you are sending the right message about your company with your logo. Here is a step by step look at some important factors to consider when designing a logo.

Designing a Memorable Logo for Your Company

A simple logo is much more memorable than a complex one. Think of some of the world’s most known brands like Coca-Cola, FedEx or McDonalds. The logos are simple and clean. Too many graphics can make a logo look cluttered. A common mistake that businesses make is feeling like they need to have a picture of their product as part of the logo. There is no sign of a fizzy drink, package or hamburger in any of the aforementioned logos. People who know what they are doing know that less is more.

Additionally, logos that are twice as wide as tall are the easiest to read, particularly in passing. If you are designing a logo for a business that will rely heavily on being read from a distance or in passing, this ratio will provide the best result.

Logo and Design and Color Symbology / Meaning

The color of you logo alone will create an impression of your company So choose colors that will send the right message about your business. Here is some basic color symbology:

Blue – Knowledge, Stability, Trust, Conservatism (Possible Danger: May be perceived as stuffy or old-fashioned)
Green – Nature, Wealth, Growth, Go (Possible Danger: Can be perceived as envy)
Red – Passion, Energy, Excitement (Possible Danger: Can be perceived as angry)
Pink – Love, Femininity, Calm (Possible Danger: Can be perceived as little-girlish)
Orange – Fun, Energy, Warmth, Nature (Possible Danger: Not perceived as a serious color)
Yellow – Happiness, Laughter, Energy, Creativity (Possible Danger: Can be overpowering and over-stimulating)
Purple – Royalty, Wealth, Sophistication (Possible Danger: Certain shades can be perceived as adolescent)
Brown – Dependability, Stability, Friendliness, Nature (Possible Danger: Can be perceived as dull)
Black – Sophisticated, Sexy, Elegant, Mysterious (Possible Danger: The overuse of black can be overwhelming and foreboding)

Since most logos are two color, selecting two colors that represent your company’s message is a wise choice. We use blue and yellow to represent our logo. This sends the message that we are knowledgeable, trustworthy, energetic and creative. Additionally, the conservatism of the blue is offset by the happy energy of yellow creating a well-balanced message. When designing a two color logo you want to make sure that you choose colors that will compliment each other visually as well. A good way to do this is to consult a color wheel. Colors opposite each other (complementary colors) always look good together. (TIP and easy way to determine complimentary colors is by typing in one color in MS Word an then highlighting the typing. The type will change to the complimentary color.) If you prefer a singular message, a monochromatic logo using tints of a single color can result in a pleasing effect, particularly when using blue and green.

Choose A Reputable Graphic Designer to Design Your Company Logo

The first question you should ask when choosing a designer is, “Will this logo be designed in vector format?” The answer must be “Yes.” Vector format means it will be designed in a program like Adobe Illustrator using art that is based on mathematical formulas. This means your logo can be sized up and down infinitely with no distortion or image loss. Vector is also the format that sign companies as well as many other service providers will require in order to output your logo in print. If your designer tells you the logo will be designed in Photoshop or Paint Shop in raster format, you probably need to find a new designer.

Logo Formats You Should Keep on Hand for Your Business

Vector eps (encapsulated post script) – You may not be able to view this logo on your computer without the proper software, but this is the most important type. It is used for professional print applications. You should request it in CMYK color for full color printing as well as in spot colors for 1, two or 3 color printing (depending on how many colors your logo uses).

JPEG – This type is for in-house publications like Word documents that will not be professionally printed. It is also the image type used for web applications. Get this type in a reasonably large size since your web designer can always size a JPEG down, but not up. JPEGs for web and in-house applications should be in RGB color.

PNG or GIF – For vector graphics (Created in Adobe Illustrator or other similar programs), you should save your logo in PNG or GIF format. This is for illustration files.

A logo will be part of your company forever (if done properly). Do your homework and choose a designer carefully. After all, it is one of the most important decisions you will make for your business.

Het oorspronkelijk artikel kunt u ook nalezen in, allwebdesignresources.com, geschreven door: Joann Stylianos, owner of Big Fish Media.

About the Author (gonzo)

My name is Jan Rajtoral and I am the Founder of and Designer at gonzodesign, providing design services across the full spectrum of Brand Identity, Graphic Design, Print and Advertising Design & Website Design.

{This article contains : 1019 words}

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Post Title: Some Tips for Effective Logos → April 10, 2009

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25 Gorgeous Responses,
to this article: “Some Tips for Effective Logos”

mark ~ Apr 15, 2009:

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mark ~ Apr 15, 2009:

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gonzo ~ Apr 15, 2009:

Hey Mark,

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Thanks, ciao ….
Twitter ID: gonzodesign_
mark ~ Apr 16, 2009:

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Tamiflu ~ May 1, 2009:

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gonzo ~ May 2, 2009:

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Twitter ID: gonzodesign_
viagra ~ May 11, 2009:

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gonzo ~ May 12, 2009:

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Twitter ID: gonzodesign_
javagame ~ Jul 17, 2009:

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atlantic ~ Sep 7, 2009:

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gonzo ~ Sep 7, 2009:

Hi crapag,

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Hi vintage,

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And last but not least, Hi atlantic,

Yes, sharing ‘good’ usefull articles with a high ‘how to’-factor is our game, hihi.

To you all, thanks for your comments, Cheers & Ciao ….
Twitter ID: gonzodesign_
ka-fu ~ Sep 9, 2009:

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gonzo ~ Sep 9, 2009:

Hi ka~fu,

… you’re welcome! Cheers & Ciao …
Twitter ID: gonzodesign_
cartoon ~ Sep 16, 2009:

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gonzo ~ Sep 18, 2009:

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Cheers & Ciao …
Twitter ID: gonzodesign_
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feetblog ~ Sep 23, 2009:

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gonzo ~ Sep 24, 2009:

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Ciao & Cheers ..
Twitter ID: gonzodesign_
porsche ~ Dec 4, 2009:

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gonzo ~ Dec 4, 2009:

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Cheers & Ciao …
Twitter ID: gonzodesign_
gudsto ~ Dec 9, 2009:

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gonzo ~ Dec 9, 2009:

Hi gusto,

you’re welcome, … Cheers & Ciao!
Twitter ID: gonzodesign_

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