08/08/2014
35 Logo Design Rules!
A logo is as important to a business/ company as a mother to a child. Think about it. As far fetched as it may sound , a logo can even make or break a business. The recall factor, the ‘coolness’ bit and its relevance to the business are basics, elements that cannot be ignored at any cost while designing a logo. However, there appear to be a whole array of other aspects that go into the making of a logo. We’ve compiled the best ones. 35 mantras for a perfect logo – here we go :
1. Do not use more than three colours.
2. Get rid of everything that is not absolutely necessary.
3. Type must be easy enough for your grandma to read.
4. The logo must be recognizable.
5. Create a unique shape or layout for the logo.
6. Confirm that the logo looks appealing to more than just three (3) individuals.
7. Do not combine elements from popular logos and claim it as original work.
8. Do not use clipart under any circumstances.
9. The logo should look good in black and white.
10. Make sure that the logo is recognizable when inverted.
11. Make sure that the logo is recognizable when resized.
12. If the logo contains an icon or symbol, as well as text, place each so that they complement one another.
13. Avoid recent logo design trends. Instead, make the logo look timeless.
14. Fit the logo into a square layout if possible, avoid obscure layouts.
15. Consider the different places and ways that the logo will be presented.
16. Invoke feelings of being bold and confident, never dull and weak.
17. Realize that you will not create a perfect logo. Design is an evolutionary process.
18. Use sharp lines for sharp businesses, smooth lines for smooth businesses.
19. The logo must have some connection to what it is representing.
20. A photo does not make a logo.
21. Do not use more than two fonts.
22. Each element of the logo needs to be aligned. Left, center, right, top, or bottom.
23. Know who is going to be looking at the logo before you think of ideas for it.
24. Always choose function over innovation.
25. If the brand name is memorable, the brand name should be the logo.
26. Everyone should like the logo design, not just the business that will use it.
27. Create variations. The more variations, the more likely you are to get it right.
28. The logo must look consistent across multiple platforms.
29. The logo must be easy to describe.
30. Do not use taglines in the logo if possible.
31. Sketch out ideas using paper and pencil before working on a computer.
32. Keep the design simple.
33. The logo should be balanced visually.
34. Avoid bright, neon colours and dark, dull colours.
35. The logo must not break any of the above rules.
If you’ve mastered the golden rules above, we can’t promise that your logo will be perfect or the best, but we can certainly say that it’ll be better than those that are made randomly. We can safely infer that in due course, and with practise, you will see your designs evolving and changing for the better. We hope this helped. Wishing you a truckload of amazing logos! Happy Designing!!
