How to Design a Logo That Fits Your Brand in 5 Steps
Your logo is soo so important for your business or blog. It tells a bit of a story and it instantly communicates the perception of your business or blog. When you're starting out, there are many different ways that you could obtain your logo. I started by finding one of those random logo design websites. I was so unfamiliar with branding or logo design, so I tried to describe what I wanted in the best way I could and I ended up paying $40 for a Microsoft Word-esque logo. I didn't know any better at the time, but I stuck with it for a while and cycled through many different mediocre logo versions after that.
Now, after taking some web design classes and doing freelance logo design, I know how to design my own logo in a beautiful and effective way. Below, I share the five steps that you can take to design your own logo to fit your brand.
1. Reflect on your business or blog for clarity on your purpose and who you are targeting
Getting crystal clear on your business or blog is the foundation for your logo design. You must know what type of perception and message you want to convey, so you will be able to design a logo that matches your vision. Think about who you are serving, why you do what you do, and the overall feeling you want someone to have after interacting with your brand.
Related: 4 Steps for Branding Your Business or Blog
2. Consider the various logo types: words only, letters only, symbols only, a combination of any of those
Logos come in all shapes and sizes. Some are small, some are subliminal, some are bold, some are very unique, some are classic. All of these effects can be achieved based on the elements you include in your logo. Once you know who you're trying to appeal to and why, you'll be able to decide on which logo type will be the best fit.
3. Consider colors and fonts that match your brand
If you already have a color scheme in mind, that's great. If not, consider your target audience and mission again. Colors convey subconscious meanings, as do fonts. Some colors and fonts come across as more formal, while others come across as joyful and free. You want to be sure that the colors and fonts that you choose help you to get your message across, both directly through the words you use and the images/symbols you may (or may not use) and subconsciously through the colors and fonts that you choose.
4. Research logo designs that you like
Research is a part of every designer's process. By doing research, it helps to get your creative juices flowing and you will be able to identify certain design elements that stand out to you. During this step, you can take note of the elements that you like, so you can possibly draw inspiration from them in your design.
5. Design your logo!
When starting your design, it's best to do some quick and simple sketches with good old pen and paper. Try to sketch as many as you can in different variations. Then, based on what you like best out of all of your options, create three or so final designs on your computer to choose from.
Photoshop is the best tool for creating a completely custom design. You can customize fonts, colors, text sizes, etc. all from one place. If you're worried about investing in it, Adobe offers an option where you can only get Photoshop and not the entire Adobe Suite. It also comes in handy when creating graphics for your website and social media promos.
Have you ever designed your own logo? What helped you to design one that you love? I'd love to hear about it in the comments below!
