Your logo is the signature brand, and one of the most valuable assets of your company. There is one factor that will sign the brand more than anything else. A well-designed logo is one that reflects your business and communication messages. It needs to be simple, unique, memorable, versatile, and able to work without color.
In order to select the label, there are important steps to go through, with a little graphic designer. In this article, I outline the logo design process and some important guidelines to keep in mind when choosing a logo that is perfect for you.
For the creation of your logo, you are free to choose either freelance designers, design firms, or perhaps agency. Throughout this post, for the purpose of convenience and readability, I will use the term "designer" to include whether the type of company or individual is applicable to your case.
Select budget
First off, you should decide on a budget for the new logo. They can cost anywhere from $ 300-1500 (USD), and sometimes more. Just remember that you get what you pay for, and charges a designer will reflect experience, client history and professionalism. Investment in the logo (and corporate identity to go with it) is one of the most important first steps you can take when building a brand. Signal is worth much more than the hours it takes to create it.
You can find the logos of banks and competition sites online and get one for around $ 150. There are even different locations Freelancer where people offer insanely low prices-like $ 50. Just be aware to select signals for a cheap price online can be disastrous. Inexperienced designers can take forever, do not communicate well, use clip art images (a no-no), and may not provide you with the correct file you need for both print and web use.
Find developers
There are so many places you can find a graphic designer. Choosing the right designer for you is certainly much more difficult (and we'll get to that in a minute). You can find plenty of candidates by using different methods.
Ask around. If you know someone with a great logo, simply ask them who did it. Most independent design my work comes from referrals.
Search graphic design business directories as one of GraphicDesign.com.
Browse the design gallery portfolio and communities like The Behance Network.
Search for "logo design" and "logo development" on social networks like Twitter, Google Plus, and Facebook.
Choose a suitable designer
After contacting a number of designers and ask quotes, be sure to look at more than just price when deciding who gets the job. Consider first designer logos and corporate identities they have created around the logo. Look for a good promotional design because it shows how much they care about their own professional looking. Read the descriptions that go with each logo tasks because the signal may look good and everything, but it has to meet the specific requirements of the design to be effective.
More importantly, to select signal designers who design style fits their preferred style. By doing this, you will be happy with the signal you end up with, and designers will be happy because the style is what they are most comfortable with.
You can judge the professional graphic designer by the following points. These do not all hold, but to be on the lookout for at least some of them.
They are polite, direct, knowledgeable, and efficient communication.
They explain the design process for you and tell you what will be delivered upon completion.
They will ask appropriate questions to understand your business.
They have some sort of contract or service agreement to sign before starting.
They have specified up front payment before you begin.
their grammar, spelling and punctuation are at least satisfactory. (As with any industry, bad writing says a lot about a person).
One critical note here: if the designer presents you with a contract or agreement, make sure that the ownership of the signal is transferred to your final payment. If there is no written that mentions ownership, then ask a designer to give you this agreement in writing. It is important that you have a logo design so that you can legally use it however you want in the future.
BRIEF designer in detail
Whether you inform the designer in person or send the short form of email, it is necessary to explain what you want in detail. Answering these questions first:
If you are already a logo, why do not you like it?
What does your company do?
Who is your target audience?
Who are your main competitors?
How are you different from your competitors?
What qualities do you want your company to project?
What feelings do you want the new logo to encourage?
Do you have a tag line that needs to be included in the design?
Logo will appear in the videos? If so, it will need to eventually animated version?
As a special logo are your favorite and why?
Are partially printed logos (FedEx or ESPN), symbolic logos (Nike or Apple), or a combination of both (Pepsi or Adidas)?
Let the designer know exactly where you are going to use the mark. Sure, you'll have business cards and a website, but it will also be seen on billboards and social media profile?
Ask if the designer will provide guidance logo usage fees document that guides how signals can and can not be used. For example, the signal variation can be used on any color background? Finally, ask for a favicon. This is a little image that appears in a tab bookmarks, bookmark management, and computer when you save web. They usually come in one of three sizes: 16 x 16, 32 x 32 or 64 x 64 pixels. Ask for a 64 × 64 pixel favicon, so it looks crisp everywhere it appears.
Equipped with all this knowledge, the designer should be able to deliver the proper visual representation of the company. Relying vision before briefing designers will certainly save you time, money and headaches in the end.
When I came into the logo design industry, I came across some clients expected me to know all these things and deliver the perfect solution to a problem that was not expressed clearly. It inevitably led to non-stop review and mark their tired faces all around. Therefore, I decided to start sending out a list of questions first logo design before even considering calling. If you do not know what you want in the beginning, then you can change your mind like a project. It is all right to change your mind, but be aware that the designer will probably ask you for more money before continuing.
Select a logo concept
The designer will then do the necessary research and experiments, then come back to you with a few concept designs. This will take about two to four days, depending on the specific job. Ideally, they will present you with three to six hand-drawn sketches. When you view the first ideas, choose a logo that immediately catches the eye. This is usually the one that your gut is telling you to choose. Continue decision process by asking yourself some essential questions:
Does it represent my product or business?
Is it moving my message?
Design is simple enough?
The designs have sufficient contrast to stand out?
Will it work without color?
Will it work when it is super small?
Does it look too much like any other logos?
Will it be relevant five years or ten years down the road?
After it, sleep on it. Doing the same thing and ask yourself the same question a second time. Not answers change? It is also a good idea to ask friends and family as they think.
Give useful tips
After the first draft, the designer can really present the logo that is close to what you are looking for, but it's not often they hit the nail on the head immediately. Therefore, it is up to you to send you the best you can. Providing designers with feedback that is useful. Simply saying, "I do not like any of them" do not really help the process. Express why you do not like something, or what you want to see different, such as, "I do not like how stiff and this is symmetrical. Can you give it more movement or make it more lively?"
Giving a clear strategy is necessary, but try not to become a designer yourself. You've hired a designer for a reason, so let them do what they do best. If you have chosen a good designer who communicates well and fits the preferred style, then you can be sure that they will present you with the quality of work.
accept delivery
Upon issuance of the final payment to the designer, you get a delivery promised you at the beginning of the business relationship. This should include vector files resizaeble, as opposed to raster images that can not be increased in size without becoming pixelated (blurred).
You have files that can be used on site immediately (usually PNG, JPG or GIF). Ask for PNG of GIF if you want the background to be transparent (no white box around your logo). You also need to get the original source files (usually AI or EPS). You definitely want to have source files in case someone else needs to change or expand the logo someday. For example, if one day you hire someone to create a video for you, the source file is necessary to incorporate a logo-your JPG simply will not cut it.
When it's time to select the signal that is perfect for you, realize that it is not a simple process. It takes a lot of thinking about the type of business, target audience, the message you want to send, the emotions you want to encourage, as well as open communication with your designer. However, it is definitely worth the effort to seek a strong logo design, as it is the first thing the audience sees, and it will be with you a long time to come.