How to design a logo for your brand or startup: good logo design tips with examples
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Given that most good logos are simple or abstract, it is common for people to assume that they were just created randomly.
You might think someone just decided, “Let’s just go with that. It doesn’t matter anyway. Let’s just pretend it has meaning later on.”
I wish it was that way. It would make our job at Deer Designer so much easier (haha).
Behind those simple-looking logos is a design team that had to collate references to the brand’s identity, wade through a bunch of colors and font styles, and put these together to create a cohesive message and image.
After all, the logo has to be memorable, distinct from the brand, and establish the brand’s identity.
This logo serves as the face of your brand, conveying its essence and values to your target audience.
If you’re a startup, you might be thinking it takes too much work and resources to come up with a professionally made logo.
However, there are a bunch of free logo design software programs out there.
As long as you know what you need to make a good logo, you can find all the resources online.
In this blog post, I’ll share practical tips and advice for startups looking to create a compelling logo that reflects their brand values and resonates with their audience, even on a limited budget.
Keep your logo consistent with your brand’s core identity
Before getting into the technicalities of logo design, you should first have a clear understanding of your brand identity.
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Ask yourself questions such as:
- What is your brand’s story?
- What are your brand’s values and mission?
- Who is your target audience?
- What sets your brand apart from competitors?
Understanding these aspects will guide the design process and ensure that your logo accurately reflects your brand’s personality and resonates with your audience.
Imagine you’re launching a sustainable fashion startup aimed at environmentally-conscious consumers.
Your brand values include sustainability, ethical production, and modern design.
With this in mind, you can design your logo to reflect these values through elements such as organic shapes, earthy colors, and minimalist typography, evoking a sense of eco-friendliness and style.
You can then add elements that make your brand unique, such as a person or pet that inspired your origin story.
You can even use a symbol of the country where you started your brand.
Don’t worry about making this perfect. As a startup, you are bound to evolve and change your brand’s goals.
You can simply update your logo later on to reflect these changes.
Stick to simple design elements
When it comes to logo design, simplicity is key.
A cluttered or overly complex logo can be confusing and difficult to reproduce across different platforms and mediums.
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Aim for a straightforward design that is easily recognizable and memorable.
Think of iconic logos like McDonald’s yellow M and Shell’s red and yellow shell icons—they’re simple yet instantly recognizable.
Another great example is the logo of Airbnb.
Their logo consists of simple geometric shapes—a stylized “A” with rounded loops—representing both the company name and the concept of belonging and inclusivity.
Despite its simplicity, the logo is instantly recognizable and conveys the brand’s identity effectively.
Consider typography and colors for your company logos
Typography and color play a significant role in logo design and can evoke specific emotions and associations.
Choose fonts and colors that align with your brand identity and convey the right message to your audience.
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For example, a tech startup may opt for modern sans-serif fonts and sleek, minimalist color palettes, while a wellness brand might choose softer, more organic fonts and earthy tones.
You can also consider creating a custom brand font that will represent your brand exclusively You can check out this article where we go in-depth about choosing the right brand font:
➡️Choosing the best font for your brand: a key aspect of brand guides
Different design tools and free logo makers
There are lots of online tools and platforms that offer logo design services at affordable prices, making them ideal for startups on a budget.
Websites like Canva, LogoMaker, and Looka provide user-friendly interfaces and customizable templates that allow you to create professional-looking logos without any design experience.
While these tools may not offer the same level of customization as working with a professional designer, they can still produce impressive results if you are a startup with limited resources.
If you have no idea where to start with your design, we have a step-by-step guide in this article:
➡️Pro tips for non-designers: creating logos that make an impact
Test your logo design across multiple platforms
You can use any tool to create a logo, but it may not be a great logo for the platforms you’re using.
This is why we like to present the logos we make at Deer Designer with multiple color backgrounds and mockups of merchandise they might be used in.
Before finalizing your logo, it’s essential to test how it looks across various platforms and mediums.
This includes websites, social media profiles, business cards, and merchandise.
Your logo should remain legible and visually appealing in different sizes and resolutions.
Make adjustments as needed to optimize its appearance across all platforms.
Is it a good logo? Don’t forget to seek feedback
Once you’ve created a few logo concepts, you can gather feedback from trusted sources, such as friends, family, or potential customers.
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Share your logo designs with them and ask for honest opinions and suggestions.
Pay attention to their feedback and use it to refine your designs further.
Remember, your logo should resonate with your target audience, so their input is invaluable in the design process.
Tips on how to design a logo for your business
Creating a new logo can be complex and simple at the same time.
We’re here to help you out, whether you choose to use online logo makers or get a dedicated design team at Deer Designer to make a professional logo for you.
Here are some articles we have about logo design to give you some logo ideas and help you make a decision.
➡️The do’s and don’ts of logo design: 7 mistakes to avoid
➡️Logo design process: from abstract idea to completed design
Creating a compelling logo for your startup doesn’t have to break the bank.
By following these practical tips and advice, you can design professional-looking logos that reflect your brand values and resonate with your target audience, even on a limited budget.
Key takeaways
- The simple and abstract designs of big company logos are created by teams that work hard to make a logo that captures the brand’s identity and resonates with its audience.
- As your logo should represent your brand, you should first design your brand identity and what makes it unique.
- Aim for a design that is simple instead of cluttering up your logo.
- Try different fonts and colors that reflect your brand’s vision.
- Once you have your concept, you can either use free logo makers or hire a designer to refine the logo for you.
- As your logo has to be used on different platforms, backgrounds, and merchandise for your brand, you should test how it looks with mockups.
- Seek feedback from your target audience to make sure the logo is pleasing to them and matches your brand from their point of view.