Quite contrary to popular belief, a logo is not a casually selected piece of design. Most people consider that blending different colors and font sizes are all that it takes to make a logo. It can’t be any further from reality. While such logos are made day in and day out but they don’t last long because they are deprived of any imagination, creativity, and planning.
Wondering what it takes to craft a lasting logo? Here is the list of must-have components for you, and 7 ways to create a timeless logo.
Table of Contents
Start with research
There is nothing like a free lunch. If you want a timeless logo, then be prepared to take the pains of research. It is very rare that someone, out of the blue, wakes up in the morning with an ideal logo design fixed in his mind. A lasting logo is always a thought process instead of a sudden occurrence.
It is best to look for the wonderful existing logo designs in your own industry. Carefully look into their every single feature and then identify what works for them. While it is important to study other logos, but that does not mean you are free to compromise on your own originality. Ensure that your logo does not, in any way, resembles anybody else’s design. To be brief, you should not seem like a copy-paste one, it must have a unique personal touch.
It is also important to know who you are designing it for. For example, if your brand is targeting millennials, then you should design the logo keeping this particular generation in mind and not others. In other words, knowing your audience will simplify a lot of things.
It should be adjustable
Ensure that your logo can be adjusted to something as big as a billboard and, at the same time, as small as a visiting card. Because you can’t rely only on one size for publicity and other purposes. You will have to publish it in different places, and therefore the size will vary accordingly. In simple words, it is the hallmark of a perfect logo to take the factor of size out of the equation.
The logo must tell a story
This is where creativity comes into play. Take any successful logo, they all have one thing common. Their logos go beyond outlook. They tell a story in one way or the other. So, needless to say, you should not think twice before following the suit. You should draw lines in a pattern or set colors in such a systematic way that they can convey a deeper meaning without denting the outer appearance of the logo.
Once you have landed upon the desired best logo design, stick to it. If necessary, making a marginal change after a long while is acceptable, but too many changes are not recommended at all.
Keep it simple
It is somewhat tough, but you have to avoid the temptation of being too fancy with your logo. Many brands fall into the trap of making their logo as pretty as possible and, as a result, make it hard for themselves to connect with customers. An obscure design is something that a layman cannot digest so easily. Many iconic companies made this blunder in their early days, but now their logos are the epitome of simplicity.
According to the K.I.S.S design principle, simple and on point logos are more powerful than the complicated ones. The best thing about straightforward logos is that it does not take any effort to remember them. The moment someone watches it, they recognize it immediately. The crux of the discussion is that your logo does not need to be a well-designed geometrical shape. A simple symbol or mark will do the job quite nicely.
It has to be applicable
As a brand, you want your logo to be seen on your every single product. For example, you have a t-shirt company, and you want the logo to be printed on t-shirts. But is it something people would be fine wearing? Of course, nobody buys new clothes to look ugly. So the logo must not look like a burden but a perfect match for whatever product you are selling.
Be wise with the usage of words
There are two aspects of this subject. One – the structure of the fonts. Two – the quantity of the fonts. As for the structure, make sure all the fonts must belong to the same family. Otherwise, they will create hurdles to deliver the message. If you start with bold letters, don’t try to add semi-bold fonts in-between. It is strictly recommended to follow one pattern of fonts. Because, at the end of the day, you are creating the logo for others, not for yourself.
Now let’s address the second issue. It is also one of the most common mistakes made by the brands, that is, they stuff too many words in their logo. As a rule of thumb, you should add three words in the logo at maximum. Anything more than that may not sound well and can create confusions in the long run.
Colors are key
Like sober dressing adds to the personality of a person, colors are the source of improving the personality of your logo. Colors are basically known as a tool to grab attention. However, deep down, they are more meaningful than what they seem from the surface. In fact, colors have complete psychology behind them. For example, red indicates boldness, orange reflects creativity, and so on.
Here are some essential guidelines about how to use colors efficiently:
- Since different colors evoke different feelings, so apply them keeping your purpose in mind
- Avoid using all the bright colors because they will be hard on the eyes. The logo must have a mix of both dark and bright colors
- Make sure your logo does not take more than three colors to cover. Otherwise, the logo will seem overly crowded and might kill the message too
Parting thoughts
After this discussion, we can conclude that one can’t come up with a timeless logo overnight. An everlasting logo design is the byproduct of various thoughtful actions. However, it should not be a problematic procedure for you. All you have to do is to follow the above-mentioned magic mantra, and an impactful logo will be at your disposal rather sooner than later.
We hope this article about 7 ways to create a timeless logo has been useful, and be sure to leave your comments below.
Author Bio
Michelle Joe is a blogger by choice. She loves to discover the world around her. She likes to share her discoveries, experiences, and express herself through her blogs.