7 Steps to Design the Perfect Logo - Colossus Media Group (2024)

It’s clear that the key to a great marketing campaign is clear and concise branding. You want people to recognize your brand and get to know the products and services you offer, and the best way to do that is to create an eye-catching logo! Your logo has a major impact on how customers will perceive your brand, so it’s very important to take all of the steps necessary to craft the best one possible! There are 7 steps to design the perfect logo for you and your business!

1. Determine Your Audience

The first step to creating a great logo is knowing who your audience is. From here, you can determine the best ways to attract your audience most effectively. For example, a brand that is geared toward men should have a more masculine tone. If you’re looking to attract girls ages 12 and under, you should have a completely different look. Knowing your audience is the best way to determine some of the more basic design elements of your logo!

2. Define Your Brand

Your logo should communicate your brand’s message, values, and identity. Before you begin drafting your logo or sketching out your ideas, it’s important to have an understanding of the complexities of your branding. Know what beliefs and values are important to your company, what makes you special… Take the time to find three adjectives that describe your brand and three more adjectives that your customers might use to describe your brand. Understanding what makes your brand unique will give you a better idea of what design choices you should make when creating your logo.
And most importantly, defining your brand will make it easier to showcase your personality.

3. Brainstorm

Brainstorming is an important step in the creative process. It’s about getting all of your ideas out in the open, whether they’re completely fleshed out or not. Write all of your thoughts down. Even the bad ones. You never know what might spark a conversation, and ultimately what might lead to a genius idea. Sit down with your team and encourage them to give the session their full attention. Don’t hold back or censor yourself. You never know what might stick. Once your brainstorming session is over, let those ideas simmer for at least 24 hours. With a fresh pair of eyes, you might find that you’ve struck gold!

4. Check Out the Competition

You can also find inspiration by checking out what your competitors are doing. Through their example, find what works best for your audience and what doesn’t seem to resonate with them. Think about how your company is different and the ways you can emphasize these differences with your logo. Then, be sure you have a clear image of how to make yourself stand out.
This is also a good time to make sure that your brainstorming session didn’t yield any creations that might accidentally infringe on other trademarks. You wouldn’t want your logo associated with another brand, right? While it’s difficult to come up with something that is completely and totally original, it’s also important to make sure that you aren’t jeopardizing the reputation of your business before it even has time to kick-of.

5. Keep It Simple

Designing the perfect logo isn’t about being bold and flashy. It’s about being clean, simple, and iconic. Choose a typeface that is easy to read, yet eye-catching. Don’t go overboard with coloring or shading. You want a logo that will look the same no matter what sort of letterhead or background it’s placed on. A simple logo is more memorable and familiar. It’s much easier to remember something smaller and uncomplicated over something filled with information! It’s this recognizability that comes across as more transparent and trustworthy for consumers and potential customers.

6. Pick the Right Font

Picking the right typography will complete your logo. There are four different basic font types you can choose and each one represents something different: serifs, sans serifs, scripts, and displays.

• Serif
  A serif font has the little “feet” at the end of the letter. This is a timeless, classic look. Serif fonts are versatile and look great with almost any kind of design, especially those with vintage, elegant, or classic elements. If you’re seeking a high-end vibe, go with a serif!
• Sans-Serif
  On the opposite spectrum, sans-serif fonts don’t have the little “feet”. They represent a modern, clean look and often come across as sleek and simple. Minimal and cool, sans serifs are regarded as more easily recognizable.
• Script
  Script fonts can be elegant or relaxed depending on which one you chose. Reminiscent of handwriting, designers often use these fonts when they’re looking for an automatic boost of individuality and creativity.
• Display
  Display fonts are highly-stylized and decorative. Created specifically to draw the eye, they are never a great choice for a secondary or body text font. That said, be wary of using display fonts. It can become a question of timelessness. You want your brand to stay consistent over a range of years and often, these fonts can become dated quickly.

7. Pick Your Color

Colors are so important and play a vital part in logo design. The colors of a logo should grab your attention and pull you in, bringing life and vitality to your design. Choose your colors depending on the image you want to be associated with your brand. Here are a few colors and emotions that are commonly associated with them:

• Red = Energy, Aggression, Warmth, Passion
• Orange = Social, Adventurous, Vibrance, Playfulness
• Yellow = Intellect, Optimism, Cheerful, Youthful
• Green = Natural, Ethical, Friendliness, New Beginnings
• Blue = Professional, Successful, Trustworthiness, Calm
• Purple = Luxurious, Eclectic, Creativity, Wealth
• Pink = Feminine, Loving, Kindness, Nurturing
• Brown = Aged, Rugged, Masculine, Handmade
• Black = Strong, Formal, Sophisticated
• White = Modern, Minimalist, Clean
• Grey = Mature, Mysterious, Classic, Serious

It’s Not Just a Logo, the Perfect One

Once you’ve determined exactly what you’d like your logo to be, it’s important to get a second opinion. After all, this logo is going to be the main marker for your brand for years to come! You want it to be timeless, easily recognizable, and unique! Getting a second look ensures that you’re taking all the steps necessary to create the best logo possible! Can’t quite think of what might work best? That’s where a marketing agency like Colossus comes in best! Our team will take the guesswork out of crafting the perfect logo to make better build your business.