₦airaland Forum

Going first...

https://image.shutterstock.com/image-vector/portfolio-word-banner-vector-illustration-260nw-1200433627.jpg

Hi guys,

We are here again to provide members of Arts and Graphics section on Nairaland an opportunity to showcase their works, logo designs specifically.
This is not for comparison purposes, to criticize, oppress, or brag. Just a thread where designers can exhibit their logos and members, guests, fellow designers and potential clients can access, admire, constructively criticize your works and know how to contact you for your services now or later. It can serve as a mini portfolio for the designers.
It's also to prove that Nigerian designers are up to international standards and should be accorded their due respect.

Just like the last time, same rules apply, for organization purposes.

*All designers will have a maximum of four(4) attachments only.
*Each attachment will have a 800px by 200px dimension.
*The first attachment must carry the designer's logo only as well as his/her contact details if he/she thinks it's necessary.
*The other three(3) attachments will contain maximum of four(4) logos each for clarity purpose in no particular order.
*All designs submitted must be the genuine work(s) of the designer submitting it, any forgery or false claims will lead to deleting the affected post and appropriate actions will be taken against the culprit.
*People should try to avoid asking for a designer's price, number, mail, etc on the thread. Their contacts will be on the first image they upload, if they follow the instructions. Any such comments will be promptly removed.
*While I understand some people have no appreciation for this kind of thing, I'll appreciate if we all can respect each other and be as civil as possible. We owe each other that much.


Designers are advised to pick out the best of their designs to better impress visitors and potential clients. No text here except for a brief greeting, just your designs speaking for you.

Have fun.
Thank you.

Stillthebest:
He's not a fool. It is the fact. U can't measure up to his Saraki status. Stop castigating people who are more successful than your generations. Saraki is two term gov, senator more than one term, he can't be there forever. That he lost won't mean he won't bounce back.

I guess english is you guys' problem...

How has saying someone looks spent warranted all these grammatical irrelevancies?

Saraki looks 'spent'.
It's not an insult, just an observation.

Y'all making a mountain out of a mole hill.

Riqueleme:
Check out My Cartoon Sketch Titled : Dead Government

Bro, why not post all your art works under a single thread, rather than opening multiple threads in a days for the same category of designs?

kunleweb:
Pics

Thank you.

bosunjohns:
How much will you do my small business logo for me??

Kindly contact me on 07058476216.

Thanks.

[img]http://1.bp..com/-FkLU1KWQOBM/Tu-1m-A4IPI/AAAAAAAAC_E/KXXDnE-S4JM/s400/seasonal.png[/img]

We all know the Nike logo, but did you know that its well-recognized swoosh cost just $35?

Or that the first logo of Twitter cost just $15?

Think about all the most recognizable brands. Now visualize their logos. It’s easy, right?

That’s because logos go way back to the start of the marketing era. Consider Apple without the apple or Nike without its swoosh.

A small business logo is probably the most critical tool in your product promotion arsenal. It’s not just a random mark. It provides your small business with an identity that represents your core values and your mission.

If executed properly, that identity can immediately sell your brand to prospective customers. A poor small business logo design will turn your customers off. Having none at all is even a bigger marketing mistake.

https://assets.entrepreneur.com/content/3x2/2000/20160309065812-shutterstock-236672323.jpeg

Your Logo Isn’t Your Brand
Before we look at 10 reasons why it’s vital to design a logo for your business, let’s get one thing straight: Your logo represents your brand but it’s not your brand.

Through color, business logo fonts, and logo design, it portrays your business’ personality–just like the attire you’re wearing conveys who you are.

The clothes you wear aren’t you, but they reveal your character and personality to others.

Therefore, developing your logo should take a bit of thought and time. It’s a strategic effort that’ll be pivotal to all of your advertising in the future. It shouldn’t be treated lightly.

So Who Are You?
Even if your business is very small, it needs an identity. Your target market should know who you are. A great logo is one of the best ways to achieve that.

It can attract your target audience and differentiate you from competitors. Without further ado, here are 10 reasons why your small business should have a logo.

First Impressions can Make or Break Your Business
Your logo is the face of your company and as they say, “You only have one chance to create a first impression.”

Do you want your business name rendered in plain text rather than an eye-catching design? You wouldn’t want that to be the first thing potential customers see, would you?

Nope. You probably want your customers wowed instantly.

A logo is a great way to make an impression on your potential customers from the beginning. They’ll have ages to know you better in the future. In the beginning, having a logo says a lot about your business.

Gets You Recognized
A business logo should be easy to recognize in small and large print.

You want your customers to recognize your business with ease, whether it’s in a digital advert on someone’s phone, it’s embroidered on a tee, or it’s on a billboard.

Your logo should have a simple design and shouldn’t compete with the logos of other businesses. You don’t want to launch an advertising campaign with something that customers might confuse with a trademarked logo.

And you should know that having a logo that looks like a trademarked one could land your new business in legal hot soup. Popular logos are known the world over, no matter the message around it.

Fosters Brand Loyalty
Apart from boosting brand recognition, your logo can also be an effective tool for cultivating brand loyalty. Your logo can give consumers something to cling to, both physically and mentally, if they follow your business.

Based on your brand, it’s possible to distribute promotional items or merchandise that display your logo.

Lots of businesses give away free pens and business shirts with the logo prominently displayed on them. Although this can be useful for getting new customers, it also can be an amazing way to build appreciation and loyalty to your brand.

Builds Trust in Your Business
As far brand identity is concerned, logos do almost all the running. You can create trust among your customers with a logo that positively communicates with them.

For instance, if your target customer is an ice skating young person, your logo should not look like it’s selling to older adults.

Senior citizens might prefer a logo with a more conventional serif font. On the other hand, the more modern sans-serif fonts might appeal to the youth. Serif fonts are amazing if you want to convey strength and longevity but sans-serif fonts are friendlier.

The same case applies to your choice of color. Blue stirs up trust. Excess yellow might make your customers anxious.

The emotions provoked by color are an entire science, and you can capitalize on this information to create a logo design that makes customers feel great about your business even before they’ve talked to you.

Proof of Your Professionalism
News just in! There’s no real business without a logo. The truth of the matter is that although logos are simply a small part of your business’ day-to-day operations, they’re still critically important.

In the society we live in, potential consumers have acquired certain expectations. They imagine that a reliable and professional business must have a logo that stands out.

By having your logo professionally designed, you automatically stand out from the rest of the competitors that might have developed their design in a hurried fashion, failing to fully appreciate the value of brand development.

Reveals Your Identity
One of the reasons why the Nike logo is so successful is the fact that it reflects Nike’s business.

The Greek goddess of victory is behind the Nike name, and the swoosh symbolizes the pace and flight-like ability one might have while wearing Nike shoes.

Other logos of well-known brands clearly communicate what the business does, which helps customers know what they can expect from the company immediately. The logo of Swirl frozen yogurt is a little yogurt swirl. This prevents customer confusion.

And there is a good reason why most top logos feature a certain image.

Creates an Emotional Connection
Again, visualize all the most famous logos. How do they make you feel? Logos are often the first thing that builds the emotional connection you’ve got with your favorite brands.

Consider this data from Marketing and Entrepreneurship:

80 percent of consumers think that colors boost brand recognition
93 percent of purchasing decisions are made based on visual perceptions
7% of customers say they buy a product because of color
This is why your small business needs a logo that’s specially designed to draw a positive reaction from customers.

If customers connect with your logo, they’re unlikely to forget your company. And if they’ve got good memories of your business, they’re more likely to buy your products or services.

On the other hand, if your logo is poorly designed, this can be bad news for your bottom line. Again, you create your first impression with your logo and as the saying goes, “You’ve only got one chance to impress.”

Set Yourself Apart with Your Small Business Logo
No matter the product or service you sell, you’ll have lots of competitors. That a fact.

So how can stand out from your competitors? Well, a logo is one effective tool that will help you do that.

You only have so many chances to prove yourself. A logo represents your business visually and is a strong way to leave an impression and foster your brand identity.

A logo shows your consumers that you care about them and want to be the best in your area.

Creates Consistency
We’re now in an era where businesses exist on various platforms, including websites, blogs, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, leaflets, info packs, business cards, etc.

This means your brand identity should be rubber-stamped everywhere. Here, some sort of consistency is critical, ensuring that your business is clearly and properly represented wherever it appears.

This kind of consistency will ensure you keep up that professional image and enhance the value of that strong brand loyalty that you need to build.

Raises Expectations
After being used to the Apples and the IBMs and Nikes of this world, we’ve come to expect any business to have some kind of professional look in the shape of a proper logo at the very least.

If a business does not have this essential asset, why would anyone do business with them? Without a logo, all these points have been cast aside, and no real effort yet has been put towards the design, development, and maintenance of a business’ front-facing visuals.

You may not actively think about this (unless perhaps you’re a logo designer) but something like this attitude is certainly happening, and it’ll ultimately have a huge impact on the choice to either sign up with your business, or a competitor.

The Bottom Line
While you might have various other matters to attend to when building your business, don’t overlook the importance of investing in a strong logo.

A professional small business logo is a worthwhile investment and it’ll be worth it in the long run. The sooner you build one the better off will be your business.


If your business has no logo yet, or even if it’s got one but needs changes or improvements,
visit... https://www.nairaland.com/4421345/nairaland-portfolio-logo-designers-2018

IamProdigy:
Before you guys quickly replicate this work...

Have you considered if this is another designers work, who wasn't paid or paid completely?

Have you considered you could be making someone loose the his due wage... ?

Have you considered that this could be an act of plagiarism?

If you must do these type of Job requests... Ask for the source File

Nb: This is in no way to discredit the poster, but to draw the attention of designers to stand in for each other in this creative industry!

Good point...

Poster, you'll need to address this issue and fast.

Please merge all your posts into a single thread.

Why not just make a single thread to showcase all your designs rather than creating mutiple threads to serve the same purpose.

How many times have you walked into a project where the logo is a mess? Bitmap designs. Poor color choices. Lack of contrast. Inappropriate typography. A shape that doesn’t work anywhere. Here’s how to fix a bad logo design.

There are so many issues when it comes to bad logo design. And you’ll know one the minute you see it. These poor instances of design tend to stick out like a sore thumb.

But is there anything you can do? If the client isn’t in love with the miserable mark, you can make some quick fixes to at least turn the logo into something a little more usable. Here are a few tips (starting with a collage of bad logos!) and examples of quick fixes that can help improve a logo.


What Does a Bad Logo Look Like?

https://designshack.net/wp-content/uploads/bad-logo-design.jpg

You can’t always define a bad logo, but you’ll definitely know one when you see it.


1. Redraw It

https://designshack.net/images/designs/wholefood-me.jpg

One of the most common “bad logo” problems is inappropriate filetype. There are still people buying $5 logos online and ending up with… well, a $5 logo!

These logos are mostly unusable for anything other than small digital applications because they are often small bitmap images. (There’s no way you can use this on a print project or on a large high-resolution screen without it breaking down.) It’s not ideal in any sense of the word.

But you can pop that logo in Illustrator and redraw it so that you have a usable vector version to work with. Here’s how I do it in a jiffy:

** Start with the biggest logo file you have and separate the text from the mark. (You can just crop it out.) Ideally, you will have a single color version to work with here.
** Trace the design in Illustrator. Use the highest resolution setting or for simple marks without many colors, use the appropriate color setting.
** Expand the trace and delete any negative space.
** Clean up curves and rough edges manually.
** Add color back to the logo if you used a one-color mark.
** Add the text back, matching fonts as closely as possible.

While this might seem like a lot of work for a bad logo, it will turn the design into something usable. This can be useful if you have a client with a poor-quality mark that they don’t want to completely overhaul.


2. Introduce New Typography

https://designshack.net/images/designs/5th-note-production.jpg

Another common logo problem is the typography. Sometimes the tone of the lettering and mark just don’t match.

A simple tweak to the typography can make a big difference. (Sometimes just kerning a couple of letter pairs can fix a jarring logo design.)

When selecting typography for a logo make that you are fixing, it’s usually best to stick to simple, readable typefaces. If you are fixing a logo, it probably already has a lot going on. Your goal is to make it less busy and a little sleeker.

Experiment with title case and uppercase options until you find the right fit.


3. Tweak the Color

https://designshack.net/images/designs/advance-apparel.jpg

A dated color palette or one that lacks appropriate contrast can break a logo in an instant. If the mark and typography are sound, consider a palette revision.

Most logos only need a couple of colors. Look for options that are rooted in color theory and even science to get something that will appeal to users. (We have our own guide to the science behind color.)

The other option is to strip out color altogether. Think about how the logo is used. If it is primarily used with other high-color elements such as photos or bright backgrounds, a black or white only logo might be a better option.

This allows the logo to fall into the rest of the design, it helps create visual cohesion and will eliminate that jarring feeling that happens when you force design choices to make multiple high-color elements work with each other (such as dark shadows or boxing).


4. Strip Out Elements

https://designshack.net/images/designs/coffee-landia.jpg

Many amateur logo designers try to put too many things into the mark, resulting in a bad logo design. The easiest way to fix this type of bad logo is to start stripping elements out.

Stick to one iconic or artistic element and one block of text for the logo. Avoid mixing icons into the typography – a way too common mistake – and don’t use clipart to represent your brand. (That’s the quickest way to scream “I have no idea what I am doing.”)

When in doubt, a simple logotype can be enough. Use the brand name to create a simple text representation of the brand. Think of how many major companies that you know by a text style – Disney, Coca-Cola, Gap. Don’t force an image element when there’s not a natural solution.


5. Iconize It

https://designshack.net/images/designs/mint-elephant.jpg

Oversized icons are a fairly trendy design element that can help you streamline a logo. Rearrange the parts in a badge style element with an icon and text.

What’s nice about this treatment is that it will force you to think about how to simplify the design. Using a badge-style design will also get the logo into a container of sorts, which can make it easier to use across projects.

When fixing a bad logo with an icon style, think about how to make it work as a shape in places where it will be commonly used. Square and round logo shapes are the easiest to work with online since they fit right into the profile image areas of social media pages. This shape can be a little trickier for websites with shallow header areas.

With that in mind, you might consider creating a squarish stacked logo and a more horizontal version so that you have options for usage.


Conclusion

While there’s not a set of defined rules that make a good logo – tastes and trends can vary – most people can spot a bad brand mark. And while you can’t make these marks perfect, a few quick fixes can make them more usable.

Work with clients on projects to make the most of what they have, and maybe you can sell them on a brand or logo refresh down the line.


Source:
https://designshack.net/articles/graphics/fix-bad-logo-design/

See also...
https://www.nairaland.com/4421345/nairaland-portfolio-logo-designers-2018

DerrickM:
@erad I'd like to call your attention to this. My quote to @Floridax isn't something I believe violated any rules on this thread to be deleted. I shared how he can better improve his chances of more subscribers and shared links to a playlist and its intro done on YouTube. There is no problem him posting YouTube links here and while mine get removes. I don't get why for real.

So sorry about that bro.
Your reply was sandwiched in the middle and I just saw it when I went to check now.
Apologies.

IRALIFE:
Really? Are you in OAU?

No, though I finished from OAU.
I generally just live in ife, for now.

Olohunjedalo:
Erad, where in Osun are you located?

Ile-ife.

Good job bro...
Neat drawings.
Try to use better lighting when snapping so the beauty of the works are not ruined by bad camera angles.

TruthHurts100:
I'm going to use a line or two from your write up on my Instagram. Am I permitted?

Logo design in today’s world is totally under rated. People do not understand how important a good logo is and how valuable it is to their business.

Kindly tell me your name, so I can quote you properly.

Thanks

The article isn't mine,
The source is attached at the base.

Logo design in today’s world is totally under rated. People do not understand how important a good logo is and how valuable it is to their business and this is why I am going to outline some very important facts telling you exactly why logo design should not cost $5 and why your logo is not something you should take lightly.

In broad terms, I will do this by comparing “cheap logo design” to “professional logo design” and I will outline the reasons why professional logo designers do not charge such low fees and why you should invest in a professional logo design.

What Is A Logo?

To understand what a logo is meant to do, we first must know what a logo is. A logo’s design is for immediate recognition, inspiring trust, admiration, loyalty and an implied superiority. The logo is one aspect of a company’s commercial brand, or economic entity, and its shapes, colours, fonts, and images usually are different from others in a similar market. Logos are also used to identify organisations and other non-commercial entities.

It makes me wonder why people have no logo or why they would even bother with a cheap logo design if a logo is meant to do all of these things?

Spec Work & Logo Design Contests

https://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/nospec.gif

Before I get onto comparing cheap VS professional logo design I want to talk to you a bit about SPEC work. “Spec” has become the short form for any work done on a speculative basis.

ie. You design this for me, and I will pay you if I like it. – This is not right.

To clarify, let’s create a scenario in another industry where SPEC work does NOT exist.

“I went for a dental check-up yesterday. After the dentist inspected my teeth, she suggested some work to prevent further tooth decay. I told her to go ahead, and if the dental work was satisfactory, I’d be more than happy to pay. She responded that she wouldn’t be able to do that, because she normally provides a service when a fee is agreed upon up-front. I said I’d let her know after I checked in with other local dentists.”


This scenario happens in the design industry every day and is seen as very unethical as it is ruining the design industry. A designer should not have to invest time and resources with no guarantee of payment much alike a dentist or any other professional.

I do not want to go into this any further as much has been written about it but I would like to say please avoid design contests and spec work at all costs. Logo Design Contests are bad for your business. Period.

For further reading on the damage of spec work I have written an in depth article outlining the “pros” and cons of spec work.

N2.000 (Cheap Logo Design)

Now that we have taken a look at the damage of Spec Work, let us now take a look at what quality you can expect from a logo in between the N2,000 to N72,000 bracket. The particular case I am looking at today is from a N13,000 logo design contest that was held on Digital Point Forums.

The “brief” for the logo design project was

“Make a logo for the site ‘Spela Piano’. The meaning of that is Play Piano. This is a site where our members can learn to play piano online.”

Below you can see the responses from the contest, which one do you think won?
https://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/250.gif

You will notice that nearly all of the logos above use free standard issue fonts and don’t assign to the rules of what makes a good logo. Ie. describable, memorable, effective without colour and scalable.

Ask yourself these questions in regards to the logos above:

* How many of the logos can you describe or remember?
* Are these logos effective without colour?
* Are they scalable?
* Do they gain immediate recognition?
* Convey the company’s personality, character or attitude?
* Relate to your clients by conveying a feeling of familiarity and credibility?
* Have association with quality and satisfaction?

I will leave these questions for you to decide.

Professional Logo Design
https://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/professionallogodesign.gif

Now compare these professionally designed logos and answer the same questions as above….

See the difference?

Why are they so different? As outlined in the logo design process of top graphic designers, professional logo designers have an actual design process that involves research, sketching, conceptualising, and reflection and this is why they do not charge $5.00.

The design process of a professional logo designer usually consists of:

The Design Brief: They conduct a questionnaire or interview with the client to get the design brief.
Research: They conduct research focused on the industry itself, on its history, and on its competitors.
Reference: They conduct research into logo designs that have been successful and current styles and trends that are related to the design brief.
Sketching & Conceptualising: They develop the logo design concept(s) around the brief and research. They use creativity and know how to design a logo.
Reflection: They take breaks throughout their design process. This lets their ideas mature and lets them get renewed enthusiasm and receive feedback.
Presentation: They then choose whether to present only a select few logos to the client or a whole collection.
Celebration: They then drink beer or eat chocolate or sleep or start on next logo design. Or a combination.
Do you believe doing all of that costs N2,000?

On that note, did you know that the software to make the logo is N252,000 (USD$700) in itself, let alone the computer that it has to be installed onto or the costs associated with the essentials… paper, ink and an internet connection.

More Reasons

Here are some more responses from other designers on reasons why logo design does not cost N2,000.

Tara from Graphic Design Blog outlines in her "6 reasons why a logo should cost more than your lunch" that

1. A logo is the very first impression people get of your company.
2. A logo needs longevity.
3. A logo needs to be original.
4. A logo should look professional.
5. A logo should reflect the time and thought gone in to designing it.
6. A logo is the starting point of your whole corporate image.

Now look back at those N2,000 logo designs or your even own logo to see if adheres to the above points.

How much does a logo cost?

This is the single most frequently asked question, though it is the hardest one to answer without more details of the project.

The cost of a professional logo design is a question that cannot be easily answered as every company has different needs, however, the best way to approach this question is to draw up a customised quote for each individual.

A number of factors have to be taken into consideration when designing a logo, such as how many logo concepts need to be presented, how many revisions are required, how much research is needed, the size of the business and so on.

The best way to find out how much a logo design will cost is to get a quote from the designer them self.

Time To Invest?

Isn’t it about time you invested in a professional logo design? You can can get a free quote for a professional logo design by clicking here or you may like to look at my logo design portfolio first. You may also like to read the article “how to choose a logo designer?”

Do you agree? Does logo design cost more than $5.00? What have you paid for a logo design?

Source:
https://justcreative.com/2008/05/22/why-logo-design-does-not-cost-5-dollars/

See also...
https://www.nairaland.com/4421345/nairaland-portfolio-logo-designers-2018

JeffreyJames:
OP all you wrote are on point but not to Nigerian clients. Most of them want impossible annoying logos for stupid recharge card money.

I absolutely agree with you.
But can you blame them?
When there are so many amateurs out there ready to design crap for peanuts.
Unfortunately after these same clients get shortchanged by these amateurs, they then reflect the bad experience on designers in general.
All in all, always know your standard and never compromise it for any reason.
If you are consistent with what you do, the right people that will appreciate your products will notice you.

Oluwolex2000:
Thanks for the wonderful tips @erad.

As a logo designer i have come to the realization that most of these successful brands have simple and precised logos. Nike, ADIDAS, Umbro, FedEX, Amazon even the great Facebook.

But most of these Nigerian brands don't know what it is to have a simple logo that passes great message about the company. Some even pay you one 'Rat Money' and says 'Is it not just a logo, why charge that high'.

I have designed a logo for a brand here in Nigeria for $50 and they didn't even stress me at all, they loved the concept I designed for them, and I have also come across some frustrating brands that want you to design an elephant, flying in space, with an horse on its back crying, and how much will these people pay? RAT MONEY!!.

Brands really need to appreciate the skill sets of a graphic designer, especially the professionals. We give great FACES to brands.

Thanks...

PS: If you need a LOGO designed for you, contact me: 08104039504 (Whatsapp Only PLEASE)

You couldn't have said it better bro.
In my years of experience, I've learnt to flee from cheap clients.
Not because of arrogance or pride, but because someone who knows the true value of what I do will understand I'm not even charging much.
The higher paying clients don't stress because they have classier taste and know nothing good comes easy.

We joke too much in Nigeria and find the dumbest things funny.
This is more irritating than funny.
How do you waste someone's time for your petty laughs?
You all laughing here sure won't find it funny if you were the victim of such stupidity.

SMH!

How you doing bro?
How's work been?

Donald3d:

Designing a logo is simple, right? Think again. There's more to crafting a brand's visual identity than just placing a name in a square and calling it a day. Logo designers are in high demand, and it's for good reason — a logo is often a company's first impression, one that can impact a customer's brand perception, purchase decisions and overall attitude toward a product.

We live in a society painted with brand logos. Even toddlers who can't yet tie their own shoelaces recognize many logos or are able to deduce what a company sells just by looking at its brandmark.

For those who are about to embark on a brand design journey, or think it's time for their company's visual identity to undergo a face lift, Mashable asked some some design experts to provide tips on creating a great logo.



1. Be unique and clever
A logo is what helps distinguish a brand from its competitors, so it's important that the image stands out from the rest — something many brands struggle with.

In many cases, imitation is the best form of flattery — with logo design, this is not the case."What’s important is to create something that you believe is different from anything already out there,” David Airey, a graphic designer and creator of website Logo Design Love says. "It’s highly unlikely (some say impossible) that what you create will be original, but that should be the goal."

Deborah Harkins, creative director at crowdsourced design website 99designs, reiterates the risk of plagiarism. "Once something appears online, there’s simply no way to guarantee it won't be used in some shape or form in another forum." Designers who are unsure of the originality of their design can actually check for plagiarism on sites such as Logo Thief.

Creating a unique design isn't all about avoiding imitation, but also about designing something out-of-the-box. It’s tempting to just throw an industry icon on the page, but it’s important to think creatively. "The Mercedes logo isn’t a car. The Virgin Atlantic logo isn’t an airplane. The Apple logo isn’t a computer," Airey notes in his book.

2. Understand the brand
Yes, a logo is an image, but it’s also an introduction to a brand. The logo must reach a specific audience and when designing, you must keep this in mind. Write down what you think about the brand; perhaps even create a mood board with imagery that reminds you of the brand’s ideology — check out websites like Niice for some inspiration. But be wary of becoming inspired by only aesthetics rather than deeper meaning. "Researching other visual brands can be helpful, but designers need to be careful not to take the inspirations too literally," Harkins says. "Any design work must be original and map directly back to your client’s unique brand attributes."

Is the brand utility-driven or is it more focused on evoking emotion? Is it contemporary or quirky? What does the customer care about, and what does the brand aspire to be? While it is helpful to stay up to date on design trends, it's more vital to stay true to a brand's overarching personality. Here's a quick brand personality evaluation that can help you along the way.

More than anything, know what your logo means. Every logo has some kind of a history, filled with meaning and purpose. Take Apple, for instance — the fruit is missing a "byte." Or Wikipedia, an unfinished globe of puzzle pieces covered with glyphs from different writing systems. Both logos are simple, but have an added twist that circles back to brand ideology.

https://admin.mashable.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/applewiki.jpg

Harkins echoes the importance of understanding the brand. "Since a logo is the brand's visual keystone — the most concise expression of its personality — an honest approach to defining its DNA is imperative to a successful result."

3. Color is key

https://admin.mashable.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/colors-image.jpg

When taking the brand’s personality into account, you have to think about every aspect of the image. Bright and bold colors may grab someone's attention, but could also seem brash; muted tones exude sophistication, but could be overlooked. Every color has a different implication and can bring nuance to your message — don't fall into the trap of conveying the wrong message because of a simple brush stroke.

The Logo Company released an article "The Science Behind Colors" and an infographic displaying The Psychology of Color in Logo Design. Here’s a quick break-down:

Red: energetic, sexy, bold

[color=#ff6600]Orange: creative, friendly, youthful[/color]

[color=#ffff00]Yellow: sunny, inventive, optimism[/color]

Green: growth, organic, instructional

Blue: professional, medical, tranquil, trustworthy

Purple: spiritual, wise, evocative

Black: credible and powerful

White: simple, clean, pure

[color=#ff0066]Pink: fun and flirty[/color]

Brown: rural, historical, steady


4. What's in a name?
According to Airey, a logo consists of two elements: A wordmark and a symbol. Before a company can think about solely representing itself with a symbol, a great deal of advertising must be done (think: Starbucks or Mercedes). Some companies choose to stick to Logotype entirely, like Ray-Ban, Coca-Cola and IBM.

https://admin.mashable.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/logos-1.jpg

Whether your brand can use a Logotype depends on the kind of name the brand has. "If your company has a unique name, then you could get away with a logotype. But if you have a generic name, then you're going to need something to identify the company by, which can be achieved by using a logo mark," logo design blogger Jacob Cass told Mashable in a previous article. And when considering typefaces for your text, be sure to avoid gimmicky fonts, utilize negative space and perhaps tweak an existing font — websites like Font Squirrel or HypeForType are helpful. Some logos even become recognizable because of their custom fonts. Coca-Cola originated the slanted font and now others try to rip them off.
When all else fails: Turn to your friend Helvetica, a simple font that has been utilized well by many popular brands, such as Nars, Target, Crate & Barrel, American Apparel and JCPenney.

5. Keep it easy and flexible
It’s important to have a balanced combination of simple and quirky — you want your logo to be interesting, but you don’t want someone to have to sit and stare, analyzing the logo. A good example is FedEx's logo, a simple Logotype with a twist. The image utilizes negative space to create an arrow which connotes speed, precision and direction. Additionally, the company changes the color of the “Ex” in order to classify the type of shipping. Amazon, too, uses just its name, but also refers to its wide inventory with a small arrow pointing from a → z.

https://admin.mashable.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/logo-2.jpg

In the digital age, where logos will appear on multiple devices and across social media, you must design something that transcends paper. It must look great on different backgrounds, work for apps, icons, avatars and print, and it must be flexible in size. Take Adidas, a brand that incorporates the same motif of three parallel bars in all of its designs. The visual changes slightly depending on where you see it, but it always contains similar components.

https://admin.mashable.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/adidas2.jpg

"Finding a logo that can still be relevant (or not feel outdated) in a matter of years, or even months, when we don't even know what the web will feel like, seems to be a bit more of a challenge," Raj Abhyanker, CEO of Trademarkiasays. You want to design something that will last through the ages, but you must be open to small iterations along the way. Most, if not all, brands will create a style guide that lays out exactly how the company should present itself across the web — here are some examples of great design guidelines.

6. Don't expect instant success
Nike; Puma; Audi — all iconic logos, but like with anything successful, it took time for these to gain popularity. Logos won’t become instantly iconic, even if you’ve designed the most beautiful combination of vectors. It depends on the product’s success and the market in which it exists. "What you think is your best design might very well be for a local craft store that only people in the nearby area ever see. And the design won’t be classed as iconic because it doesn’t have the reach of multinational businesses," Airey says. "Ultimately, iconic design status can only be achieved if the client fulfills their potential, too."

But what made those iconic logos so wonderful? If you look at how they originated, you see that they derived from a great understanding of brand principles. Nike designer Carolyn Davidson was told to create something that displayed motion and would look good on a shoe — hence, the swoosh; Audi represents the company’s four marques linked together; Puma, a simple visualization of the name, along with a leaping puma.

It's important to be patient and not rush to make changes with your design just because you haven't gotten the reception you initially expected. "Don’t change your logo just because you’re tired of it, or because your competitors have," Harkins says. "If the time has come to evolve your logo, look for elements that can be carried forward."

7. Use online resources and tools
There is a vast sea of information online for those who need some inspiration, collaboration or assistance when designing a company logo.

99designs offers both a Logo Store equipped with unique, hand-vetted logos for those on a tighter budget looking for off-the-shelf ideas, and the site provides an opportunity for more personalized contests where customers are integral to the outcome from the beginning. The website also helps clients make the tough decision between loads of logo submissions. "99designs customers can create a poll of their favorite submissions, and share a link via social networks and email inviting people to vote," Harkins says. "Often they’re surprised when the design they were leaning toward doesn’t come out on top! But ultimately, they need to own their decision."

Have you created a great logo for your company? If so, what advice can you offer? Tell us in the comments.

Source: https://mashable.com/2014/04/30/logo-design-tips/#UXgS4vaMsSqL

See also...
Nairaland Portfolio For Logo Designers 2018
https://www.nairaland.com/4421345/nairaland-portfolio-logo-designers-2018

Nairaland Portfolio For Logo Designers 2017
https://www.nairaland.com/3741851/nairaland-portfolio-logo-designers-2017

imolekuku:
please can I get a designer that can design a banner that I want to use to place an ad on nairaland?

Sure you can... you can send me a dm or any other designer you think can provide what you and your business wants.

Thank you.

UzuNagato:
how much is the idle price to charge for a logo

There’s really nothing like an ‘ideal’ price.
Different designers possess different skills and levels of experience.
Plus clients differ in financial strength.
You also need to put the economic situation at the time into consideration.
You have to consider many factors to help decide your own professionally/personally ideal price.

Hahahahahaha...
Days of humble beginnings really cracked me up...
So what do you use now?
Please don't tell me you've left the design field.

OkaNaUbe:
Thumbs up, OP. I remember using CorelDraw to create graphic jobs such as logos. That's back in the days of humble beginnings.

01. Thou shalt research the brand
Like all commercial design, a logo doesn’t exist in a vacuum, and is not just about creating something that will look pretty on your portfolio. Brands pay for a logo to be created to fulfil a business need, and you will have to understand that need fully for your design to succeed.

Sometimes, you’ll get an articulate client who can explain where the business is coming from and what the logo needs to achieve quickly and simply. But at other times, the client won’t really understand the business themselves, and you’ll have to do a lot of that work yourself.

Either way, it’s up to you to fully research the company, understand what it’s trying to achieve, who its competitors are, and why the previous logo (if there is one) is being replaced.

Some of that research may take place on the internet, or reading corporate documents, but much of it will depend on meeting the client and asking the right questions.


02. Thou shalt respect brand heritage
When it comes to creating a new design for an existing brand, you want it to look updated, modern and forward-looking. But there’s a danger of throwing out the baby with the bathwater.

Logo design history is littered with examples of companies that released new logos that were totally disconnected from their brand heritage, only to watch them crash and burn.


03. Thou shalt choose the right kind of logo
Some logos are made entirely of type, while others exist entirely as a symbol, and yet others combine text and graphics in the same design. So before you start designing, it’s important to decide what kind of logo you're setting out to create.

This key step will help focus your mind and get you moving in the right direction, before you waste your time going down a series of blind alleys.


04. Thou shalt keep your design simple
A logo needs to be scalable to small sizes (printed on a pen or appearing on a mobile device) and huge ones (for instance, a billboard or an IMAX cinema screen). It needs to be instantly recognisable by consumers, as well as powerfully memorable. It needs to work in any colour. And it needs to be versatile enough to be consistently reproduced in a range of print and digital media.

For these reasons and more, your logo needs to be as simple as possible. Try shrinking it to a tiny size on your screen: does it still work? If not, it probably needs simplifying further. So keep editing, removing and simplifying. Purge your design of unnecessary graphical elements. Simplify shapes. Remove unnecessary shadows, gradients, textures and backgrounds. Reduce the number of fonts to the bare minimum.

This process can be psychologically difficult: we all hate to discard details we’ve worked hard to create. But at the end of the process, you’ll usually end up with a logo that’s simpler and much more successful as a design.

That doesn’t, however, mean every logo you create has to be ultra-minimalist to the nth degree. Consider the Firefox logo as a good example of how a logo can be simple, versatile and scalable while still evoking a unique visual personality.


05. Thou shalt make your design readable
It should go without saying, but so many logo designs fall down on a fundamental basis: their readability. Conversely, many brands work hard over time to make subtle updates to their logo to make it easier to read. Some of these can be extremely subtle, as when Google moved its ‘g’ one pixel to the right and its ‘l’ one pixel down in 2014. But the fact that brands indulge in that level of tinkering just goes to show how important legibility is, and how it should be at the heart of any logo design or redesign.


06. Thou shalt be original
One side effect of the need to simplify is that it’s very easy to end up creating something that resembles an existing logo. There are countless examples of big brands getting caught in this trap, from the debacle of NBC’s 1976 logo to the short-lived Tokyo 2020 Olympics logo.


07. Thou shalt not slavishly follow trends
We all love watching trends, and logos are no different. In fact, we’ve already written a post about 2017’s biggest logo trends ourselves. But in no way does that mean you should slavishly follow them.

A successful logo can potentially stay in place for decades, so if you try to be too hip and modern, your design will only date super-fast. Focus on the classic principles of logo design and think about long-term durability rather than short-term trends.


08. Thou shalt use vector software
It is possible to design a logo in Photoshop, but it’s not a good idea. This will mean creating your logo as a raster object, which can’t be resized without loss of quality.

Instead, you should use a vector graphics program such as Adobe Illustrator or Affinity Designer. This way, your logo will be a vector object that can be scaled up or down without any pixelation.


09. Thou shalt be appropriate
What works as a logo for one brand may not work for another. A logo for a web startup may be fun, cartoony and tongue in cheek, but that’s unlikely to work for a traditional high street bank, which needs to project an image of authority and reliability.

Like it or not, the style of your logo will instantly convey what a company stands for, so make sure it’s appropriate and that it’s aligned with the overall brand identity. Again, this goes back to understanding the goals and values of the business that’s employed you as a designer.


10. Thou shalt consider thy typography carefully
Using original typography is often key to creating a logo that stands out as original and distinctive. So try to avoid commonly used fonts, and play around with different styles of type – serifs and sans-serifs, italics and bold, as well as custom-made fonts – in order to find that unique look that helps your logo become memorable. Just don’t sacrifice scalability or legibility in the process.


Source:
https://www.creativebloq.com/advice/10-commandments-of-logo-design

See also:
https://www.nairaland.com/4421345/nairaland-portfolio-logo-designers-2018

mfm04622:
Nonsense!!! So the governor doesn't know he can prosecute them?

Seems you are the only reasonable person here.

Why will Chief Security Officers of states be asking federal government to prosecute offenders in their different states? What sort of gross incompetence is this?

Of course they know the average Nigerian is intellectually bankrupt as we are witnessing from the comments on this thread.