Welcome to My Blog : Digitalastrator.blogspot.com: August 2014

Previously I post on my logo design. Today, I want to share on how to create a logo design. After a while I surf the Internet, finally I found a perfect website about how to create a "killer" logo design. Even though, I'm a designer but i still seek more knowledge in the world of graphic design [my main strength] so i can share it with you all. Below is a wonderful person and she is really good in giving knowledge on how to create a "killer" logo design.

Here are some of her quotes - 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. Ok guys, shall we go on with the 7 Killer Tips for Logo Design:

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." 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 said more.

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. "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." 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 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.

4. What's in a Name? According to Airey, a logo consists of two [2] 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. 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. 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.

5. Keep it Easy & 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. Examples: 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. "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 Trademarkia says. You want to design something that will last through the ages, but you must be open to small iterations along the way.

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." 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 & 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."

I hope you guys can get more knowledge from this editorial. I've got so many information from this website: www.mashable.com and its really helps me to improve in the Logo design. THANK YOU So Much to editor and the website.

p/s: I'm still new in this kind - editorial stuff, so sorry no picture - FYI - I'm NewBaby hihihihi~