
Source: Wikipedia Graphic Mark or Emblem
Logo Design is the first step in your business branding strategy because it forms the foundation for marketing all your products and services. Without it, your Website and Marketing Collateral don't have an identity. And while no one should expect you to write a big corporation check for Logo Design right out the gate, going cheap will likely give potential customers the impression you didn't put much effort into any other part of your business.
The foundation of your brand is your logo. Your Website, packaging and promotional materials - all of which should integrate your logo - communicate your brand. - Entrepreneur
As a graphic artist with a marketing and branding background, my job is to deliver a logo design you're not only excited to look at, but branding that satisfies every business branding principle.
The most important step in any design process; Logo, Web or Print, is asking questions!
After I accept your project request, you will get a link to my Logo Design Questionnaire. When completed, this becomes our Logo Design 'blueprint' or guide moving forward.
This is when we get down and dirty with that first concept.
While my ultimate goal is to create a visual design that communicates your business brand, the first concept you receive is just a best guess. Some clients understandably get frustrated, not realizing I am drawing in the dark until the creative juices start flowing.
As a client, you let me know what works and what doesn't, then I fine tune a revision for your review. If nothing works, I create a second concept, allowing us another round of presentation and feedback.
At this stage I create file types for Web and print usage. The packaged file also includes a Logo Design Copyright Transfer. And if by this time you cannot answer "Yes" to all of these questions, I did a really bad job:
In most cases my logo design process includes packaging concepts and product renderings based on how you complete your logo design questionnaire. All this 'extra' work not only saves you thousands of dollars on prototyping, it ensures you get the best Logo Design for your long-term branding and marketing strategy.
Super quick! After I receive payment, I send you a link to my Logo Design Questionnaire - the more information you provide, the sooner I can complete your project. I may need to clarify a few of your answers, so expect me to start work on your new Logo Design no later than 1 business day after your questionnaire is finalized.
Most clearly defined or "simple" designs are available within 1 business day, and you will receive notification by e-mail.
If I believe your project requires a greater amount of feedback and review, I will send you log-in credentials to my Client Portal.
By default, you receive a single ZIP file - a highly compressed archive containing other file types, which can be decompressed using free software such as, 7-Zip or WinZip. Inside the archive are your final logo design files (may differ by project type) and a signed Copyright Transfer statement.
To make their usage easier to understand, I rated these file types for Web and Print usage - on a rough scale of 1 - 10, 10 being the best.
Occasionally I get a request for AI (Illustrator), TIFF, PSD (Photoshop) and SVG (scalable vector graphics). AI and PSD are my layered and notated artwork files, which I rarely share. No client has ever asked for a TIFF version of their logo, likely because it is only used in photographic projects, such as headshots and print layouts (magazine, poster, banner, etc.). There is a process to create SVG files, and they are available for a nominal fee.
Graphic design is a complicated discipline, and the whole color thing can get quite complicated. You were given files for print usage and files for Web usage and print colors will appear slightly different than colors displayed by a computer monitor.
There are some significant differences between copyright, trademark and registration - too much in fact for me to describe here. In short, you want to trademark your new logo design if it will be used for branding products.
After you approve your logo design, I provide you with a ZIP file containing your final logo design files and a signed copyright transfer. The copyright transfer gives you sole ownership of the design, and can help expedite trademarking your new logo should you decide to go this more formal (and expensive) route.
This is where most people that use logo design contest Websites get in trouble months or years later. Many of these Websites are able to churn out artwork for pennies, not just because hundreds of people compete for the same design, but because two key components are not provided - real-time communication with the client and a copyright transfer document. There's just not enough resources to provide that kind of personal service, and most clients just assume they own the new design. The United States Copyright Office, and maybe even a lawyer, might not agree.
Beware of the "unlimited revisions" pitch - obviously this kind of advertising is eye-catching, but it will likely lead to 'unlimited' frustration and it's just disingenuous. A skilled graphic artist should understand your needs after only a few revisions, so there's no need to suck you in beforehand with unreasonable expectations.
Concept versus Revision - concept is a unique design, and revision is a minor change to a concept. Concept falls under not liking the overall look of a design, while revision is a minor change to a concept, such as "I love the design, but I don't like the (font style or color)."
I limit each logo design project to 3 concepts with 3 revisions per concept. I also provide several Logo Design guides, a logo design questionnaire and years of experience to ensure your logo design is completed sooner than a quest for unlimited revisions.