Logo Design & Branding
Working with you from Start to Finish
Logotypes have been used to mark documents since 2300 BC!
Source: Wikipedia Graphic Mark or Emblem
Some Most Valuable Clients
Logo Design.
There's more to it than design.
Logo Design should be the first step in your business branding strategy, not a Website or Marketing Collateral, simply because your logo forms the foundation for marketing all your products and services. Done professionally, it will significantly boost service and product visibility. 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. Fortunately, I'm here to help you balance on that tight rope.
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
Creating a visually effective branding element includes complex tasks of which graphic design is only a small part. My job as a graphic artist is to ensure your new logo design satisfies some simple, but important, criteria:
- Memorable - easily recognized in an ocean of competition.
- Meaningful - improves the company's legitimacy.
- Protectable - can be trademarked and or service marked.
- Adaptable - useful across all product/service categories.
The Correct Steps to Brand your Business
Building a Brand.
Begins with building a relationship.
Logo Design process
Step 1 - Communicate
The most important step in any design process; Logo, Web or Print, is asking questions!
- What are your services and/or products?
- What design style works best for your brand?
- What is your target audience?
- What is your marketing strategy?
- When do you need the project completed?
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.
Step 2 - Create
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.
Step 3 - Complete
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:
- Is the design unique and well-crafted?
- Does this design express the specific feeling/vibe of my company?
- Will the design leave potential customers with a positive impression?
- Is this design versatile enough to be effective at every level of my marketing strategy?
- Did I receive file types for Web and print usage?
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.
Logo Design frequently asked questions
- When do you begin work on my Logo Design?
Super quick! After I receive payment, I will send you a link to my Logo Design Questionnaire. The more information you provide, the sooner I can complete your project. If I need to clarify a few of your answers, expect me to start work on your new Logo Design no later than 1 business day after your questionnaire is finalized.
- How long before I see something (a concept)?
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.
- What files do I get when my Logo Design is finished?
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.
- PNG (portable network graphics) - 8 for Web usage with logos and line-art graphics. This file type supports transparency, and depending on your design, the background may be transparent. 2 for Print usage as it does not support print-ready color spaces, such as CMYK.
- JPEG or JPG (joint photographic experts group) - 8 for Web usage with photographic designs. This file type does not support transparency and is 2 for Print usage as image data compression may cause artifacts around edges.
- EPS (encapsulated postscript) - 0 for Web usage and 10 for Print usage. This is the gold-standard source file for almost all logo designs as it can be used to create all other file types. Excellent for print, as it is infinitely scalable, meaning a postage size logo will look exactly the same quality as a banner on the side of a building.
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.
- Looking at my Logo files, the colors in some images are slightly different - what gives?
Those questionable files are likely for print usage only. To help you understand why the colors are different in some files, I'll briefly explain the difference between color spaces that graphic artist use in every project.
- RGB (red, green, blue) is for Web usage only. This file should never be sent to a print shop.
- No two computer monitors are built exactly the same - a RGB image on one screen will look slightly different on another.
- CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, black) and PMS spot (Pantone Matching System) are for print only. These files should never be used for Web projects.
- RGB is an additive color model, while CMYK and PMS are subtractive. Think computer monitor, which displays light and paper, which absorbs light.
- Any RGB illustration converted to CMYK may appear slightly dull. I start all logo design projects in CMYK, then convert to RGB as needed.
- Should I copyright my new logo?
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.
- I've seen other websites offer unlimited revisions. Do you?
Beware of the graphic artist/design studio offering "unlimited revisions" - obviously this kind of advertising is eye-catching, but it's just disingenuous and will likely lead to 'unlimited' frustration. A skilled graphic artist should understand a client's needs after only a few revisions, then it's just a matter of fine tuning minor details.
Understanding the difference between concepts and revisions - concept is a unique design, and revision is a minor change to a concept. Concepts fall under just not liking the overall look of the design, while revisions are minor changes, 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. Instead of displaying over-the-top advertising, I have several pages of "Logo Design" guides, a logo design questionnaire and years of experience to ensure your logo design is completed sooner than 11 revisions later.
Let's Go!
There's no time like right now for that (un)solvable problem or over-the-top idea
