What Makes a Good Logo
A logo is a promise in a picture
A logo is the face of a business. The best logos are simple, memorable and scalable - they work as a tiny WhatsApp profile picture and as a giant banner. In this lesson you learn the rules before you design.
The three rules
- Simple - a customer should be able to draw it from memory
- Memorable - one clear idea, not ten details
- Scalable - it stays clear at any size, from 50 px to 5 metres
Work in black and white first
Design your logo in black and white before adding colour. If it works without colour, it will work with colour. If it only works because of colour, the shape itself is weak.
Icon + wordmark
The classic formula is an icon (a symbol) beside a wordmark (the name in styled text). The icon should be simple enough to draw from memory, and the wordmark should be easy to read.
Avoid clip-art thinking
Avoid complex stock symbols or emoji as logos - they look generic and are almost never memorable. A simple geometric shape combined with a strong wordmark beats a busy illustration every time.
Tip: Test your logo the way a customer will: shrink it to a tiny size. If you cannot tell what it is, simplify.
Warning: Do not trace or copy another business's logo. Design something original - your customers will trust an original mark far more.
Check your understanding
What are the three rules of a good logo? Simple, memorable, scalable.Why design in black and white first? If the shape works without colour, it is a strong design.What is the icon + wordmark formula? A simple symbol beside the business name in styled text.
Answer the questions out loud or on paper. If any are hard, re-read this lesson before moving on.
This is a free preview lesson
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