Top six rules for logo design success

Explore our guide on the best ways to achieve a next-level business logo design

As general consumers, we are constantly bombarded with logos every day. Look around your screen right now and see just how many logos are surrounding you.

Logos are an essential element of branding because they’re what tie consumers to a brand. In fact, 75% of people cite logos as the most recognizable type of brand identifiers. [1]

When you think of McDonald’s, you automatically think of the famous golden arches. When you hear NBC, your mind travels directly to the colorful abstract peacock. One survey even found that 90% of the world’s population recognizes the iconic Coca-Cola logo. [1]

What aspects allowed your memory to pinpoint these symbols? What features contributed to logos like Coca-Cola’s reaching global stardom?

Join us as we explore the top six rules for successful logo design to learn just how your business can achieve an iconic logo of its own.

#1: Identifying purpose

Before anything else, the first step in designing a successful logo is to identify your purpose as a brand. It’s essential that you’ve crafted clear and concise brand messaging to communicate what you will deliver to the world before your team begins designing a logo.

“The world is full of copycat brands with no purpose that are inherently empty of content. Those types of brands are always the first to be forgotten because they have nothing to say,” explains Tarik, Lead Graphic Designer at Different Perspective. “Be true to who you are and what you believe, and allow your logo to reflect those values.”

#2: Compatibility on every application

When your logo is designed, another element your design team will consider is where the logo will be seen. This is often tied to your business’s industry and target audience.

Will you need printed collateral like business cards, pocket folders, and flyers? Will your logo predominantly be used on your website and in other digital contexts like on PowerPoint presentations? Will it be applied on product packaging or promotional items like pens and t-shirts?

It’s likely that your logo will be used in most or all of these ways, so versatility is key. A versatile and adaptable logo will allow you to place your logo in all desired locations, from a billboard to your website favicon, without jeopardizing the integrity of the design.

#3: Following brand guidelines

If you’re working with the right design team, they’ll ensure they’re following your brand story and brand guidelines that you’ve already established or help you develop a brand identity along the way. Your design team will be aware of colors, fonts, and images that will be best for your logo to ensure they represent your company properly.

For example, our team created an inventive, modern logo for TekMining Pros, a crypto mining machine repair company.

Notice how the logo was created as if each part of the letter was a small computer code that reorganized itself like a puzzle. The logo also conveys more abstract concepts associated with the brand such as problem solving and intelligence. The brand color yellow represents creativity and intellect and black represents security and authority.

#4: Timelessness

Although there’s no way to know if a logo is timeless until it literally stands the test of time, a good tip in the right direction is to make sure your design team is staying away from trends.

Trends come and go and that should be the opposite of what your business accomplishes when designing a logo. Focus on colors, fonts, aesthetics, and imagery that you’ll never tire of. Think of your favorite logos that have been around for decades and the visual elements and feelings that it invokes to make it your favorite.

#5: Memorableness

In addition to your logo being timeless, it has to be memorable too. There’s no point in having a lasting logo if nobody remembers the company behind it. It’s believed that on average, people need approximately five to seven impressions before they recognize a business’s logo, so yours needs to make an impact to last. [1]

Simplicity and relevance play a crucial role in making a logo memorable. Take a look at the logo our team created for Fountain Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church as an example.

Fountain Chapel wanted their logo to evoke feelings of hope, energy, invitation, and inclusivity that made people want to learn more by grabbing their attention, standing out from the crowd, and making a lasting impression. This modern, clean, and simple logo design does just that.

#6: Professionalism

Although it may be tempting to have an artistic member of your team try their hand at designing a logo for your business, some tasks are better left to the professionals.

Make sure to work with a reliable creative design agency that has access to advanced software, the experience of knowing what works, and the talent to take your ideas and needs and transform them into a tangible logo.

Bonus tip: Keep in mind that none of these rules guarantee the success of your brand. “A logo is a visual representation of your brand messaging, services, and products. While your logo is a key branding element, it does not determine the success of your brand,” details Tarik. “The day-to-day work of aligning your logo, messaging, and communication is what will build a successful brand for your business.”

Looking to boost your business identity with next-level branding?

As a leading Orlando branding agency, we’re proud to craft outstanding visuals and powerful narratives that help our clients stand out from competitors, build customer loyalty, and establish trust.

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