What do fans of McDonald’s first think of when you mention the company? Aside from their assortment of meals and different variations on the typical cheeseburger — they’ll remember its logo. There’s a reason why so many people across the globe refer to the famed M as ‘the golden arches.’ It’s a logo you recognise instantly, so iconic it breaks cultural boundaries.
That’s the case with the vast majority of brand logos nowadays. Apple, Microsoft, Tesla, Razer, Dr. Oetker, Pringles, Amazon, Subway — all of these brands have a simple, yet creative logo design.
It’s always a design that instantly catches your eye, stays relevant for decades, and makes for excellent branding in and of itself.
So, as an up-and-coming entrepreneur, you’ll want a logo you can be proud of, one that will make your brand and business stand out. In this article, you’ll learn how to create your own company logo that will put your business on the map.
How to Create a Good Commercial Logo Design
Tip #1: Determine What Your Business Is Like
Let’s take a look at some famous company logos. For example, Amazon’s logo is just a nifty word written in a cute font, right? But why is there an orange arrow curving underneath?
Well, the arrow contains a double meaning, actually. Firstly, it points from A to Z, signalling that Amazon truly does have everything from A to Z in its offer. In addition, it also represents a smile, with the arrow doubling as a little curve of the lips. Sneaky, clever, and, we have to admit, somewhat beautiful.
What about Goodwill, a famous nonprofit organisation that helps millions of Americans every year? Well, the massive lowercase G in their logo isn’t just there to highlight the first letter of the name. It also represents a partially obscured smile, showing the company’s commitment to keeping people happy and secure.
All of these companies have a clear goal in mind, and their goal is reflected in the logo. That’s what you should consider when approving a design. Think about what your company is, what it’s represented by, and how you can visually convey that to people from the logo alone.
Tip #2: Conveying the Right Emotion
Once again, we’ll look at the two logos from an earlier example. When looking at Amazon, the smile arrow is there, but the majority of it is taken up by dry, to-the-point black letters against a white background. That right there shows rigidness and professionalism, i.e. exactly what Amazon wants to convey. Goodwill, on the other hand, wants to convey security and happiness, which is why the smile is there.
When designing a logo, you will have to play a bit of armchair psychologist. Think about what certain colours, shapes, and sizes represent. And then consider what kind of emotional response you want to see when people look at your logo design. Humans naturally and somewhat predictably react to emotional stimuli, and the right design combo will get you exactly what you need out of potential customers.
On the other hand, if you mess up and choose shapes and patterns that don’t match, you can end up alienating nearly every buyer. Sometimes it’s a good idea to mess with the emotional reaction of others when designing a logo. However, newcomers and small entrepreneurs should stick to the tried and true methods, at least until they fully establish themselves.
Tip #3: Keeping an Eye on the Competitors
No matter what industry or field you choose, you will have competition. And every single competitor will want to attract as many customers, clients, or followers as possible. Of course, they will also look into crafting the best logo for their brand. And in order to beat your enemy, you first have to think like them.
When researching your own logo design, pay close attention to what your competitors are doing. Study their logos carefully and determine what does and doesn’t work with them. Observe their colours, patterns, shapes, presence of shadows, and symbols utilised. That will give you a good idea of what’s popular and what isn’t.
Naturally, don’t try to copy these logos as they are. Not only is it illegal, but it’s poor business ethics. By all means, take inspiration from some of the best out there, but never try to imitate them. Instead, create a unique logo design and distinguish yourself from the rest of the competitors on an even playing field.
Tip #4: The Winning Colour Combination
As we stated earlier, colours convey different emotions to different people. However, some patterns do emerge. For example, here’s what some colours represent based on the so-called colour theory:
- Yellow — happiness, hope, or deceit
- Red — love, passion, or anger
- Blue — sadness, calmness, or responsibility
- Orange — happiness, vitality, or energy
- Green — nature, abundance, or new beginnings
- Purple — wealth, royalty, or creativity
- Brown — wholesomeness, nature, and dependability
- White — virtue, cleanliness, or purity
- Black — evil, elegance, or mystery
By combining a few of these colours and adding a few interesting shades here and there, you can have a logo that contains just the right cocktail of emotions for your prospective customers. In fact, you can purposefully contrast certain colours to cause a sensational emotion in your client, one they will never forget.
Of course, you can always go with the safe route and connect your colours to the nature of your business. For example, if you own a quaint little gardening business, then a combination of green and brown is more for you.
Tip #5: Simplicity is Key
What is the one thing that the Apple logo, the NBC logo, and the logo for Patreon have in common? It’s clearly not their business models, nor their chosen industries. After all, one is a software and hardware manufacturer, the other is a television network, and the third is a crowdfunding website.
No, what they all have in common is the simplicity and effectiveness of their logos. With Apple, it’s just a small white fruit with a chunk of it bitten off. NBC is a stylized peacock with six multicoloured feathers. And finally, Patreon is a mere line and a circle, indicating the letter ‘P’.
A simple logo is one that people will instantly remember. As a matter of fact, the logo itself is so effective that people can’t forget it even if they tried. That’s why the golden arches of McDonald’s still fascinate people across the globe.
But more importantly, a simple logo is one you can print easily, over and over again, on all of your merchandise. It’s perfect if you want to sell or give away promotional products and further promote your brand.
Related content:
How to Design a Memorable Logo for Your Brand
Good Commercial Logo Design: Final Thoughts
Too many new startup business owners usually outsource the logo design to a third party. More often than not, their logo turns out wrong because they didn’t specify what they wanted. So, instead of wasting money on Fiverr, try to pinpoint the precise design you want and make the first draft yourself before handing it over to professionals. With the right logo on your products, you will see new customers pouring in almost instantly and regularly.
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If you need even more info about logo design or any other related subject, we are here for you. Give us a call at 0800 0148 970 or simply email us today.
