Graphic Design/Logo Design

Topic:Logo Design

Logo design can be one of the most challenging forms of design there is, not because it's complicated, but because your design carries a company, not just through a phase or advertising campaign, but through a period of time. The time periods of logos are often not set in stone. Most companies feel the need to redesign their logos to better update ( or "modernize" ) their appearance. Some companies, such as Regions bank, change their logo when they merge with another company or absorb it. Still others change not only their logo, but also their approach to how they do business in general, be it environmental policies or some general philosophy. This is also known as rebranding and actually extends beyond the logo design; however a new logo is often the spearhead for such a campaign. Once in a while there may be the honor of designing the first logo of a new company. Whatever or whatever the reason a design is being created or renewed, a logo says something about that company. It's their introduction to the world, the first describer of what that company is as well as what they do, and that is why the design of their logo carries so much weight. Because of this, there are a few questions to be answered and decisions to be made before, as well as during, the design phase.

Types of Logos
The simplest kind of logo is called a logotype. A logotype, as it's name implies, is a logo composed entirely from text. It contains no imagery or illustrations. Logotypes rely heavily on the presentation of their text, which makes typography all that more important. An inherent downside to pure logotypes is that they can be difficult for readers of other languages to distinguish, and they can be difficult to distinguish from similar logotypes.

Logos will sometimes incorporate some kind of image. Some logos, such as Apple, are composed of just a symbol, with no text involved whatsoever.

Logos are able to take all manner of shapes and sizes. The most common shapes are rectangular and circular, quite possibly because they are the most unobtrusive shapes to use.

Questions to Ask/Consider
Is the logo appropriate for the situation?

What does the logo represent?

Is the logo easily recognizable?