Tips on Logo Designs that Last
Clean, Simple, Timeless. – Stand Out!
So you are in the concept stage of your logo design. You want it to be something that stands out but also represents all that your company/brand does. You want a logo that truly screams: “This is us and we can solve your problem.”. However, you are not sure where to start. Since everything you want the logo to be is difficult to put in words or you are having trouble picturing the concept. Well, we have a few tips on logo designs that last. Let’s jump into the nitty gritty.
What Makes a Logo Timeless and How Does One Achieve it?
Timeless logo design is something we thrive on. The purpose is to have a logo that will last the ages, stay in the mode and connect with your audience. Think of those memorable logos from your life. Sometimes the memories are so intense that there is a sense of nostalgia. But what exactly makes a logo timeless?
The answer is not simple. It is a mix of the logo design itself and how the brand represents itself to the public. Meaning that the association people make with the logo assists in ensuring its longevity. The logo is what people will remember, without even necessarily knowing why. It is the visual marker that brings all that your brand represents together under one banner. It is the flag, the beacon and the first point of contact.
Essentially, what I am saying is that you cannot necessarily create a logo that will become timeless or memorable. There is no specific answer that will give you a formula for creating a logo that stands out. However, there are steps that you can take to stand the best chance of a timeless logo design.
The Three Pillars of Timeless Logo Designs – Simplicity, Versatility & Relevance
It is easy to get stuck in the current trends and try to base your logo design on what people like now. That can, as often demonstrated by many brands over the years, have a negative effect. Relevance in logo design goes beyond the trend and encapsulates a continued modern expression. Serving as a timeless building block for the marketing strategy. Your marketing and branding need to match, they must be the perfect fit for a lasting impression. The best logo designs exude simplicity, versatility and relevance. The best way to know if you have achieved simplicity is to look at your design and know completely that nothing can be added or taken away.
A simple logo design is exactly what versatile logos are made of. Just by taking this one step, you can achieve two of the three pillars. Versatility is important. It allows you to adapt the logo size and placement. It needs to look good, very small and very big. The logo may appear on mugs, T-shirts or coasters. All of these uses need the logo to be at its best. Relevance is completed by ensuring that the design avoids trends and fits the tone of the brand to a T.
Keep in mind that when creating a timeless design, overindulgence is the enemy and restraint is the answer. Stick to the three pillars and make sure you:
- Eliminate trends
- Be aesthetically pleasing but simple
- Understand the tone of your brand
We do go through this aspect in a little bit more detail in my article on Minimalist Design which is only a 3 minute read. Give it a read if you have time. Refining your process and approach is how you will find the design that is clean, simple and timeless. The one that makes you stand out while fitting your brand tone. A complete package if you will.
Smart & Creative Tips to Create a Unique Logo That Lasts
As mentioned in the previous section, sticking to the basics is most important. Overcomplicating the design by trying to fit too much detail in will only make it busy and difficult to remember. I find that the best way to go about a logo design is to start with all the ideas. Write down everything so that you have all the noise in front of you. Then you want to cherry pick the aspects that resonate with you the most—ultimately narrowing it down to three main elements.
So step one is to create some sort of vision board, mind map or something of the sort that you are comfortable using. From there sift through it all to find around 10 items/aspects that speak to you. Elements that represent your brand, the audience you are targeting and the product/service you want to offer.
Once you have that ironed out, take each item you picked and examine its worth to your brand story. Be mindful of your audience and the tone you want to set for your brand. Select the three top elements. From there you can work on a few ideas. Honestly though, at this point, I would strongly suggest speaking to your graphic designer about the concept so they can assist you in working through what is possible. They will have the knowledge on printing and digital placement along with what stylistically looks good. They are the professionals after all.