Design logo – what are the steps in this process and what do we do differently
Creating a logo, there is a fairly simple process that is widely used by many agencies. What sets us apart is the way we put this process into practice.
Below is the structure that we consider to be classic for the logo design process:
The logo design process can vary depending on the designer or design agency, but generally, it can be broken down into the following steps:
1. Research and Discovery
The first step is to research and gather information about the client’s business, industry, target audience, and competitors. This research will help the designer understand the client’s brand and create a logo that reflects it.
2. Sketching and Concept Development
Once the research is complete, the designer will start brainstorming and sketching ideas for the logo. This stage is all about exploring different options and finding the most promising concepts.
3. Digital Rendering
After selecting the most promising sketches, the designer will start creating digital versions of the logo using graphic design software. This stage involves refining the design and experimenting with different colors, typography, and layouts.
4. Presentation and Feedback
The designer will present the initial logo concepts to the client for feedback. The client may request changes, and the designer will revise the logo based on the feedback until the client is satisfied.
5. Finalize and Delivery
After the logo has been approved by the client, the designer will finalize the design and prepare the files for delivery. The designer may create different file formats and color variations to ensure the logo can be used in a variety of applications.
It’s worth noting that the logo design process can be iterative and may involve going back and forth between stages until the final logo is approved.
What we do differently at Toud in addition to this process – 5 steps
- We place a great deal of importance on the construction of the creative brief. Why do we need this document? Essentially, based on the brand identity, it allows us to clearly explain the creative universe of the brand’s visual identity – to clarify the symbolism behind a logo, what it represents, what we want it to inspire, and sometimes even clearer aspects, such as color palettes. In this process, we carefully examine the organization’s vision, promise, and brand personality. We believe that a logo should be relevant and truly represent the organization. If a logo fits equally well on a competitor’s building (successfully representing the brand identity), something is wrong.
- The logo must harmoniously connect with an organization’s vision, as well as the feelings, motivations, and ambitions of the people within. Therefore, we always strive to align the created logo with the individuals in the organization, building the visual identity to reflect who they are.
- We look for inspiration in as many areas and as diverse as possible: culture, art, geography, geometry – any element, big or small, that connects to the symbols and metaphors we create in relation to the brand (some of which are already established in the brief). For example, when we designed the logo for Earlychildhood Romania, a project in Romania that focuses on early childhood education activities, we created a child’s footprint. You can see the full story here – educational branding.
- When we make our first sketches, we always start with pencil and paper. We like to think that the maximum creativity comes from a person who thinks and dreams in silence, without the interference of a screen.
- We place great importance on the idea of delivering a solution to the client. What does that mean? In the exploration phase, when we create sketches, we end up with hundreds of variations. Then, we digitize dozens of them. From those dozens, we start building simulations with a small number, usually less than 10. We typically obtain a top 5. From that top 5, we choose two variations to present to the client, which are always different approaches.
- At Toud, there are no limitations on feedback rounds – our promise is that we work until we find the best result.
- We deeply involve ourselves in each project and allocate enough time for each stage to achieve results we are satisfied with.
The best way to talk about the above ideas is through the results of our work, which you can see here – Creating a logo that tells your story.
References:
- blog.hubspot.com
- 99designs.com
- creativebloq.com
- upwork.com
- this article was also written with the help of ChatGPT
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