What the Logo Design Process Actually Looks Like in Practice

A company logo is the first thing that customers see, so it’s important to get right. Here’s what the logo design process actually looks like in practice.

We see logos all day long. They are literally everywhere from the tag on the shirt you’re wearing to the front of your car. You can’t get away from them. 

It’s exactly for that reason that the design of a logo is super important for a company’s success. 

We can all agree that having a stunning, recognizable logo is key but how do you get there? 

We’ve broken down the logo design process so you can see what it takes to get that just right look for your company. 

Meeting With the Designer 

The first step to take when producing a logo is to find someone qualified to create the design. 

It takes a lot of technical skills to design and execute a design that can be replicated on many different platforms. Not only do they need to have the creative design abilities, but they also need to know how to use the software programs required to make it available.

Whether this qualified person is you, a member of your team or an outside hire, there needs to be a meeting where the overall expectations are discussed.

A logo is the first way that potential customers will see the brand personality. It’s where they will get a first impression of what they can expect from the company.  

It is really important to be as clear and specific as possible about what you want the logo to portray. Share logo design ideas you have and things you like or don’t like in other designs. 

Logos are open interpretations of the company. So the design can go a million different ways. The more specific you can be upfront, the smoother the process will go because everyone will have a clear understanding. 

It is okay to shop around for the right designer. You have the right to interview and look at samples of their work before hiring.

Designing a logo will be a huge part of the company’s development, so be as involved as possible. 

Logo Design Process

Once the designer has a general idea of what you and the company are looking for they can move forward with their process. 

Obviously designing a logo is a creative process and so every person is going to handle it a bit different than each other. But, for the most part, every designer follows this similar path to get to the end result. 

Research

First up is the initial research. This is an important step for the designer to clarify ideas and make sure it will be appealing to the desired audience. 

The designer will likely look at similar companies and competitors to see what their logos look like. They will evaluate what seems to be working and what is not. Obviously, you want your logo to stand out against the competition so this is a key step. 

Another thing the designer will look into is the history of the industry and the are where the company is located. All of these things can play a role in the overall acceptance of the logo. 

Research may seem like a boring step but it’s a really important jumping-off point for the designer. 

Sketches and Options

After the designer has done their research to understand what will be the most effective for their client, it’s time to get started on the actual design!

Usually, this is the part of the design process that looks different depending on the designer. And really, understanding the exact way your designer comes up with the designs doesn’t matter too much. 

What does matter is that you are given a few options to choose from. 

A designer may spend the time to fully produce the designs but often they will give the client sketches of the ideas for logos. These sketches may be a little rough but show the different elements and the main idea. 

Typically the designer will present two to three ideas. This gives the customer options but not too many that they become overwhelmed. 

Revisions

After the client has received and gone over the sketches, they will likely meet with the designer to fine-tune the design. 

This is the time to be extremely specific about what you do and don’t like about the design. Good logo ideas often go through a few different versions to get to their final result. 

Tweaking the design can be the difference between an okay logo and a great one! 

Publishing New Logo

After the logo has gone through the revision process, is finalized, and approved by the client it is time to get it out into the world. 

Logos are used to bring consistency to a company. When a person sees the logo for a recognizable company, they know what type of service or product they can expect to receive. 

Companies are known by their logos, so getting your logo out to as many places as possible is getting your name out to as many places as possible. 

Logos are often placed in a variety of places depending on the exact product. This is where having a designer with the right set of technical skills is crucial. The designer should be able to manipulate the design into different types of files that can then be used in all of these specific applications. 

Getting the Right Logo 

A logo is a really important part of a business plan. It is used in so many different ways as a marketing tool. A good logo can make a world of difference. 

The logo design process is a very exciting one where you can see your ideas come to life and imagine all of the ways this is going to be out in the world. The most important part is finding the right designer to work with you and give you exactly what you want. 

Receiving a logo is a big step in an entrepreneur’s life. If you would like more advice on starting and running a business, check out our other articles!