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Can I design my own logo
- Thread starter seowiz
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sure... but...
of course you can design your own logo, but that doesn't mean it will be good. usually i cringe when a client tells me they want me to design their logo based on their idea(s). it usually means they have an attachment to it (my daughter drew it in crayon!) that is often not based on anything other than emotion. typically the first idea that i have when working on a branding project never makes it to the first presentation. it takes a lot of research and delving into the brand in order to get a feel for what works. most people who just whip up a logo aren't thinking about the big picture. you can't build a brand with just a logo, either... so that's where having professionals do your work comes into play. just like you can fix your own car, most of the time it's better to have a qualified professional do it.
also, there's the issue of production. i've been handed way too many "final logo files" in microsoft word or JPG that were uneditable/raster.
logo files need to be vector (ie don't use photoshop, use illustrator), then be versioned out to spot color and/or cmyk and rgb/web versions, black, white, 1c versions, etc. and then there's the whole brand guidelines aspect of things. what can / can't a designer do with your logo? just randomly throwing together a logo will not help any designer in the future unless all of these things are considered and done properly.
all that said, yes you can do your own logo, but will you be doing yourself and your business a disservice by doing so?
of course you can design your own logo, but that doesn't mean it will be good. usually i cringe when a client tells me they want me to design their logo based on their idea(s). it usually means they have an attachment to it (my daughter drew it in crayon!) that is often not based on anything other than emotion. typically the first idea that i have when working on a branding project never makes it to the first presentation. it takes a lot of research and delving into the brand in order to get a feel for what works. most people who just whip up a logo aren't thinking about the big picture. you can't build a brand with just a logo, either... so that's where having professionals do your work comes into play. just like you can fix your own car, most of the time it's better to have a qualified professional do it.
also, there's the issue of production. i've been handed way too many "final logo files" in microsoft word or JPG that were uneditable/raster.
logo files need to be vector (ie don't use photoshop, use illustrator), then be versioned out to spot color and/or cmyk and rgb/web versions, black, white, 1c versions, etc. and then there's the whole brand guidelines aspect of things. what can / can't a designer do with your logo? just randomly throwing together a logo will not help any designer in the future unless all of these things are considered and done properly.
all that said, yes you can do your own logo, but will you be doing yourself and your business a disservice by doing so?
This is a client nightmare for designers...
Short answer is yes you can create your own logo if you would like.
The question you should be asking though is, how will it make your business look? From ten years experience in design I can say the answer will be not very good, and it will be cringe worthy.
By all means put some ideas together but from a technical POV I've had more issue with client designs not being in the right format, not replicating for different mediums, not following design rules, etc... when clients have designed their own logos.
If you do go down that road make sure the logo is a vector because bitmaps, gifs and MS Publisher creations just wont cut it... If cost is an issue I'd go with Inkscape, it's free and does a pretty good job IMHO.
If I were you I'd put together some ideas of what you're after then take it to a designer, they'll be able to refine and research your concept and get you something that will add identity to your brand.
I would also consider this site before creating your own logo.
Short answer is yes you can create your own logo if you would like.
The question you should be asking though is, how will it make your business look? From ten years experience in design I can say the answer will be not very good, and it will be cringe worthy.
By all means put some ideas together but from a technical POV I've had more issue with client designs not being in the right format, not replicating for different mediums, not following design rules, etc... when clients have designed their own logos.
If you do go down that road make sure the logo is a vector because bitmaps, gifs and MS Publisher creations just wont cut it... If cost is an issue I'd go with Inkscape, it's free and does a pretty good job IMHO.
If I were you I'd put together some ideas of what you're after then take it to a designer, they'll be able to refine and research your concept and get you something that will add identity to your brand.
I would also consider this site before creating your own logo.
I'm going to say no ... you can't design your own logo.
You might have ideas that can help set the design direction, but unless you're an experienced designer, your result will most likely fail.
You might have ideas that can help set the design direction, but unless you're an experienced designer, your result will most likely fail.
I think its a superb idea to design own logo. It will help you to increase your mind set and much more ideas to develop a new ides of designing it in much more way.
Well, that made little sense. Try again.
In the meantime, I'd like to add that designing a logo isn't for everyone. You really have to know what you're doing. I have had formal training in design (BS in graphic design) and I still struggle with coming up with a good logo. Perhaps that is why I have such a difficult time - I know a good logo when I see it, I just have a difficult time doing it. I shudder when anyone who has no idea what they are doing tries to do it on their own. Eh, good luck with that.
It's the difference between can and should.
I can represent myself in a court of law.
But if I ever find myself before a judge, I should consider hiring a lawyer.
That sums it up extremely well, it's the intricacies (or intrinsic values) of should vs can.
As I mentioned in a previous post, of the OP can design one, it's a matter of should which needs consideration.
