Where do logos come from?

In order to better communicate your organization’s message, it’s often beneficial for current and prospective clients to have an overview of the methods and process used to create logo design.

Design Brief
A detailed and concise design brief is important to creating successful logo design. A solid brief ensures that no time is being wasted, and that the client receives targeted logo design options. The design brief ensures that my attention is focused on the areas that best serve the client, making sure they’re happy with the final result. I approach every project with the goal of creating my best design yet.

Research
Again, it’s important to provide as much information and source material as possible in the design brief in order to guide me in my research and brainstorming phase.

Once we meet and I spend some time mentally processing the information and materials provided to me by the client, I begin the research and brainstorming phase of the project.
Among some of the questions I ask myself,

What are similar organizations doing?
What are some of the current trends in this sector?
What is your organization’s history? Where are you going?
What is your current brand like, and what do you want it to become?

Sketching
Sketching is an important part of logo design, the paper playground where the ideas come out to play. Based on the research and brainstorming phase of the design process, I begin sketching logos with pencil/pen and paper. This is the phase in which I experiment and play with various forms and ideas, until I come up with a number of sketches I find most successful, promising, or rich for further development.

Digital Prototype
After choosing the most successful sketches, these are then further developed on the computer. Sketches are cleaned up and two or three digital logo variations are developed.

Digital Send and Review
Once a few polished logo ideas are ready, the logo variations are sent to the client in a PDF file. Logos variations will be sent in black-on-white, or white-on-black in order to concentrate on the form and shape of the logo. Color, if used, will be saved for the latest stages of the project.

Typically, I offer two rounds of major revisions.Once the PDF is sent to the client, they review it and spend some time thinking about what has been developed. Perhaps they might want to fine-tune a few aspects of the design, or maybe they have a choice to make between the options, as-is.

As always, I am happy to answer any questions you have regarding the work.

Revision / Finalization
Once the review has taken place, I will either make finishing touches such as minor tweaks and color application, or make changes based on the revisions you’ve outlined. Part of my logo design philosophy is that the logo must work for you and your organization, and must possess a timeless quality that will keep the logo fresh for years to come.

Optional Stationery
The logos I create can be used in a wide range of situations, such as websites, business cards, stationery, billboards, brochures. If your organization needs any additional work regarding application of the logo, I would be happy to continue to be your designer and create any additional collateral.