iStockphoto - Logo Training Manual

5.1 - Important design considerations

Designing a great logo can be a lot harder than it looks. Here are some questions you should ask yourself when you design a logo:

Will the logo still look great when shrunk to a small size?
Could the logo easily be converted into a black-and-white design for non-color applications?
Is your logo too tall or too skinny (which will likely cause layout issues for clients)? Squared or circular logos better lend themselves to multiple design applications.
Is your logo clear and instantly recognizable as the image you intended people to see?
Would your logo reproduce well if faxed on letterhead?
Is your logo unique?
Is your logo confusingly similar to another logo?
Are your line weights thick enough to reproduce well at different sizes?
Is there any detail you could remove to strengthen the visual impact of your logo?
Could your logo be used in a variety of mediums: on a website, on stationery, on billboards, in brochures?
How many colors have you used? Remember, the more colors, the more difficult the logo will be to reproduce for a client. Also, gradients can be tricky to print so you may wish to avoid them.