How to Design Your Own Logo by Tidalworks

There comes a time early in the business development cycle when a company begins to build its character and starts to look for a logo to represent it.  Shortly after embarking on this journey there is usually one question that will innevitably follow: how can I design my own logo?

Before I attempt to help you answer that question, it is important to consider the following:

I will address these questions one by one.

Why are you interested in creating your own business logo?

Typically there is one major factor that causes someone to look into creating their own logo: cost.  However, with more thought, this really should not be a driving factor in your logo design decision. Consider that your logo is perhaps the one key element that defines your company; It is the visual representation of your companies character.

In the same way it takes a while to build character, it also may take a while to make your logo instantly recognizable.  Your company should plan to have one logo, and plan to stick with it for the long haul.  Today It is worth the minimal expense to invest in a logo created by a professional. While a logo may typically cost $1000 or more with a local design studio, you can now purhase a design for a fraction of this price online.

Do you have any artwork or graphic design experience?

You may also be interested in designing your own logo because you have previous design or art experience and you think you can do a good job. If this is true, then you may want to go for it; however, you need to consider several key factors. First of all, creating your own logo design takes time - sometimes a lot of it.  You need to be willing to put in the time to conduct revisions to tweak your design.  You also need to accept the comments of your coworkers to work to improve your logo.

You also need to realize that there is a difference in between being a skilled artist, and the ability to create a winning logo.  Much of the skill that goes into creating a business logo is related to manipulating graphical software.  Furthermore, the skills that make you a great artists will not neccessarily translate in the digital realm.  In the world of logos less is more, creativity is golden, and knowing how to properly express your creativity is the ultimate challenge.

Do you have the computer software neccessary to make your own logo?

In order to create that top notch logo, the professionals use expensive graphics software such as Adobe Illustrator, Corel Draw, or other graphic design software.  This software typically costs over $300. This may not break the bank, but, considering you can hire a professional for the same price, is not too economical.

Professional vector based software is neccessary to create an image that can be resized and manipulated without quality loss.  Wihout it, you would not be able to use your design on business cards, your web site, or your store sign; you would only be able to use it in the intial size it was created.  To read more about specific applications, visit our logo design software section.

This software also allows you to convert your logo into a color scheme suitable for printing, such as the Pantone Matching System for spot colors. This allows printers to quickly and easily prepare your design for a print job.  It also saves money on printing, and ensures that your colors always remain consistent. If you are interested in designing your own logo, professional graphic design software should not be looked at as a nicety, but a neccessity.

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